Since it was heavily raining in the south of Thailand to the point of flooding, I canceled my trip to Koh Samui. I sought alternatives and decided to head to Hua Hin instead because I hadn’t been there. Besides, I really wanted to try the new Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa after seeing the photos of a fellow blogger. And so I made the trip, a three-hour journey from Bangkok on a minibus.
From Bangkok’s Southern Bus Terminal (Sai Tai Mai), which is quite far from the city, it was a three-hour trip to Hua Hin. I went for a minivan instead of a bus, since it would take me there faster, and there was one leaving in a few minutes. It was a smooth, comfortable journey, and the driver dropped me off in front of the resort.
Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa is a beachfront property located along the main road of the resort town. A few minutes away by foot are the famous night market and the community mall called Hua Hin Market Village, and since the resort is in within the town’s center, it’s also near restaurants, convenience stores, and spas.
Being a hotel and resort enthusiast, one of the reasons I was excited to stay at Hua Hin Marriott Resort & Spa was that it features the “Marriott Modern” design philosophy, which Marriott has been implementing for its new-build and recently renovated properties as part of its #TravelBrilliantly mantra. The resort was barely a year old when I went, by the way.
This design concept was evident from the lobby—it wasn’t the boring, run-of-the-mill space like those we’ve grown accustomed to. There were cushy couches, long tables, and a whole lot of attractive décor—it was like being in a stately home. Marriott, instead of referring to it as a lobby, calls it a “Greatroom,” an innovative concept “designed specifically for the 24/7 work patterns of business travelers today, who smoothly transition and mix work, relaxation, socializing and play throughout the day.”
After I was handed my keys by the friendly reception staff, I went to my room on the second floor of one of the resort’s buildings. I was allocated a Superior Room, which had a terrace and a view of the resort.
The room gave me a full picture of what the “Marriott Modern” design philosophy was, and instantly, I was a fan. Drenched in relaxing neutral colors, the room was undoubtedly modern and chic, and it was accented tastefully with Siamese influences.
The elements of a redesigned Marriott guest room were present—a platform bed, walk-in shower with handheld shower wand, an expanded closet, hardwood floor with accent rugs, a 55” wall-mounted HDTV, and artwork. Brilliant would rightfully describe it, given how it seemed to have compiled everything a modern traveler would want in a room and more. And speaking of modern travelers, yes, there were plenty of outlets and USB ports, and the resort’s wireless internet was blazing fast.
I’d like to talk about the room’s table. In 2015, Marriott was under fire for eliminating conventional desks in some of its properties, but the hospitality giant said that they were just rethinking their work surfaces to adapt to the changing lifestyles of travelers. When we stayed there, the renovated guest room of the Amsterdam Marriott totally didn’t have a desk, and my room in Hua Hin didn’t have one either—at least a traditional one. What I had was a round marble table with a wooden side table—it obviously doubled as a desk, as suggested by the presence of a phone and a desk light, and as a proper dining table. That multipurpose surface is testament to how Marriott listens to its guests while adapting to modern times, and I totally love them on that regard.
Since I practically scheduled nothing in Hua Hin, except to check out the night market, most of my time was spent in the resort, and I was able to explore the place fully. The resort was sprawling, but thankfully it wasn’t that big for guests to ride buggies or golf carts to get around. There were plenty of open spaces, terraces, and well-maintained lawns and gardens, and I thought the modern architecture was simply gorgeous.
As I roamed around, I counted six swimming pools (adult pool, family pool, kids’ pool with a treehouse and play area, loop pool, teen pool, and whirlpool), the most notable being the adult pool, which was secluded by hedges. After trying out the pools, I walked to the beach, which I’d say was better than some other beaches in Thailand I’ve been to. It was busy the morning I went though, since it was high season.
In addition to the swimming pools, the resort boasts of a state-of-the-art fitness center, a spa, meeting and event spaces, and a kids’ club placed strategically near the beach for parents to easily watch their children.
I had breakfast at Amber Kitchen, the resort’s elegant yet casual restaurant. The morning spread was consistently extensive—there were a lot of Western, Asian, and Thai items to choose from. I always chose to be seated outside—which I rarely do—so I can enjoy the breeze and the view.
I also had dinner at Big Fish, their intimate seafood restaurant by the beach with an open kitchen. What I tried that night was the “East Meets West” Signature Set, the menu of which read as follows:
Although every component of the meal was excellent, my favorites were the scallop tartare “Asian style,” the tom yum goong, and the crispy pork in red curry. And I also loved the variety of desserts presented in liquid nitrogen.
IN A NUTSHELL: WHY STAY THERE?
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Those who love modern resorts will marvel at this gem.
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Being a Marriott, its modern rooms boasts five-star amenities, and the facilities are topnotch too.
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Restaurants are excellent, and they come with a view.
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They’re a family-friendly resort, with their facilities for the kids.
HUA HIN MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA
Phet Kasem Road, Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan, Thailand
Telephone: +66 32 904 666
Email: huahin.reservations@marriott.com
Website: www.marriott.com/hotels/travel/hhqmr-hua-hin-marriott-resort-and-spa/
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
