Stay: Hyatt Regency Hua Hin (Thailand)

We first visited Hua Hin five years ago when I was pregnant with Miss Nomad Foodie and we realized that we had airline miles expiring. Given the range of destinations we could fly to on miles, and that I'd feel comfortable bringing a 2-month newborn to, we quickly decided on Thailand. Granted, on that particular trip we spent most of our time at the resort, but I found Hua Hin to be much more relaxed than other areas of Thailand, meaning I didn't notice any touts.

From Bangkok, the drive to Hua Hin takes between three to four hours, depending on traffic. For our last two trips, we used Hua Hin Cab and found the service to be prompt, professional, and comfortable.

Stay: Hyatt Regency Hua Hin
Do: Hua Hin Vineyard Tour & Lunch
Do: Kui Buri National Park
future posts:
Do: Hua Hin Bike Tours
Dining in Hua Hin

We've since returned to Hua Hin and have spent the past two Christmas holidays at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin. The hotel is located on the southern end of Hua Hin town, and has several pools set in a among truly lovely, lush gardens. And, despite the expansive gardens, we've never had an issue with mosquitoes.

Sea view beyond the gardens and pool at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin

On our first visit, we stayed in their Club room. The bathroom was to the right of the entry, and featured a big soaking tub and separate shower. The tub was framed with two sliding panels, which could open up to the entire room, or closed for privacy. The kids loved the tub; I loved the retractable clothesline in the shower. I wish more hotels that have swimming pools would provide a clothesline, because where else am I going to hang swimsuits to dry without causing puddles? (I now bring this clothesline on my travels, and love it.) The room also came with an enclosed balcony, which featured a day bed that was made up with bed linens.

I had contacted the hotel ahead of time as Miss Nomad Foodie's birthday was during our stay, and the housekeeping staff came through with this super-cute decoration on the day bed. They also provided a chocolate cake, and our four year-old felt like a star.

Birthday recognition at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin

On this most recent stay, we used one of Mr. Nomad Foodie's Globalist certificates to upgrade to a suite. The bedroom part of the suite was similar in layout and decor to the Club Room, but featured an additional outdoor covered patio.

Daybed made up with bed linens and desk area in the bedroom of a standard suite, overlooking the covered patio.

I find the beds to be a bit firm for my liking, so you can request to have an additional mattress topper added to the bed to increase the softness. Note that the iPod speaker system (on the night stand to the left of the bed) is a bit outdated in terms of the plugs, and so to use it, you have to bring your own 3.5mm auxiliary audio/speaker cable (Housekeeping did not have any to borrow, so on our first visit we weren't able to connect our phones to the speakers). However, there are plenty of plugs including USB ports on both sides of the bed.

The living area of the suite provided plenty of space to stretch out, and included a dry bar that spanned the length of the shorter wall facing the couch.

The bathroom had an enclosed toilet, separate shower and bathtub, and could either be opened to the room or closed off with a sliding panel.

This year, Miss Nomad Foodie requested a strawberry cake, and a strawberry cake she received.

Complimentary birthday cake

Our room came with a welcome fruit plate, which was refreshed throughout our stay, along with some locally dried fruit and crackers packaged in paper bags which were also made by local craftspeople. We also had a floral arrangement and two handwritten notes welcoming us to the resort.

Welcome fruit plate and snacks.

One of the reasons we like this hotel so much is that it's very family-friendly. The main attractions are the pools, which include a pool that winds like a river past a few wings of the hotel. It's not a lazy river, so there's no current pushing one along, but it does provide ample nooks for loungers with a bit more privacy.

This river-like pool flows into the lagoon pool, complete with an "island" that features the poolside restaurant. The lagoon pool then flows into a zero-entry beach pool perfect for the kiddos. The pool staff have bottles of water, towels, and some pool floats on hand to borrow.

Lagoon pool

There's also a tiny little wading pool and a 7-meter tall water slide that leads to the lagoon pool. While the signs say you have to be 1.2 meters in order to go on the slide, the staff allowed my daughter, at 1 meter, to go down the slide. Also, only one person is allowed on the slide at a time— unlike at the Grand Hyatt Bali, parents are not allowed to hold their children—so that is something else to keep in mind.

Club-level rooms and above access the Regency Club area of the hotel, which features it's own rectangular pool adjacent to the Regency Club lounge. There are signs posted in the area requesting quiet, so it's not suitable for children.

Another point to keep in mind is that the pools are not heated. While this was not an issue on our first visit in 2016, on our most recent visit, we experienced cooler and windy weather which meant the pool water was too cold. Even with shorties, the kids didn't want to play in the water.

That's not a worry, as there are two playgrounds. The newer one is adjacent to the baby wading pool, while the older one is next to the basketball court and tennis courts. I appreciated the variety of equipment for the kids to play with, and that a basketball could be borrowed from the fitness center for use on the courts.

Newer children's playground

Older children's playground next to the basketball court and tennis courts.

In addition, the kid's club, Camp Hyatt, features different activities each day. I was pleasantly surprised on our first visit to pick up my kids after their full day in the program to have my son ask me, "what are you doing here so early?" They were having so much fun they didn't want to leave! This is a rare situation since my kids have always been eager to go home from daycare. There is a charge for the kid's club, but a full-day program includes two craft activities and lunch. I appreciated the programming as the kids are not just inside watching movies and playing video games; they also spend time outside doing activities such as feeding the fish in garden pond.

Bridge/walkway designed to look like a boat over a pond filled with fish,

Of course, there's also the clean beach for beach combing and the expansive grounds for exploring and observing. The hotel also arranged seasonal events, such as caroling by local children at a school that is supported by the Hyatt community. At night, kid movies were screened in the dance studio, complete with beanbags and snacks, so that parents enjoying the evening canapés and drinks at the Regency Club just steps away have a chance at some kid-free time.

In addition, twice a week the hotel offers family movies on the great lawn adjacent to the beach, complete with popcorn. The outdoor screenings are a step up from the movies at the park we enjoy in the summer because the staff sets up lounge chairs. This was a super comfortable way for my kids to get their snuggles and cuddles with their parents while we watched favorites like Moana and Sing!.

Exploring the plant life in the gardens at the Hyatt Regency Hua Hin

The fitness center was small but well appointed, and the hotel will lend a yoga mat and light weights for use in the room. There were bikes which could be borrowed (which we didn't use) and fitness classes. I tried the yoga class and aqua aerobics, and to be honest, both classes were underwhelming,.

One Mile at a Time has an extensive review of the hotel from a stay during Christmas 2015. In general, that review matches my experience except that I think that the quality of the dining service has improved (the actual food items and dishes appear to be the same). The food we ordered - whether at the lounge, poolside dining at the You & Mee Noodle Shop and Poolside Bar, or through room service came quickly and correctly. There were menus for You & Mee were paired with each table next to the loungers, and you could also order via an app on your phone (which, to be honest, I couldn't download), although I never had a problem flagging a member of the pool staff, along with tags attached to each lounge chair outlining the hotel's policy on claiming loungers. Even during an obviously busy holiday season, I never had a problem finding an available lounge chair.

I think the General Manager rotated into his position prior to our first visit; he and other members of the management team were continually walking the grounds and greeting guests, during both the day and during the evening canapés at the Regency Lounge. I'm sure their active presence motivates staff to be their best!

In any case, I found the staff to be warm and friendly - one morning the buffet didn't feature my kid's favorite corn kernels. Not a problem, they quickly brought out a bowl of corn for her. I do wish that there were more cooked vegetable dishes, especially on the children's menu. For example, my kid's loved their penne with carbonara sauce, but just two broccoli florets is not enough veg for this mama.

Outdoor seating at Figs Restaurant (where the buffet breakfast is served) overlooking the grounds

On our first visit, we preferred to dine at the lounge in the morning—it's a more calm environment than at the main buffet breakfast—but on our most recent trip, we preferred the buffet breakfast with indoor seating because of the much cooler weather. While it isn't mentioned in the hotel literature, the Club does serve complimentary ice cream daily at 3pm.

Finally, my last two data points on services available just outside the hotel that were mentioned in the OMAAT review: I found the Thai massage just outside the hotel along the hotel's driveway to be mediocre and the service at Smile Laundry on point and as described.

In summary, this is one of my favorite resorts in my favorite vacation destination (Thailand, for it's hospitality, food culture, and value for money). It's well-run, comfortable, and makes relaxing with my kids easy. We've gone two winters in a row, and I'd love to make a tradition of it!

Homemade Hamburger Buns & Breakfast Sandwich

The problem with shopping at Costco is that one ends up with a quantity of foodstuffs (e.g. cheddar cheese slices) that one is then compelled to create as many dishes as possible utilizing said items. This is how I found myself making burger buns. The buns did not come out as soft as I was hoping for, but that may be to my own baker error.

Easiest buttermilk biscuits

I had a craving for biscuits, ones that would be rich but also light, that would be a perfect foil to melted butter or also sweetened strawberries. This recipe, recommended by Lainey Gossip, does indeed live up to its name. The only problem is, I cannot find buttermilk in Taiwan, and instead must use soured milk. I'm sure this must affect the flavor of the final product.

King Arthur's Butter-enriched Bread Recipe

Master Nomad Foodie complained that the bread I bake is too hearty in flavor and texture, and that he prefers sweet, milky breads. So I decided to give this recipe a try.

My shaping needs work.

It was a good recipe, and was certainly delicious. However, I felt it was a lot of work to make just 16 rolls that disappeared rather quickly.

Definitely buttery.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Cranberries

Last Monday's dinner menu:

• Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Cranberries
• Pork Burgers (adapted from this meatball recipe)
• Shredded Carrot Salad with Sesame Dressing

Now, while overall I liked the menu, the kids did not. My attempts to get them to like brussels sprouts were for naught. I thought Ree Drummond's take on the sprouts might be helpful, with all the sweetness, but I think the kids were turned off by the darkness of the balsamic vinaigrette glaze. I halved the sugar and the recipe was too sweet for my tastes.

Roasted Brussels Sprouts with Balsamic Glaze and Cranberries by Ree Drummond/The Pioneer Woman

The pork burgers were more successful, as I adapted Deb Perleman's recipe. So easy, and so yummy.

No pictures of the carrot salad (it was simply shredded carrots), but I'm quite certain my kids wouldn't eat as much salad as they do without Kewpie Sesame Dressing. It's full of umami, creamy, and not too sweet (at least the one made in Japan).

Neapolitan-swirl Bundt Cake

Miss Nomad Foodie asked for a cheetah-print inside the cake, with vanilla, chocolate, and strawberry-flavored cakes, so I made an attempt using my go-to yellow birthday cake recipe, Smitten Kitchen's Best Birthday Cake. I find this cake consistently turns out as described: moist, plush, with a fine, dense crumb, and buttery flavor. I did reduce the sugar by 10%, to 360 grams. For the strawberry portion, I took about a third of the batter and added 1 teaspoon of strawberry flavor and about 15 grams of ground freeze-dried strawberries (I ground Trader Joe's freeze-dried strawberries in a coffee bean grinder). For the chocolate portion, I added about 2 teaspoons of cocoa powder to the battery.

I thought the easiest way to create the print inside would be to use a bundt cake pan. Miss Nomad Foodie insisted on "strawberry, strawberry is my favorite" frosting, so I started with Celebrating Sweet's Cream Cheese Frosting recipe, since I wanted something more liquid than my usual cream cheese frosting but more substantial than a glaze. The proportions of ingredients were:

113g cream cheese at room temperature
200g powdered sugar sifted with
30g ground freeze-dried strawberries
2 Tablespoons milk
1/4 teaspoon strawberry flavor
1/4 teaspoon vanilla extract

I supposed I could've added more milk to make the frosting flow and drip more attractively over the cake, but it was fine for our purposes, and it had an intensely strawberry flavor.

The kids decorated the cake with Trader Joe's Candy Coated Chocolate Drops, which are like a slightly more natural version of M&Ms.

How did the cake turn out? Well the flavor and texture was great, but alas, the pattern inside was more of a marbled-swirl than a cheetah-print. Nonetheless, we had a happy little girl!

Top 10 Travel Must Haves for Long Flights with Young Kids (and Babies)

As someone who regularly (at least once a year) takes a round-trip trans-Pacific flight with two young children since they were breastfeeding infants alone—yes, as in the sole adult—here are my favorite must-have travel items that makes those long-haul flights easier.

1. Zo & Co Travel Totes

Oh my gosh, how I wish I'd found these earlier. I only just found out about them this past year while browsing Amazon, and I want to spread the word. These are a must-have travel organizer if you travel economy.

I thought the size of the pockets in the Original version were just right - the largest pocket held my Kindle Paperwhite in the standard Amazon Case perfectly, and the taller pocket on the right was just right for holding my travel mug. In the pockets on the left, I put in Babyganics Stain Eraser marker, spray hand sanitizer, lip balm, and my earbuds. The tiny pocket in the middle held a collapsible cell phone stand. The seat back pocket then held my bullet journal. 

This is an awesome way to keep track of all the in-flight essentials: smart phone, Kindle, headphones, water bottle, eyeglasses, and any other sundry items (hand sanitizer, dental floss, tissues, pen, lip balm, etc.). I used to hate just using the seat pocket, because if a put a water bottle in, the pocket would get overextended, causing all my other items to fall towards the bottom of the seat pocket, making finding my stuff in-flight harder. Also, at the end of a flight, I’d always be afraid I’d forget some overlooked item that had fallen to the bottom of the pocket, not to mention how uncomfortable it is to come across previous passengers’ trash. With this organizer, I arrange what I want handy in-flight before I leave my home, and then once on board, it’s a simple matter of pulling out the organizer and sliding it into place. Disembarking is made easier, as I just slide the organizer out and put it in my bag. In-flight, having everything at my fingertips is so much more convenient than bending over constantly to reach my bag tucked underneath the seat in front of me or opening the overhead bin.

There are sturdy metal clips built into the organizer that clips it to the seat back pocket. The organizer folds into thirds (there's a small piece of velcro to keep it folded) to make it easy to toss into a bag after the flight. I had looked at other organizers, but this one still retains the usability of the tray table, and is more flexible than a pouch. In the photo above, you can see it takes minimal leg room.

The kids version of the Zo&Co Travel Organizer comes in a quilted fabric and held both kids' water bottles, crayons, and a compact notebook for coloring. The carabiner clips were handy for holding the kids' headphones. You can see their backpacks tucked underneath.

They come in three versions: original, kids, and tech. The exterior dimensions are the same - the only variances between these versions are the number of pockets and fabric. The tech version essentially combines two pockets found in the original into an extended pocket to better fit a tablet. The kids version adds one more smaller pocket and an extra carabiner to the original version, but in a washable quilted fabric.

While you're at it, tuck in a small handled plastic bag into one of the many pockets. You can later clip it to the carabiner and use it to collect trash in-flight, to keep your seat area tidy.

2. Insulated Straw Water Bottle

We have the Thermos Foogo Water Bottles, which have lasted over six years now. I always ask the flight attendants to serve the kids drinks in their water bottles to prevent messes. I actually don't travel with wipes - just saving the wet wipes and napkins served during snack time and dinner - because preventing spills is easier than cleaning up after them.

I will note that the straw parts can get gunky if you're not vigilant about cleaning and drying them out, but replacements are readily available (I stocked up on a bunch awhile ago).

I myself travel with the Zojirushi Stainless Steel Insulated Travel Mug, which is easy to clean and has a flip-open lid with a lock, plus incredible insulation power. While the kids have their own Zojirushi bottles, the open sipper design makes it less ideal for in-flight use. Like the Thermos bottles, the rubber stoppers and sipper components are replaceable.

3. Skip Hop Toddler Kids Backpack

These are inexpensive, durable, hold a surprising amount, and come in a variety of fun styles. Until my eldest started grade school, he used this backpack everyday for preschool and kindergarten. At the airport, my kids carry their own water bottles, pillow, blanket, and amusements.

Skip Hop backpack holding the Skip Hop travel pillow, Zo&Co travel organizer, aden+anais muslin blanket, and Thermos Foogo insulated straw water bottle.

4. Skip Hop Little Kids and Toddler Travel Neck Rest

To go along with the backpack, you can get a coordinating pillow, or a different one. My kids like to use them while sitting up, and also while lying down. They've also used them on road trips. I once forgot to bring their pillow on a low-budget flight, that while short-haul, had turned into a red-eye because of weather delays. Never again.

5. Lightweight Cotton Zip Hoodie

You probably already have one at home. They're great for keeping warm when the air conditioning gets too strong. (As an aside, for warm-weather travel I adore Uniqlo's Airism UV Cut Zip-up Hoodie for myself. It's inexpensive, lightweight to be comfortable in hot, humid climates, and yet also surprisingly warm during spring and fall. The fabric is also so thin that it folds easily and compactly into your purse.)

6. Muslin Swaddle Blankets

Now there are lots of different brands; I got the aden+anais swaddle blankets when my eldest was a newborn, and this is one baby item that has held up. It's surprisingly warm, highly breathable, and the swaddle size means that it's big enough to be usable even though my kids are now 8 and 4. This also means that if your youngest is still asleep when your plane lands, you can scoop them up wrapped in this blanket. I've also used it as a makeshift sun shade. It's the equivalent of a pashmina for kids!

aden+anais muslin swaddle blankets (still used after all these years!) and Skip Hop travel pillow

7. Kids' Headphones

We have the Kidz Gear Wired Headphones for Kids - customer service was great about replacing our daughter's faulty headphones 6-months after purchase when we put them on one day and realized she could only hear out of one side. These are sized for smaller heads, and are adjustable, so adults can also easily check the volume and sound quality. The complimentary earbuds or headphones distributed by the airlines have never worked for them.

8. Snacks packed in Easy Lunchboxes

I'll pack fruit, crackers, and whatever will otherwise rot in my refrigerator if I didn't bring it with us in these handy compartmentalized containers by Easy Lunchboxes. They're easy to clean and stackable, so they take up less space when we're done with them. The compartments mean that if they're not feeling hungry during meal service, packing any leftovers from their airline meals (e.g. bread rolls, fruit) for them to eat later (although make sure all fruit and veg is eaten up before disembarking the plane and lining up at customs!) is easy.

9. Amusements

To be honest, I didn't start packing an tablet until this year, when my kids were 7 and 4. Usually, they're fine with the existing in-flight entertainment (remember, I'm flying international long-haul, not short-haul flights on an American carrier), crayons, and paper. The flight safety card once provided my son with at least 15 minutes of entertainment, as he deciphered the various exit points on the plane. The toy that has consistently provided the most amusement are the Melissa & Doug Water Wow Activity Pads. My kids have also enjoyed Wikki Stix, magnetic doodle boards, and the Melissa & Doug Reusable Sticker Pad (although the pad itself is rather bulky, and so has been disqualified for future flights). Bring paper and pen with you, and you can play tic-tac-toe, fold paper airplanes, or do other origami crafts.

10. Change of Underwear

Now that kids are fully toilet-trained, I only bring a spare set of underwear (tucked into the front pocket of their Skip Hop backpacks). During the toilet training years, because sometimes the line to the bathroom, especially after meal service, is long, I've only once had to change underwear and bottoms. If your child is bringing a hoodie anyway, that can substitute for a wet t-shirt. Keep things simple. When my kids were infants, I'd bring a spare onesie and leg warmers. I think I only changed my top once. I found I tended to pack more than I actually used.

Now, for babies, I'd also recommend:

11. Structured Baby Carrier

Even after my infants were well into their toddler years, I still got a lot of use out of my Boba Baby Carrier. The structured carrier meant that it was easy to put on (just two buckles to snap together), and given that you can carry up to a 45-pound child on your back, it's ideal for a keeping jet-lagged, overtired child calm while waiting in long lines at immigration and customs.

12. Nursing Cover

Breastfeeding was my number one tip for dealing with infants in flight, because they're not going to fuss if they're in their happy place, nursing in mom's arms. Now, while I generally didn't use nursing covers, I found them useful for flights because the rigid neckline provided air flow while also blocking out extra light (from all the signage such as the seatbelt light, toilet occupancy light, etc.) which can be distracting for an overtired infant. I was given a second-hand Bebe au Lait nursing cover, so that's what I used, but any one with a rigid neckline would do.

13. Skip Hop Pronto Changing Pad

This portable changing mat has thoughtfully-designed pockets so that you could tuck a number of diapers and wipes in to minimize the amount of stuff to carry with you to the toilet, as well as a handy strap that could hook the pad out of the way.

14. CARES Travel Harness

I only once carried my child's car seat in flight, and I vowed never to do it again. It was heavy, it was bulky, and I didn't get that much value out of it (my child did not sleep for more than an hour in the seat). However, good for toddlers is the CARES FAA-approved restraint system, which creates a shoulder strap with chest buckle restraint system. They're safer, and also less likely to wiggle about.