A quiet alternative to Hua Hin, where many Thais enjoy succulent seafood and visitors have a range of accommodation options including luxurious golf resorts and small boutique beach hotels.

Located less than 200 km south of Bangkok and just 20 km north of Hua Hin, Cha-am is a quiet beach retreat in Petchaburi Province; a long stretch of silvery sand that is far quieter than nearby Hua Hin.

Cha-am is popular with couples looking for a romantic retreat, seniors who like peace and quiet, and families with young children who are looking for an area that is both safe and free from the hassle of beach vendors. Its also a popular weekend destination for Bangkok residents who enjoy the sea, even if the sand is not as fine as at nearby Hua Hin. While it is relatively quiet, Cha-am still offers visitors a number of beach activities, such as jet skiing and banana boat riding, and the seafood is as readily available and inexpensive as any beach town in Thailand.

Cha-ams beach areas are separated by Naranthip Road, which leads from the unassuming Cha-am town down to Ruamjit Road, which runs parallel to the beach. This intersection is where the closest thing to a beach town exists: an area where local festivities are held at the towns main pier and many fine seafood restaurants are located. North of this intersection is a concentration of businesses catering to European tourists; south of it, the beach becomes gradually quieter and a predominately Thai crowd chills out at relaxing beach resorts, most of which are located on the opposite side Ruamjit Road and along roads leading away from the beach. At the farthest southern end of the road are the most luxurious resorts and golf courses.

For a little local character, visitors can travel north to a quaint fishing village that includes a harbor full of fishing boats and a number of seafood restaurants.

The mellow beach town of Cha-am is located less than 200km south of Bangkok. Thanks to its proximity to Hua Hin, Cha-am slowly developed into a tourist destination, though a far quieter one than its popular neighbor to the south. Cha-am is primarily a weekend getaway from those looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok.

Featuring Thailand's longest stretch of beach, Cha-am has a small but quiet beach town where there are some charming seafood restaurants and plenty of open-air eateries, not least of which are the rows of beach umbrellas where hawkers sell barbequed shrimp. Accommodation ranges from backpacker friendly European owned hotels to boutique spa retreats, ideal for a romantic rendezvous.

The sea at Cha-am is generally calm, making it safe for families with children, while rental jet skis and banana boats are available for those looking for a little more fun. Generally speaking however, Cha-am is for those looking for a quiet and relaxing retreat, particularly on the week days, when the weekend warriors have returned to nearby Bangkok.

Getting to and from Cha Am

• By Train:
  From Bangkok there are five train departures each day that stop in Cha-am, whose train station is located at the western end of Naranthip Rd, about 1km from the beach and its resorts.
  

• By Bus:
  From Bangkoks southern bus terminal there are as many as 10 bus departures per day to Cha-ams Soi Bus Stop. The bus journey between Bangkok and Cha-am takes between 2.5 and 3 hours and costs around 150 baht.
  
• By Other:
  From Cha-am, busses and trains can transport visitors to nearby Petchaburi (a 25 minute bus ride costing 40 baht) or south to Hua Hin (20 minutes for 20 baht) and Chumphon (four to six hours for 240 baht).

Getting Around Cha Am

If you are staying outside the beach town located at the intersection of Naranthip and Ruamjit Roads and dont have your own transportation, getting around Cha-am can be somewhat tricky. The beach road is nearly 6 km long and the main town is 2 km from the beach, up Naranthip Road; knowing how to get around before you get there will save you some hassle.

By Bicycle:
The most comfortable way to explore Cha-am is via bicycle, which can be hired from many guesthouses and hotels. A pleasurable way to spend a day or to get around, bicycles for one or more (tandem style) are popular pastimes as well as transportation options.

By Taxi and motorbike-taxi:
While most hotels can arrange taxis to transport you from A to B, there are no metered taxis as in Bangkok, and fares will need to be negotiated each time you wish to get in a cab. Easier to use perhaps are motorbike taxi's, which charge about 20 Baht per person per ride to get to most places in and around Cha-am beach and town.

By Rental Motorbike:
If you want to visit attractions farther from the beach area, you are going to have to pay taxis and motorbikes considerably more and it may be more practical to rent your own motorbike. For around 150 to 300 baht per day you can hire your own motorbike, which will typically require you to leave your passport as a deposit. Be sure to inspect bikes prior to rental and drive with extreme caution as rental motorbikes are not normally insured and accidents are frequent. Helmets are required by Thai law.

By Rental Car:
If you want freedom to explore and more safety and comfort than aboard a rental motorbike, you can rent a car from either Bangkok or Hua Hin and drive to Cha-am. Nearly all hotels have ample parking. Be aware that only Commercial First Class Insurance provides full coverage on rental cars (as opposed to limited personal or third party only insurance). Most international car rental agencies will offer this insurance (some only for those with a valid international drivers license) while local companies may or may not. You may wish to request a copy of their insurance policy and ensure that it states "For Commercial Use". Regardless, inspect rental vehicles prior to rental and drive with caution, particularly as traffic in Thailand can be quite confusing, especially the habit of Thai motorcycles drivers to drive on the wrong side of the road.