What can I say. On arrival at Bangkok the journey began. The hotel transfer by private car was swift and very comfortable. When we finally got to the Dusit we were impressed immediately with the grand entrance and the service was faultless.
We arrived slighty early so were relieved of our baggage and asked to take a seat where we enjoyed the most superb cocktails .... looking out to the gorgeous pool and beach we knew this was going to be paradise!
The pool area was fantastic the beach area was small but very clean and the waiter service was great. A massage in the garden area is a must for smthg like 400bht you cannot go wrong!
We found the staff a joy to be around and the whole complex very romantic.
We moved rooms once as we just felt we could get smthg a bit more spacious and that was no problem. In fact nothing was a problem so i would say if you are not happy with ANYTHING spk up!
On going into Hua Hin town we were sooooo sooooo pleased to be stayin outside in Cha Am as it was much more relaxing and exclusive feeling. Hua Hin itself is great the foot massage is a must and the bars are cool.
The food was delicious (yellow curry the best i have ever tasted) and we were spoilt for choice!
Such was our experience that we are going back to Thailand is April for their New Yr but this time to krabi so fingers crossed it will be just as amazing 2nd time round!
August weather was ok, even if it is overcast you still get burnt and the showers come around in the afternoon so no worries about that.
I would definately recommend this hotel to all that want to visit Hua Hin....

Lovley Hotel, great location between two towns,Hua Hin and Cha Am.
Regular shuttlebus can take you to both towns.
Fantastic rooms, Great food, very very friendly service.
If you are a beach person though this may not be for you, the beach was quite small and univiting, but the pool area more than made uo for this.
Would definatley stay here again.

On the recommendation of friends, we booked a Landmark Suite at this hotel. The start was not auspicious, as despite having confirmation in writing of our AIRPORT TRANSER we were not met at the airport as arranged and the relevant desk (Avis) had no knowledge of our arrival.
So, we found a licensed local taxi driver and saved ourselves Baht 1,500.
On arrival at the hotel we received a rather feeble sorry in response to the transfer debacle. Nothing more.
We were shown to our slightly SHABBY ROOM (743).
This was quite spacious, and on a top floor corner so we were expecting little, if no, noise disruption from passing traffic. A mistake, as every time the bell for the next room rang, we raced for our door, as their bell was so loud/our walls so thin. The rooms have very poor sound insulation, so I dread to think what it must be like in a room with others above/below/either side. It also begs the question why, when the hotel seemed to be running at less than 20% occupancy (at a guess) we were next to anyone.
Shabby rooms - the cabinets and furniture were chipped, the wardrobe door didn't close properly, there were lots of hangers in the closet, but they were quite dusty. No trouser press in the room, which I think many people expect as standard now, especially in a suite.
On the plus side, the bed linens and towels were clean, plentiful and of good quality and daily housekeeping in the room was good, with a fresh selection of fruit delivered daily.
There was a good selection of toiletries in the bathroom, incl. toothbrush/paste and a comb, but these were of poor quality. I think most people would expect better quality in a non-standard room - maybe they should consider supplying toiletries from their spa in some of the rooms. Which brings me to the
SPA...
We booked a 4 hour treatment for the morning after our arrival (bath/wrap/body/head massage). All was going fabulously, until the last hour or so when very loud drum and bass (or similar) music started up outside, swiftly followed by a man with a megaphone bellowing encouragement to a football match. The therapists were clearly feeling uncomfortable as our tension levels began to rise again. It transpires there was a staff football match on the sports field adjacent to the spa. On raising this issue at reception, we were assured this was a 'one-off' and offered a free 1 1/2 hour spa treatment each as compensation, which we thought fair, but the spa is next to the sports field, where many corporate events take place, and there was noise pollution (albeit not as severe) on other occassions. Not ideal given they are charging top dollar for their treatments. Not to worry on the prices, though, as we were given 4 discount vouchers in our 'welcome' pack. Sadly, using them wasn't very easy, as the very nice lady on reception thought only our first treatment qualified. I didn't expect to have to negotiate to use vouchers that had been issued by the hotel; all sorted out in the end, but not without a number of tight smiles and firm positions on both sides. Again, aren't spas supposed to be about relieving stress? On the plus side, the treatment rooms are lovely, the therapists very good at both delivering treatments and preserving modesty. It smelt fresh and clean (some spas smell damp and mouldy).
PUBLIC AREAS.
This hotel doesn't do itself any favours in this department. They are very poor at promoting their own restaurants, which is a pity since the food is really very good. A resort guide/map appeared in our room 3 days before the end of our 8 day stay (it would have been helpful to receive it on check in) and there is no comprehensive guide in the room summarising what restaurants are open when. Nor are there any sample menus in the resort facilities folder in room. The POLO BAR is looking a little sad, with buttons missing from sofas and braid hanging off chairs that have the stuffing dribbling out of the bottom of them.
The barman could use a course in 'mixology' and we gave up on trying to get a dry martini by the second night. The cocktails are generally weak, watery and uninspiring. Even the cleaners must be depressed by it all, as they don't stay long enough to dust the panelling behind the plants. The jazz quartet tried valiantly to fight off the dreadful feeling of morgueishness on a nightly basis, but were not helped by the [very] out of tune piano (I know it's damp and humid, but either get it tuned or stick with the electronic keyboard). The bass player was trying especially hard, as he practiced along with the piped music, even when the rest of the band weren't playing, which shows commitment, if being a little irritating. Make the lead guitarist happy and ask for Samba PaTi (?) by Santana.
The pool area is much of a muchness - we used the garden pool as it was more quiet and secluded, but it was all as clean and well maintained as one might expect, given it's age.
Overall, it wasn't bad, mainly because we found a good package, so it offered reasonable value for money, but you couldn't pay me to stay when it's full - breakfast (buffet service) must be a nightmare.
More fun and games on check-out as they initially charged us for breakfast, despite this being included in our package, so we had to go back and have that reversed out of the bill. One must ask what kind of internal procedures and controls are in place when they don't even know what meal plan their guests are on - Shambles.
BEST BITS: food generally, especially the seafood at the beachfront restaurant.
WORST BITS: general shabbiness; location of the spa (for noise pollution).

i have no idea why this hotel and its staff have received bad reviews.

But honestly take it from me and my family. We love the Dusit Hua Hin. Its a beautiful, tranquil and special place and once you have found it you will want to return. And we have high and demanding standards and have stayed in many, many hotels.

This is the second time we visited the hotel and the first time we have ever returned to the same location. We wondered if we would like it just as much. We liked it more!

The location ideal, beach fantastic,staffand management friendly and spa beautiful. Its an older hotel and in some ways that shows but it is grand and it does have style. Just go and have a look at the other hotels in Hua Hin. We have eaten in them all and still were glad we stayed in the Dusut. Not only that the prices are great (having just been on a holiday in the States, Thailand prices mean you can live like Royalty and not pay over the top for it!)

We will be back!!!