Recently, Stephen stayed at the Hua Hin Ibis Hotel. He wasn’t a guest of the hotel; he paid for his weekend visit. If you’re looking for a budget-friendly option in Hua Hin, here’s his honest review to help you decide if it’s the right choice for you.

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Ibis is Accor’s 3-star brand. There are more than 2,000 of them worldwide, including Ibis Budget and Ibis Styles. The good thing is that this particular brand is pretty standard everywhere, so I knew automatically what I was in for, and my expectations were met. 

For a 3-star hotel in that location, at that price range, it’s an excellent choice for those on a budget used to three-star properties.

Hotel Exterior

As I said, Ibis hotels are pretty similar worldwide, and Ibis Hua Hin looks like any other one. The property has 200 rooms over six floors. One side of the hotel overlooks the car park and the pool, and the other side overlooks the resort next door. The maintenance team does an excellent job of keeping the exterior and grounds looking clean and immaculate.

The hotel caters to tour groups (more of that in the clientele section) and is fully booked in high season. As such, it has two car parks. The first one is at the front of the hotel on Phet Kasem Road. The other is much bigger and across the road next door to the Nice Residence and Hotel.

The Check-In Process

I found the check-in process very well managed. We were there around 2:30, which was peak check-in time, and every counter was open and manned, so they did that very well. The lady identified us, took copies of our IDs and explained the breakfast times.

We didn’t have more than one overnight bag, but I saw guests with loads of bags waiting for assistance to get to their rooms. I suspect the hotel may only have a minimum number of porters working. I saw one on our floor once in the two days we were there.

The hotel doesn’t require a cash deposit for the room key, which I’m noticing is popping up more and more across Thailand, so a big thumbs up for that. 

The Room

One thing I’ve found at many Ibis hotels is that their rooms aren’t particularly large. My room at Ibis Hua Hin was 21 sqm, which is pretty standard.

It felt a little poky, especially for Hua Hin, where most other places I’ve stayed have larger rooms. Even the bathroom was tiny and the shower might be a very tight squeeze for some plus-size people.

The design is Ibis-neutral. Brown floors match the curtains, and white bedspreads match all the bathroom towels. The room has a TV that switches on to the Accor promo channel every time you enter. There’s a slim wardrobe with a safe and a very mini fridge. There are three power points in the room. 

My room had a view of the pool and car park. At first, I was anxious about the noise, but the balcony doors were double-glazed, blocking all the sound. I was thrilled.

Hotel Facilities

Ibis Hua Hin has a lobby bar, breakfast and dinner restaurant, and a swimming pool. The pool is kidney-shaped and next to the restaurant.

Some tables are poolside, so if eating your food while watching others swim is your thing, go for it. We chose an indoor table ;). 

Food and Beverage

I’ve never heard anyone say, “I go to Ibis hotels for their superior F&B.” At this level, you get what you pay for in terms of selection, presentation, quality, and service. This was the part of the stay that disappointed me. I’m not an Accor member, but I suspect members would be disappointed with the welcome drink options. I snapped this picture as the menu was just sitting there on the bar.

We paid an additional 250 baht ($A11) for breakfast, which was buffet-style and mostly catering to the local and tour group clientele (see below).

The Western food options were fried eggs, chicken sausages, baked beans, and toast. Look, it’s not the worst hotel breakfast I’ve ever had. But with Hua Hin having so many wonderful beachfront cafes, I think my 250 baht might have been better spent there, if for nothing more than the view.  

Who stays here?

I don’t know about you, but what makes or breaks a hotel stay for me is often the other guests.

Tour Groups

Full disclosure: Ibis Hua Hin caters to tour groups, predominantly the Chinese market. If you’ve ever stayed at a hotel like this, you can expect that F&B is catered for them, hence the minimal Western options at breakfast. And the noise levels in the common areas can, at times, be rather loud.

Pet-Friendly Hotel

Ibis Hua Hin is a pet-friendly hotel, and we saw many dogs. I love dogs and have no problem with them. However, when you’re out on your balcony, and all you can see are dogs taking a poop in the car park, it’s not the ideal view. 

Also, some guests feel it’s ok to take their pets into F&B areas, I would prefer they didn’t allow this but that’s me.

Family Friendly

Okay, so I’m childless (by choice) and also not particularly kid-friendly, so families with young children are my hotel-stay nightmare guests. Ibis has its fair share of families. We heard a few children running up and down the hallway outside our room, but it wasn’t late at night, as we’ve experienced in the Hua Hin hotels. 

What to Love About Ibis Hua Hin

For me, the Ibis Hua Hin is in an excellent location. It’s on the beach side of the road, and only a block of flats separates it from the beach. There’s no direct access, but it’s only a one-minute walk down the alley next to the hotel to get to the sea and sand. You can’t say that about too many 3-star hotels, well, in the world, really.

Next, the local 7/11 mini-mart is 200 metres away. It’s open 24/7 and very handy for drinks, snacks, and beer!

Finally, those of you who have read my Hua Hin blogs will know I’m a massive fan of the night markets. Tamarind and Cicada are an 800-meter walk away on the same side of the road. For that reason alone, I’d stay here again.

The Bluport shopping mall is 1.1 km away. You could walk there in 15 minutes or catch the Songtaew directly across the road. A Bolt ride costs around 70 baht. 

Room for Improvement

It’s tough to fault a 3-star hotel in that location for the price we paid. It’s only a tiny thing, but it is essential in our technology age. There are three power points in the room. The one next to the bed has two points very close together, and we discovered that only one of us could plug a phone charger in at one time, as the device took up more space than the point provided.  Thankfully, I found another one next to the TV. Sadly, my laptop, which was the third device, missed out on being charged.  I know it’s a huge ask, but one more point on the other side of the bed would be awesome.

I’ve already mentioned the F&B. Look, in a beach location like Hua Hin, if you’re going out and experiencing the wonderful cafes and restaurants there, you’re not getting the full experience. In my opinion, 3-star hotel restaurants are best at airports or isolated locations.

Ibis Hua Hin – Should You Stay?

Yes! I’d consider staying again as the location suits me so well, and compared to other nearby properties it’s well-priced. As a 3-star property under the Accor brand, I knew what to expect, and the hotel met those expectations. My tip is to set your expectations. It’s a 3-star family, pet, and Chinese tour-group friendly hotel. If none of this bothers you, you’ll most likely enjoy your stay.