What's the weather like in Hua Hin in January?
The first month of the year is not like anything you'd expect in European parts of the world. Known as the cooler and drier of times, January is perfect if you're looking to have a tropical winter holiday, surrounded by pineapple trees, white sands and warm azure waters.
Temperature
The average temperature is a superb 26°C (79°F), which is more than anyone could possibly ask for in the middle of what is normally known as winter. The nights are cooler than later on in the year and soothing at a pleasant 22°C, with a peaceful breeze and low humidity, while the hotter days are expected to reach 30°C on average.
Sunshine Hours
The days are quite long, with up to 9 hours of sunshine, and a glorious 80% chance of full sunny days. This makes January one of the best months to spend in Hua Hin, on this north-eastern part of the Thai peninsula.
Humidity
Humidity is at a comfortable 70% on average, as would be expected of the dry season, and rainfall barely reaches 10mm during a rare three-minute shower.
Rainfall
Funny enough, the cumulated total expected in terms of precipitations in January is maybe one day, and an insignificant 3% chance of rain.
Wind
Chances of cloudy days are equally close to non-existent, at just 3% on average, while chances of windy days are at 1%. Wind speeds are soft, at 1.8m/s, most of them northern in origin and quite cool in the night time. They'd be better categorized as mild breezes rather than actual wind, as all they manage to do is amplify the dry feel of the overall atmosphere.
Sea Temperature
The beautiful sea is warm and inviting, with an average temperature of 28°C (82°F), the tropical dream of anyone who's looking for long hours spent splashing or swimming around, snorkelling and even deep-diving in order to get a cooler feel of the water. The currents are mostly friendly and the tides are mellow, and the generally shallow entrance along most beaches is bound to make anyone's holiday truly perfect. However we do recommend using serious SPF protection while the sun may be mellower than in the hot season, it can still burn on prolonged exposure.
Hua Hin Hotels for January
Yaiya Hua Hin
January is also perfect for hotel deals. While it's a perpetual peak season in Thailand, local tourism is aware that this month is excellent for high end hotel bargains. On that note, the 5-star Yaiya Hua Hin offers splendid deluxe double or twin rooms for prices starting at £73 per night. Yes, you're reading this right.
This superb resort rests on the Cha-Am coast of Hua Hin, and is a perfect tropical getaway. It's only steps away from a private beach area, and it offers a free shuttle service to the city centre. All the rooms have a private terrace and lovely en suite bathroom. The hotel offers you the chance to enjoy a traditional Thai massage at its spa, or to simply enjoy the sun loungers on its beach.
There is a library available, great for quiet reading, as well as an art gallery hosting the works of local talents. There are also yoga lessons and cooking classes available, both of which we wholeheartedly recommend if you're in Thailand. The ThaiPas Restaurant offers outdoor Mediterranean dining with a pool and beautiful garden views, and you can certainly enjoy a smooth Mai Tai at the Kang Sadan Bar & Lounge, as part of your 5-star experience.
Hotel Serenity
The lovely Hotel Serenity Hua Hin is a 3-star delight, offering deluxe double or twin rooms for just £42 per night for couples. It's just 400 yards from Hua Hin's main beach, and features a superb outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi. It's only a five minute drive from the city centre and it's surrounded by landscaped tropical gardens. Its rooms are fitted with air-conditioning, private balconies which open up to fresh marine breezes and breath-taking views.
You'll also find a flat screen TV, a fully stocked minibar and en suite bathroom as part of an excellent hotel experience. There are bike rental facilities, laundry service and a 24 hour front desk available, all meant to make your accommodation as comfortable and pleasant as possible. On top of that, the hotel's Chrisma Restaurant serves delicious Thai dishes, along with western food and a generous American breakfast.
Sirin Hotel
The 4-star Sirin Hotel Hua Hin is another excellent option, offering double and twin rooms from just £45 per night during the month of January. Situated on Damnernkasen Road, Hua Hin's popular boulevard, Sirin offers value-for-money accommodation inclusive of private balconies, within walking distance of superb beaches. Benefitting from plenty of natural light and wooden floors, each room has stunning views of the pool and the vibrant city. Obviously, they all come fitted with air conditioning, minibar, satellite TV and even a safety deposit box for your convenience.
You can also bask in the sun on one of the loungers by the outdoor pool, or enjoy sauna and massages at the hotel spa, and in the evening you can sample one of the signature dishes of the hotel restaurant including the fish curry or the smoked salmon with Thai herbs; after dinner you can even sip on some fresh coconut juice or a refreshing and exotic cocktail at the bar.
Hua Hin Beaches for January
Gulf Coast
There are a large number of beaches around Hua Hin, and many beachfront hotels offer not only access to some of their private beaches, but they also have concessions in place for water sports. This particular part of the Gulf coast is perfect for parasailing, wind surfing and even sailboats, and it is generally spared of the chaos and disturbance caused by jet skis.
Suan Son
Just south of Khao Takiab, you'll find Suan Son, also known as the Sea Pine Gardens. This is a long and quiet stretch of white sand and clean blue waters, dotted with small food shops and excellent accommodation options along the shoreline. The entrance to this little slice of paradise is through a military camp, so just tell the guard that you're going to the beach and/or the golf course. He might charge you a 20 Baht admission, but we're certain that it's definitely worth it, as this beach is rarely overcrowded by tourists.
There's also a newly opened golf course here at the Suan Son Army Camp, and the shore is perfect for family fun time and couples' relaxation sessions, as the breeze blows gently over the waves and the water temperature is just right. Both parts of the Suan Son resort have full amenities and restaurants, so you won't have to worry about keeping the tummy happy.
Bars and Restaurants
La Paillote
For some original Thai and French fusion cuisine, you should certainly try La Paillote. With a slightly pricey menu, this restaurant indulges tastes from many parts of the world, as it serves a substantial variety of fresh seafood, traditional Thai cuisine, homemade pasta, as well as a delicious selection of French and Asian dishes.
Saiboo German Restuarant
Saiboo German Restaurant takes it even further in terms of flavours from around the world, serving a distinctive menu of German, Thai and European dishes. The prices are very friendly and they also serve an interesting selection of healthy dibs. If you're looking to seriously spoil yourself this month though, you might as well book yourself a table at the very Cool Breeze Café Bar, which specializes in Mediterranean, Spanish and local Thai cuisine. This is the best place to go for some authentic tapas and refreshing evening drinks as well.
Hua Hin Brewing Company
Decorated like a rustic fisherman's house, the Hua Hin Brewing Company is the busiest club by far, always entertaining its crowds with live music and guest DJs. They also serve some delicious pub grub, including steaks, spare ribs and yummy barbecue skewers, along an impressive selection of bottled and locally brewed beers. It's part of the Hilton complex, so don't expect it to be cheap, but it's definitely worth every single penny!
Things to do in Hua Hin in January
Railway Station
Hua Hin is full of things to do and see throughout the entire year, since the weather is almost always so good. You can visit the Railway Station, one of the oldest and most popular landmarks of the city. Built during the reign of King Rama VI, it's a short distance from the city centre and it features a royal waiting room. Admire the brightly painted wooden buildings, very Thai in style, but with a Victorian feel. It's charming, not to mention quirky and extremely photogenic.
Plearn Wan Shopping Image
You can easily immerse yourself in the local culture and its fascinating trends by visiting one of Hua Hin's sublimely themed shopping centres, such as the Plern Wan Shopping Image, a complex not far from Klai Kangwon Palace.
This unique brown wooden building features a multitude of shops, a café and even lovely guestrooms, all decorated in a 1960s Thai style, evoking old fashioned shop house of the Chinese and Thai neighborhoods of old Bangkok and Hua Hin. It is most famous for its "nang klang paeng", the open air cinema, as well as its live music and temple fair festival which runs every evening from Friday until Sunday.
Maruekhathaiyawan Palace
You can also visit the Maruekhathaiyawan Palace in Cha-Am, a superb summer seaside palace built in the early 1920s, also during the reign of King Rama VI. Designed by an Italian architect and featuring verandas, lattice work and covered boardwalks with golden teak, this particular construction is an absolute must-see if you're in Thailand.
Events
In terms of events January has two major celebrations. The first one is the beginning of the western New Year, celebrated on January 1st in numerous bars and clubs around Hua Hin. January 10th marks the beginning of the Chinese lunar year as well, so rest assured you'll be seeing some dragon dances around the city. The Thai, in fact, celebrate 3 different New Year holidays each year: the western one, the Chinese one and the traditional Thai one.
