Getting to Cha am
If you are coming on your Cha am holidays on a package tour your transport from Bangkok airport should take between 2 1/2 and 3 hours. The travel options are... BusBuses from Bangkok run from Sai tai bus station ( the southern bus station ) in Thonburi, about every hour, starting at around 05.00 until 22.00.The trip takes between 3 to 4 hours and terminates at the bus station 100 metres from the beach ( only the buses marked Cha am stop here) and cost about 140 Baht. You can also catch other buses that will stop on the main road, just past the crossroads. Buses to Hua hin all stop here, but other long distance buses may go around the by-pass, so check first. Buses from southern destinations that come into Cha am town, all stop on the main road near the crossroads. A motorbike taxi to the beach, from the crossroads should cost you 20 Baht per person.
Minibus from Bangkok
Minibuses run from just off Victory Monument in the centre of Bangkok, to Cha am and Hua hin. Catch the BTS Skytrain to Victory Monument, look for the Century shopping centre ( in the photo above ) before leaving the BTS station, and the minibuses are just down the stairs on the left of the shopping centre.This is quicker than the bus, as they only stop in Cha am, then onto Hua hin, and probably the best cheap way of getting to Cha am. The fare is only slightly higher than the bus at 180 Baht and takes only 2 and a half hours, dropping you off at the top of Narathip road ( the main road down to the beach ). Minibuses run from 06.00 until 19.00 and depart every 30 minutes or earlier when full.
TaxiA taxi from Bangkok is the quickest and easiest way of getting to Cha am. The trip should take about 2 and a half hours and costs between 2000 - 2500 Baht on the meter.If you require a taxi from Bangkok international airport ( Suvarnabhumi ) there is an official taxi stand just outside the arrivals doors on the road. There are many airport taxi touts selling unofficial taxi's that are often older, less comfortable cars. So find the official stand first! The easiest option is to book your car while booking a hotel.
Drive yourselfHire a car in Bangkok and take a 2 and a half hour drive.Directions for getting to Cha am - Leave Bangkok taking highway No. 35 through Samut Sakhon and Samut Songkhran provinces, then take the left exit onto highway No. 4. Continue down highway 4. 40 km past Phetchaburi you take a left into Cha am town. Follow this road until you come to a set of traffic lights, where you turn left onto Narathip road and straight down to the beach.
FlyYou can fly from Bangkok international airport ( Suvarnabhumi ) to Hua Hin airport, which is 6 km outside Hua Hin, 18 km south of Cha am town. The flight takes about 50 minutes on a 12 seat Cessna caravan 208 and is operated by Nokair, costing 3,100 Baht (inc tax). They currently operate 3 flights a day to Hua Hin at 10.45/14.15/17.15. This is a nice scenic way to arrive, but not as convenient as just jumping in a taxi from the airport.
TrainThe train is another option.
Currently there are 2 trains a day from Bangkok's Hualamphong train station that stop in Cha am, departing at 09.20 and 15.35, scheduled to take 3 hours 20 minutes.
There are also 3 trains that leave from Thonburi train station in Bangkok, at 07.25, 13.05, and 19.15. Scheduled to arrive in Cha am at 11.16, 17.20, 22.09 respectively.
If you are coming from the south, only 5 trains stop here in Cha am. If you are on a long distance train, the best option is usually to catch a rapid or express train to Hua Hin, then a bus from there.
You can visit state railway of Thailand website for more information and timetables at www.railway.co.th/english/index.asp For help finding bus or train stations in Bangkok, take a look at the Bangkok transport map leave Getting to Cha am for Cha am home page
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