Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua Hin sits right in Hua Hin, on Thailand’s Gulf coast. It’s one of the few hotels in the country where the water park is part of the stay, not a day trip you have to plan around.
We stayed here last year and just went back for a second time. The kids asked to return, which tells you most of what you need to know. This post covers both visits, so you’re getting the full picture rather than a first impression.
Where It Is and How to Get There
The hotel sits just off Petchkasem Road in Hua Hin, close to Tamarine Market, Cicada Market and True Arena Hua Hin. Khao Takiap Temple is a short drive away. Going by the hotel’s own destination guide, Cicada Market and Tamarind Market are both a 5 minute walk, and the beach is about 10 minutes on foot.
If you head to the beach, reception takes a ฿500 towel deposit, which you get back when you return the towel.
Getting here depends a lot on where you’re coming from. Last year we travelled from Bangkok. This time we came from Kanchanaburi, and the drive took around 3 hours. If you’re coming from Bangkok’s airport, expect it to take longer than from central Bangkok, since traffic through the city adds time.
The journey back to Bangkok took about 3 hours too, so budget roughly the same either direction.
Local transport once you’re there is easy. Tuk tuks and taxis wait nearby, and the hotel runs a free shuttle to nearby malls and to the InterContinental Hua Hin for beach access. Book your shuttle slot with the concierge as early as you can, especially around peak times. Seats are limited and not guaranteed, so turning up last minute as a group often means missing it. If the shuttle’s full, a taxi into town isn’t expensive, expect to pay around 85 to ฿100 to Market Village.
Beach access at 111 Social House
For the beach itself, hotel guests get free access to 111 Social House, a beachfront spot about 10 minutes from the hotel. It comes with complimentary sunbed use, subject to availability, towel service, and free access to restrooms and showers. There’s a complimentary shuttle too, booked through the concierge on the G floor. Sun loungers are limited, so it’s worth reserving ahead if you can, and note there are no towels provided on site, since that’s covered by the hotel instead.
Nearby transport links
Hua Hin Bus Station is about 1.3 miles away. Hua Hin Railway Station is around 10 minutes by car. Bangkok is roughly 3 hours by road, though this varies with traffic and your starting point.
Booking and Prices
We booked our second stay using IHG Rewards points, so we can’t give you what we paid in cash. What we can tell you is what the hotel is currently showing for August.
Prices for August start from around ฿2,700 a night for standard rooms, based on live rates. That’s the entry point though. Suites and ocean view rooms cost more, and prices climb fast the closer you get to school holiday weeks.
A few notes if you’re planning ahead. Book 2 to 3 months out and you’ll usually find more room types available and better rates than booking last minute. August is peak UK summer holiday season in Thailand, so rooms do sell out at the lower price points first.
One thing worth flagging if you’re booking with points. The system defaulted us into an accessible room. We added a note at booking asking for a standard room instead, and the hotel made the change for us before we arrived. Worth doing the same if an accessible room isn’t what you need, since the system doesn’t always ask.
If you want to check current rates and book, you can look here. Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua Hin
First Impressions
The lobby is bright and modern, and check in was quick both times. You get wristbands that double as room keys, which the kids thought was brilliant. The whale sculpture out front was still being repaired on this visit, so don’t be surprised if it’s not looking its best when you arrive.
Rooms are starting to feel a little dated compared to the public areas, nothing that affected our stay, just worth knowing if you’re expecting the same polish as the lobby.
You’ll also get tokens on arrival. These aren’t a flat number for everyone. They depend on your room type and how many nights you’re staying. We had 2 rooms for 2 nights on our first visit and received 8 tokens in total. If you book a bigger room like the 2 Bedroom Kids Suite instead of 2 separate rooms, you’ll likely get fewer tokens, since the allocation is tied to room count and nights, not headcount. Worth factoring in if the tokens matter to you.
Tokens can be used in the playroom or put towards food inside Vana Nava Water Jungle. We’ve written a Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin Review 2026 with ride details, height rules and how to get the most out of your tokens.
Where to Stay
On our first stay we had King Standard Mountain View rooms booked and were upgraded to Ocean View on arrival. Each room has a private balcony looking out over the Gulf of Thailand. The decor leans into the coastal theme nicely, think soft blue walls, fish shaped artwork above the bed, and mermaid scale tiles in the bathroom, a small touch that the kids noticed straight away.
Rooms come with walk in showers, blackout curtains, a mini fridge and tea and coffee facilities.
If you’ve got younger children, the Kid Suites are worth a look. They have bunk beds and a small play area, which makes bedtime feel less like a fight. For bigger families, the 3 Bedroom Kids Theme Suite gives parents, teens and little ones separate sleeping zones.
One honest niggle. The wooden bed base is bigger than the mattress in both room types we tried. It’s noticeable on the king bed, and worse on the twin, where there’s a proper gap round the edge. Not a dealbreaker, but worth knowing if you’ve got a child who moves around a lot in their sleep.
Pro tip: compare the price of two King Standard Ocean View rooms against one Kids Suite before you book. In off peak periods, the suite is sometimes the better value. A Family Suite for 4 starts from around ฿6,800 a night, so it’s worth weighing that against booking two separate rooms too.
We went with 2 connecting rooms rather than a suite this time. Our kids are old enough to sleep on their own now, and the connecting door meant they still had easy access to us without sharing a room. Worth thinking about based on your kids’ ages, since a suite makes more sense for younger children who still need you close by.
If you want to check rates for these room types, you can look here. Holiday Inn Resort Vana Nava Hua Hin
Vana Nava Water Jungle, Right Outside Your Room
Hotel guests get unlimited access to Vana Nava Water Jungle for the length of their stay, and the park connects directly to the hotel. You use a separate guest entrance too, so you’re not queuing with day visitors from outside.
The park itself runs from 11am to 5pm, so plan your day around that window. We’ve covered the ride list, height rules, token pricing and the current lazy river closure in a Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin Review 2026, since it’s open to the public too and deserves its own write up.
Bryde’s Kids Club and Family Fun
The Kids Club has arts and crafts and games running through the day, and there’s a separate Games Room with arcade machines for older kids. Staff were genuinely good with children, not just going through the motions, on both visits.
There’s also a programme called Little Big Hotelier, where kids spend an hour with a different hotel department and actually help out. During our stay it covered Little Bartender, Little Chef, Little Lobby Ambassador and Little Housekeeper, for ages 4 to 12 depending on the activity. It’s limited to 5 kids per class and needs booking in advance through Bryde’s Kids Club, so worth asking on arrival what’s running during your dates, since the line up changes month to month.
Kids under 12 stay and eat free, which is a real saving if you’ve got more than one child. On the stay side, up to 2 children stay free when sharing a room with 2 adults, and a cot or extra bed is thrown in free, subject to availability.
Free pickleball and Bluport Mall perks
The hotel has a partnership with Bluport Hua Hin, the mall down the road. Hotel guests get free court access at Arena Pickleball Club on the 3rd floor, a short drive from the resort. It’s a nice one for older kids or teens who’d rather do something active than sit by the pool all day. Book through the concierge at least a day ahead, since it needs reserving in advance.
The same partnership also gets you into exhibitions held at Bluport from time to time, worth asking the concierge what’s on during your stay.
Bicycle hire
The hotel also rents bikes for ฿150 for up to 2 hours. Worth booking ahead with the concierge, since availability isn’t guaranteed on the day.
Dining
- Plamong Restaurant does a buffet breakfast with Thai and international options
- Vana Nava Sky Bar has rooftop cocktails and panoramic views
- Pool Bar serves light bites by the water
- Thalay Café is a relaxed spot in the lobby for coffee and pastries
- Ryoshi does Japanese dining with live teppanyaki on select evenings
Kids under 12 eat free at Plamong Restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner, as long as at least one adult orders a full priced main course too. It’s limited to 4 children per family per meal, and it doesn’t apply to room service. IHG Rewards members also get 20% off food at selected restaurants.
Worth flagging for the kids, Thalay Café and the Pool Bar do a Fruity Slushy Splash in dolphin shaped bottles, in Blue Hawaii, Green Apple, Strawberry or Mango. A bottle with drink is ฿120, or ฿99 for just the bottle if you already have one from a previous visit, with ฿49 refills after that. Ours were a hit and doubled as a decent souvenir cup.
Tips for Families
If you’re booking with points and don’t need an accessible room, add a note at booking to avoid being defaulted into one.
For laundry, the hotel concierge can arrange an outside service for ฿90 per kilo, plus ฿100 if you want it delivered back to your room. We found it cheaper to walk to Smile Laundry near Tamarind Market, which charges ฿60 per kilo. It’s a next day service. We dropped ours off at 8am and were told to collect at 4pm the following day, though we managed to negotiate an earlier 9am pickup since we were checking out.
A couple of house rules worth knowing before you pack. Swimwear, bathrobes, sleeveless tops, see through cover ups and pyjamas aren’t allowed in the bars and restaurants, so bring something to change into for dinner. Rooms are non smoking, and there’s a ฿3,000 cleaning fee if you smoke inside, including e-cigarettes. Smoking areas are on the L floor terrace and the G floor only.
Pros and Cons
Pros
- Unlimited water park access with a private guest entrance
- Kids under 12 stay and eat free
- Good room options for every family size, from standard rooms to 3 bedroom suites
- Free pickleball court access and cheap bicycle hire if you want to get moving beyond the pool
- Free beach access and shuttle to 111 Social House
- Staff who are genuinely good with children, on both our visits
Cons
- It’s a bit out from Hua Hin town centre, so you’ll rely on the shuttle or taxis for some trips, and shuttle seats need booking ahead
- Token allocation can catch you out if you’re booking multiple rooms for a big family
- Rooms are starting to look a little dated compared to the public areas
FAQs
Is Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin good for toddlers?
Yes. There’s a dedicated toddler zone in the water park, plus calmer areas that don’t need any height to use. See our Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin Review 2026 for the full height rules.
How much does it cost per night?
August rates start from around ฿2,700 a night for standard rooms, based on current prices. Suites cost more, and rates rise closer to peak summer weeks.
Is the water park included in the room price?
Yes, hotel guests get unlimited access to Vana Nava Water Jungle for the length of their stay. The park runs from 11am to 5pm.
Are there other free activities for hotel guests?
Yes. Guests get free court access at Arena Pickleball Club nearby, and bicycle hire is available through the concierge for a small fee.
How far is it from Bangkok?
Around 3 hours by road, though this depends on traffic and where in Bangkok you’re starting from.
Is it better to book directly or in advance?
Booking 2 to 3 months ahead usually gets you more room choice and lower rates, especially for August.
Is it better to book a family suite or two connecting rooms?
It depends on your kids’ ages. A Family Suite for 4 starts from around ฿6,800 a night and keeps everyone in one space, which suits younger children. If your kids are old enough to sleep on their own, 2 connecting rooms work well too, and the connecting door still gives easy access between rooms.
Does the hotel have beach access?
Yes. Hotel guests get free access to 111 Social House, a beachfront spot about 10 minutes away, with sunbeds, towels and shower facilities included.
Final Thoughts
Holiday Inn Vana Nava Hua Hin works because the water park isn’t a bolt on, it’s built into the stay. Add in the free kids’ meals and the room options for bigger families, and it’s an easy pick if you’re travelling with children in Thailand.
Would we go back a third time? Judging by how fast the kids asked for this trip, probably sooner than we think.
For the full water park breakdown, from ride heights to token pricing, read our Vana Nava Water Jungle Hua Hin Review 2026.
Disclosure: This post includes affiliate links. If you book through them, we earn a small commission at no extra cost to you.
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