If you’ve ever wondered what it’s like to wake up in a modern beachfront villa with your own private pool and a view of the ocean, I can confirm: it doesn’t suck. We spent the Christmas 2024/2025 holidays at Vala Hua Hin, a resort about 25 minutes north of Hua Hin, and it was exactly the kind of laid-back luxury we were after. Think: stylish, peaceful, a little bit Instagram-y, and just bougie enough, without feeling stuffy and pretentious. Perfect!
We booked a private transfer to Hua Hin with Get Your Guide. We have used them before, and they’re usually a safe bet. The transfer took around 3 hours from Bangkok and cost us $80 USD. The drive was largely uneventful, but confirmed what we already knew. Bangkok traffic is insane. Once we were outside of the city, things moved a little quicker.
The Villa Life (spoiler: highly recommend)
We stayed in one of the Beachfront Pool Villas — and honestly, it was dreamy. Clean modern lines, calming neutrals, and one of the most comfortable beds I’ve slept in all year. The indoor circular bath was a bit of a design curveball (who’s really bathing in the middle of the room?), but the shower made up for it. Outside though? Gorgeous. Private garden, 8m pool, daybeds, loungers, and the ocean right in front of you.
Hotel Lobby.
Welcome to Vala.
Service: 10/10, no notes
The service at Vala was next level. Everyone from the check-in to the restaurant staff went out of their way to make things easy and enjoyable. Nothing was too much trouble, and everything ran smoothly all week. We were looked after, and not in the overly formal way — just genuinely lovely people doing their jobs well.
Food: A mixed bag, but mostly hits
We’re not big on breakfast (I know, shocking) but what we did try was decent. Not a massive spread, but what was there was good quality, and you can’t go wrong with an egg station. Breakfast could get quite busy, especially towards the end of service.
Most of our meals were at The Woods, the main restaurant, and we especially liked the Pad Kra Pao (pork and holy basil stir fry). We ate lunch there a few times, and dinner on several nights, including Christmas Eve, where they laid on a festive meal and the staff did some wholesome (albeit slightly awkward) carolling. Yes, I have video. Yes, I’m keeping it forever.
Festive starter
Festive main course
And a festive finish.
We didn’t bother with room service — mostly because everything we needed was a short stroll away. The Marbles pool bar became a bit of a regular haunt. Except for the one day the staff disappeared, and we awkwardly hovered for ten minutes before giving up and going to the main bar. No biggie.
Vala Hotel Christmas carolers: 10/10 for effort!
Amenities: Great — but we barely needed them
With the villa being such a sanctuary, we didn’t make full use of the hotel’s other facilities. We dipped into the pool area and bar, wandered the grounds, tried (unsuccessfully) to access the rooftop at The Woods, which was closed. Next time.
The one real letdown was the beach — or lack of. It’s more of a decorative concept than a usable thing. If you’re dreaming of long sandy walks or swimming in the sea, this might not be the spot. But honestly, with our villa setup, we didn’t miss it.
Instagram vs Reality
Minor grumble: apparently, beachfront pool villas are catnip for Instagrammers. Several times, we had strangers walk into our villa garden via the sea wall to snap some ‘spontaneous’ selfies. Mildly hilarious the first time, slightly annoying the second. We told the staff, and they swiftly put up a screen to block off the area. Problem solved.
Also worth noting: the resort is a bit out of town — but Grab works well and costs very little. We dipped into Hua Hin a few times for the markets, dinner, and drinks without any drama.
Vibe check: Calm, quiet, and mostly adult
The overall vibe was mellow. No loud music, no rowdy crowds, just a chilled, design-conscious resort where everyone seems to be on the same page about peace and quiet. There were kids, but younger ones, we really didn’t hear much of them which suited us fine. The resort caters to both Eastern and Western markets and seems to have been a favorite getaway for those in Bangkok. We had a wedding on the premises one night, but we were pleased to see that this didn’t impact the services provided by the hotel (take note Six Senses Samui!). Nearby, there were a few walkable spots for massages and food if you wanted to escape the hotel grounds for a bit.
The main pool and bar (The Marbles)
Final thoughts
We came for rest, sun, and a break from grey UK winters — and got all three. Ben was in his element: sunning, swimming, vibing to music, and generally enjoying life in the slow lane. The weather this time of year is perfect!
Would we go back? Absolutely. Just maybe with a small ‘no influencers allowed’ sign for the garden.
Sounds like a dream. I wish I was there!
We had a fab time, we’re returning to Hua Hin this year again, but staying in town this time to try something different.