TRAVEL SPOTLIGHT
MAKE A RUN FOR THE SUN AT AVANI HUA HIN RESORT & VILLAS
We checked into Avani Hua Hin Resort & Villas and it’s, well, pretty awesome.
AVANI Hua Hin Resort & Villas, formerly known as Ananda Hua Hin, more than makes up for lack of high-rise views of the beach with varied accommodation choices, beautiful landscape, great service and many on-site activities to enjoy.
FIRST IMPRESSION
The 196-room property offers in total nine room types, ranging from 33-41m² AVANI Deluxe to AVANI Two Bedroom Sea View Pool Villa. The more hi-end the accommodation, the closer to the beach, obvi. After a quick check-in at the spacious and gorgeous reception area, I was transported on a golf cart to the villa zone (because walking is for plebs), passing four low-rise guest room buildings with two big swimming pools between them and a big pond.
The layout of the villa zone is two rows of units sandwiching one huge and long glistening swimming pool. I checked into — ahem— a one-bedroom AVANI Lagoon Pool Villa, which rightfully feels like your very own mini tropical casa. The 188m² spacious unit has a big bathroom with his and her basins (or his/his or her/ her, we don’t judge) and a bedroom area on a raised floor with a living area on the lower floor.
The big glass door opens to a terrace/ garden area complete with two sunloungers, an outdoor birdcage chair and a dining table set for two. From the terrace, you can walk into your own plunge pool with a small seating area where you can let water bubbles gently massage your back. If you’re up some serious laps, then just wade a bit further passed the partition of your plunge pool to join the other villa guests in the common pool. Each villa unit is separated on both sides with tall hedges for additional privacy.
STAYING IN
While the well-equipped villa with a high ceiling and chillax vibe makes it very difficult to leave (call me villabody), the AVANICLUB Executive Lounge is just a stone’s throw away. Accessible exclusively to villa guests, this lounge is where things get even more luxe. In the morning, a modest breakfast buffet spread is set up here but you can order from a menu that features made-to-order savoury and sweet dishes. And I’m not talking about an omelette with bell peppers, ham and mushroom you get from your usual egg station. Think Shrimp omelette dressed in seafood bisque, Poached egg on toast with smoked salmon and Hollandaise sauce and Pancakes with chocolate drops and maple syrup. While waiting for your order, you can put together a salad or a plate of cold cuts and cheese.
The other breakfast option for villa guests is to join the other guests at all-day dining Staa’s where a bigger variety awaits. You’ll have to work for your food instead of being doted here but enjoying your breakfast in an outdoor cabana pod with an overlooking view of a swimming pool isn’t shabby at all. Or why not do both since the breakfast service is pretty long, 6.30-10.30am. Don’t forget to stop by AVANICLUB any time from 6am-11pm for refreshments but make sure to be there from 5.30-6.30pm to enjoy canapés with a selection of cocktails, wines and beers. Besides the exclusive lounge and Staa’s, there are five more F&B venues, each of which is created with its own appeal. Enjoy an evening of live jazz music in a classic vibe at Blue Biscuit. Or have an Italian meal and a sandy stroll at Brezza.
Hit AVANIFIT to get some cardio in, run on a treadmill while watching a mini TV or lift weights from 6am-8pm. If you want a more holistic approach to fitness, join scheduled sessions of yoga, zumba or sun salutations. Or simply grab a bicycle and ride around the beautiful property. Parents, AVANIKIDS club, with its own dedicated pool and fountains, isn’t there to perfunctorily keep your kids out of your hair. Besides toys and a ball pit, it offers a schedule of free and paid activities from 9am-5pm. After a long day, you can bliss out at AVANISPA, which embraces you with a sense of serenity from the moment you step inside.
GOING OUT
AVANI makes going out easier with two shuttle service routes between the hotel and Hua Hin or Cha-am. You can schedule your days around the timetable and forget about driving. The van leaves the hotel for Hua Hin Clock Tower four times a day with the earliest departure at 1pm and the last one at 9pm. For Cha-am, it leaves at 3pm and drops you off at the viewpoint area and picks you up at 8.30pm. The fee is reasonable, too. B60 per person and B30 for children between the ages of five and 12. If you want the opposite of touristy, I suggest Kodang Borfai (Cha-am Graffiti Abandoned Factory on Google Maps), aka Hua Hin’s unofficial largest outdoor gallery of street art. It is a five-minute drive from the resort. Bonus point: find a piece by Alex Face.
FINAL THOUGHTS
With many activities on offer and on site, a full range of facilities, attentive service and good design, a stay at AVANI Hua Hin is pretty awesome that I didn’t mind much about not being able to see the beach from my private terrace. The hotel is offering many promotions from Advance Purchase with the starting rate of B3,400 to Sweet Villa Escapes, which starts from B14,000.
AVANI Hua Hin Resort & Villas, 1499 Petchkasem Road, Cha-am / 032-898-989, avanihotels.com.