Already known for being a beachside family-friendly property, the InterContinental Hua Hin Resort has added wellness to its repertoire through a partnership with Chevala Wellness Hua Hin, aiming to attract those who want to revigorate their health while vacationing.
First Impressions
For those who have never been to InterContinental Hua Hin before (or in a long while), the property is divided into two wings namely the beach wing, which has an old-school Thai charm, and connects to the newer Blúport wing, which forms part of Blúport Hua Hin Resort Mall across the street, via a pedestrian bridge.
Accommodation consists of 159 rooms, suites and beach villas, which are spread across the two wings, while the Blúport wing houses 40 rooms and suites decorated in Thai contemporary design. The basic-tier Cosy Room is quite sizeable from 44m2 while the partition between the bedroom and bathroom can be opened to make the room one big unit while you're luxuriating in a freestanding bathtub. Two more room types are available on this wing — the Premium Studio and Junior Suite.
Although you may have to walk a bit to get to the beach, staying on the Blúport wing means you have direct access to the adjacent mall when you want to indulge in retail therapy and your pet can also stay with you, albeit with an extra fee.
Staying In
Founded by medical oncologist and anti-ageing expert Ratkawin Jitawatanarat, Chevala Wellness Hua Hin is on the second floor of Blúport and connected to the resort's Blúport wing. Interior-wise, Chevala doesn't give off an all-white sterile vibe that you may expect from a usual clinic. Instead, it feels chic and inviting with curved sofas, arches and plenty of warm wood tones. The name Chevala is a portmanteau between chivit (life) and vela (time), and it boasts a variety of preventative treatments designed for wellness or beauty purposes.
Given the various treatments on offer, you can be reinvigorated, inside and outside. You can come for a quick boost like a vitamin drip — which has several recipes for specific purposes — on a massage chair, a botox touch-up or a vitamin-infused facial treatment for a little glow-up to something deeper than face value like cell therapy and hyperbaric oxygen therapy inside a Sambo Ventec chamber.
The wellness centre can also customise a programme tailored to your individual needs. These include for those who just got out of a big operation, for those who are recovering or recovered from an illness to long Covid sufferers. It also hosts Tibetan bowl sessions in conjunction with Buathon Thienarrom, a wellness practitioner and Sukkasart Institute's founder, at the Blúport Lounge to help you find your zen as you feel the frequencies reverberating through your body.
The wellness care doesn't stop there as the hotel also offers healthy dishes made from organic produce grown at Palisa Farm to complement Chevala's treatments.
The food offerings at the hotel's six F&B outlets may tempt you to have a cheat day. Thai restaurant Pirom includes a few offerings you may not expect from a hotel breakfast spread such as Hainanese chicken rice or Thai-style grilled pork that you can help yourself to and kanom krok (coconut cream pancake) made per your order. Go for one of the sunken seat areas so your group can enjoy breakfast in style and more privacy while being surrounded by a shallow pool water. However, a seat in the garden area isn't too shabby either, especially during this cooler weather.
Beachfront restaurant Azure offers a "farm-and-sea-to-table" concept with a focus on locally-caught seafood. For a refined Thai dinner, Jaras Hua Hin is where Thai contemporary cuisine is elevated in terms of flavour and presentation. Think of Salt-crusted grilled rainbow trout served with fresh organic vegetables, spicy mint sauce and peanut sauce or Spicy crabmeat (from Khao Takiab fisherman's village) salad with raw mango and coconut cream. For a poolside chill-out with Thai-inspired drinks, consider Cocco Bar where you can enjoy a lively neon-lit vibe and a nightcap or two.
Stay active at the 24/7 well-equipped fitness centre or the main pool on the beach wing while Blúport wing guests also have their own swimming pool. If you can't get enough treatments, book a pampering session at InterContinental Spa.
Going Out
Regardless of the room you're in, all guests get free access to True Arena Hua Hin, as well as Vana Nava Water Jungle. Those two could be starting points but there're many more nearby attractions such as Cicada Market, Tamarind Market and Hua Hin Night Market.
Final verdict
If you're looking for a quick beach getaway from Bangkok with a side of wellness, consider a stay at InterContinental Hua Hin Resort. Go to huahin.intercontinental.com. Visit chevala.com.
