Cha-am

The atmosphere at Cha-am is different from Hua Hin. The beach is fronted by a long row of casuarina trees and its is more spread out. It is in fact the longest stretch of sand in all of Thailand. In addition, it is closer to Bangkok, making it popular with Thais who motor in from the Big Mango for a day at the beach or a couple of days in the condo they have purchased in one of high-rises fronting the beach.
The Thais love to snack while they play in the water and the beach is chocablok with vendors selling everything from cotton candy to grilled horseshoe crabs. There are also numerous opportunities for watersports, including the inevitable jet-skies, para-sailing and banana boats. There is an abundance of deckchairs and umbrellas for rent and numerous bathhouses where you can use the toilet or wash the sand off with fresh water.
Cha-am is not only the home of several large resorts, it is also has numerous small and reasonably priced guesthouses only a few metres from the strand. There is a lot to eat here, but you'll find much less 'foreign' food that in neighbouring Hua Hin. One thing to remember about Cha-am is that it relatively quite on weekdays, crowded on weekends and really packed on public holidays.