Hua Hin is a few hours south of Bangkok by road. It has been a popular beach destination for people from Bangkok for almost a century. The town is busy but retains a very Thai charm. There are, in addition to the beaches, lots of Golf courses, some nearby national parks, jungle and waterfalls. In the town itself there are many old shops next to modern stores, you can find Arts and Crafts and there are 2 good night markets with some great bargains.
Evenings are lively but pleasant walking around the fishing pier area and enjoy great seafood from the restaurants over the water. There are also many restaurants offering Thai and International cuisine. There are quite a few bars but we liked some of the sidewalk cocktail places and the Thai seafood on the beach places more. There are a few shows to see, nightlife is relaxed and it is not too hot as Hua hin has a nice cooling breeze from the sea.
There is a good choice of Hua hin hotels and they include top hotels like the Sofitel Hua Hin, Sheraton, Hilton, Hyatt Regency, Wora Bura, Chiva Som, Marriott, Anantasila and others. There are also plenty of tourist hotels in Hua Hin and also cheap places to stay.