Cheaper beach chairs in Hua Hin, but food prices cloudy

Aree Numcharoen of Pa Kaew Seafood (right) explains the prices shown on her menu, at Hua Hin beach in Prachuap Khiri Khan on Monday. (Photo by Chaiwat Satyaem)

PRACHUAP KHIRI KHAN: Municipal officials in Hua Hin will meet with operators of beach food shops next Wednesday to convince them to end excessive charging for food and beach recliners.

Hua Hin mayor Jeerawat Phrammanee said on Thursday the town would call a meeting with all 22 shop owners on Hua Hin beach to discuss the prices they charge customers.

The talks follow a complaint by a visitor who posted her bad experience on the Facebook account Nanthamonlak Woratharathorn. She said a food shop had cheated her and her family during their trip to the town on Saturday. She gave examples, but did not name the shop.

Officials found out later that the shop was Pa Kaew Seafood.Proprietor Aree Numcharoen denied overcharging, but was fined 1,000 baht for selling a bucket of ice for more than the price on the menu.

Food shops on Hua Hin beach charge 100 baht for the use of a beach bed if the customer does not order food.

The municipality plans to follow the example of Cha-am beach in Phetchaburi and Manao beach in Muang district of Prachuap Khiri Khan, where authorities have capped the charge for a recliner at 30 baht.

Mr Jeerawat said all beach food shop operators will have to sign an agreement on the charge for using beach beds at the meeting next week. But he admitted authorities cannot keep food prices down.

However, at the least, agreed food prices will be uniform at all shops, he said. All menus will have to display the same prices after the meeting.