Originally Posted by
warreng24
If you want a quiet beach-side resort that has not yet been 100% taken over by the non-Thai tourists, I'd highly recommend Hua Hin.
You can take the train from Hualamphong Station to Hua Hin. I believe an air conditioned "2nd class" seat costs about 100 baht. The trip takes about 3.5 hours.
http://www.railway.co.th/English/index.asp
Alternatively, you can take the bus from the Southern Bus Terminal. Wikitravel refers to it as "Sai Tai Taling Chan" but I always knew it as "Santaee Rhot Tour Sai Tai" (roughly translated to air conditioned bus to southern thailand"). The bus you board should say "BANGKOK - HUA HIN" painted on the side. Buses leave ever 30 minutes and cost about 200 baht. Trip takes about 3 hours (depending on traffic getting out of Bangkok).
One of the highlights of Hua Hin is the beach-front palace of King Rama VII. I believe its still open to the public for self-guided tours.
You can also be daring and back-track about an hour (in the direction of Bangkok) to Petchaburi. You will be able to visit the mountain palace of King Rama IV.
Great ideas Warreng. I always forget the train. It's a great way to great a slice of real Thailand. Took an overnight up to Nong Kai once. Loved it. On the buses, I like to buy 2 tickets since they're cheap and I'm a big farang. There's some great little seafood shacks right on the sand S of HH with unbelievable food and cheaper than you could imagine. They're by the 60' Buddha on the beach. wj