Baba Beach Club

Yeah, I know, we live in the tropics. Living in Thailand and visiting Thailand tend to be very separate entities. Visitors here flock to the beaches, usually escaping dark and frigid winters, and delight in the steamy tropical weather, sitting by the pool and slurping frozen mango cocktails. The rest of us stay as far away from the sun as possible, cowering under ceiling fans and in the coldest aircon imaginable, all the while gloating over the fact that we are so lucky to live in a sun worshipper’s paradise.

Yet even the hardiest Bangkokian needs a break from the heat, humidity, and city toxics, especially in the middle of the Thai summer, and what a better way to flee it than to make a beeline for one of the closest city-escapes, the new BaBa Beach Club, halfway between Cha-Am and Hua Hin.

Entrance of the Baba Beach Club | Photo Credit: Dave Stamboulis

BaBa Beach Club was developed and is managed by the team behind the prestigious Sri Panwa, long one of Phuket’s most luxurious and well-conceived resort properties. While every bit as regal as its founder, BaBa Beach Club is firmly aimed at a younger escapist crowd, with themes of hip, chic and stylish dominating its approach. Set on 160 meters of pristine beachfront, the resort is part of the new Thew Talay estate. From the location down to the 18 pool suite rooms and 11 multiple bedroom luxury villas, the resort feels very exclusive and private.

The décor here is modern neo-Colonial, with thick columns, symmetrical windows, and marble floors found everywhere on the property, from rooms to facilities. Captivating modern art works grace the walls, and there are plenty of other aesthetic touches, from the fountains set at the front of the resort and swimming pool to the large shaded trees adorned with lanterns set over Baan Chok, a restaurant café that has both a spacious grassy lawn set with cushions to relax on as well as a bright indoor dining area.

The Beach Club features 18 pool suites, all of which face the sea and come with their own private plunge pool. The suites feature tons of living space, running 75 square meters and up, boast gigantic claw-style bathtubs, large rain-showers, and state of the art Bose sound systems to go with iPods filled with extensive playlists, which go hand in hand with the resort’s emphasis on being a “music lover’s hotel”. That means that on weekends, if you don’t want to, the party never stops, as the resort brings in DJs and always has catchy beats happening out around the beachfront pool.

Rooms also come with massive 46” televisions, with access to hundreds of satellite channels, Netflix, and other extensive viewing options, and if one gets bored of listening and watching, well, there’s also unlimited free Wi-Fi, most likely leaving you with far less time in the pool than you’d imagined. You may want to mitigate this, as the pool scene is more than half the reason to come down here. It’s right out by the beach, has a lawn next to it with large love seats, as well as a manicured beach area with blindingly white sand and colorful large cushions to sprawl on, with a row of super-comfy beach loungers set right out on the beach in front of this. From above, the combos of white and azure blue might even have you thinking you’re somewhere in the Mediterranean, except that it is just a tad bit more humid.

The Beachfront Penthouse | Photograph: Courtesy of Baba Beach Club

The ground-floor Beachfront Pool Suite | Photograph: Courtesy of Baba Beach Club

There are 16 regular pool suites spread out over three floors. Top floor suites have dreamy endless horizon views out to sea, and if you are lazy enough to not close the curtains at night, you’ll be treated to sunrise in bed come dawn. Ground floor suites might not have the same views, but compensated by a small garden, plus all of the plunge pools featuring Jacuzzi jets. There are also two penthouse suites in the same building, each with 150 square meters to roam around, with separate bedrooms, and private pools that are double the size of the regular suite pools.

The Five Bedroom Luxury Pool Villa | Photograph: Courtesy of Baba Beach Club

Families or friends wanting to consider something really special may want to opt for one of the private three- or five-bedroom villas (that are also for sale as time share units should you decide to become a more permanent resident). These come with full blown kitchens with microwaves and ovens, immense garden swimming pools, access to a new villa guest swimming pool, plus use of all the resort facilities.

Baba Beach Restaurant | Photograph: Courtesy of Baba Beach Club

Luxury touches and surroundings aside, Baba Beach Club is just a great place to relax and release stress. As the resort is located before reaching Hua Hin and all its congestion, one can be here in under 2.5 hours, dancing to samba or reggae beats, or sipping a mojito on the beach. Staying sated is no issue here, with the Baba Beacch Restaurant serving up gourmet pizzas, pasta, seafood, and Thai favorites using high quality ingredients, and is open for all day and evening dining. The Baan Chok restaurant opens for lunch and snacks, as well as serving breakfast on weekends.

The Baan Chok | Photograph: Courtesy of Baba Beach Club

The resort takes its name not from the Thai baa,  meaning crazy, as in wild partying, but from something far tamer and appealing. During the 1800s, Thailand’s southern elongated strip of land was known as “The Peninsula,” and was ripe for exploration and settlement. Many immigrants came to try to make a livelihood here, and were mainly a mix of Portuguese, Indian, and Hokkien Chinese. They intermarried, established communities, and many male offspring were given the name “Baba.” Thus, Baba Beach Club pays homage to this time and spirit, of different cultures, ideas, and philosophies all coming together to create something unique, which is precisely what this hip new beach hangout strives to do today. So put your party hat on, and at least pretend you love the tropics and get out of town for the weekend!

Baba Beach Club
758 Petchkasem Rd., Cha-Am,
Petchaburi
Tel. 032 899 130
www.bababeachclub.com/huahin