- Best value-for-money neighborhoods in Hua Hin and around Thailand/
- Airport VIP bus schedule expanded/
- Songkran events in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan/
- Artist Village schedules Songkran event/
- Chiva-Som Hua Hin marks 28th anniversary/
- Prime Suspect Still on the Run After Six Deaths in Surat Thani/
- Foreigners Rounded Up In Buriram Crackdown/
- Police bust gang of thieves targeting foreigners in northeast Thailand/
- Forest fires reignite near Khao Yai National Park/
- 10 things you need to know about Thailand’s election/
- Feature phones or ‘dumb phones’ are becoming popular again/
- Free buses connect main rail terminals/
- Thailand’s Economy: Thailand’s days of GDP growth in excess of 5% may be a thing of the past/Agencies predict economic uptick/Thailand’s newfound economic stardom comes with caveats/Tourism, construction, real estate, restaurants see continuous recovery/
- Tourism: Songkran is here: Ayutthaya trumpets message with colorful march of elephants/Phuket to Generate at Least 4.5 Billion Baht During Songkran/Over 900 International Chartered Flights So Far This Year/Sustainable tourism gains traction in Thailand/
- Thailand Experience: The scented water that gives Songkran its unique fragrance/Discovering Banrai Thummachot, Hua Hin’s first coffee plantation/New Songkhla skywalk unveils southern beauty/
- International: Myanmar confirms deadly air strike as international outcry mounts/IMF issues growth warning as it lowers 2023 forecast/Study warns critical ocean current is nearing ‘collapse’/What we know so far on the leaked Pentagon documents/
- Links: Airport schedule/Bangkok airport bus schedule/Hua Hin-Pattaya bus schedule/90-day online report/driver’s license/Market Village and Bluport cinemas/Emergency numbers
Best value-for-money neighborhoods in Hua Hin and around Thailand
For those considering living in Thailand, finding a neighborhood that offers a great quality of life at an affordable price is essential. However, finding the right neighborhood to live in can be an intimidating task, especially for those on a budget. Fortunately, there are many neighborhoods throughout Thailand that offer excellent value for money, providing a comfortable and enjoyable lifestyle without breaking the bank.
Pranburi, Central Hua Hin, West Hua Hin
Sitting along the sun-kissed coastline of the Prachuap Khiri Khan province in Thailand, Hua Hin has become a sought-after destination. It’s popular among expats and retirees living in Thailand, as well as property investors. Renowned for its tranquil lifestyle, balmy climate, and affordable cost of living, this captivating coastal town offers a plethora of value-for-money neighborhoods. Each promises a delightful combination of relaxation and smart property investment. Continued …
Airport VIP bus schedule expanded
Bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has been updated, with an additional trip scheduled. The one-way fare is 325 baht.
- Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 11am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 5:10om, 6pm
- Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:00pm, 4pm, 5:10pm, 6:30pm
Songkran events in Hua Hin, Prachuap Khiri Khan
Following a three-year hiatus related to the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, Songkran events are set to make a splash again this year in Thailand.
The annual water festival, which celebrates the Thai New Year, was canceled or scaled back in previous years due to the pandemic, but this year Songkran is back in full swing.
It is celebrated on April 13 every year, but the holiday extends to April 15 and is traditionally a time for people to come together, celebrate, and pay respect to their elders and ancestors. Continued …
Artist Village schedules Songkran event
From April 14-16, Hua Hin’s Artist Village will be hosting the Art Arbour: Hua Hin Art & Workshop Week 2023.
During the event, visitors can participate in a variety of workshops and activities.
Chiva-Som Hua Hin marks 28th anniversary
April is a milestone month for Chiva-Som Hua Hin as it celebrates its 28th anniversary and, to commemorate the occasion, it launches special offers throughout the month in conjunction with the Songkran festival.
It all began when Chiva-Som founder Boonchu Rojanastien removed his beachfront holiday home to make way for a sanctuary that more people could enjoy and Chiva-Som officially opened its doors on April 19, 1995. Since then, it has pioneered an innovative, holistic approach to wellness that balances mind, body and spirit. Continued …
Prime Suspect Still on the Run After Six Deaths in Surat Thani
Police are still hunting for a prime suspect after six people, including the prime suspect’s son and wife, were shot dead in the Khiri Rat Nikhom district.
Region 8 Police commander Surapong Thanomjit said on Saturday (April 8) four people were found dead at a Khiri Rat Nikhom house, who were Thammarong Nilniyom, 61, the house owner and the former village headman, Nilthip Pankachen, 48, who was Thammarong’s wife, Phonsak Petchchoo, 58, a former village headman, and Thammrat Wichean. Continued …
Foreigners Rounded Up In Buriram Crackdown
A crackdown by Immigration police in northeastern Buriram province during March 27-April 10 led to six foreigners being rounded up for overstaying their visa.
Acting on the orders of Police Maj. Gen. Phanthana Nuchanart, deputy chief of the Immigration Bureau, to prevent and suppress crime during Songkran festival, Police Maj. Gen. Ketchakat Nilpradap, head of Immigration Division 4, led his team in mounting raids to round up foreign suspects. Continued …
Police bust gang of thieves targeting foreigners in northeast Thailand
Police announced the results of their investigation into a gang of thieves targeting foreigners with families all over the Isaan region in Nakhon Ratchasima province in northeast Thailand. Police seized stolen assets worth an accumulative three million baht.
The gang found its victims by sitting in shopping malls around Isaan and scouting out foreigners with families. Then, the gang would follow the foreigner home and scope out their house. Continued …
Forest fires reignite near Khao Yai National Park
About 150 firefighters have been mobilized to control forest fires, which have reignited in Thailand’s Nakhon Nayok province, as helicopters were also deployed in an attempt to prevent fires from spreading into Khao Yai National Park.
Fire and water trucks have been sent to local communities not far from Khao Nang Dam, where fires are reported to have broken out again and are spreading toward Khao Tabaek, about 500 meters from the border with Cha-om subdistrict of Saraburi province. Continued …
10 things you need to know about Thailand’s election
The countdown to the May 14 general election is well underway, with a little over a month left before the big day.
The election was called after Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha dissolved the House of Representatives on March 20 – just three days before the Lower House completed its four-year term. Here are 10 things to know about the upcoming national vote: Continued …
Feature phones or ‘dumb phones’ are becoming popular again
In recent years, there has been a surprising resurgence in the popularity of “dumb phones,” also known as feature phones. While smartphones have dominated the mobile phone market for over a decade, a growing number of people, particularly Generation Z, are looking to cut back on screen time and are turning to these simpler devices.
According to recent data, smartphone sales in the United States have been on the decline. In 2022, sales of smartphones dropped by nearly 20% compared to the previous year, marking the third consecutive year of decline. Continued …
Free buses connect main rail terminals
The State Railway of Thailand (SRT) has launched a free shuttle service that connects Hua Lamphong Station to Krung Thep Aphiwat Central Terminal.
The shuttle buses are available at both stations from 4.30am to 11pm, said Aekkarat Sriarayanpong, the SRT’s public relations director. Continued …
Thailand’s days of GDP growth in excess of 5% may be a thing of the past
Amid a warning from the OECD this week that Southeast Asian economies may see retarded growth and an update from the Bank of Thailand predicting 3.6% growth for 2023, there are real fears that Thailand’s days of GDP growth of over 5% may be behind it despite election pledges from the Pheu Thai Party to pursue an expansionary economic policy if it comes to power.
The reason for this is the country’s rapidly aging population and demographic problem, as it is already an aged society and faces becoming a super-aged society by 2029. It is also one of the first countries in the world to experience such a problem without ever having become wealthy. Continued …
Agencies predict economic uptick
Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha is feeling upbeat regarding Thailand’s economic recovery, citing the forecasts of several reputable economic agencies, including the Asian Development Bank (ADB) and Japan Center for Economic Research (JCER), that anticipate a rebound in 2023 and 2024.
According to government spokesman Anucha Burapachaisri, Prayut credits the agencies for the evaluation and Thais for collaborating to restore the country’s economy. Continued …
Thailand’s newfound economic stardom comes with caveats
Once synonymous with the crisis that brought on an Asia-wide financial meltdown a generation ago, Thailand gets almost rave reviews now. This relative resilience of its economy may be tested by a pronounced downturn and a re-awakening of the country’s deep political divisions.
Calamity appears to be the last thing on investors’ minds when they think of Thailand these days. Goldman Sachs Group even likened the nation to a “safe haven.” Among the kingdom’s attributes are a resurgence in tourism, low foreign debt and a surplus in the broadest measure of trade. That’s a halo historically associated with Switzerland, Japan or prized asset classes like U.S. Treasuries. Continued …
Tourism, construction, real estate, restaurants see continuous recovery
Thailand’s tourism sector has seen continuous recovery, aided by government measures to attract foreign tourists. This led to a sharp increase in new tourism-related business registrations in February.
According to government spokesperson Anucha Burapachaisri, the number of new tourism-related business registrations in February 2023 increased by 1.1 times compared to last year. This accounted for 8.05% of the total 8,537 new-business registrations that month. Continued …
Songkran is here: Ayutthaya trumpets message with colorful march of elephants
Ayutthaya province kicked off the Songkran festival with a parade of 10 elephants from Wang Chang Ayutthaya Lae Paniad on Tuesday.
All the elephants were painted in colourful themes, including flowers, hearts and the message: “Songkran Ayutthaya” in Thai and English. Several tourists took the opportunity to splash water at the elephants.
The parade covered Ayutthaya’s City Pillar Shrine and Wat Phra Ram, aiming to attract Thai and foreign tourists to visit the province after three years of the Covid-19 pandemic. Continued …
Phuket to Generate at Least 4.5 Billion Baht During Songkran
More than 200,000 tourists will visit Phuket during the Songkran festival, which will generate at least 4.5 billion baht, says the Tourism Authority of Thailand.
The director of the Tourism Authority of Thailand, Phuket office, Lertchai Wangtrakundee, said from April 13th to April 16 about 84% of hotel rooms have been booked. There will be 223,452 visitors, which will generate at least 4.5 billion baht. Continued …
Over 900 International Chartered Flights So Far This Year
The recovery of both the aviation and tourism industries this year has led to a big jump in international chartered flights, with the four-month total reaching 924, while action has been taken to reduce domestic airfares.
Sutthipong Kongpool, director-general of the Civil Aviation Authority of Thailand (CAAT), said of the 924 chartered flights reaching Thailand from the beginning of this year, 253 arrived in January, 288 in February, 165 in March and 218 due in April. Continued …
Sustainable tourism gains traction in Thailand
In the deep waters off Phuket, hobby divers scour the sea to pick up garbage on holiday. Elsewhere, in one of Thailand’s many villages, visitors are engrossed in baking banana bread using locally sourced ingredients.
These activities are now in vogue, as the rise of sustainable tourism in the Land of Smiles mirrors a growing worldwide trend that is here to stay.
Research has shown that over 80% of global travelers feel that sustainable travel is important – and Thailand is doubling down on environmentally friendly trips. With tourism a key pillar of the Thai economy, the country is promoting sustainable tourism development in major cities and secondary cities. Continued …
The scented water that gives Songkran its unique fragrance
Songkran is famous for water splashing, but did you know the Thai New Year also carries a special fragrance? No Songkran celebration is complete without the scented water known as “Nam Ob Thai”.
The perfumed water will be much in demand this week as people seek a respite from the heat of April.
Scented water is considered a traditional Thai perfume. The scent can be mixed with water because it is alcohol-free, unlike western perfumes. Nam Ob Thai is made from pure water and is also affordable. Continued …
Discovering Banrai Thummachot, Hua Hin’s first coffee plantation
Nestled away in a corner of the Thap Thai subdistrict is Banrai Thummachot – Hua Hin’s first coffee plantation. Owned and operated by Prachak Thummachot, the plantation boasts a 2-rai plot of land dedicated to the growth of robusta coffee.
The plantation was established three years ago after Prachak witnessed a lull in the coffee market and sought help from local farmers to learn more about the coffee trade. Continued …
New Songkhla skywalk unveils southern beauty
Southern traditions hit a high point on Tuesday as visitors flocked to Wat Wang Yai in Songkhla’s Thepha district to witness the opening of the province’s latest tourism attraction.
Kuan Mali Skywalk was officially opened by a performance of Menora, a traditional dance drama with deep roots in the southern region. Menora, often shortened to Nora, is at least five centuries old and has been inscribed as intangible cultural heritage of southern Thailand by UNESCO. Continued …
Myanmar confirms deadly air strike as international outcry mounts
Myanmar’s ruling junta has confirmed that it carried out an air strike on a village in which dozens of people were reported killed, drawing condemnation from the United Nations and Western powers. Continued …
IMF issues growth warning as it lowers 2023 forecast
The International Monetary Fund slightly lowered its outlook for the global economy on Tuesday, while predicting that most countries will avoid a recession this year despite economic worries and geopolitical strains. Continued …
Study warns critical ocean current is nearing ‘collapse’
Due to global warming, a deep ocean current around Antarctica that has been relatively stable for thousands of years could head for “collapse” over the next few decades. Such a sudden shift could affect the planet’s climate and marine ecosystems for centuries to come. Continued …
What we know so far on the leaked Pentagon documents
It’s been less than a week since news of highly classified military documents on the Ukraine war surfaced, sending the Pentagon into full-speed damage control to assure allies and assess the scope of the leak. Continued …
Hua Hin-Suvarnabhumi bus schedule
The VIP bus service from Hua Hin to Suvarnabhumi Airport has a new Cha Am boarding location in front of Government Savings Bank. The one-way fare is 325 baht.
- Leaving Hua Hin: 6am, 8am, 10am, 12:00, 2pm, 4pm, 6pm
- Leaving Suvarnabhumi: 7:30am, 9:30am, 10:30am, 12:00, 2:30pm, 4pm, 6pm
Hua Hin-Pattaya bus service twice a day
Hua Hin now has twice-daily bus service to Pattaya, starting Feb. 19. The bus leaves Hua Hin at 9am and 3pm, and departs from Pattaya at 8am and 4pm. Tickets are 473 THB.
Tickets can be bought in person at the Hua Hin bus station or online. Buses depart from the Hua Hin bus station and in front of Government Savings Bank, Cha Am.. Tickets
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