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  1. #1
    loob lor geezer
    Bangyai's Avatar
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    Cha am beach revisited

    Its been quiet a while since I've been to Cha am but my visiting mum wanted to see the sea for a few days after her exertions tramping around Hellfire Pass in Kanchanaburi. Her only qualifier was that she didn't want to spend more than a couple of hours getting there. Since we live in on the west of Bangkok that more or less dictated either Hua Hin or Cha am. As there are a few things I don't like about Hua Hin , vis .... no beach road , a bit pricey and usualy more tourists we decided on Cha am. I wasted a couple of days surfing the net trying to find a suitable place , i.e. cheap , clean, on the beach and with pool but finding nothing we decided to just go and see what we could find.

    We left Bangyai at 10.30 a.m. on a Wednesday morning and 2 hours later we were at Cha am and turning onto the beach road. As usual for midweek, it looked pretty quiet which was good and being a Wednesday ( beach cleaning day ) there were no umbrellas or deckchairs out spoiling the view :






    Hitting the beach, we turned left and a started asking around at likely looking places but found nothing to fit in my price range ( under 1000 ) with all my requirements. Heading in the opposite direction I saw this place set back from the beach :



    A few enquiries later we were being shown the various rooms on offer. The bungalows along the driveway from the entrance were from 800 and were nice but had no view ( although they did have a bath tub for a hot soak ) The two story ones at the back were slightly posher with their own car port and were priced at 1000.
    IMO , the rooms in the main block were outstanding value at 600 baht, those on 3 and 4th floors having a see view. They were spotlessly clean with a super comfortable bed , fridge, air con and UBC. Balcony was just the right size too and was in the shade in the afternoon :



    Breakfast area and mezzanine floor :







    The swimming pool was also perfect with car parking underneath so even my coupe enjoyed its stay without gettin g hot and bothered :





    Just a 50 yard walk to the beach :



    Oh yes, and for the lazy, American breakfast was available until 11.00 am for just 50 baht. Very convenient. I've lost the name card of this place but I think it was the Nirindorn or something very similar.
    Along the beach there were plenty of air con places with prices around the 350 mark but without a pool and a bit more run down. What I personaly like is that you can park right on the edge of the beach so no problem finding a place to stop for a picnic. At night time we had no problem finding plenty of places to eat and we had such a nice time that by the end of the evening the three of us had put a bottle of Tequila to bed without noticing.

    I have read some critisism of Cha am on other threads and the mention of too much mafia ? Well maybe if you rent something you might run into this but I can't say I felt I was about to get caught in the crossfire of any gangland feuds. In fact it was very laid back and quiet. I am sure that on the weekends when all the Thais hit the city from Bangkok then the whole place could turn into a replica of hell but for a short midweek break it was perfect. Just as a matter of comparison here is a picture of Chao Lao beach which for my money looks very similar in terms of sand and trees. The difference was in the total lack of tourists at all at Chao Lao. In fact , I've been down to Bang Saphan and the beach and pine trees still look much the same , just very quiet and cheaper than Chao Lao.



    As for girlie bars. Well, nothing much for those looking for a horizontal holiday but that is to Cha ams credit rather than detriment.
    Last edited by Bangyai; 06-12-2009 at 03:08 PM.

  2. #2

    R.I.P.


    dirtydog's Avatar
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    Nirundorn Resort, Beach road, Cha Am.
    Telephone (032) 471 038, (032) 433 450
    nirundorn.com
    247/7 ชายหาดชะอำ ถ. ร่วมจิตร อ. ชะอำ
    จ. เพชรบุรี 76120

  3. #3
    Philippine Expat
    Davis Knowlton's Avatar
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    Will file name and address (thanks DD) away. Very clean and nice looking spot on what looks to be a pretty good hunk of beach. Thanks for the post.

  4. #4
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    Quote Originally Posted by Bangyai
    I think it was the Nirindorn or something very similar.
    Nirundorn 3, I believe.

    You'll be delighted to learn that I've had a shag on this bed.





    And that I've sat at both these tables for breakfast.



    Small world, eh?
    The sleep of reason brings forth monsters.

  5. #5
    Whopping Member
    benbaaa's Avatar
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    The pool wasn't quite finished when I was there in October, so I didn't have a chance to pee in it.

  6. #6
    loob lor geezer
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    Quote Originally Posted by benbaaa View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Bangyai
    I think it was the Nirindorn or something very similar.
    Nirundorn 3, I believe.

    You'll be delighted to learn that I've had a shag on this bed.


    That makes 2 of us then. Bet you didn't scratch your name on the headboard though....least wise...I never saw it.

  7. #7
    RIP
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    Excellant report

  8. #8
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    pescator's Avatar
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    Never cared much for neither Hua Hin nor Cha-Am, but this place looks neat as does the beach. Excellent value for money too.
    I definately made a too hasty judgement on Cha-Am.
    Thank you for the recommendation and the pictures.

  9. #9
    DaffyDuck
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    The place wouldn't have WiFi as well, would it? That would make it absolutely perfect!

  10. #10
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    Looks like a very decent place. Thanks.

  11. #11
    ptrjakson
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    Really the beaches are looking cool .Nice collection of beach photo.

  12. #12
    Thailand Expat
    Scottish Gary's Avatar
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    Is there much to do in Cha am at night ?

  13. #13
    loob lor geezer
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    Quote Originally Posted by Scottish Gary View Post
    Is there much to do in Cha am at night ?
    Plenty of restaurants and a few bars where you can play pool and meet a few girls .......not many though. People generaly go here to avoid too much nightlife.

  14. #14
    Thailand Expat Jesus Jones's Avatar
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    Would this place be suitable for two small kids aged 4 and 6. Reason i ask is a friend of mine is coming in March, and being from Yorkshire he doesn't want to spend much. He's staying for a month and Cha Am was one place of a few that i'm going to take him.

    Good info btw.
    You bullied, you laughed, you lied, you lost!

  15. #15
    Whopping Member
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    Quote Originally Posted by Jesus Jones
    Would this place be suitable for two small kids aged 4 and 6.
    I'd say yes to that.

  16. #16
    loob lor geezer
    Bangyai's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by benbaaa View Post
    Quote Originally Posted by Jesus Jones
    Would this place be suitable for two small kids aged 4 and 6.
    I'd say yes to that.
    Seconded. At the back of this hotel there are houses for rent. Your friend might find it cheaper to rent one of these for a month. No pool though :




  17. #17
    Thailand Expat Jesus Jones's Avatar
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    ^ Thanks but it would only be for 4 days max as we would be traveling around - Koh Chang, etc.

    On the subject of Koh Chang as i lived/stayed there for 6 months, how are the areas left of the island as you exit the ferry, have they developed and worth visiting now? I stayed in Kie Bea for a while but as i left they were development shops etc which made it look a little rough in my opinion.

    And what are the prices like from 3 years ago?
    Last edited by Jesus Jones; 27-01-2010 at 09:47 AM.

  18. #18
    loob lor geezer
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    Stayed here again recently. Still very nice but now 700 baht in the main block and breakfast also a bit more. Doesn't hurt to shop around.

  19. #19
    Thailand Expat
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    Thanks - good set of pics and comments...I have stayed at Cha am a couple of times over past two years and enjoyed the quiet times, except on weekends

  20. #20
    Member skyywalker's Avatar
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    Thanks for posts, Bangyai. I will be going to Cha Am with a group including an 8 month old & a 70 year old. Sounds like we'll be able to enjoy the beach area without running into too much crazy nightlife.

  21. #21
    Being chased by sloths DJ Pat's Avatar
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    Looks like you had to bring your own toilet roll

  22. #22
    sabaii sabaii
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    ^ I wonder who done a runner with the last one

  23. #23
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    Are there any good farang bars around Cha-am?

    I have made an unplanned visit for the night.......I have just booked into a place called the Cha-am Villa Hotel.

    B1200. With breakfast and Wi-Fi. I Will post pictures later....

  24. #24
    Being chased by sloths DJ Pat's Avatar
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    I'll be stopping for a night on my way down further south next month. If it wasn't for these pics I wouldn't have bothered.

  25. #25
    Thailand Expat
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    if you're not too interested in bright lights and nightlife then cha am is a delightful little place, its down to earth and unpretentious, the opposite of its flashier brother hua hin, 25km to the south.

    the beach is good, lined with umbrellas and pine trees, restaurants and foodstalls over the beach road will bring food and drink to you, there is a fishing port at the north end of town over a bridge with dozens of good restaurants at the waterside.

    in the town there is western food, catering to the large numbers of scandinavians that holiday there and a small nightlife bar area,

    the beach is pretty empty during the week, but fills up with thais at the weekend, its more margate than cannes, pick up trucks rather than camrys and mercs, but all the better for it.

    modern boutique hotels and chrome and steel restaurants are starting to appear now, but the place still retains an unspoilt feel

    the main part of town, a mile back from the beach, on the main phetkasem road, has a large wet market and a huge night market near the railway station on wednesday evening.

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