Koh Chang Worth It?

[luxecat]

Hi all,

I will be landing in LOS on May 2 and meeting my Thai girlfriend. After a few days in Bangkok and Pattaya, we are thinking about Koh Chang for a week. We have spent time at both Samui and Phuket, and thought we might see somewhere new. Important to me, clean ocean and pools for swimming. Good seafood at reasonable prices. Accommodation up to 1200 baht a night. A liitle rain every day doesn't bother me, but a monsoon is a different story. Also is the ferry safe to cross this time of year? What do you think? Koh Chang worth it?

[nellyp]

I just came back from koh chang and really enjoyed it. The sea is fine with some lovely beaches. Accomodation depends on what you want to pay. i stayed on a hut on the beach for 900 baht a night (2 adults a 5 year old and a baby)where I walked straight into the sea but also spent 2300 baht to stay in a really nice resort with private beach and swimming pools etc. Expect to pay more for accomodation on the beach side of the road and also for on the main resorts (where I stayed were on the beach side). You will get a nice place to stay with swimming pool for your price range but probably not on the beach. Food is reasonable but I thought it was a bit pricey as I live in Thailand and am used to paying 30-40 baht a dish. The seafood is great and we went to a place called j.e seafood that serves really nice dishes. keep away from eating in western aimed places and you will get great food at reasonable prices.

It is raining on the island at the moment but only for a short while and then the weather is glorious. The ferry was fine and the water flat, but I travelled with no bad weather and you can pick and chose your time to leave. i think Koh Chang is the best holiday island left. I lived on samui for a while and also on the mainland next to Phuket and both have changed immensly to become very expensive and commercialised. Koh Chang still has the option of not being that. You can get accomodation for as little as 250 baht if you really want to budget and spend the momney elsewhere.

I would definately recommend Koh Chang as you can have piece and quiet or nightlife, beautiful beaches and treking etc, you can eat Thai food cheaply or some very nice western food. If you want to eat some nice western food cooked by a french chef check out the hungry elephant between white sands and Kai Bay (not spelled correctly) I had the nicest fillet of steak with a pepper sauce I have eaten anywhere in the world. Also look on the net for restaurants that are very reasonable but serve great Thai food. The most recomended thai restaurant in Thailand is on Koh Chang and is great value, sorry I can't remember the name though. Also if you are going there anyway I would book into some where and spend a day looking around and going to the place and asking for a promotion. We save 50% on the resort by doing this.

best of luck if you do go there and enjoy

[craigt3365]

I would recommend it, especially if you have not been. Lots of lodging options and it's low season now...so rates should be lower. We went August last year for 4 days and it rained every day. But no problems with the ferry....

[aridion]

I stayed on Koh Chang for 400 baht a night 4 years ago. Right on the beach.

[whybother]

I spent the last week there. It's the third time I've been there (edit: once on Koh Mak). It's great. Very quiet compared to Phuket and Samui.

I stayed at the Sea View resort ... with a half price deal on the internet. Well worth the (half) price, but just out of your price range.

The ferry trip is no problem. 30 minutes. Basically flat seas.

Lots of things to do. Snorkeling. Tree Top adventure. Elephant rides. Waterfalls. Clean beaches and water.

The food is great. Seafood prices are reasonable.

I would definitely recommend it.

Edited April 24, 2011 by whybother

[bazmlb]

Yes, Koh Chang is nice, I was there just a week ago, Ferry is fine, we sailed around a little after picking the yacht up from Salak Phet Bay from and then headed off to Koh Mak which I like much better.

The view is from the restaurant at Koh Mak and the view looking back to Salak Phet as we sailed out.

[mizzi39]

I went to Koh Kut (past Koh Mak) a few weeks ago. I would highly recommend if you are looking for peace. No night life to speak of, but clean air and beautiful mostly desolate beaches. One of the last unspoiled Islands in Thailand (soon to change i am sure). Very few tourists as it is mostly a Thai getaway. Speed boat to and from the Island is about 2 hours. Reasonably priced resorts as you need to get a package if you want to stay on the beach. There are some backpacker places sprouting up, but you would need transport to get to and from the beach areas.

Edited April 24, 2011 by mizzi39

[bazmlb]

Off topic posts have been removed as they have no relevance to Thailand or the OP's post

[Dancealot]

It's still on my to go list as well, this year i came back from chantaburi where i climbed the buddha footprint mountain thinking of going there

[nong38]

Its nice and relaxing, not much night life, would certainly go back, great memories. Check out the beaches at low tide, I found sound rocks that could do you damage at one beach about half way down the west side(White Sand beach?) Did not see them until I hit them, then the waves hit me so be careful. I think this was the beach near the VJ Resort, we stayed at the Residence, would not stay there again, paid by card and when I got back checked the bank account and they had been back into my account for 2 more visits, got it back but took the edge off it a bit. Lonely Beach is the place to go, the north end, south has rocks. Enjoy

Edited April 25, 2011 by nong38

[luxecat]

Thanks all for the great tips and suggestions. I'm looking forward to the trip.

[CHANGOVER]

I live up north and as Mae Sot is shut I fancy a change, It sounds good and want to go around end of May. I have a visa run on 28th so has anyone been from Koh Chang on a visa run to Cambodia, if so any tips, info etc.

[fishhooks]

A few weeks back............really enjoyable

[mrtoad]

Its nice and relaxing, not much night life, would certainly go back, great memories. Check out the beaches at low tide, I found sound rocks that could do you damage at one beach about half way down the west side(White Sand beach?) Did not see them until I hit them, then the waves hit me so be careful. I think this was the beach near the VJ Resort, we stayed at the Residence, would not stay there again, paid by card and when I got back checked the bank account and they had been back into my account for 2 more visits, got it back but took the edge off it a bit. Lonely Beach is the place to go, the north end, south has rocks. Enjoy

You are kidding aren't you? Lonely Beach is a backpackers <deleted> hole . To be fair, Koh chang does offer pretty much the whole range of resorts - backpacker to 5 star. There are some nice beaches - Whitesands and Klong Prao both have nice beaches. Kae Bae and Whitesands are probably the most developed - but an alternative is Bang Bao. Contrary to popular belief, there is also plenty of nightlife on Koh Chang.

good websites are whitesands and i am koh chang.

The other side of the island is also very nice, much less developed but there is Long Beach and Salek Pet for those that like a more peacful area.