Sundance Beach Club Hua Hin

I reached out to a friend who is visiting Hua Hin this week thinking he was still staying at the Hyatt Regency, one of my favourite five star hotels in Hua Hin, but after messaging me back he said that he was at the Sundance Beach Club. A destination that I have never been too and will not bother visiting in the future.

He had invited me there for breakfast before but I was waylaid and unable to make it so I felt that i owed him a visit. I Googled it and saw that it was on Soi 19 in Hua Hin and drove past as it is not clearly signposted. I turned round and parked outside. I read the sign stating ALL GUESTS MUST MAKE A RESERVATION IN ADVANCE BEFORE ENTERING but thought that they would welcome my business. There is a pandemic – but no?

It seems that the business is owned by ItalAsia and not seeing the, cleverly hidden entrance, I went to the wine shop upstairs. I drink a great deal of wine – frequently a bottle a day, so had they been more attentive I could have spent a lot of money there. But the three ’staff’ if that is what they were, seemed rather put out that they should be interrupted by a client. I asked “how does one get in to The Sundance Club” whereupon a young girl came round the counter, opened a side glass door telling me to wait.

“Can I not come with you” I asked? “No wait here” was her reply.

Sorry but for years I have been a ‘mystery shopper’ employed by FMCG, hospitality, retail, automotive companies and I never ‘wait here’ to spend my money. I actually had a copy of one of the print magazines I publish with me so I held it up and said “please do not bother… I will go and write about somewhere else”.

Othello Benedetti with his range of premium brands would have felt most uncomfortable. Their loss…