Getting Around Hua Hin — Available Transport Options

It’s possible to walk around the centre of Hua Hin (say from the clock tower) to most of the central amenities if you are staying within the centre and you wish to stay local. The central area has a beach a few hundred metres away, plenty of restaurants, massages, bars and everything that some travellers need for their holiday within walking distance.

However, if you need to get to some of the attractions away from central Hua Hin and explore a little then you will need to use one of the various transport options.

Taxis Around Hua Hin

Since the arrival of ride-hailing apps in Thailand and the most popular Grab –taking a taxi has never been as easier. Grab offers users a safer alternative and a way to know the cost of your ride, and a shared map between you and the driver. Since 2018 Grab Taxi has been available in Hua Hin despite the complaints from the private hire services.

Using Grab involves downloading their app, which is also a great app for getting food delivered to your hotel. Once downloaded a user types in their destination and current location then taxis available and costs will appear on the screen.

Using Grab cuts out any issues with taxi fare costs and other dilemmas tourists can find themselves in with taxi drivers in Thailand.

— Read more about Grab Taxi in Thailand

Other Taxi options are private hire companies and the guys you see hanging around near popular spots where plenty of tourists walk past. It is possible for some of the hire companies to offer a better deal in terms of price and/or type of vehicle compared to using a Grab taxi driver. I would avoid any drivers touting for customers on the street and use one of the taxi hire and travel agent shops when not using Grab.

Unlike taxis in Bangkok these private taxis do not have meters, so a price has to be agreed upon before heading to your destination.

If you are planning an outing for the day to see various attractions in and outside of Hua Hin, then hiring a private car is going to be a better option. There are a number of private hire options available online that have websites, and facebook pages, enabling you to compare the fees and services offered.

Songthaews (2 seated truck)

If you haven’t taken a ride with a two-seated pick-up truck as yet in Thailand then you might want to try it out in Hua Hin. These are pick-up trucks converted with a bench on both sides that carry passengers to local destinations for around 10 – 15 THB along designated routes.

Unlike normal buses that have designated bus stops the Songthaew driver will drop you off and stop anywhere along the route after you press a button to buzz the driver. To get a Songthaew driver to pick you up, just flag him down with some kind of waving signal.

There are four Songthaew routes, with the most popular being the green line that goes from the airport to Khao Takiab. The green line will take passengers anywhere along the Phetkasem road where you’ll find places like the Cicada Night Market, Blu Port Shopping Mall, and Khao Takiab Beach, among other popular places.

Songthaews are very convenient and cheap. One should come along that you can flag down every 15 minutes from early morning till later evening.

Motorbike Taxis

You will find groups of motorbike taxi guys in groups outside the train station and other areas of Hua Hin wearing bright orange coloured numbered jackets. While these are not the safest mode of transport –many Thai people use them and some foreigners, and they are convenient for short trips around town.

I will use them now and again if I have no other transport option; however, I am aware of the dangers and they are best avoided mostly.

Short trips cost around 15 – 80 THB.

Tuk Tuks (three wheeled vehicle)

The three-wheeled vehicles known as SamLor in Thailand are more of a tourist attraction than the best mode of transport of today unlike many years ago when Tuk Tuks were the go-to transport option.

Tuk Tuks can be found near the main tourist areas of Hua Hin like the railway station, Soi Bintabaht and other central areas. They cost anywhere from around 100 THB and the fee is agreed upon before setting off to the local destination.

If you use a Tuk Tuk it’s best to stick to going anywhere within a couple of kilometres or so.

While a taxi is going to be comfortable, safer, and probably cheaper, everyone visiting Thailand must take a ride in a Tuk Tuk just once.