I have some friends visiting who want to go to Koh Chang next but they don't want to fly to BKK. I told them their choices are either,

1) fly to Pattaya and take a bus, or

2) take a ferry to the mainland, take a train/bus to BKK, and from there take a bus to Koh Chang.

What are the other options, if any?

I know there is a cheap bus service from Suvarnbhami which goes direct to Koh Chang in 4 hours.

Tell your friends to skip the big koh Chang near Pattaya and go to th small Koh Chang near Ranong. A much nicer island to spend a little time re charging the batteries.

Charter a private yacht...

Charter a private yacht...

Not a bad idea, he's a yachtsman. Any idea how much it would cost and where he could find one?

Nowhere

Best would be flying USM-BKK-TRD (Trat) with PG.

But you say no BKK. So second best would be USM-UTP (U-Tapao), but I am not sure if there is a bus to Koh Chang from the airport, rather doubt that. He can call there and ask http://www.utapao.com/index_en.html

Otherwise he has to go from UTP to Pattaya and from there to Koh Chang or by taxi to Koh Chang or Rayong and from there to Koh Chang by bus.

By bus from USM it's a long way and in that case the train is more comfortable and then by bus from BKK to Koh Chang.

Fly samui to u-tapao, easy flight and just 2845 baht (well worth it to cut out a whole days driving).

Meanwhile check on internet for minibus going from Pattaya to Koh Chang and see if they will pick you up from U-tapao as they drive past. One flight is in the morning and another gets in about midday so time should be about right. I am sure they wont turn down any business for the sake of one stop.

HL

Do they drive from Pattaya to Koh Chang via Sattahip/U-Tapao? I doubt that, rather straight to #36.

<LI>

Route #3 (Route No.3): Distance 385 km. / Time 4.5 - 5 hours

Starting at Bangkok on Bangna-Trat Road km.1 > Chonburi > Pattaya > Sattahib > Rayong > Klang > Chantaburi > Trat > Koh Chang

I just looked up the bus schedules and the above bus no 3 goes via Sattahip and therefore goes right past the entrance to U-tapao airport.

HL

<LI>

Route #3 (Route No.3): Distance 385 km. / Time 4.5 - 5 hours

Starting at Bangkok on Bangna-Trat Road km.1 > Chonburi > Pattaya > Sattahib > Rayong > Klang > Chantaburi > Trat > Koh Chang

I just looked up the bus schedules and the above bus no 3 goes via Sattahip and therefore goes right past the entrance to U-tapao airport.

HL

Bus 392 from Suvarnbhami.

http://www.bussuvarnabhumikohchang.com/