HAT YAI CITY OF THAILAND 2012

HAT YAI CITY OF THAILAND

    Hat Yai (หาดใหญ่; also Had Yai, Hadyai) is the fourth largest city in Thailand and is located on the Southern Gulf Coast. It is an extremely popular tourist spot for Malaysians and Singaporeans on holiday. It's best avoided if you are looking to get off the beaten path. Prices are high because of the Malaysian and Singaporean tourists. This place does not have many Western visitors

    By plane

Airport

Hat Yai International Airport (HDY)
Taxi rides to Hat Yai city can be found at the airport entrance for which the drivers will ask around 250 baht,you also can use the airport limo service which costs 300 baht. A minivan service into the city costs 80 baht. A blue colored songthaew runs into town for 30 baht and can be found at the far end of the parking lot. From Phet Kasem Rd, Hwy 4135 (Sanambin Panij Rd) links to the airport. Car rental is available on arrival from Avis.
There are no official currency exchange offices in the airport. Staff of limo/minibus booth will exchange ringgits or dollars for you (or accept them for their service), but the exchange rate will be poor.

Flights

There are daily flights to/from the new Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport on AirAsia and Thai Airways. Hat Yai is also connected daily to Don Mueang, Bangkok's former international airport, by Nok Air and OrientThai.
NB: Starting 1 October 2012, AirAsia will be operating from the Don Mueang Airport for both domestic and international flights. For more information, read here.
Tiger Airways operates daily flights to Singapore, and Air Asia to Kuala Lumpur and Chiang Mai. Meanwhile Firefly  offers flights from Hat Yai to Kuala Lumpur via Subang, which is just 30 minutes from the KL city center.
Hat Yai also has daily flights to and from Phuket via Happy Air.

    By train
Hat Yai is on the southern line connecting Bangkok to Butterworth and Kuala Lumpur in Malaysia.

• To/from Bangkok: Five trains daily to and from Bangkok. Express trains depart at 16:16, 17:34 and 18:05 while the slower Rapid trains depart at 14:18 and 15:26. Trains go via Surat Thai, Chumphon, Hua Hin etc.

A 3rd class ticket with reserved, upholstered seat sets you back 259 baht (Hat Yai-Bangkok) on ordinary trains and slightly more for Rapid/Express trains. Buy tickets directly at the respective railway stations, surcharges are imposed if bought at other agencies!

• To/from Sungai Kolok: Three trains to Sungai Kolok daily departing at 05:36, 07:18 and 11:30.

• To/from Malaysia: The State Railways of Thailand's International Express leaves Hat Yai for Butterworth near Penang daily at 05:50, going via Padang Besar. In the other direction, trains leave Butterworth at 13:15 and arrive in Hat Yai at 17:30. The train then continues to Bangkok. The Senandung Langkawi operated by Keretapi Tanah Melayu (Malaysian Railways) departs Hat Yai for Kuala Lumpur daily at 15:00 (Thai time), arriving at KL Central at 05:30 (Malaysia Time) the next day. Trains from Kuala Lumpur depart at 21:20 (Malaysia Time) and arrive in Hat Yai at 09:27 (Thai Time) the next day. The Senandung Langkawi goes via Bukit Mertajam and Padang Besar. Note that Malaysian time is one hour ahead of Thai time: noon in Thailand is 13:00 in Malaysia. Be sure and check the departure time on your ticket as many tickets have Malaysian departure times even though Hat Yai is in Thailand.

• Surat Thani 3rd class tickets cost 55 baht, but the journey takes 7 hours! Good for stunning views of the countryside. See timetable at railway station. Sleeper cabins 1st class, 2nd class air-con & fan sleeperettes, and 3rd class (now upholstered seats!) are available.

By minivan
Minivans connect to and from all major locations in southern Thailand with Hat Yai. Where they depart from depends on the destination but the locals will be able to point you in the right direction. They are generally cheap and quicker than the buses but often overcrowded thus making them uncomfortable and dangerous.

Get around

Taxi

Taxi (Tuk-tuks and mototaxi) are abundant in Hat-Yai. They are available from any hotel. A ride within the city costs 20-60 baht. Ask the person at reception to write down the Thai address for you and show it to the driver. Rides to places outside the town are negotiable. Shared taxis going outside town can be found at the old market.

Motorbike

The Cathay Guesthouse rents motorbikes starting at 200 baht per day for semi-automatics. Malay and English spoken.
There's a place close to the Genting Hotel about 2 km east of the train station that rents out motorbikes. +66 87 293 4695.
You can rent a used motorbike or a scooter in some repair shops. For example there is one at 47, Thanon Nipatuthit 1. The owner speaks English, he is a decent man, so better be careful with the motorbike otherwise he will stop renting them out. His tel +66 81 328 7625. Normally he would require your passport as a deposit and 250 baht a day for a scooter.
NEVER, EVER GIVE YOUR PASSPORT AS A DEPOSIT, in Thailand or anywhere else!
A copy, signed with a note indicating the purpose of the copy has to do it. If you give your passport away you will have to pay whatever they ask to get it back in the event something happens. Not even the police will get the passport back to you before you have paid. And they ask for a lot more than just repair costs!

Rent a Car

Car rentals available at the airport at Avis

See

• Hat Yai Municipal Park (สวนสาธารณะเทศบาลเมืองหาดใหญ่) or recently Hat Yai Park, on Kanchanawanit Road, is six kilometers from the city center on the Hat Yai-Songkhla highway. It is the major recreation for the people of Hat Yai and surrounding areas as well. The park is full of beautiful flowering plants, with a pavilion in the middle of the pond, avarium, and food stalls. At the foot of the hill near the avarium stands the statue of King Rama V. There is a Brahman shrine at the hilltop. And at the southern foothill near the boy scout camp stands the jade statue of Guan-yin, the Chinese Goddess.

• Hat Yai Ice Dome near the main entrance of the Hat Yai Park. A seasonal display of ice sculptures by sculptors from Harbin. The third year display is from November 1, 2011 to September 30, 2012. Open daily 09:00am - 09:00pm. Adults THB300, children THB150.

• Hat Yai Lantern near and alongside the lake in the Hat Yai Park. Hat Yai Lantern Festival is held annually at the beginning of the year. This year, the festival was running from January 1 to April 30, 2012. Open daily 5:00pm - 11:00pm. No entrance fee.

• Hat Yai Cable Car is a recent addition to the Hat Yai Park, together with Hat Yai Observatory. Currently there are two stations: a station at Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj (พระพุทธมงคลมหาราช) and another at Thao Maha Phrom (ท้าวมหาพรหม). The second phase will add two more stations at the playground and Guan Yin statue, connecting four stations altogether. Open daily 9:00am - 8:00pm. THB200 fare.

• Hat Yai Observatory is Hat Yai's deepsky observation for science and astronomy. Located near Phra Buddha Mongkol Maharaj in the Hat Yai Park. Open daily 9:00am - 8:00pm.

• Wat Hat Yai Nai (วัดหาดใหญ่ใน) on Phetkasem Road, near Khlong U Taphao Bridge, is the site of a large reclining Buddha measuring 35 metres long, 15 metres tall, and 10 metres wide, named Phra Phuttha Hattha Mongkhon, believed to be the third largest reclining Buddha in the world - revered by both Thai and foreign tourists.

• Ton Nga Chang Waterfall (น้ำตกโตนงาช้าง) is located in the Ton Nga Chang Wildlife Sanctuary. It is one of the beautiful waterfalls of the south, about 26 kilometres from the city. Follow the Hat Yai-Rattaphum road for 13 kilometres, then turn left at Ban Hu Rae for another 13 kilometres. This waterfall has seven levels, the third level is the most beautiful and is named after the waterfall. At the third level the stream separates into two, resembling the elephant’s tusks. Treks have been provided for more adventurous tourists. One can hire a tuk-tuk to the waterfall for two to three hours at 300-400 baht, or one can take the minibus from the fresh market (Talat Sot Thet Sa Ban Hat Yai).

• Klong Hae Floating Market is located in Wat Klong Hae. Sells mainly local food. Open on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, 3:00pm - 8:00pm.

Events and Festivals

• Chinese New Year. With sizable Thai Chinese population, the Chinese New Year is celebrated everywhere in Hat Yai especially in the city center.

• Songkran Festival. The festival marks Thai New Year, which is traditionally celebrated from 13 to 15 April. In recent years, the festival has been held as Hat Yai Midnight Songkran to attract visitors.

• Loi Krathong.

Do

• Visa Run - If you need to extend your stay in Thailand another 15 days, you can cross the border at Dannok, near Sadao. Getting there from the airport is easy and takes about 2 hours. From the airport walk straight out into the parking lot to the parking lot ring road. You can wait here for a light blue songthaew to take you into town and get dropped off at The Plaza for 13 baht. The ride takes about 20-30 minutes. You can also take an airport taxi into town. At The Plaza, you can find a van waiting just across from the TOT office, which makes regular trips to Dannok. If you can't find it, just say "Sadao" or "Dannok" to people till they point you the right way. The trip is 60 baht, and vans leave once they are full. The trip should take about 1 hour 30 minutes. It will drop you off near the border at Dannok and you can just walk to exit Thailand. You will be approached by motorcycle drivers who will offer to take you to the Malaysian side. Walking takes about 10 minutes, so it could be worth it to pay 20 baht each way if you are in a hurry. If you have time, a stop at the duty free shop is worthwhile. Minivans returning to Hat Yai depart from outside the 7-11 in Dannok. Please keep in mind that back-to back stamps are only allowed for a total stay of 90 days within any given 180 day period of time!

A 60-day tourist visa can be obtained in Penang, Kota Bharu and in Kuala Lumpur at the respective Thai Consulates/Embassy. In Penang 60-day tourist visas cost generally 110 ringgit. Bring 2 photographs. A copy of passport main page is required. It is possible to copy it in a high-school library nearby.
To get there: take a bus no 1 from Komtar (1 ringgit) down Jalan Burma. After 10 minutes get off at the crossing with Cantonment Rd, turn left and walk down Cantonment Rd for 10 minutes and turn right to the Thai Consulate. Open from 09:00-12:00 and you will receive your tourist visa after 15:30. While waiting it's worth taking a bus ride to Batu Feringgi Beach (2 ringgit). You can also find Visa services in Little India and Chinatown for about 20 ringgit (will also be ready after 15:00). Cost 280 baht/30 ringgit one-way to Georgetown (with mini bus) and usually lets you off in Little India. There were return buses as late as 16:00 (as of May 2009).

• Thai Massage - No trip to Thailand would be complete without a Thai massage and Hat Yai is one of the best places to get one. Some of the many good places are the Garden Home Hotel or Hat Yai Central Hotel. The rooms are nicely decorated and provide a soothing environment to go with a good massage. Ask the doorman at any good hotel for a recommendation if you want to avoid the more dodgy massage places.

• Dentist Prince Songkhla University's faculty of dentistry offers very good & reasonably priced treatments!! But always put a few notes in the collection box. Government-operated hospital, so expect to wait a while.

Buy

There are numerous offices of Thai banks around the city, as well as private Chinese money exchangers. Exchange rate in the latter for Malaysian ringgit may be significantly better than in the banks.
ATMs are abundant in Hat Yai, although most of them, as everywhere in Thailand, do charge 150 baht fee for foreign card transactions. Aeon bank (the only one which consistently doesn't charge that) has ATMs near their office in the shopping/office center near the southern end of Nipatuthit 3 road, just to the left from the Tourist police sign, and easy walking distance from the city center.

Markets

• Kim Yong Market - Located at Supasarn Rungsan Rd. This is the most attractive & famous place for shopping. There is plenty of food, home appliances, chocolate, cosmetics, watches, CD games, etc.

• Suntisook Marketplace - Located at Nipat 1, 2 & 3. Sells the same products as the Kim Yong Market.

• ASEAN Market (Poet tai) - Located next to Hat Yai Bus Station. Wide market famous for second hand brandname clothes, bags and shoes, but interesting locally designed new clothes and some vintage decorative stuff can be found here as well. Lot of food stalls inside. Wednesday to Sunday, 17:00 to 22:00.

• Green Way Market - Located near the Hat Yai Bus Station but along the main road to Songkhla. Very similar to ASEAN Market. Wednesday to Sunday, 17:00 to 22:00.

Shopping Malls and Hypermarkets

• Lee Garden Plaza - The most popular mall for Thai teenagers. Restaurants include Sizzler, Swensen's, McDonald's and Fuji among others. Shops inside sell books, clothes, mobile phones and souvenirs. There is a multiplex cinema and a games complex which also includes Karaoke booths.

• Central Department Store Hat Yai - Probably Hat Yai's most upmarket store. Clothes, cosmetics, books, household goods and there is a TOPS food supermarket on the highest floor.

• Robinson Department Store Hat Yai - Located near the Hat Yai train station.

• Odean Shopping Mall - Mostly clothes.

• Diana Shopping Mall - Clothes, mobile phones, restaurants and a bowling alley.

• Siam Nakarin Complex - Office supplies, furniture, restaurants, food center, IT/mobile phone and other small shops.

• Tesco Lotus Hat Yai 1 - Located near the Prince of Songkhla University, a large supermarket that sells food, clothes, household items and lots more. There are also a number of restaurants and smaller shops just outside the main supermarket.

• Tesco Lotus Hat Yai 2 - Recently open in Hat Yai Nai.

• Big C Extra Hat Yai - Formerly Carrefour. Has HomePro, Office Depot and several restaurants.

• Big C Supercenter Hat Yai

• Makro Hat Yai - Cash & carry wholesale.

Bargaining

Hat Yai is a touristy area with a flood of tourists from Malaysia and transit passengers. Local people seem to have a habit of overcharging all foreigners. The situation is one of the worst even compared to other touristy areas in Thailand.

• Learning a few Thai phrases usually doesn't keep you from being overcharged because Thais get used to Malaysians pretending to be a local by speaking a few Thai words.

• Talking about honesty doesn't mean much to the people in Hat Yai, but smiling will help. When you are asked to pay an inflated price, name any poor country, say you come from there, and insist that you don't have money. Sometimes it works.

• See how much local people pay for their food. It's unwise to ask them directly because they don't feel like betraying their neighbours by telling you the Thai price.

• Use common sense. Street vendors may charge you 25 baht for a skewer of BBQ'ed meat balls (Thai price ~10-12 baht). This is almost the same price as in Singapore, so you better walk away.

• Consult the staff in your guesthouse and ask them how much they pay for a particular food such as noodles and congee.

Eat

Although not in the same league as Bangkok, there are a lot of different food options on offer in Hat Yai. Typical Thai street food is abundant. Big, international chain restaurants have branches in town offering Japanese and Western food.
Ethnic Chinese from Malaysia and Singapore make up the bulk of Hat Yai's tourists so many restaurants and hotels cater primarily to them. Just opposite Lee Gardens (next to the Regency Hotel) you will see a restaurant which spit-roasts suckling pigs every day. Large, open-air seafood restaurants are also popular with Chinese visitors and the quality of seafood available in Hat Yai is good. Certain Chinese are vegetarians and the town has a good selection of small vegetarian restaurants that offer tofu and soy meat substitutes.
Behind Regency Hotel and Lee Garden Hotel is a vermicelli shop with a Teochew-speaking female boss. It is open from 22:00-06:00. It's beside Duangchan St.
There is a large resident Muslim population and some visitors from Malaysia are also Muslim so finding halal food isn't a problem.

• Bang Farang Restaurant - Nice small cozy restaurant at a walking distance from the bus station, ASEAN Market, or Green Way Market. Halal Thai food (spicy, not sweet Malay cuisine). Excellent kaeng som. Serves fresh fruit juices and coffee. Free high speed WiFi. Open 07:00 to 20:00. Closed Mondays. The cook/owner is married to a Muslim Frenchman. You can usually meet him on Saturdays. 32/7 Thungsao 2 Rd, Soi Khamuthit 4, Hat Yai. Tel: +66 82 439 9590.

• B's Sweet - B's Sweet serves up americani, cappuccini, lattes, smoothies, pork or prawn omelettes, local rice and noodle dishes, and a wonderful selection of cakes, ice creams and sorbets. The chocolate lava should not be missed. Open breakfast, lunch and diner. 75 Thammanoonvitee Rd, Hatyai. Tel: +66 74 221 909 email:bsweet2010@hotmail.com.

• Daothiam - Friendly staff and tasty breakfasts. Thai & Vegetarian food. Grab a pad Thai and Chang among a collection of framed world currencies. Open daily 07:00 to 22:00. 79/3 Thammanoonvithi Rd, opposite Odean Shopping Mall. Tel: +66 74 243 268.

• Hamid Restaurant - Nice, clean, and good halal food. It is across the street from Lee Garden Hotel and there are a couple of other Muslim restaurants nearby.

• Lee Garden Plaza Hotel - (Tel. +66 7426 1111) The hotel has a 33rd floor restaurant with panoramic views of the city. It offers an excellent all-you-can-eat buffet, lunch and dinner.

• Shop 192 (opposite 7-11) - Good Chinese food served here and very busy but worth waiting for some good fried stuff. Just brush up some of these basic words in Thai and let them know. Price ranges 50 baht and less. (192 Supasarnrangsan Rd, Hat Yai) Open at night from 18:00 on. Khao phat kai - fried rice with chicken. Khao phat mu - fried rice with pork. Khao phat pu - fried rice with crab meat. Khao phat kung - fried rice with shrimp.

• Ta-kun - If you're looking for cheap and good local food, try this small and very friendly little spot nearly opposite King's Hotel. Nipatutij 1 Rd a few blocks from the train station.

• Ya Lun Rou Ku Cha - Tel. +66 1 608 2829. For those who like to eat pork rib soup or Bak Kut Tea.

Drink

The beer in Hat Yai is especially reasonable so enjoy a can of beer while you are there. More reasonably priced than what you pay at the outrageously overpriced duty-free shops.

• Bee Club - Live music, pool upstairs and decent food. Located downtown.

• Co Art - A cafe-style place to hang-out in the evening. There is a live band almost every day with internationally known cover-songs.

• Deep Wonder - Street side and downstairs bar. Live music. Across from The Pubb.

• Living Room 94 Thamanoonvithi Rd. At the site of the now-defunct Monkey Club. It's a nice place with fairly quiet atmosphere, and no longer a nightclub.

• Nakorn Nai - A stylish restaurant with free WiFi. They serve very tasty Western food (pizza, pasta, beef stroganoff, breakfast) for reasonable prices.

• Oceania Out of the city centre, about 10 minutes by taxi from Lee Gardens and about 100 m north of the Hansa Plaza/Paragaon night entertainment complex in Hat Yai 'nai'. A beautiful open-air restaurant and bar set on 2 floors with a landscaped garden of waterfalls and palms, and soft lighting to boot. The kitchen is open until well after 02:00, serving decent Thai food at around 100 baht a dish. A large Heineken is 90 baht, with draft available also. The theme is quiet and romantic, ideal after an hour or two in the disco nearby. Live acoustic music accompanies the diners every night until midnight. Oceania closes when the last customers leave at around 04:00.

• The Post Laser Disc - Air-con and pool. Best band in town. Jack Coke, 80 baht. Farang hangout. On Thamnoon Vithi Rd.

• Sunrise Coffee (หอมกลิ่นกาแฟ) A nice little coffee shop offering a variety of coffee blends and smoothies; very cozy atmosphere. It is located on Sheutit Rd (ชีอุทิศ), opposite the Hakka Chinese Association and the D-Pan-Panya restaurant.

• The Swan, on Thamnoon Vithi Rd, one block from The Pubb. Nice atmosphere with books and 2 TVs with UBC. Jack Coke, 60 baht. A slight British pub feel.

• The West Side Saloon Can get crowded and very noisy. They have a good bar food menu. The only pub/bar in town that writes the prices on the menu excluding service charge and VAT. Can be a surprise when you get the bill.

Sleep

Travel agents around town can nearly always give better rates for hotel rooms compared to dealing directly with the hotel. Hat Yai has an abundance of accommodation. Tourism in Hat Yai consists mainly of the weekend trade from Malaysia and Singapore. Accommodation can be found very easily mid-week but hotels in the centre of town tend to get booked up for the weekends and Malaysian and Singaporean public holidays. In the budget hotel you may well be asked if you want 'company'. A shake of the head is all that is needed. Don't be put off by the hotel because of it.

Budget

• Asian Hotel, 55-59 Nipatuthit 3, Hat Yai, Songkhla, . Basic facilities, is one of the older bigger hotels several decades back. (7.0062884220792885,100.47035694122314)                                 Cathay Guesthouse, not far from train station.. checkout: 12:00. Simple rooms, Asian toilet, have to buy toilet paper. Sells European breakfast and have transport service. Friendly staff.bed bugs & noisy. December 2010: twin rooms 200 baht, a bit damp, dark and crumbling but always clean. Had many one night stays over the years and never had bed bugs here. Any hotel at any level could have these little monsters at any time. November 2011: rooms quite dirty, bed bugs and unfriendly staff. Stayed there for three days, 21 Feb 2012: basic rooms but very clean, and super staff. No bugs of any sort. Did not have any single rooms,(160 baht) so the very nice lady gave me a double room, one bed for 200 baht a night. Not a classy place, but clean rooms with a cold shower very close to the train station. GOOD ENOUGH FOR ME!! Twin fan 220 baht.  edit
• Genting Hotel, 263 Samchai Rd (about a km and a half east of the city centre), Airy and remodeled Sep 2011. Much better condition room than you can get in the city centre for similar prices. 410 baht for a spacious room with queen bed, 480 baht for a room with two beds. Clean. Free WiFi. TV and big fridge. Hot water. Some decent local food places to eat over the road. A long stroll or short ride to the city center. Gym downstairs, 30 baht/day or 600 baht/mo, or 450 baht/mo for restricted memberships (AM-only or PM-only). 410+ baht. 
• Hat Yai Rama Hotel, 9/5 Sripoovanart Road, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110 (Southern),
• Indra Hotel - Thamanoonvithi Rd/Next to Monkey Pub. Nice inexpensive place to stay near market and transportation (bus agents). Strongly recommend you ask to see room before booking.
• King's Hotel, 126-134 Nithak U Thid 1 Rd (in the heart of commercial Hat Yai, a block from the railway station), [Cable TV with English channels, hot shower, double bed. Free WiFi in the hotel lobby. 400-600 baht.
• Laem Thong Hotel - 46 Thamanoonvithi Rd, one block from railway station. Fan rooms 320 baht.
• Lee Garden Plaza Hotel, (above The Plaza). Buffet lunch/dinner is worth a try, 50% off for seniors. 1,220 baht including breakfast (880 baht without).  
• Louise Guesthouse, close to train station, By Robinson shopping mall. checkout: noon. Good standard rooms, big and have European toilets, free toilet paper and can ask for more. Staff friendliness appears to fluctuate. Bedbugs reported, and mattresses old and sagging in the middle. Double fan 300 baht.  
• Pink Lady Hotel, 24/ 11- 12 Sanehanusorn Rd, Hat Yai (next to Novotel and Central Festival Dept Store.),  Clean and has consistent hot water. The service is okay (some have reported poor service but if you encounter this, complain to manager and it's resolved). Very quiet despite the presence of a karaoke and massage parlor. 600 baht.

Mid-range

• Golden Crown Plaza Hotel, 42-43 Niphatuthit 3. Opened in 2007. The standard rooms are very nice and comfortable. 850 baht.
• Lee Garden Plaza Hotel, (above The Plaza). 1,450 baht including breakfast.
• New Season Hotel, 106 Prachathipat Rd, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, ☎ +66 7435 2888 (newseason_hotel@yahoo.com, fax: +66 7435 2390). New Season Hotel is a deluxe hotel, situated in the heart of Hat Yai. Has 112 deluxe rooms and 7 junior suites, including non-smoking floors, with panoramic view of the city and mountain. Every room features Internet access, touch memory door locking system, smoke detector, safety deposit box, minibar and colour TV. 24 hour surveillance and car park is also provided. On-site there is a Thai massage with 17 luxurious rooms and a coffee shop providing a variety of cuisine from Thai, Western, and Chinese. 900 baht.  President Hotel, 420 Petchkasem Rd, ☎ +66 74 349 500 (fax: +66 74 230 609). Pretty large rooms, air-con, free WiFi, TV, and OK room service. 4,155 baht.  
• Siam City Hotel, 25-35 Niphatutit 2 Rd, ☎ +66 74 353 111/30. Decent city views. Mini fridge. Feels 30 years old. No English TV channels. 855 baht.  e
• Tune Hotel, 152-156 Niphat Uthit 2 Rd, Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, checkin: 14:00; checkout: 11:00. 148 rooms. Rates vary according to when you book.  
• Winstar Hotel, 54/7 Sripuwanart. Hat Yai, Songkhla 90110, ☎ +66 74 465 222. Winstar Hotel is a new standard hotel designed and decorated with Chinese modern style, situated just beside Diana Shopping Centre. Room amenities includes Internet access, air conditioning, hot and cold water shower, mini bar and colour TV with cable channels. Other facilities includes Fountain Beer Park, Lim Breng Restaurant, Star Coffee shop, and Thai Ancient massage. 700 baht.  

Stay safe

A series of bombings in September 2006 that specifically targeted restaurants and shopping centres popular with visitors (and locals) killed two tourists. These were presumably placed by Muslim separatists. There were another 7 bombs in May 2007 in Hat Yai which killed one person. Strict security measures (bag searches, metal detectors) are to be expected in most gathering places. The latest bombing occurred on 3 April 2012. All you can do is be on the alert for suspicious activity and packages.

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