For most of us living in Malaysia, Thailand is like a vibrant younger cousin whose house is always fun to visit. Lots of diversity, different price points, and you can go super low-key boutique with Tik Tok friendly gimmicks, or dazzling six star opulence, or all the thousand nuances in between. Recently, we were invited to a good friend’s wedding in Cha’am, a coastal district of Thailand and three hours south west of Bangkok.

When staying in beach towns in Thailand, we tend to pretty much enjoy the resort itself and do less exploring. It’s a time to unwind, paint and read by the pool, sunbathe, swim and drink copious amounts of coconut water. In this trip we were lucky enough to have an opportunity to try two types of beachfront resorts – the more rustic, three star low-key outfit Fishermen’s Resort and the more established five star Sheraton Resort and Spa.

Fishermen’s Resort

The Fisherman’s Resort felt like a throwback to the 90’s in that unpretentious, salt of the earth, family holiday vibe, before the online world started directing travel industry makers on how to present itself and attract Z’s and Alphas for social media snapshots. Rattan doors, polished wood, flora and fauna art – there was a comforting stability and beauty in all its aesthetics and nothing felt sweeter than devouring a hot cheese omelette over breakfast by the humble beach staring out onto the gulf of Thailand. The resort has a freshwater pool, a fitness garden, a relaxing spa and plenty of grounds to have long morning or evening strolls in.

We took the garden villa which was absolutely perfect and sufficiently spacious for us – a chalet on its own with a large sleeping area, two wardrobes, a bathroom with two shower corners (indoor and outdoor), and a cozy mahogany-esque palette. Two young children could have been accommodated here, and for us two a great place to get ready for a wedding without stepping all over each other’s space and belongings. In November, a garden villa is priced around 100USD per night while the entry rooms can be as low as USD65. We highly recommend this resort for those of us who simply want to rusticate in a sweet Asian beach hideaway at cheaper rates.

Sheraton Hua Hin Resort and Spa

About 30 minutes drive from Fisherman’s Resort is Sheraton’s Hua Hin Resort and Spa. The Sheraton brand is your generic middle-upper five star offering and what we probably grew up with in the past 30 years. It doesn’t try to be hip or avant grade, and it’s good at what it offers – expansive grounds, well-equipped and decently furnished rooms, great facilities (gym, spa, pool, multiple restaurants of Asian and Western varieties). This was exactly what we got in this particular Sheraton – you first walk into a giant sized lobby overlooking the well manicured hotel landscape and intricate pool lagoon which weaved all around the perimeter of the rooms, finally concluding into a huge main rectangle swimming pool overlooking the sea. The novelty factor for us in this trip was getting upgraded, as Bonvoy Gold members, to hotel lagoon pool rooms. We obviously prefer rooms with private pools for its freedom from other eyes but the pool access layouts gives us the opportunity to swim in a much bigger space and also swim right to the main hotel pool. There were resting spots throughout the lagoon, places where you can either sit on a deck inside the pool or climb out and have a picnic or order some drinks at the pool cafe and bar. Given that this was one of the main characteristics of the hotel, we spent almost every day swimming and chilling by the pool. The beach during this time of the year was a little rough and the area seemed to attract jellyfish, as such we thought it prudent to stay mainly in the hotel and not take our chances.

Their spa menu was pretty decent with the usual treatments included (Thai or aromatherapy full body massage, rejuvenating facials etc.) and there was a well equipped gym with plenty of cardio and strength training machines, and a yoga room attached. We only sampled one restaurant, the Luna Lanai, where we ordered for the usual local offerings – seafood pad thai and tom yam soup and it was perfectly fine if not that memorable (having lived in Bangkok for a year, good Thai food is the norm and something has to be truly exceptional to stick out). Overall, we enjoyed our stay as a relaxing and comfortable beach break with a sprinkle of luxury and a lot of pool-swimming 🙂 The lagoon access suites starts at USD230 and entry level rooms are priced around USD97, so there is something for everyone at the Sheraton.

The Petchaburi region of Thailand (which includes Cha’am, Pranburi and Hua Hin) is a popular beach destination for Bangkok residents given its driving distance proximity and its somewhat more ‘wholesome’ reputation (as compared to Pattaya). We have also stayed at Aleenta and Sheraton in Pranburi, all of which had something special to offer in their own unique way. For those who want a respite from the 7-million populated big city energy of the capital, an extended weekend in any of these resets could reset you back to your A game.