Mr & Mrs Smith

Does it get any better than spending the day lazing by the pool, interspersed with strolls along one of Thailand's longest beaches? It does indeed. Guests at Hôtel de la Paix Cha-Am Beach can take part in a bunch of memorable activities in and around the resort: early-morning yoga classes, a champagne picnic for two, a mountain bike ride to the nearby village, water sports, golf, parachute jumps or a trip into adjacent coastal town Hua Hin on the twice-daily free shuttle bus. The handy Leisure Concierge can also help organise outings, from kite surfing lessons on the beach to trips to Khao Luang Cave, the Summer Palace, Cha-Am Forest Park or serene temples. Kids might like to go elephant trekking or horse riding in the area, too. For those with a taste for Thai cuisine, the resort offers two Culinary Journeys. If you want to know what your future holds, the hotel can even put you in touch with a monk from a nearby temple who'll tell your fortune.

Fishing village Cha-Am is a good bet for fresh seafood, but head south to Hua Hin, its more cosmopolitan neighbour, for wider dining options. Set in an atmospheric two-storey colonial-style building, Monsoon (+66 (0)32 531 062), 62 Naresdamri Road, serves Thai and Vietnamese dishes and classy cocktails – we fell for the caprioskas. Take an upstairs table for breezy street views. For a low-key local with authentic Thai cuisine, clued-up travellers head to Moon Smile & Platoo (+66 (0)32 511 664) on Poolsuk Road, for stir-fried and curried seafood.

Alright, so it’s hardly a café, but for an elegant afternoon tea make for the Sofitel Hua Hin (1 Damnernkasem Road, Hua Hin; +66 (0)32 512 021; www.sofitel.com), where you can sip from fine china and indulge in tiny sandwiches, scones with jam and all manner of sweet delicacies in a colonial atmosphere.

March Kite flying has been popular throughout Thailand since the Sukhothai and Ayutthaya periods. The sky along Cha-Am Beach is filled with colourful craft during the Thailand International Kite Festival. June Musos from around Thailand, the rest of Asia and even further afield descend on the beach and Phonkingphet Public Park for the three-day Hua Hin Jazz Festival www.jazzfestivalhuahin.com. November For a week, chefs from around the area prepare their specialty dishes for the punters who flood the night markets at the Hua Hin Food Festival. December Thailand’s most prominent car collectors bring their beloved motors to town for the Hua Hin Vintage Car Parade.