Trip to Koh Chang with own car

[moogradod]

Since my wife and me live south of Pattaya, we would like to visit Koh Chang for a couple of days with our own car.

 

Has anybody done that, been there and knows about:

 

1. Ferry boat: Is the schedule a problem, reservation possibly needed/recommended ? I do not want to drive 5 hours just to find that there is no more boat.????

2. Beach: Is there a nice one (few stones if possible) available ? We did not swim in the sea for decades now. Missing it.

3. Restaurants ? Most important for us. Recommendations ? In the evening we will never take the car - we hope there is some sort of taxi available, but the accomodation will follow the food selection available.

4. Travel Time: I hear that from mid-November on the weather should be nice. Correct ?

5. Accomodation ? Will depend on 2. and 3. We are happy if something with good price/performance is available but performance is more important than price

 

Thank you everybody out there for any suggestions and sharing the experience.

 

(It was actually intended to be posted in the travel forum - Admins pls. move if this is a better choice. Thanks)

Edited October 26, 2019 by moogradod

[camble]

Ferry leaves about every hour until 6 PM, I believe. 

Yes, there are good beaches

Seafood restaurants are really good, farang restaurants are usually mediocre and overpriced.

Weather is good in mid-November, some popular resorts double the rates on Nov 1st

 

See my trip report

 

[alant]

this may help

https://kohchangferries.com/ferry-koh-chang/ 

[Scouse123]

I have done it from Bangkok with my son and his friends. However, we used and rented a 4 x 4 with driver for pick up in Bangkok and drop off on the Island. There is usually room on the ferries and they are regular anyway. When you arrive you simply join the queue.

 

Some great beaches although myself, I liked Klong Prao area both for the beach and my hotel which was great. Plenty of activity on the island although tourists tend to gravitate towards White sands beach area.

 

There is a road named Rural road which basically is a road circling the island which is easy and great to navigate if you have transport.

 

Taxis available from reception to anywhere. Good onsite restaurant and entertainment including Filipino bands, fire eating shows on the beach as well as free cabaret shows.

 

A link here which should be useful for your needs. I hope it's OK to include links.

 

https://explorekohchang.com/koh-chang/resorts-hotels-bungalows/klong-son/

 

I stayed at this place.

 

https://www.agoda.com/koh-chang-paradise-resort/hotel/koh-chang-th.html?checkin=2018-06-03&los=4&adults=2&rooms=1&cid=1587502&tag=hid48514%2cpidWtgMKwoQJWcAAZk0l5EAAABW&searchrequestid=b9ba7c8d-f1ee-48c4-bc2c-42ac376c6515&tspTypes=1&tabbed=true

 

 

Edited October 27, 2019 by Scouse123

[Hanuman2547]

Been to Koh Chang many times over the last 25 years.  Although I haven't been there since 2007.  There are quite a few ferries going over and back everyday so I don't worry about trying to make any specific ferry.  I do try to leave early in the morning just so I can get there early.

 

Mid November should be a good time with little rain.

 

Restaurants all over.  As was said earlier farang restaurants a little pricey.

 

Accommodations are enough to fit every price point.  I do miss the days when there were no big hotels and I just paid 300 baht for a non-A/C beach bungalow right on the beach.

 

Plenty of sandy beaches, you'll be fine.

[moogradod]

12 hours ago, camble said:

See my trip report

Thanks Camble for the report. How about the beach at Emerald Cove Resort ? Clean and fine sand ?

 

Finding an accomodation seems not so easy as I first thought. For what the resorts are (according to description) they are as well quite expensive in mid November. Can book a 5* hotel in HCMC for that. Will keep investigating. Tripadvisor does most probably not list some of these seafood restaurants you mention.

 

You do not mention public transport on the island in your report. Do they have Baht Buses or Taxis ? In the evening our car will stay at the hotel. I never drink and drive.

[moogradod]

1 hour ago, alant said:

this may help

https://kohchangferries.com/ferry-koh-chang/ 

Great ! Thanks for the info. There seem to be 2 ferries. One more quick, one more slow. I would not mind some extra minutes at sea if I do not have to wait in the queue any longer.

[moogradod]

46 minutes ago, Hanuman2547 said:

Restaurants all over.  As was said earlier farang restaurants a little pricey.

 

Plenty of sandy beaches, you'll be fine.

Thanks Hanuman2547. The question remains: Which ones are exactly recommended (Beach, Restaurant, Hotel) ?

[moogradod]

54 minutes ago, Scouse123 said:

There is a road named Rural road which basically is a road circling the island which is easy and great to navigate if you have transport.

 

Taxis available from reception to anywhere. Good onsite restaurant and entertainment including Filipino bands, fire eating shows on the beach as well as free cabaret shows.

 

A link here which should be useful for your needs. I hope it's OK to include links.

 

https://explorekohchang.com/koh-chang/resorts-hotels-bungalows/klong-son/

 

I stayed at this place.

 

https://www.agoda.com/koh-chang-paradise-resort/hotel/koh-chang-th.html?checkin=2018-06-03&los=4&adults=2&rooms=1&cid=1587502&tag=hid48514%2cpidWtgMKwoQJWcAAZk0l5EAAABW&searchrequestid=b9ba7c8d-f1ee-48c4-bc2c-42ac376c6515&tspTypes=1&tabbed=true

Thanks, Scouse123. Useful info. So ferry and transport on the island are sorted out. Remains the beach (which one is the white fine sandy one without rocks ?) and the restaurants. Based on that I may then choose the hotel/resort.

 

[sandyf]

51 minutes ago, moogradod said:

Thanks Camble for the report. How about the beach at Emerald Cove Resort ? Clean and fine sand ?

 

Finding an accomodation seems not so easy as I first thought. For what the resorts are (according to description) they are as well quite expensive in mid November. Can book a 5* hotel in HCMC for that. Will keep investigating. Tripadvisor does most probably not list some of these seafood restaurants you mention.

 

You do not mention public transport on the island in your report. Do they have Baht Buses or Taxis ? In the evening our car will stay at the hotel. I never drink and drive.

We have been a few times in our own vehicle. all very easy. Last time we stayed at Penny's Resort, you can find it on Agoda. Not too bad at about 1000 baht a night for one of their bungalows.. They have a nice pool right on the sea with bar open in the afternoon, most bars are shut in the afternoon unless they are bar/restaurants. If you want the sandy beach it is not too far away. There are many shops and restaurants on the main road within easy walking distance.

Enjoy the trip.

[Scouse123]

36 minutes ago, moogradod said:

Thanks, Scouse123. Useful info. So ferry and transport on the island are sorted out. Remains the beach (which one is the white fine sandy one without rocks ?) and the restaurants. Based on that I may then choose the hotel/resort.

 

 

 

The hotel I stayed in ( which I enclosed the link,) is straight onto a sandy beach! The hotel is beachfront.

 

and the swimming pool overlooks the beach and sea.

[camble]

1 hour ago, moogradod said:

Thanks Camble for the report. How about the beach at Emerald Cove Resort ? Clean and fine sand ?

 

Finding an accomodation seems not so easy as I first thought. For what the resorts are (according to description) they are as well quite expensive in mid November. Can book a 5* hotel in HCMC for that. Will keep investigating. Tripadvisor does most probably not list some of these seafood restaurants you mention.

 

You do not mention public transport on the island in your report. Do they have Baht Buses or Taxis ? In the evening our car will stay at the hotel. I never drink and drive.

Beach at the Emerald Cove is sandy if you keep to the south end of the property, they also have a 50 meter lap pool.

 

Baht buses are available with fixed prices based on destination.

[CNXexpat]

Try not travelling during the weekend or at a holiday. You´ll have to wait at the ferry a looooong time.

If you like nature and quiet days, Koh Chang is fine. On the side to the ocean you´ll find the beaches, on the land side you´ll find less tourists and nice mangroves.

[steve187]

2 hours ago, moogradod said:

Great ! Thanks for the info. There seem to be 2 ferries. One more quick, one more slow. I would not mind some extra minutes at sea if I do not have to wait in the queue any longer.

don't get the slow one, really old and really really slow.

[moogradod]

20 hours ago, CNXexpat said:

Try not travelling during the weekend or at a holiday. You´ll have to wait at the ferry a looooong time.

If you like nature and quiet days, Koh Chang is fine. On the side to the ocean you´ll find the beaches, on the land side you´ll find less tourists and nice mangroves.

Very good advice. I had planned to go there on a Saturday - now this becomes Monday then. Thanks again.