We took holiday from holiday and headed from Bangkok to So Sofitel Hua Hin for two nights. It was an interesting experience.

Check In

It took 2,5 hours to reach the resort and 3,5 hours on the way back to Bangkok by car with a driver.

A cold towel and juice were offered at check-in which was done in an open-air lobby. Several staff members came to greet and welcome us separately. We certainly felt welcome.

I had booked an entry level comfy room and we were upgraded, as expected, one level to a studio. The difference between these categories is basically location: the studios are on the ground floor and have a terrace while the comfy rooms are located on the second and third floors and have a balcony.

Not much an upgrade if you ask me but someone who smokes might appreciate the terrace.

Room

Our spacious 60-square-meter studio was modern as was the whole property but at the same time pretty worn. The style was minimalist and coldish with all the concrete used in walls and flooring. The interior design colored it a bit, though.

One could choose the room between two themes: art and nature. Our room had the nature theme which made us feel that we really were somewhere in a tropic. The terrace was facing a side walk but soundproofing was weak. The best part was bathroom. It had a huge rain shower in the middle and separate bathtub.

Complimentary minibar included water, juice and small snacks such as nuts. Illy coffee capsules and teas were free, too. The resort was full of mosquitos but luckily they had mosquito repellents available.

Villa

We had a pleasure to meet a management trainee who was very enthusiastic. She approached us proactively asking our opinion on the resort and its services and showed us one of the new villas which looked great.

Dining

Breakfast at White Oven was good, both quality and presentation. Variety was decent.

Lunch and dinner we had at Beach Society. The lunch was okay, the dinner not so much. Starter and main course were delivered at the same time and burger wasn’t made the way we ordered it. Also, meat tasted of low quality, like those cheap patties that can be bought in many grocery stores.

Prices were reasonable for a hotel located in the middle of nowhere.

Loyalty recognition

In addition to the upgrade we were given four drink vouchers but hold your horses. We didn’t get eight drinks although this was stated on the voucher: ”One drink voucher per stay for the card holder and each guest sharing the room.”

Bartender insisted that one voucher is for one person only. Okay, no problem. When we wanted to use the voucher for Chandon sparkling wine (champagne wasn’t available) we were told that we can’t have that with our voucher but another Australian sparkling wine instead (wasn’t on the drink list). Fine, we took that and it was actually good. We felt having a refill and offered to pay. But no, now they weren’t able to sell that newly-opened bottle by glasses. One had to buy the whole bottle or order the more expensive Chandon.

Welcome gift consisted of basic fruits and local sweets plated nicely. Paper was delivered to our room each morning but turndown service was done only one evening.

Pool and beach

The resort had three swimming pools: one reserved for adults, bigger one for everyone and a small one beside the beach bar. Water in the adult pool looked muddy and many tiles were broken.

The hotel also had a small beach but water looked dirty and there were lots of jellyfish so we decided to stay on the ground as was adviced by the hotel, too.

Services

The hotel offered a shuttle van service to Hua Hin and Cha-am. Prices were reasonable: Hua Hin 100 TBH per person per way and Cha-am 50 TBH.

They also organized complimentary sport activities, for example water aerobic, yoga, and Thai boxing.

The resort was lacking a lounge which would be great to have. There was one large room beside the adult pool that was used as a gallery but it only had a few photographs on walls.

Overall

So Sofitel Hua Hin reminded of Sofitel Bali Nusa Dua but was a smaller version of it. It had more private feel and was quite empty during our stay. Actually, we sometimes felt we were in a ghost resort.

Despite those couple of hiccups we were able to enjoy our stay but weren’t wowed either and thus we don’t think we will return in the near future at least. However, it’s worth to try.

I recently stayed 5 nights at the So/ Sofitel Hua Hin and to be honest I am somewhat conflicted about this hotel, it just was so so. I have no idea what qualifies this hotel to be a So/ which after all is supposed to a be a lifestyle moniker.

Anyway on to the review...

Check In

Check in was not prepared, nor was the room ready at 3pm. That is despite hotel having requested details of my arrival in advance. Check in is done in the outdoor lobby and I did not get any sense of a Platinum arrival. Various staff running around but nobody taking charge. I was in holiday mood so not easily annoyed but it it lacked any recognition.

No upgrade was offered (next higher would have been a 2 bedroom villa). A number of drink vouchers were handed out and despite these usually being for 2 drinks it turned out these were valid for one only. Anyway, once all the formalities were done we were escorted to the pool villa.

(priority check in, unattended)

Welcome drink

View from the reception

Room

The villa was very nice indeed, clear cool design and largely functional. A large living room with an uncomfortable sofa a dining area, Illy coffee machine, minibar and then, separated, the sleeping questers with a bathtub, shower, plenty of storage and a large comfortable bed.

Outdoors featured a dining table, lounge area and three sun beds (later one was removed for unknown reasons), oh and a private pool.

Some issues: Limited TV choice, aircon was blowing directly onto the bed, not comfortable. The "free" minibar included water and some obscure juices, no real soft drinks (mor about that later).

Service

Service was so so. Nothing was as such bad but some of the staff were a bit uncoordinated.

Dining

We had breakfast, lunch and dinner at the hotel. There are two main food outlets: the main restaurant where breakfast is also served and the beach bar, serving small bites and cocktails. The breakfast was not good, or at least in parts it wasn't. The cooked elements and hot buffet were ok but the bread and pastries were stale. A sad state of affairs for a French owned hotel. Offering stale croissants is just not on. When I mentioned this to guest relations they offered me fresh ones, they were arrived the next morning when I had finished breakfast.....

The restaurant's dinner service was ok, nice and tasty Thai fare, but not cheap, about double what you would pay in Hua Hin. It also wasn't exactly popular as for the time we were there only few diners availed of the restaurant, at lunch it was even more deserted.

The food at the beach bar was also good, a more international offering.

Oddly coloured pancakes, not freshly made but out of a tupperware box.

cocktails

beach bar

Location

This hotel is nowhere near Hua Hin. There is literally nothing around so you can forget about going for a walk to another restaurant or a shop. During daytime you can rent a bike but at nighttime you rely on either the hotel shuttle to Cha Am and Hua Hin. Cha Am is about 15 minutes by car, Hua Hin about 30 minutes. The last shuttle leaves Hua Hin at 21h, far too early. Taxis are a challenge as some drivers have no idea where this hotel is. The shuttle is supposed to be free for Platinum members but somehow I was charged at check out (though they reversed this when challenged).

It takes about 2-2.5h to drive to/from Bangkok, depending on traffic. Costs for a car and driver are about €60 one way. I used Hua Hin Cars.

Loyalty Experience

Don't expect much as Platinum member at this hotel. There is no lounge (the deserted bar on top of the restaurant would make a good lounge, nobody ever went there). What they do offer is a drink voucher per member per day, but I got 6 for 5 nights, despite being two people in the villa. Confusing. The hotel used to have a Platinum happy hour (free drinks) but no more.

When I checked in was told that they could stock the (free) minibar with other things. When I order some tonic water I was initially charged a whopping €3.20 per can. Again this was reversed after some words and tonic was now free flowing....

The GM was nowhere to be seen throughout my stay.

The welcome amenity was somewhat underwhelming:

So very expensive....

Pools

the hotel was a variety of pools, new and old.

Adult pool

New all ages pool

Old all ages pool

Overall

Overall the stay was ok but did not wow in any shape or way. The room was nice but lacked some Thai touches, the private pool was nice too but could do with some tropical planting. It all felt a bit too functional.

The main problem with this hotel is that it is in the middle of nowhere and extremely quiet. Finishing dinner at 22h and we were the only ones in the restaurant. Having a night cap at 23h at the beach bar and its you and the staff.... And the hotel was apparently busy. If you travel with kids and have to be in bed at 22h this is your choice.

The hotel is not cheap but I failed to see how some of the costs justified (drinks and food), at times I felt taken advantage of because of the remote location.

The hotel could also do with a lick of pain throughout, the building's wood paneling looked dilapidated and so did the sun loungers at the beach. Not very 5*.

Friends of mine were staying at the same time in a regular room, avoid those, balconies are tiny and not dressed, some even have bird netting. If you decide to stay here choose a room in one of the new blocks with pool access or junior suites or a villa.

Would I return? Unfortunately it is a no from me. There are much nicer Accor beach resorts in Thailand. What makes this a So/ eludes me.