Thailand

Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin review: What makes us happy holidaying in Hua Hin? Well, besides that this is a laidback seaside destination, key is to check in at a comfy resort with attractive F&B offers and facilities on the premises, where one can, have fun, unwind and be blessed by the beauty of nature. Happy Hour Asia decided to opt for a reviewing debut by exploring what BWH Hotels’ Best Western Plus has to offer, through its Khao Tao-based beachfront resort some 5 kilometres south of Hua Hin proper. The very fact that this resort includes its own beach club was decisive in giving it a go, paired with other interesting facilities and being a bit more secluded.

As brand positioning, ‘Plus’ is a notch above Best Western, which translates into going beyond the expected and offer everything from well-appointed guest rooms to upgraded amenities. So with four-star level, this Plus (of which there are much fewer in Thailand than standard Best Western hotels) is of interest to our readership targets.

As for ‘carapace’ in the name, this means a section of the shell in a number of animal groups – in this hotel depicted in the form of the free-living aquatic shrimp animal as its emblem.

Arched lobby entrance, Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin

To get to the resort it is actually a good idea to use the bypass road west of Hua Hin and turn back north to reach Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin. By doing so, avoid a lot of downtown Hua Hin traffic that might otherwise significantly delay the intended arrival time.

Turning off from the rain road, there is almost immediately an overpass u-turn to cross the railway and after that the hotel building reveals itself around a bend.

The area is low-rise and has some mini marts and local restaurants, and also a residential condominium as hotel neighbour. Nearby is also a large lake that one can walk around as an exercise.
 
It turns out that there is also a beautiful train station nearby, which can be a little adventure as an alternative way to travel to downtown, or even all the way to and from Bangkok – the usual departure route for travellers coming here. The spruced up station has a veranda and is painted in warm yellow and wine red colours, in keeping with the famous Hua Hin raiway station.
 
Entering the hotel, all-day restaurant Biscay is to the left and the lobby to the right, accessed via arched openings with brass edges and blue-green screen walls (which looks very striking towards the evening). The entrance have some vintage-inspired latticework structures hung from the ceiling, while the actual lobby space is more modern with its tinted ceiling mirror and serpent-shaped LED ceiling light.
 
Wicker handicraft is used to form the body for a circle seating, which itself has the shape similar to what is traditionally a woven food cover. It is surrounded by grey armchairs and more seats are spread out on the shiny brown-veined marble floor, to accommodate a sometimes veyr busy lobby for check-in and check-out for the 380 contemporary rooms and suites.
 
Along a wall is also Buddhist prayer area, along with an instant photo machine, which is a playful, old-school feature to showcase in this all-out digital era.
 

Lagoon Pool and Aqua Play Zone

Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel: Aqua Play Zone

From the lobby a floor-to-ceiling glass wall, (including doors), reveals something exciting in particular for families with kids: the Aqua Play Zone; a well-equipped water park featuring seven sliders, along with other fun activities. There are stairs down from the elevated lobby, with a water pond, and next to the family zone is the freeform Lagoon Pool, flanked by three sunken, oval seating areas. These are semi-shaded thanks to woodwork consisting in a diagonal web of thin wood slices. Come evening, it is truly blissful to swim in the illuminated lagoon pool, to which ground floor units –  category Deluxe Pool Access – are furnished with private stairs into the pool.
 
Above the lobby all rooms face the water play zone and pool, and sunrise – with balconies on which to spend balmy evenings. Then, on its left and right are multiple wings (8 floors the highest) stretching vertically towards the beach, with a mix of built-it in balconies and some cantilevered.
 
The Deluxe Seaview room comes with a neutral palette of beige (floor, headboard), grey and bright wood;  accented by some blue features such as cushions, narrow bedside wall panels and blue-white towels. It has a very comfy bed and come with two wooden armchairs upholstered in beige, and a greyish, stylish work desk
 
The bathroom (with shower cubicle, a white sink counter and brown marble-looking surfaces) opens up to the bedroom via a blonde wooden slide door where a 360-degree double-sided mirror is mounted above the sink, while a large carapace shell drawing decorates the wall above the bed.
 
Amenities include refill toiletries, bathrobes and slippers, welcome fruit and more. 
 
The Balcony has sandy brown tiles and brown rattan chairs with beige cushions and a white, low coffee table.
 
The One Bedroom Suite, meanwhile, has a large bedroom and en-suite bathroom; an extra corner with an armchair and table; and double showers and balconies!
 
There are also Two Bedroom Suites and Family Suites to accommodate families. Other types include Superior with bathtub, Premium Deluxe and more.
 
The hotel also boasts a small but well-equipped gym, including fitness machines, yoga mats and weightlifting.
 

Lobby photo booth, Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel Hua Hin

For dining, Biscay restaurant opposite the lobby is a bright and naturally-lit by day and more dimly lit and stylish by night, with long, thin tubes as ceiling lamps; brown wood wall details; vintage-style rattan furniture; and white-veined as well as black-and-white pebbles designed floor tiles. A very long sofa functions as a separator of the dining area into different sections.
 
Although Happy Hour Asia’s attention was turned to the beach club dining, some menu items from local Thai flavours and international favourites can be mentioned as follows Appetizers: Beef Carpaccio, Spicy squd salad with lemongrass etc. Chef’s recommended: Fried seabass with fish sauce, Ossobuco Massaman etc. Meats: Salmon, steak, Beef tenderloin and more. In addition to that Rice & Curry dishes and Pasta & Noddles, such as Salmon fettuccine or Spaghetti pomodoro.
 

Biscay also serves a decent breakfast with buffet and dining areas that can accommodate many guests, and includes egg station; wok-fried rice noodles; Chinese kale with chicken, red sauce; Spicy chicken soup; Noodle soup with chicken; Cauliflower gratin and more.

Best Western Plus Carapace Hotel: Carapace Beach Club

Beyond the family fun at Aqua Play Zone, individual travellers and couples can have their respite at the Carapace Beach Club (dedicated to hotel guests), which is 150 metres closer to the sea, past the property’s residential section. A shuttle drives beach-bound guests between the lobby and this beach venue.
 
This beach club has flexible function space and a large rooftop platform with capacity for many guests and overlooking the pool and the sea.
 
The beach club serves lunch, afternoon tea and of course dinner. Afternoon tea is nice to have indoors, combined with socialising or doing a bit of computer work. The interior is in marine and nature themes, with blue-hued floor tiles and carved wooden chairs and tables, overlooking a large outdoor terrace and pool area. A pizza oven is visibly placed nearby the open kitchen. The beach club is a fav hangout as it offers mutliple reasons to remain and crossing over to real vacation mode.
 
Outdoors, sunshade is offered from oversized mushroom-shaped white canopies on the faux-wood patio, with white garden furniture in marble style. In a corner one finds a curved outdoor shower zone with a green tile wall. Here, guests dine and drink wearing beachware and enjoying the relaxed, informal setting.
 

Pesto seafood pasta, Carapace beach club

For lunch a couple of delectable choices are Pesto Seafood (homemade green pesto with prawns, mussels and squid topped with parmesan cheese); or the Spicy chicken burger, which is a butter-fried Louisiana chicken served with mixed leaves, tomato, bacon, cheddar, chili and mayonaisse. The pesto pasta dish with with well cooked seafood is a true winner – washed down with fresh mango juice!
 
Built in with the pool – more of a pool for playing and relaxing than swimming laps – is a jacuzzi in one corner and the Pool Bar in the opposite one. Aside two large, sunken cabanas, in a shallow section there is also a pillar roof which seems intended for hanging chairs or something. In-water seats can certainly be place there. The pool’s white-grey square pool tiles generates turquoise pool water, turning to blue after dark.
 
Between the beach and the pools there are also two rows with daybeds, one within a pool ”pond”, the other on an artificial lawn with white rattan sunbed and beach umbrellas. Stairs lead down to the actual beach, which is wide and that stretches long distances to the north and south. 
 
Late afternoon is the perfect time for sundowners when golden hour sets in displaying the interplay between shade and multi-coloured sunrays. Grab one of those swim-up bar seats facing the bartenders in the mushroom-shaped bar, with a counter wide enough to even enjoys meals there!
 
’Carapace Beach Signature’ cocktails include: The Drunken Lion (Infused rum, lemon juice, honey), All Day All Night (Tequila, triple sec, cranberry juice, orang, maple syrup), Lost in Hua Hin (R-Rit, lime juice, fresh ginger, mint leaves, topped with ginger ale), Cara Cara (Gordon’s Pink, triple sec, strawberry juice, rum rim spicy), Love at Sundown (Vodka, Apple Juice, pomegranate juice, lemon, topped with soda) and Summer Mojito (Bacardi rum muddled with lime wedges, pineapple juice, brown sugar, topped with soda) – a selection suitable for the tropics and with elements of Asian fruits and flavours!
 

Wine and dine at Carapace beach club

As sun sets over the hills in the west, and the beach club building, the perfect ending of a day by the sea is to enjoy dinner at  the Carapace Beach Club. Grab one of the cabanas if you can for leisurely dining on low beige seats, with sandy and brown cushions. See-through curtains can also be closed for further privacy.
 
’Chef Recommends’ offer worthwhile dished to highlight here: Isan sausage, Som Tum Thai Goong Sod (prawns served with sticky rice and crispy pork rinds), Larb salmon, Ahi tuna poke (Hawaian salad of cubed ahi tuna tossed with soy sauce, sesame oil and green onions), Carapace Beef Burger, and Khao Tao Seabass Steak (Local seabass steak with white wine, grilled baby carrot, broccoli, asparagus and potato confit).
 
Happy Hour Asia opts for: Carapace Signature Platter – Fresh Vietnamese prawns and pork spring rolls, fish cake, chicken satay, and Thai spicy prawn salad; Caesar salad with shrimps; and a Bacon & mushroom pizza.
 
The Caesar salad arrives with the ingredients beautifully placed one by one on the plate, and the pizza has a bit thicker pizza bread and is well done. The Seafood platter with whole crab, fish fillet, snails, squid, prawns – are all delicious with the condiments.
 
For dessert a Pannacotta is served in a drinking glass with a chocolate  ring on the top and fruit decor. It is a meal and moment to savour!
 
It should also be said that the curated music being played at the beach club is individual and qualitative – an essential component for the overall experience.
 
If one could freeze time it would be perfect to do while being in this particular ’joie de vivre’ moment. But while all holidays eventually stop, it gives the incentive to come back again… 

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