Go to the departure area when arriving at Bangkok Airport and get a cheap taxi downtown for about 150. bt. on the meter. Don't use the arrivals level taxi else you will pay abot 300 or 350 bt.
Hua Hin is just so boring, what is there? Nothing. I can think of so many places to go, there is just nothing to do in Hua Hin for entertainemt or nightlife and we are in our 40's, just oh so boring.
Get the direct bus from the airport departures to Khao San road for 100 baht if that is your final destination. Most taxis will try and charge you between 500 and 700B with excuses of tolls etc. If you get a 350 baht taxi to Khao San, and you can't find the bus, take it, its a pretty good offer.
I lived in Bangkok for 4 months, and any taxi ride from the centre of the city to the airport for 300 baht or less is a pretty good find.
There is now a new airport in a different location. The old airport at Don Muang is closed. Go absolutely nowhere by taxi of any form. Use the bus, sky train, ferry train, or mass transit train and your stay in Bangkok and Thailand will be safe and free from annoyance. Remember that it is the people you deal with who colour your holiday.
On the way from Chiang Khong to Chiang Saen, it's great to rent a motorbike for visiting the old city.
If you don't have much luggage, go to Central Bangkok by rail. The railstation is only few minutes walk from the arrival terminal. Use the footbridge over the highway. Arriving at Hua Lumphong Rail Station, avoid the tuk tuk as they will rip you off. Taximeter is the answer.
Hua Hin is a nice town and beach. It is a good place to stop over if you are going between Bangkok and the South or going back North. You can get between North and South Thailand avoiding Bangkok going through Kanchanaburi and Hua Hin.
There's too much pollution in Bangkok. My itinerary consisted of taking a small, two-day visit in Bangkok and straightway heading to Koh Samui by Bangkok Airways. A return ticket costs somewhere around 11000 Baht. If you are looking for a cheaper (and more thrilling) option fly to Surat Thani at a very cheap price from Bangkok (around 1500 Baht, one-way) via a local airways (I forgot the name, maybe it's Air Asia) and then take a boat from Surat Thani to Samui.
Next time I travel to Thailand, I will bypass Bangkok and straightway head for Samui.
Hua Hin is a very nice place to visit in Thailand, it's so easy going and relaxed. Some great seafood, try the Spa and massage at Nirvana in Hua Hin, simply amazing and very Thai. We really enjoyed Hua Hin and we have been to Phuket and Koh Samui before, Hua Hin is where we shall go again for sure!
I had the best time of my life in Chiang Khong! Don't miss it! Go to the Bamboo Riverside Guesthouse for AMAZING quesaldillas and then on to the Tee Pee Bar ("like a rat hole - you can't miss it.") For music and entertainment all night on guitar. Sing along and bring a guitar if you have one! Just watch out for the dogs on your way back to your hostel!
