Hua Hin is the most traditional of Thailand's seaside resorts and also the summertime retreat of its royal family. Off the beaten path, it is clean, peaceful, and has a unique character of its own. If you come here, you simply must not miss out on enjoying the ocean and beach. You can walk right onto the beach from the 5-star hotels that line the seafront, so the moment your toes hit the fine white sand, the stunning Gulf of Thailand opens up before your eyes.

The Cape Nidhra Hotel, with its peculiar long and narrow shape, has direct access to the beachfront from the main road. The open-plan, palatial lobby is utterly exotic. Every room is huge and comes with its own automatic-filling pool, so you can enjoy a swim without stepping foot outside the door.

The hotel also has an outdoor infinity pool with unrivaled ocean views. Spend a leisurely day resting up against the side of the pool or lying back on a sun deck, feel the whisper of the sea breeze, and listen to the lapping of the waves and the rustling of the coconut trees. The beach in front of the hotel is sparsely populated, peaceful, and with very little reef. After your swim in the sea, you can go right back to your room.

Explore the Royal Family's Backyard and Unrivaled Ocean View Hotels in Hua Hin

The Hua Hin Marrakech Resort and Spa, on the south side of the beach, is built in the Moroccan style and exudes a sense of North African mystique. The hotel is surrounded on all sides by serenity and charm, the beautiful pool and beach merging into the blue ocean and sky. Each elegantly designed room has a different theme.

The beach, which extends right up to the door of the hotel, is truly beautiful. Deck chairs are well supplied, so you can lie back during the day and listen to the sound of the waves. Evenings you can go for a stroll on the beach and take in the stunning sunset.

The Hilton Hua Hin Resort and Spa's outstanding location makes it the godfather of popular seaside hotels. It sits right in the center of the long line of hotels along the beachfront, an oasis of calm amid the clamor, occupying the prime spot. Whether you're coming from the bus stop, the night market, Hua Hin Railway Station, or you're off for a Thai massage, it's all within a 10-minute walk.

The Hilton is also one of the tallest buildings on the seafront, and every room offers an unrivaled view of the ocean and the rear courtyard of the hotel. There are deck chairs all over the beach in front of the hotel, which you can rent and lie back on awhile, or you can get a beach barbecue started. Of course, since this is a landmark building, one thing you absolutely must do is ride a white horse down the beach. The horses set out from in front of the Hilton, so you really can't pass up this unforgettable experience.

The Centara Grand Beach Resort and Villas Hua Hin occupies a white-fronted, red-roofed European-style building. Entering is like walking into a large garden, with a sea of green all around. The interior of the hotel sits under a canopy of green trees, the artistry of the intricate horticultural design everywhere in evidence. There are adorable plant sculptures of elephants, rabbits, and seagulls, giving an air of childlike playfulness.

The guest rooms, equipped with antique furniture, are refined and elegant, as if you had stepped back in time. The entirely white corridors and pale-yellow spiral staircase, the old-fashioned black ceiling fan and hardwood flooring, the miniature garden on the far side of the balcony—all evoke a state of complete relaxation in this European-style garden. Stepping onto the beach at the end of the garden, the beauty of the ocean view is at once exhilarating and soothing.

The Hua Hin Marriott Resort and Spa offers the best sea view on Hua Hin beach. The beach on the hotel's doorstep is a world away from the commotion of downtown—pure-white and peaceful. The color of the facade is arresting, and the lobby is open concept, so as you look ahead you can see the splash of green foliage outside, and the ocean beyond.

The guest rooms extend along both sides of the lobby, and the ring-shaped pool ahead also encircles the lobby—a unique design that means the buildings have to be connected by bridges. Owing to the hotel's popularity among Chinese guests, the rooms are also designed with a distinctly Chinese flavor. From the three-paneled mirror to the various porcelain ornaments, contemporary and Chinese elements are combined to produce an unmistakable hint of China.

The InterContinental Hua Hin Resort at the south end of Hua Hin beach is small yet perfectly formed. The entrance is veiled by lush green trees, giving an aura of complete calm and ease. The scenery in the hotel garden is beautiful, and just beyond the tranquil pool are the beach and ocean. The InterContinental's beach is outstandingly beautiful: tranquil, sparsely populated, clean. Parasailing is offered to one side and even if you don't try it yourself, just sitting on the sand watching is a pleasure in itself.