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Published on November 17, 2007

A quick scan through the photos on its website establishes that the Let's Sea Hua Hin Al Fresco Resort is one of the most beautiful, chic and peaceful places on the southern coast. The cool architecture, unique design and quiet location by the beach guarantee romantic evenings.

And upon entering the hotel, it's clear that the camera hasn't lied.

Its two-storey wings perched by a pool stand out from the crowd with their bare-concrete surfaces, and this minimalism is nicely contrasted in the lobby with the vibrant colours of the furniture. Openings in the walls and high ceiling let the sea breeze waft through.

Each of the boxy wings has two rows of 30 rooms, and guests revel in the unique architecture and views across the long, rectangular pool.

Hidden at the end of a soi on the way to Khao Takiab, the hotel is indeed peaceful. The setting gives it a nostalgic feel. The pool becomes the canal you swam in as a child (though it's ultra-clean), and strolls along the deck remind you of walking past your neighbours' khlong-side houses.

The wings' two floors have Studio Pier rooms on the lower, with individual balconies that allow direct access to the pool.

The Moon Deck Suites on the upper floor have rooftop layouts that are perfect for sitting out on moonlit nights. Some have four-poster beds and private gardens on the roof as well, but surely they're not all that private. Your neighbours could easily keep tabs on any romantic endeavours.

In general, the rooms are well appointed and designed. The bedrooms have cosy, king-size beds, and the working and living areas are next to windows, with LCD TVs, DVD players and fridges.

But my room, No 28, didn't have a wardrobe, just an open storage area behind the circular staircase.

The bathrooms are as practical as they are beautiful - amazingly huge with a spacious shower area and a massive bathtub divided by a long, multipurpose counter. It's perfectly designed for two.

For all its remarkable architectural design, though, the Let's Sea seems impractical for a country with an annual monsoon season. There are no roofs over the walkways inside the premises and between the rooms, nor above the paths to the bar and car park. If it's raining, you're going to get wet.

This applies to the Moon Decks as well - heavenly in winter if you don't mind sharing the sky with neighbours, but you're better off on the lower floor in the wet season.

The room rate isn't the most expensive in Hua Hin, but it's certainly not cheap. For the amount you're paying, it comes as a shock to discover that the best beach scenery can be viewed only from a bar and restaurant where the waitresses demand that you order something.

The staff at the Let's Sea is a different matter. They're friendly and service-minded, and fast to help as soon as you walk in.

I did encounter one glitch: Ready to go out and get something to eat at Chatchai Market, I had to wait 25 minutes for the staff to shift another guest's car that was blocking mine. There was no offer to get me into town via the hotel shuttle bus.

I also learned that weekends at the Let's Sea are usually crowded during high tourist season. Weekday stays are recommended.

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The Let's Sea at a glance

High points: Good location by the sea, peaceful, unique architecture and friendly staff.

Low points: The architecture is impractical and the staff needs more training in handling the trickier problems.

Pay for it: Room rates vary with the season, but Studio Pier rooms generally start at Bt4,444 and the Moon Deck Suites at Bt5,555.

Find it: 83/188 Soi Talay 12 Khao Takiab, Hua Hin Road, Hua Hin, Prachuab Kirikhan 77110

Phone it: (032) 536 888

Browse it: LetUsSea.com

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Sirinya Wattanasukchai

The Nation