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From The U.K. to Thailand
December in the UK has a very particular way of announcing itself. The temperature dips, the sky turns grey, and the day shrinks down to a thin ribbon of light. Every year, I reach that moment—usually around the first frost—when I know it’s time to go. Not to flee winter, but to choose something else. Something warm. Something slower. Something with intention. For me, that place is Hua Hin. A coastal town just 3 hours south of Bangkok, It’s where December stops feeling like an obligation and becomes an exhale. I’ve been coming here for three years now—not for the Instagram postcard version of Thailand, but for the real rhythm of it: sun-warmed skin, the weight of a cold coconut in hand, and space to feel unhurried for once.
This guide centres on The Standard Hua Hin, our home base and—arguably—the most stylish beach escape in Thailand right now. It’s the only Thai hotel to land on Condé Nast Traveler’s 2022 Hot List, it earned a MICHELIN Key in 2024, and it’s the rare property that evolves every year without losing the soul of what made it exceptional in the first place.
What follows is your full editorial travel blueprint: fashion, food, rituals, design touches, and the very Standard ways of living well by the sea.
BEFORE YOU FLY: THE PRE-DEPARTURE EDIT
Travel is a ritual, and your ritual starts long before boarding. Here’s the full pre-flight curation—luggage, tech, and the comfort pieces that carry you through airports with quiet confidence. Luggage: The First Statement How you carry yourself matters, literally. Your luggage is the first signal of how you approach travel—whether you’re moving through the world or simply being moved through it. These are the options worth considering.
The Standard x Crash Baggage Collaboration: Icon Luggage in Red represents something increasingly rare: two houses with shared values creating something neither could alone. The Standard Hotels, known for breaking convention and reimagining travel as pleasure-seeking, partnered with Crash Baggage, the Italian luggage pioneer, to create a suitcase that refuses to blend into airport carousels. The bold red is instantly recognizable, utterly unapologetic, and precisely what your festive December departure demands. This isn’t luggage that apologises for its presence; it arrives as a statement.
RIMOWA Clay and Terracott Collection: Clay and Terracotta offers a different energy—grounded, elemental, inspired by the warmth of sun-baked earth. The new seasonal colours feel less like a trend and more like a philosophy: that luggage can be beautiful without requiring explanation. The engineering precision RIMOWA is known for remains unchanged; the colour palette simply acknowledges that sometimes restraint is the most powerful statement.
Rimowa ESSENTIAL
Trunk Plus Terracotta
£1,080
Louis Vuitton Carry-On by Marc Newson represents the other extreme: maximum thoughtfulness with minimal appearance. Designed by Marc Newson, widely acknowledged as the most influential industrial designer of his generation, this lightweight four-wheeled carry-on features a completely flat interior—made possible through innovative engineering and a large external cane. The result? Remarkable interior space despite cabin-friendly dimensions. This is luggage as architecture.
Louis Vuitton Horizon 55 Suitcase, £3,570
McLaren x TUMI Carry-On brings automotive innovation to travel. The collaboration echoes McLaren’s design language through compression straps reminiscent of a six-point harness, a molded front panel inspired by aerodynamics, and CX6 carbon fiber accents that signal serious engineering. The result is a carry-on that blends exceptional durability with design precision—Tegris material, exceptional manoeuvrability, and a USB port that actually works. This is luggage for people who understand that luxury isn’t about softness; it’s about intelligent design that delivers.
CABIN BAGS: SMALL BUT SIGNIFICANT
For those who prefer to travel with minimal checked luggage, Mont Blanc, Ami Paris, Love Brand & Co, Hackett London, Ferragamo, and Brunello Cucinelli each approach the cabin bag with the same thoughtfulness applied to full luggage. Lipault provide alternatives for those seeking durability without the designer markup. These are pieces that will sit in your overhead compartment and still feel intentional.
£ 955
Phone Protection: Safety as Style
Tumi McLaren, Topologie and Nudient phone cases & Sacoche all approach device protection differently—one through automotive‑inspired engineering, one through technical outdoor design, and one through sleek Scandinavian minimalism—but each keeps your phone safe without sacrificing style.
Headphones: The Secret to Airborne Serenity
For travellers who love the journey but hate the noise, the Marshall Monitor III A.N.C. are the kind of headphones that quietly upgrade every trip. With a rock ’n’ roll edge—fronted by Green Day’s Billie Joe Armstrong—they mix attitude with seriously effective noise-cancelling tech. Foldable, powerful and unmistakably Marshall, they’re made for people who travel light but listen loud.
What makes them perfect for hand-baggage warriors is the size: the earcups twist and fold into a compact hard case, shrinking down to something roughly the size of a brown coconut. When you’ve only got 7kg to play with, that matters. They feel tough too—ideal for overhead lockers, security trays and being pulled out of your bag a hundred times.
Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation £299
Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation £299
Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation £299
Onboard a flight or squeezed onto a busy London Tube lines, the adaptive ANC earns its place instantly. Multiple levels—controlled via buttons or the Marshall app—let you switch from full isolation to lighter transparency when you need to hear what’s happening around you. In high ANC mode, engine hum, cabin chatter and background chaos melt away, leaving just your playlist or podcast.
Battery life is where these really show off: up to 70 hours with ANC on, up to 100 with it off, and a 15-minute charge giving around 12 hours of playback. That’s an entire London–Bangkok leg or a full day of sightseeing without worrying about power. Controls are simple too: Marshall’s signature gold knob for volume and tracks, plus dedicated ANC and customisable buttons.
Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation £299
Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation £299
Over-ear headphones with active noise cancellation £299
Comfort-wise, the soft, structured ear cushions sit securely without the usual long-haul pressure headache. Add Marshall’s warm, punchy sound and optional spatial audio, and your journey stops being something to endure—it becomes part of the pleasure.
Comfortable Travel-Friendly Footwear
Something between serious shoe and genuine comfort. such as Onitsuka Tiger and Saucony, slip-ons like Birkenstock that you can move through airports in without fussing, but that don’t require apology when you’re dining. Honestly, this matters more than it should. Quality socks prevent blisters on the walk from check-in to gate, and good compression socks such as STOX energy socks reduce the particular puffiness that comes with long-haul flights.
ARRIVAL: GETTING TO HUA HIN
From Bangkok by Air
Most international flights arrive at Suvarnabhumi Airport or Don Mueang International Airport in Bangkok. From there, you have options. Some travellers choose to spend a night in Bangkok (entirely valid—the city deserves at least that), while others proceed directly to Hua Hin.
Bangkok to Hua Hin: Train or Taxi
The most affordable and atmospheric option is the train. The State Railway of Thailand operates services from Bangkok to Hua Hin regularly; the journey takes approximately 3 hours, costs around 100–150 Thai Baht (£2.50–£3.75), and offers genuine Thai atmosphere—locals, vendors, windows you can actually open.
More convenient is the taxi or Uber option: approximately 2.5 hours, costing 1,600–2,000 Thai Baht (£37–£47), depending on traffic and your exact Bangkok starting point. The drive passes through genuine Thailand—not the tourist overlay, but the working landscape that most visitors never see.
THE STANDARD HUA HIN — A RETURN TO WARMTH, DESIGN, AND THE ART OF FEELING GOOD
There are hotels you stay in because they’re convenient, and then there are hotels that become part of your personal geography — places you revisit because they evolve with you. The Standard Hua Hin sits firmly in the second category. It doesn’t simply operate as a resort; it behaves like a creative space, a mood, a pocket of warm air you step into whenever the UK winter starts feeling personal.
Since opening, the property has refined itself continuously — tweaks to design, refreshed dining concepts, quieter improvements guests don’t notice but feel. It’s the kind of consistency that earned them the 2024 MICHELIN Key, placing the hotel among the elite few globally recognised for design, experience, and service considered at the same standard as a Michelin-starred dining room.
They take hospitality seriously — but never too seriously.
THE ROOMS — EASY LUXURY THAT DOESN’T TRY TOO HARD
We stayed in a Deluxe King Room on a higher floor, and if you’re the type (like me) who values morning light and views that actually make you pause, choose the upper levels. The palette is warm and grounded — that soft, neutral comfort that feels like the interior version of exhaling.
The essentials are exactly where they should be
- A bed so good you immediately wonder who their supplier is
- A pillow menu worth using (your neck will absolutely thank you)
- Rainfall shower + soaking tub that gives “spa without the performance”
- Davines amenities — always a green flag for a hotel that understands sensory luxury
- Ultimate Ears speakers that follow your soundtrack from morning routine to pre-dinner warm-up
- A minibar that feels curated, not chaotic
- Robes that you’ll actually want to wear
- And yes, Wi-Fi that actually works everywhere
Every room feels deliberately quiet — the kind of silence that comes from proper soundproofing, not luck.
BREAKFAST AT LIDO — MORNING DONE PROPERLY
Breakfast here is a ritual. Not the chaotic, “room rate includes breakfast so I guess I’ll go” kind — but the kind where you actually feel cared for.
The buffet follows one philosophy: abundance, but never excess.
Fruits, breads, pastries, local dishes, proper proteins, made-to-order options, fresh juices that hit exactly the right notes after a flight — everything has intention. Even the smoothies taste like someone in the kitchen actually drinks smoothies.
It’s breakfast that respects your morning. That’s rare.
POOL, BEACH & THAT STANDARD ENERGY
The pool is a visual mood board in itself—crisp blue tiles, yellow-and-white striped umbrellas, loungers spaced with intention, and that kind of slow, coastal energy where time stops behaving. And because the beach is literally a few steps away, you can switch between pool dips and ocean swims based purely on your mood, not logistics.
This is also where what you wear becomes part of the experience.
And then — the beach. Just steps away. No dramatic walk, no awkward path, just sand and sea right where you expect it. This is what makes the property a retreat: you choose pool or ocean depending on mood, not logistics.
For women, the ViX by Paula Hermanny Matte Bessie Tri Top & Bottom is exactly the kind of swim set that makes sense here—minimal, refined, matte texture that looks effortless against the hotel’s soft-sun palette. It’s the bikini you choose when you want clean lines, no fuss, and that slightly Brazilian confidence that just works under Hua Hin’s light.
For men, the LOVE BRAND & Co. ‘Staniel’ Swim Shorts belong in this setting. Tailored but easy, the kind of cut that looks good both in the water and walking to the bar for a cold drink. Lightweight, quick-drying, and quietly elegant—basically a resort essential without trying to be one.
Slip into your swimwear of choice, grab the signature striped towel, and the rest of the day unfolds naturally: sun, salt, cocktails, maybe a walk down the sand at golden hour. Paradise, but without the performance.
THE GYM, SAUNA & WELLNESS MOMENTS THAT STAY WITH YOU
The gym is 24 hours, modern, bright, and spacious enough that you never feel like you’re exercising in a cupboard. After breakfast (or after dinner, depending on your commitments), this becomes a space you actually want to be in.
Post-workout, grab a smoothie — the banana one is basically a recovery drink disguised as something indulgent.
The sauna feels restorative, not overly hot. But the real ritual — the one that becomes a story — is the ice bath.
THE RETREAT: BE COOL — ICE BATH RITUAL
This is where I confess: I went into this sceptical. The kind of scepticism where you’re already rehearsing the “I tried it but it wasn’t for me” line. And yet — the ritual works.
The Protocol:
2 min ice bath → 10 min sauna → 3 min ice bath → 10 min sauna → 5 min icy plunge with sound therapy I thought I would last ten seconds. Somehow I lasted all rounds. The breathing (in through the nose, out through the mouth) is key. Your body adapts faster than your mind expects.
Aftermath: Skin immediately softer. Firmer. Clearer. I felt lighter — digestive system included. The effects stayed for days. After three years of coming in December, I’m convinced it’s not placebo; it’s discipline disguised as wellness.
Not for everyone — but transformative if you surrender to it.
DINING — FIVE DAYS, ZERO REPEAT ENERGY
The Standard treats dining the way good fashion houses treat collections — different characters, same standard. You can spend your entire trip eating on property and never feel like you’re repeating meals.PRAÇA — THAI IZAKAYA WITH BEACHFRONT ENERGY
If there’s one place that captures the mood of Hua Hin, it’s Praça. A beachfront restaurant-bar hybrid where day turns into night without you noticing.
Hours blur in the best way:
Tea 3–5pm | Drinks 4pm–midnight | Dinner 5pm–midnight
The Food — Familiar Roots, Elevated Execution
Everything has a sense of play, but the technique is real.
My must-orders:
- Half-rare tuna with stir-fried vegetables: peak freshness, perfect heat, real wok hei.
- Beef fried rice: smoky, textured, cooked with actual confidence.
- Fried lotus roots: crisp outside, delicate inside — unexpectedly addictive.
- Crab shumai: generous filling, delicate wrappers. Try the first bite without sauce.
- 8-hour pork ribs: so tender it almost feels engineered.
The Cocktails — Sensory and Slightly Theatrical
- Betel leaf cocktail: like someone turned a luxury shower gel into a drink — in the best possible way.
- Tom yum shot: sweet, sour, spicy — a whole mood compressed into one sip.
Book ahead. The beachfront seats vanish fast.
LIDO — ALL-DAY ITALIAN WITH CONSISTENT EXCELLENCE
Lido feels like the restaurant you rely on — the one that always delivers, whether you’re in post-beach mode or ready for something comforting.
Dinner Highlights
- Spanish ham & black truffle pizza: balanced, aromatic, visually satisfying.
- Spaghetti with fish & crab: properly spicy, perfectly al dente, deeply flavourful.
- Tuna tartare: fresh, refreshing, exactly what you want after a sunny day.
- Burnt orange cheesecake: light, silky, citrusy perfection — you will want it again the next night.
Breakfast: 6:30–10:30am
All-day dining: Noon–10:30pm
NIGHTS IN HUA HIN — SMALL DISCOVERIES MATTER
The Night Market
Hua Hin’s night markets offer genuine local experience—not the tourist-overlay version, but actual locals shopping for actual food alongside the occasional traveller who’s found the right place. The Chatsila Night Market is more recent and more intimate, with handmade clothing, postcards, notebooks, and t-shirts with genuinely funky designs alongside the food stalls.
More importantly, there’s a clothing store that sells Thai milk tea (genuinely excellent tea, served traditionally—sweet, over ice, condensed milk settling at the bottom). The specificity of finding exceptional tea in a clothing boutique is precisely the kind of discovery that makes travel memorable.
December in Hua Hin isn’t about running from winter; it’s about choosing intentionally. It’s about boarding a flight with headphones that actually work, luggage that carries itself with confidence, and arriving at a property where every element—from the ice bath to the crab dumplings to the yellow-striped beach towels—has been considered with genuine care.
This is where escape becomes rest. Where travel becomes ritual. Where December becomes something entirely other than cold.
Book accordingly. Your tropical paradise awaits.
Looks amazing 🥳