Rayong And Koh Chang Recommendations

[Dustoff]

~

Please do not move this to a Southern forum.

Like Chiang Mai residents (me), the expats who live there usually do not stay in hotels or do the visitor thing and their advice for Thailand's expats is limited.

Best way to get there? Can I fly there from CM? Or?

Your favorite budget to moderate (clean) hotel recommendations and contact info?

Mostly for Koh Chang and we need lots of info about getting to the other islands.

The usual stuff - what not to miss, what to avoid, how to be somewhat near activities but still somewhat remote..

Dust in the wind...

[Gladiator]

Rayong

Hat Mae Rumpung Beach (many spellings due to transliteration) runs for about 11 kilometres parallel with highway 3 from Rayong to Ban Phe I usually drive down but in the past have taken a Nakhon Chai VIP bus from Chiang Mai to Rayong. Then songtieow from Rayong to Hat Mae Rumpung beach. You could fly to Bangkok then, depending on your budget, get a taxi or bus to Rayong.

I have stayed at the Condotel - now called Rayong Beach Hotel which has both beach and mountain facing rooms plus swimming pool. www.rayongbeachhotel.com

If you care to PM my I can provide a contact who rents a sea facing condo.

There are many beach seafood restaurants plus a few western ones. Depending on your preference for night life, you may find it quiet.

Koh Samet

Just down the road is Ban Phe which is from where the ferries depart for the island of Koh Samet, quite a small island and designated national park. You can take either slow ferry or speed boat. When I have the money I stay at Ao nang Resort www.aonangbeach.com. Other times there are many other rooms and apartments along this beach.

Koh Chang

You can fly from Bangkok on Bangkok Airways to Trat – then get the ferry across to Koh Chang. Koh Chang is Thailand's second largest island and designated national park. I stay at the Mac Beach resort – www.kohchang.com at White Sands Beach. It's a nice little hotel right on the beach.

Let me know if you need any further information.

Gladiator

[Gladiator]

Oh, by the way,

You might get some other recommendations in the Eastern Forum of TV.com

[Pikey]

Stayed at the K.B Resort on Koh Chang's west coast 2 years ago. Oceanside, great food and a garden chalet with ensuite cost us 900B/night. Great restaurant onsite too. Outside in Kai Bae village, it's pretty low key with a few restaurants and a scattering of bars/beer bars. No big discos or anything like that. http://www.kbresort.com/

We drove to Trat and then ferried across. Heck of a drive and best to stop halfway or so for an overnight if you choose that option. If you want to get about on the island, a set of wheels is necessary and the east coast is (was) very undeveloped and peaceful.

Cheers,

Pikey

[MESmith]

Are there any decent cheapo bungalows on Hat Mae Rumpung Beach?  I've been googling this afternoon & can only find websites for booking hotels - not my kind of thing....... I'd rather stay on the mainland with my wheels rather than head to Ko Chang.

[jaideeguy]

Dustoff,

Totally agree with Pikey's post, as we stayed in KB resort and it was away from the maddening crowds which you will find on most other beaches. Comfortable clean bungalows.....fan rooms, but cool at night and far enough away from the discos and bar noise. Also agree that it is a long drive....better to break it up into two days to arrive somewhat fresh.

It will remind you of Maui 40 yrs ago.........

[searcher22]

A few years ago I stayed at the Condotel too, facing the beach in Rayong. The hotel was fine, but what I didn't like was the trash that washed up on the beach every morning. Made my morning jog somewhat unpleasant. I went to Koh Chang the following year and the beach was great.

[Dustoff]

~

Thanks SO much to each of you for your input and advice!

Not long after posting, I discovered that Bangkok Air flies from BKK right to Trat so we have tickets already for a 2Mar departure and will completely bypass Rayong.

We would like to hear still more recommendations and hotel experiences from those of you who have been to Koh Chang.

I am going primarily to do some serious microlight flying and my friend is into exploring Koh Chang and the other nearby islands.

Maui of forty years ago? I moved there in 1986 and stayed for fifteen years. The wife and I have been talking about maybe moving there for a few years but it will not happen this year. I am very interested in checking out Koh Chang in my search for a Thai island where I would be willing to have a place and own my own microlight.

Life is a beach...

Dustoff

Edited February 27, 2010 by Dustoff

[mouse]

Just came back from staying at http://www.siambayresort.in.th/ highly recommended.

Definitely the place to find rest and quiet! Get one of the Bungalows on the beach, we did and it was great. Food is also good.

Does that mean you will not be at the meeting on 6 March in Chiang Mai ?

[Gladiator]

Are there any decent cheapo bungalows on Hat Mae Rumpung Beach? I've been googling this afternoon & can only find websites for booking hotels - not my kind of thing....... I'd rather stay on the mainland with my wheels rather than head to Ko Chang.

http://www.rayongbungalows.com/

I don't think that there are any bungalows on the beach road but I did find the above link. The beach goes on for a long way right up to the small national park and Rayong Resort (never been but supposed to be quite good if pricey). The beach breaks for the aquarium, small boat marina and town of Ban Phe, then starts again on the other side of Ban Phe. It may be that there are beach bungalows down that way. Not sure.

Regarding the posting re trash on the beach. Yes parts of the beach have litter. Some is left by people, Some is washed ashore by tide. However its a pretty long beach and it is possible to find clean areas. Also the sea is relatively calm in the winter months. It tends to have quite a surf in the summer

[Gladiator]

Are there any decent cheapo bungalows on Hat Mae Rumpung Beach? I've been googling this afternoon & can only find websites for booking hotels - not my kind of thing....... I'd rather stay on the mainland with my wheels rather than head to Ko Chang.

If you change your mind about Koh Chang. There is quite a good and efficient car ferry which is situated before you reach Trat. Turn right off from Highway 3. Quite cheap several years ago at 400 Baht return for the Mazda pick-up and all of the passengers

[Dustoff]

Just came back from staying at http://www.siambayresort.in.th/ highly recommended.

Definitely the place to find rest and quiet! Get one of the Bungalows on the beach, we did and it was great. Food is also good.

Does that mean you will not be at the meeting on 6 March in Chiang Mai ?

Thanks Mouse, and others who have posted recommendations.

This sounds like a great place to explore and it is only a bit unfortunate that we are heading down there in high season. Since the chances are good that I will be there for a couple of weeks, I would like to keep the cost down to around 1000B/nite or less if possible without being in a crappy room. The Siam Bay seems to be getting our vote so far for a place to stay at least one night while we check around the next day. It is also quite close to my microlight friend and some cool beaches.

And yes, I will be missing Saturday's meeting..

I love going to new places...!

Dustoff

[MESmith]

Mouse, could you possibly let us know how much you paid for the bungalow on the beach at Siam Bay, & whether you booked in advance through their site or just turned up.  

Thanks, Gladiator.  I'm now thinking of spending one night at Hat Mae Rumpung Beach, as it's reachable in a day's drive, then moving onto Ko Chang for a few nights.

[Dustoff]

Mouse, could you possibly let us know how much you paid for the bungalow on the beach at Siam Bay, & whether you booked in advance through their site or just turned up.

Mice pay?? I have a couple hanging around our place who seem to think that they can just MOVE IN for free!

Yeah Mouse, just how much DID you pay? Just got your PM, my old friend...

I checked online and the lowest price is 1200B for the bungalow that runs 700B in off-season. I am thinking about giving them a call this afternoon to see if they can give a bit better deal for a longer stay.

It looks like we have a convoy to Koh Chang!

[MESmith]

It looks like we have a convoy to Koh Chang!

How much for those traffic police escorts, flashing lights, pedal to the metal all the way?   On my budget, probably as far as Lamphun 

[Dustoff]

How much for those traffic police escorts, flashing lights, pedal to the metal all the way? On my budget, probably as far as Lamphun

Avoid those 'certain color shirts' and you will likely be outside of their current attention zone.

Put the hammer down!

[Gladiator]

Mouse, could you possibly let us know how much you paid for the bungalow on the beach at Siam Bay, & whether you booked in advance through their site or just turned up.

Thanks, Gladiator. I'm now thinking of spending one night at Hat Mae Rumpung Beach, as it's reachable in a day's drive, then moving onto Ko Chang for a few nights.

I 'm sure that you will have your own route but if not, here is mine with approx timings at 100kph:

Highway 11 to Lampang - 1 hour

Highway 1 to Tak - 2 hours

Tak - Kampaeng Phet 1 hour

Kampaeng Phet - Nakhon Sawan 1.5 hours

Highway1/Highway 32 onwards to Bangkok as far as Ang Thong 2 hours

Ring Road Higway 9 to Suvanabhumi 1 hour Toll road

Highway 7 to junction with Highway 36 just outside of Pattaya 1 hour

Turn left on Highway 36 to Rayong 45 minutes

Approaching Rayong turn left onto Highway 3 sign posted to Chantaburi

The turn right to Hat Mae Rumpung Beach is a couple of kilometres

Follow the beach road for several kilometres and the Condotel is on the left just past the V.P. Guesthouse

Last year there were extensive roadworks between Lampang and Nakhon Sawan but they may well have finished by now. I tend to use PTT/7-11 for pit-stops and there is a decent service centre about 20 kilometres south of Suvanabhumi

[MESmith]

Mouse, could you possibly let us know how much you paid for the bungalow on the beach at Siam Bay, & whether you booked in advance through their site or just turned up.

Thanks, Gladiator. I'm now thinking of spending one night at Hat Mae Rumpung Beach, as it's reachable in a day's drive, then moving onto Ko Chang for a few nights.

I 'm sure that you will have your own route but if not, here is mine with approx timings at 100kph:

Highway 11 to Lampang - 1 hour

Highway 1 to Tak - 2 hours

Tak - Kampaeng Phet 1 hour

Kampaeng Phet - Nakhon Sawan 1.5 hours

Highway1/Highway 32 onwards to Bangkok as far as Ang Thong 2 hours

Ring Road Higway 9 to Suvanabhumi 1 hour Toll road

Highway 7 to junction with Highway 36 just outside of Pattaya 1 hour

Turn left on Highway 36 to Rayong 45 minutes

Approaching Rayong turn left onto Highway 3 sign posted to Chantaburi

The turn right to Hat Mae Rumpung Beach is a couple of kilometres

Follow the beach road for several kilometres and the Condotel is on the left just past the V.P. Guesthouse

Last year there were extensive roadworks between Lampang and Nakhon Sawan but they may well have finished by now. I tend to use PTT/7-11 for pit-stops and there is a decent service centre about 20 kilometres south of Suvanabhumi

Thanks, that pretty much matches the route I was planning.

Has anyone driven Lampang to Nakhon Sawan recently?  There was a thread about this route, but that was then, this is now.  Any updates?