There are countless hotel brands, and each one is targeted at a specific segment of travelers. Of all the brands, one of the most exciting and fun is So/ Hotels & Resorts. Accor, one of the world’s leading hospitality groups, owns SO/ and they describe it this way; “SO/reinterprets the codes of luxury hospitality through an unconventional attitude, an unmistakably playful and audacious twist to luxury experiences. Each hotel has a distinct personality, style, and even its own fashion statement. The entertainment is fantastic, the food is creative, and the atmosphere is vibrant. This is the place to be and be seen.
I had the pleasure of staying at the So/ Bangkok and can joyfully confirm that its energy and vibe were palpable. For that reason, I was very much looking forward to my stay at the So/ Sofitel Hua Hin, described as the “Next Level of Imaginative Escape.”
The SO Sofitel Hua Hin is actually located in the North area of Cha Am, making for quicker trips from and to Bangkok. This 5-star resort rewards guests with playful artwork and contemporary architecture encompassing 100 imaginative rooms and 9 lavish villas, including their signature Private Pool Villas.
Award-winning Thai architect Duangrit Bunnag created the resort’s original bold structure, featuring an interwoven maze of open courtyards and private pathways. The property’s geometric lines and solid shapes, softened by a palette of naturally aged woods that blend with the beauty of the surrounding nature, create an environment of contemporary tranquility.
Lending his artistry to defining the soul of SO Sofitel Hua Hin is acclaimed Thai fashion designer Moo Polpat Asavaprapha, who continues the tradition of signature designers who have created aesthetics for SO/ properties, including Kenzo, Monsieur Christian Lacroix, and Karl Lagerfeld.
Khun Polpat is the founder and creative director of ASAVA, a brand that reinterprets classic, timeless style for the modern woman. Before creating his own brand, the Thai designer and fashion icon gained a wealth of experience working for names such as Marc Jacobs, Isaac Mizrahi, and Max Mara, and serves as President of the Bangkok Fashion Society.
Guests will notice the designer’s pronounced playfulness and attention to detail throughout the property and in SO Sofitel Hua Hin’s signature emblem, distinct staff uniforms, and designer souvenirs available exclusively at the resort’s boutique.
He also created the resort’s signature art piece, ‘The Butterfly Effect,’ a flutter of butterflies arranged to resemble a human face when viewed at certain angles. “I see the resort as a stage that is constantly moving, and I believe that fashion and design can augment the whole experience for guests,” said Khun Polpat.
There are 109 rooms, suites, and villas. All guestrooms are equipped to provide maximum comforts, such as rain showers, MyBed™ with a sleep menu for a fabulous night’s sleep, plus the latest cutting-edge technology sound system, complimentary Wi-Fi, and a complimentary in-room private bar.
The SO/ Sofitel Hua Hin offers eight room categories. The SO Comfy, SO Studio, & SO Family are all 60 sqm’s in size. The SO Family Kids House is 68 sqm’s and is designed for families with older kids who appreciate having a dedicated space to make into their own fort. The attached children’s annex comes complete with bunk beds for kids up to 12 years of age. The main bedroom comes in king or twin configurations.
The SO Comfy Pool Access rooms are 100 sqm’s. These rooms offer direct access to the Signature Pool via private terraces. First-floor rooms open out directly onto the private terrace furnished with a large round chaise lounge, while 2nd-floor rooms are connected to their very own al-fresco terrace via a private staircase.
The SO Lofty Pool Access rooms are 96 sqm’s and are located along the Signature Pool’s edge on the 1st floor. The layout is identical to the SO Studio with its open plan design and privacy curtains but comes with an added private outdoor terrace complete with an oversized poolside chaise lounge.
The SO Family Suite is 100 sqm’s and is ideal for families with older children; the SO Family Suites on the 2nd floor look out over the Signature Pool through frameless windows or from the private balconies. The main bedroom comes with a king-size bed and en-suite bathroom, while the second bedroom includes a bunk bed for children. There’s also a living room and dining area plus a guest toilet. SO Family Suites can also be connected to a SO Studio to transform into a three-bedroom family suite.
The One-Bedroom SO Pool Villa’s are exceptionally spacious at 215 sqm’s and are the perfect hideaway for honeymooners, couples, and BFFs looking for a sanctuary. The living room and dining areas provide plenty of space to gather and flows into a large walk-in bath area with a freestanding bathtub, open oversized rain shower area, and dual vanities. Just beyond this space is the sanctuary of the villa, the master bedroom with a king-size bed. Outside, a private pool, covered outdoor patio with dining table and loungers, invite guests to spend time together in the sun away from curious eyes.
The Two-Bedroom SO Pool Villa is even more spacious at 260 sqm’s and is ideal for gathering your friends, families or double couples and hiding away in the indulgent two-bedroom villa. Play in your expansive SO Arty playground with a separate living room, or take it outdoors and have a private party all to yourselves in and around the 3x9m private pool. Like the layout of the one-bedroom pool villas, these highest category villas come with an added bedroom with en-suite bathroom. These villas are spread out near the Event Lawn and Rabbit Lawn in proximity to the sea, with one two-bedroom villa occupying a coveted beachfront location.
While on holiday, why not pamper yourself at their SO/ SPA. This quintessential spa experience combines French cosmetology from PHYTOMER and ancient therapeutic arts with Asian wisdom products from YTSARA.
Next to SO/ SPA is SO/FIT. Open 24 hours a day, their fitness center features state-of-the-art equipment from Technogym, offering a modern holistic approach to traditional exercise.
Guests of the SO/ Sofitel Hua Hin can enjoy not one, not two, but three swimming pools. The SO Pool is a spacious outdoor swimming pool located right on the beachfront with sunbeds and cabanas. The Solarium Pool is located in the center of the resort. Their Signature Pool is the hotel’s main pool, a large 16 by 60-meter watery playground anchored by a Wibit inflatable water pool adventure course running down the middle of the pool and overseen by trained lifeguards. A dedicated 5 by 5 meters shallow kid’s pool area on one end is bordered by SO Sundae poolside ice cream and snack bar to ensure a splashtastic time for all.
When your appetite kicks in, you are right where you need to be. The hotel’s Beach Society is a beach club by day and refined restaurant by night, offering two distinct vibes for lunch and dinner. With open-air seating steps from the sea, gentle breezes, and stunning views over the Gulf of Thailand, Beach Society is the perfect destination for a leisurely lunch date or a sophisticated dining experience.
White Oven is their all-day dining establishment. Open from 6:30 AM to 11:00 PM, it is designed around its eponymous white oven. It serves international breakfast buffets and authentic Thai cuisine exquisitely revisited to showcase the gifts of the garden, the sea, and the artistry of the chefs.
SO Sundae is next to the Signature Pool, where light bites, dessert, imaginative flavored ice cream, and for-adults-only popsicles provide the perfect refreshments for a fun day in the sun.
By now you have probably realized that the SO Sofitel Hua Hin is an ideal hotel to bring the kids. They will thoroughly enjoy the Kids Tent, a 74 m2 kids club near the Signature Pool, which provides a gathering place for the playful creatures around the resort to meet and mingle with little guests. Fun activities and entertainment are offered in a safe setting under watchful supervision. Inside the air-conditioned space, safari styling and plush seating invite little escapists to join in a led crafts activity, dive into the ball pit, play PS4 or Nintendo Switch games, or sit back and enjoy an age-appropriate movie. A program of activities tailored for kids includes recycle craft projects, kids’ yoga, and sand painting. Outside, a playground features slides, swings, and a rubber surface floor for ouch-less spills, while older kids can battle it out on the life-sized chessboard at the Rabbit Lawn.
Further activities include their 18-hole SO Wonderland Adventure Golf, a tennis and basketball court, a Pickleball Court, and a 627 meter-long bike path that meanders along the resort. Adult and children’s bikes are available for rent.
While the SO Sofitel Hua Hin is the perfect place for a relaxed holiday, it’s also a great destination to get business done in a stress-free environment. The hotel’s SO Ballroom measures 230 sqm’s and is ideal for events up to 150 guests.
MICE Facilities
Equipped with cutting-edge AV equipment and smart solutions, everything is on hand for mingling and networking, dancing and dining, and raising a toast to a thoroughly successful event. The hotel’s Event Lawn, situated right by the beach, is an open-air outdoor area ideal for a range of MICE functions ranging from small private group dinners on the beach to banquet dinner, concert performance, or high-impact show by the beach. The 285 sqm lawn can fit more than 150 guests, all happy to be close to the sand and feel the sea breeze.
Exclusive accommodations, unparalleled restaurants, and a wide array of activities all come together to provide couples, families, and business people an unforgettable, imaginative escape at the SO Sofitel Hua Hin.
SO Sofitel Hua Hin
115 Moo 7, Tambol Bangkao,
Amphur Cha-Am
76120 Phetchaburi, Thailand
Tel: +6632709555
Fax: +6632473190
Email: H9649@sofitel.com
www.so-sofitel-huahin.com