In early January, we continued our Thailand journey by visiting our third city: Hua Hin. Traveling from Bangkok by rail from Krung Thep Ariwat train station, the ride was simple and relaxing, and we arrived at Hua Hin’s quaint, beautifully updated train station.

For the first part of our stay we checked into the Treepana Boutique Hotel. Located a bit inland from the beach, it gave us a more local feel of the city. We quickly noticed that Hua Hin was the most affordable place we’d stayed in Thailand so far—cheaper than Chiang Mai and significantly less expensive than Bangkok.

Hua Hin felt a bit like a smaller, relaxed version of Bangkok—without the skytrain systems—but still very easy to navigate. There were plenty of places to shop and eat, from the more local feel of Market Village Hua Hin to the expat-friendly vibe at Bluport Hua Hin Resort Mall.

So far, so good at our Hua Hin city by the sea.