Koh Chang

[Isabel]

Hi there,

I'm planning to go to Koh Chang for a change next year.

Has any body been there? How can you compare it with Koh Samui ( Thats my favourite place)

Also can you find cheap accomiodation there for 1or 2 months.

We have a budget of max 21000 bath per month. I know in Samui you can get some lovely modern bungalows for that.

Any advice more than welcome,

Thanks very much!

[Artisan]

Have a browse/search through the "Thailand Travel Forum". I posted some information some time ago about accommodation on Ko Chang. Here it is again but it is most probably well out of date by now......but it's a start, it gives you an idea of the range of accommodation and the phone numbers will be useful. There will be a greater choice of accommodation by now although some of the beach huts have gone.

................................................................................

...........................................

ACCOMMODATION ON KO CHANG

("Amphoe" means "District", "Hat" means "Beach" (you find the english and thai-version of the name of the beaches on www..Ko-Chang.info), "Ao" means "Bay", "Ban" means "Village" ...)

Amphoe Ko Chang

Ko Chang (เกาะช้าง)

Ban Dan Kao (บ้านด่านเก่า)

Ko Chang Cabana (เกาะช้างคาบาน่า) Ban Dan Kao, Contact Laem Ngop Office Tel: 0 3953 8196, 0 1552 4360 Bangkok Tel: 0 2692 0121, 0 1630 2844 Fax: 0 2692 0121), 54 rooms: 800-2,500 baht

Hat Sai Khao (หาดทรายขาว)

Aleena Resort (อาลีน่ารีสอร์ท) 9/10 Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 3953 8122, 0 1863 3398 Fax: 0 3953 8172), 33 rooms: 300-2,000 baht

Apple Bungalow (แอปเปิ้ลบังกะโล) 7/4 Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1863 3398), 21 bungalows: 150-500 baht

Arunee Resort (อรุณีรีสอร์ท) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1219 3867), 18 rooms: 250-300 baht

Bamboo Bungalow (แบมบูบังกะโล) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1757 7135, 0 1829 6721), 17 rooms: 150-500 baht

Banpu Ko Chang (บ้านปูเกาะช้าง) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1863 7314, 0 1935 6953 Trat Office Tel: 0 3954 2355-6 Fax; 0 3954 2359 Bangkok Tel: 0 2580 3596, 0 2589 1177 Fax: 0 2588 4887), 30 rooms: 2,000-7,000 baht

Best Garden Resort (เบสท์การ์เด้นรีสอร์ท) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1374 0944, 0 1840 7892, 0 9922 7622 Fax: 0 3952 9632), 18 rooms: 500-1,500 baht; 1 house: 5,000 baht

Chang Thong Resort (ช้างทองรีสอร์ท) 14/1 Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1823 0991), 11 rooms: 350-600 baht

Cookie Bungalow (คุ้กกี้บังกะโล) 36/2 Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1219 3859, 0 1861 4227), 27 rooms: 600-1,200 baht

Hat Sai Khao Island Beach (หาดทรายขาวไอส์แลนด์บีช) Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1459 6263), 37 bungalows: 100-200 baht

Jinda (จินดา) Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1862 0854, 0 1862 0948), 17 bungalows: 100-300 baht

K.C. Sand Beach (เค ซี แซนด์ บีช) Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1211 5607, 0 1833 1010), 59 rooms: 200-800 baht

Ko Chang Grand View Resort (เกาะช้างแกรนด์วิว) 9/3 Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1219 1542, 0 1836 7802), 33 rooms: 800-1,500 baht

Ko Chang Lagoon Resort (เกาะช้างลากูนรีสอร์ท) Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 3953 2748, 0 1836 1530 www.geocities.com/kohchanglagoon), 65 rooms: 1,500 baht

Mac Bungalow (แม็คบังกะโล) 7/3 Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1864 6463), 20 rooms: 500-1,500 baht

Moon Light Resort (มูนไลท์รีสอร์ท) Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1861 7672), 21 rooms: 150-700 baht

Pha Suksan (ผาสุขสันต์) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao, 10 rooms: 200-300 baht

Para Resort (พารารีสอร์ท) 13/4 Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1620 4411, 0 1261 3774), 9 bungalows: 800-1,500 baht

Plaloma Cliff Resort (ปลาโลมาคลิฟรีสอร์ท) 11/1 Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1836 1305 Fax: 0 1945 5812 Laem Ngop Office Tel: 0 1782 1710 Bangkok Tel: 0 2628 7759, 0 1332 2683), 70 rooms: 700-1,800 baht

Rock Sand (ร็อคแซน) 6/1 Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao, 22 rooms: 200-300 baht

Sabai Bar Bungalow (สบายบาร์บังกะโล) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao, 9 rooms: 400-600 baht

Sirin Guesthouse (ศิรินทร์เกสท์เฮ้าส์) Mu 4, Hat Sai Thong, 7 rooms: 200-300 baht

Tantawan Bungalow (ทานตะวันบังกะโล) 8/2 Mu 3, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1308 7869), 12 rooms: 80-100 baht

Tantawan Resort (ทานตะวันรีสอร์ท) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1985 0559), 15 rooms: 120 baht

Three Houses Lodge (ทรีเฮ้าส์ลอดจ์) Mu 4, Tambon Hat Tha Nam, 24 rooms: 150-250 baht

Tiger Hut Bungalow (ไทเกอร์ฮัทบังกะโล) Mu 4 Hat Sai Khao, 10 rooms: 500 baht

Yakha Bungalow (หญ้าคา) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Tel: 0 1219 3897), 12 rooms: 100-350 baht

White Sand Beach Resort (หาดทรายขาวรีสอร์ท) Mu 4, Hat Sai Khao (Trat Office Tel: 0 1863 7737, 0 1863 8799 Fax: 0 9244 8958), 115 rooms: 200-2,400 baht

Ao Khlong Phrao (อ่าวคลองพร้าว)

Blue Lagoon Bungalow (บลูลากูนบังกะโล) Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao, 11 rooms: 350 baht

Chaichet Bungalow (ไชยเชษฐ์บังกะโล) 17 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 1862 3430, 0 1864 4353), 28 rooms: 200-1,500 baht

Coconut Beach Bungalow (โคโคนัทบีชบังกะโล) 17 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 1861 2458, 01862 6495), 43 rooms: 200-1,800 baht

Chokdee Bungalow (โชคดีบังกะโล) 38 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 1219 3814, 0 1910 9052), 23 rooms: 80-1,500 baht

Enjoy Resort (เอ็นจอยรีสอร์ท) Laem Chaiyachet (Tel: 0 9770 0277), 7 rooms: 400 baht

Erawan Bungalow (เอราวัณบังกะโล) 15 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao, 4 Bungalows: 100-200 baht

Iyara Resort (ไอยรารีสอร์ท) 19/2 Mu 4, Tambon Ko Chang (Tel: 0 1982 8381, 0 9939 3856 Fax: 0 9939 6876), 8 bungalows: 3,000-20,000 baht

K.P. Bungalow (เค.พี.บังกะโล) Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao, (Tel: 0 1219 1225), 30 rooms: 100-250 baht

Khlong Phlu Hut (คลองพลูฮัท) Hat Klong Phrao (Tel: 0 1861 7412, 0 1864 4669), 10 rooms: 200-500 baht

Khlong Phrao Resort (คลองพร้าวรีสอร์ท) 24 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 3959 7106, 0 3959 7216, 0 1919 1622 Fax: 0 3959 7106), 80 rooms: 800-1,600 baht, Tent: 200 baht

Ko Chang Resort (เกาะช้างรีสอร์ท) 39 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 3953 8055, 0 3953 8059 Bangkok Tel: 0 2277 5256, 0 2277 6110 Fax: 0 2692 0168), 72 rooms: 1,500-3,900 baht

Laguna Ko Chang (ลากูน่าเกาะช้าง) Mu 4, Tambon Ko Chang (Tel: 0 3951 1429, 0 1848 5052 Fax: 0 3951 1842), 40 rooms: 900 baht

Magic Bungalow (เมจิคบังกะโล) 34 Mu 4, Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 3953 8143, 03957 9242), 40 bungalows: 250-4,500 baht

P.S.S. Bungalow (พีเอสเอส บังกะโล) Mu 4 Hat Khlong Phrao, 24 rooms: 100 baht

Panviman Ko Chang Resort (ปานวิมานกาะช้าง) 8/15 Hat Khlong Phrao (Tel: 0 3950 1096-9 Fax: 0 3950 1905 Bangkok Tel: 0 2910 8660-4 www.panviman.com), 50 rooms: 5,000-6,000 baht

Hat Kai Bae (หาดไก่แบ้)

Chang Park Resort and Spa (ช้างปาร์ครีสอร์ทแอนด์สปา) 40/6 Mu 4 Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 1853 2572, 0 1940 8678 Fax: 0 9831 5609 www.changparkresort.com), 54 rooms: 900-4,000 baht

Coral Bungalow (คอรัลบังกะโล) 10/1 Mu 4 Hat Kai Bae (Tel: 0 1219 3815), 9 rooms: 600 baht

K.B. Bungalow (เคบีบังกะโล) Hat Kai Bae (Tel: 0 1862 8103), 16 rooms: 500-800 baht

Kai Bae Bar (ไก่แบ้บาร์) Hat Kai Bae, 10 rooms: 200-300 baht

Kai Bae Beach (ไก่แบ้บีช) 10/5 Mu 4 Hat Kai Bae (Tel: 0 1865 6039), 55 rooms: 600-1,000 baht

Kai Bae Hut (ไก่แบ้ฮัท) 10/3 Mu 4 Hat Kai Bae (Tel: 0 1861 5698, 0 1862 8426), 25 rooms: 200-250 baht

Ko Chang Cliff Beach Resort (เกาะช้างคลิฟบีชรีสอร์ท) 38/4 Mu 4 Tambon Ko Chang (Tel: 0 1868 1840, 0 11945 5827 Bangkok Tel: 0 2692 0314 Fax: 0 2276 9629), 20 rooms: 3,000-6,500 baht

Nang Nuan Bungalow (นางนวลบังกะโล) 10/7 Mu 4, Hat Kai Bae (Tel: 0 1295 1348), 30 rooms: 150-300 baht

Porn Bungalow (พรบังกะโล) Mu 4, Hat Kai Bae, 25 rooms: 150-300 baht (Tel: 0066 (0) 1 949 6052)

Sea View Resort (ซีวิวรีสอร์ท) 10/2 Mu 4 Tabmon Ko Chang (Tel: 0 3952 9022, 01830 7529 Fax: 0 3959 7143, 0 9833 8837), 70 rooms: 2,000-4,000 baht

Siam Bay Bungalow (สยามเบย์บังกะโล) 35 Mu 4, Hat Kai Bae (Tel: 0 1859 5529), 32 rooms: 300-800 baht

Siam Beach Bungalow (สยามบีชบังกะโล) 100 Mu 4, Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 1782 5030, 0 1859 5529), 40 rooms: 150-800 baht

Laem Bai Lan (แหลมใบลาน)

Ao Bai Lan Beach Resort (อ่าวใบลานรีสอร์ท) Laem Bai Lan (Tel: 0 1761 4582), 10 rooms: 150-200 baht

Bai Lan Resort (ใบลานรีสอร์ท) 6/1 Tambon Ko Chang Tai, 6 bungalows: 100 baht

Happy Hut (แฮปปี้ฮัท) Mu 4, Laem Bai Lan, 13 rooms: 150-250 baht

Jungle Hut Bungalow (จังเกิ้ลฮัทบังกะโล) Laem Bai Lan (Tel: 0 1282 2610, 0 1865 5805), 15 rooms: 100-600 baht

Ko Chang Leam Bai Lan Resort (เกาะช้างแหลมใบลานรีสอร์ท) 5/1 Mu 1 Ban Bai Lan, Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Bangkok Tel: 0 2222 9999), 3 bungalows: 100-150 baht

Ao Karang (อ่าวกะรัง)

Ko Chang Karang Bay View Resort (เกาะช้างการังเบย์วิวรีสอร์ท) 7 Mu 3 Ban Chek Bae, Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 1358 9520 Bangkok Tel: 0 2222 9999 Fax: 0 2223 5444), 15 bungalows: 150-300 baht , 2-day package: 1,800 baht

Ao Khlong Son (อ่าวคลองสน)

Aiyapura Resort & Spa (อัยยะปุระรีสอร์ทแอนด์สปา) 29 Mu 3 Ko Chang (Tel: 0 3952 1656-60, 0 3952 1866 Fax: 0 3952 1656 Bangkok Office Tel: 0 2862 1611 (www.aiyapura.com), 77 rooms: 6,000-26,000 baht

Manee Guest House (มานีเกสท์เฮ้าส์) 12/1 Mu 3, Ao Khlong Son (Tel: 0 1949 7585), 14 rooms and 3 bungalows: 80-200 baht

Premwadee Resort (เปรมวดีรีสอร์ท) Mu 3 Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 3959 7032, 0 1299 8982, 0 1761 6537 18 bungalows: 400-6,000 baht

Ao Sapparot (อ่าวสับปะรด)

Ao Sapparot Camp and Resort (อ่าวสับปะรดแค้มป์แอนด์รีสอร์ท) Ao Sapparot, 3 rooms: 400-500 baht

Hat Salak Phet (หาดสลักเพชร)

Salak Phetch (สลักเพชรรีสอร์ท) 43 Mu 2 Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 3952 1741, 0 3952 1751, 0 1429 9983), 12 rooms: 600-1,000 baht , 3-day package: 2,200-2,600 baht

Sang Aroon Bungalow (แสงอรุณบังกะโล) Hat Salak Phet (Tel: 0 3953 8300, 0 1454 8213, 0 1650 2658), 14 rooms: 500 baht , 2-day package: 1,200 baht

Hat Bang Bao (หาดบางเบ้า)

Ko Chang Boat Chalet (เกาะช้างโบ๊ทชาเลต์) 58 Mu 1 Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 1200 1514 Bangkok Tel: 0 2618 7400-1 Fax: 0 2678 7403), 40 rooms: 2,500-9,000 baht

Nature Beach Resort (เนเจอร์บีชรีสอร์ท) Mu 4 (Tel: 0 3951 1331, 0 1803 8933), 20 rooms: 250-450 baht

Bang Bao Blue Wave Resort (บางเบ้าบลูเวฟรีสอร์ท) 47 Mu 1 Tambon Ko Chang Tai (Tel: 0 1439 0349), 14 rooms: 150-500 baht

[redwood13]

As mentioned the prices in Artisan's list are way out of date.

Stayed at Cookies in Dec. 2005 and rooms were 1800 baht per night. Also stayed at Bamboo Bungalows and they were priced at 1500 baht. Figure high season prices to be roughly double that of similar accomodations in Pattaya.

Cheaper would be the older huts and also rooms on the land side of the main road. And rooms on the beach but away from the road might be cheaper but you'd need transportation.

-redwood

[raro]

Stood at Kai Baeh beach a couple of months ago. 1,200 if I remember well. There were several bungalow resorts in that price range, all pretty good standard. Beautiful beach with little island within kayak reach.

[Crispy Duck]

I live in Koh Chang, like you i loved samui till i saw KC, anyway you can get room with aircon cable TV, at Koh Chang Inn, for 5000b per month 5min walk to the beach. Its in VJ plaza, in Chai Chet village.There are similar ones in Kai Bae guest houses you can get rooms from 4000b/mth to 6000b/mth.

Hope that was help.

Hi there,

I'm planning to go to Koh Chang for a change next year.

Has any body been there? How can you compare it with Koh Samui ( Thats my favourite place)

Also can you find cheap accomiodation there for 1or 2 months.

We have a budget of max 21000 bath per month. I know in Samui you can get some lovely modern bungalows for that.

Any advice more than welcome,

Thanks very much!

[Pattaya_Fox]

...and a few more:-

1) Suan Sam Chan Beach resort (Koh Chang`s newest boutique resort)

Located on Dan Kao beach.

www.suansamchan.com

tel 039-586028, 01-8626061

1,000 baht per nt with discount for longer stays.

2) Resort Baan Look Chang ( situated close to the beach in a quiet location near to the ferry pier)

Room rates 200-800 baht per night.

email [email protected]

tel 039 586 227

3) Koh Chang Riverside Resort

9/5 moo 3, muban klong song, Koh chang

tel 039-555081-2.

4) Apple resort White Sand Beach

8/4 moo 4, Had Sai Khao, Koh Chang.

tel 039 551 228

Rooms from 700 baht per night ( but do special packages as well).

All information correct at end of May.

[lung]

I live in Koh Chang, like you i loved samui till i saw KC, anyway you can get room with aircon cable TV, at Koh Chang Inn, for 5000b per month 5min walk to the beach. Its in VJ plaza, in Chai Chet village.There are similar ones in Kai Bae guest houses you can get rooms from 4000b/mth to 6000b/mth.

Hope that was help.

[wilko]

Hi there,

I'm planning to go to Koh Chang for a change next year.

Has any body been there? How can you compare it with Koh Samui ( Thats my favourite place)

Also can you find cheap accomiodation there for 1or 2 months.

We have a budget of max 21000 bath per month. I know in Samui you can get some lovely modern bungalows for that.

Any advice more than welcome,

Thanks very much!

i think you may find Koh Chang a bit of a dissappointment......

Koh Chang…a paradise lost…

This is a quick overview of the state of Koh Chang, the second largest island in Thailand. Now with the sudden unpopularity of the west coast (i.e. Phuket) there is an ever increasing number of western tourists heading for this island...here is my polemic on why this is not so good....

I've been to Koh Chang many times over the past three years, largely because it's near to Sri Racha where I live, and every time a friend comes to stay this is the most convenient "paradise island to take them to". My brother even got married there in March.

So why can I not recommend this slice of bounty advert?

(Deep breath)

Koh Chang is a dull, badly developed, overpriced pit of a place and it's going down hill at a rate of knots......

Why? The land for development was all bought up by bigwig friends of the "great and powerful" and now anyone who wants to set up a business there has to pay through the nose for it. All the hotels are overpriced especially when you compare with Phuket and Samui.

Almost all the west coast is now covered with these awful self-contained resorts, which are for the most part badly designed and ill finished. Frequently you can find your room is on a building site. Health and safety is simply not addressed - some of the pool designs look positively lethal.

If you're coming from Europe or the States you'll find that the cost of living and rooms is cheap but not compared to elsewhere in Thailand. You'll love the sunsets and the white sand, you won't wonder where all the sewage is going and what happened to the mangroves or the fishing industry that gets smaller catches every year, or the fishing villages being turned into a souvenir arcade-cum-hotel.

The centre of Koh Chang is a national park , but unlike all of Thailand's other National Parks, apart from the odd waterfall, no-one is allowed inside, you can get a guide who will take you in but strictly speaking that's against the law. There is virtually no effort made to set up a good system of eco-tourism in the park as you might find in Australia.

There is only one road around KC and it doesn't go all the way round, it's a horse-shoe affair. There is a motorbike track that connects the two ends but it's not for the faint of heart! The road is barely more than single track (asphalted) but cannot cope with the ever increasing load of traffic pouring onto the island.

KC is the second biggest island in Thailand and walking around it in a day is not an option, KC is also very mountainous and the roads are very windy and hilly and as the resorts are all a long way from any shops etc its essential to hire a motorbike or car. These of course are about 50 to 100 % more than on the mainland. The baht taxi service is very patchy. Any where you want to go is further than you want to walk.

The main town, if you could call it that is White Sands a long strip of hotels ,resorts and motley bars about 3 km long. If you arrive on foot a baht taxi will take you from the ferry to Whitesands and drop you there. (So long as he has a full load or he'll want you to foot the extra money) You will then have to find somewhere to stay this is impossible on foot and with luggage So book in advance at least for the first night. Then get some wheels.

There is no airport on KC itself, if you go by plane you'll land at Trat airport which is on the mainland quite near to the ferries to KC. Get a taxi to the ferry - only a few baht. There are several ferries across, the crossing takes 45 to 90 min, depending on which ferry you take. On one ferry I paid 30 e/w for me and my car, on another I paid 360 baht for my car an five people return.

Now you may think I hate the place, well I don't, I just get very disappointed in the direction the powers-that-be have taken KC, it's lack of infrastructure and any forward planning will mean that sooner rather than later this place will become a collection of overprice resorts and nothing else.

Where to stay? - Klong Prao Beach is probably as good as it gets, there are about 4 resorts there actually with beach frontage, The Paradise is all nicely built new bungalows, Coconut and Royal Coconut are next to that and Klong Prao resort has a long beach front and good pool beside the sea.

However the last time I stayed at Klong Prao Resort in last August the place was a building site. They didn't tell me until the day I arrived even though I was a regular guest there. If you do book in advance you must ask about this sort of thing because you will very likely not be told by the staff. Building also precedes a hike in prices. I used to pay 1800 baht to stay there. That time I paid 1750, a discount of 50 baht (just over a dollar) because it was the wet season and there was building going on! I was told the new price is 3500 baht and that was what they would still charge whilst the building was continuing.

The problem with Koh Chang is that it is changing and changing rapidly for the worse. Hotels are constantly building and encroaching on the environment. Prices are rising and beach access is getting more and more taken over by private resorts. The days of a hut on the beach for 200 baht are virtually gone. The scuba divers are going further and further a field in search of clear water and fish, and don’t be kidded that so long as the hotel claims to be by the sea that it has a beach!

Remember that during high season (Nov to April) and with the tsunami still driving many extra visitors over from the west coast, you may find many places fully booked.

PS – I cannot recommend the Ramayana and Boutique resorts!

If you want up to date local info on KC, try this site - IamKohChang.com -

Good site for info on Koh Chang and sounds like a good place to stay too!

[sriracha john]

Hi there,

I'm planning to go to Koh Chang for a change next year.

Has any body been there? How can you compare it with Koh Samui ( Thats my favourite place)

Also can you find cheap accomiodation there for 1or 2 months.

We have a budget of max 21000 bath per month. I know in Samui you can get some lovely modern bungalows for that.

Any advice more than welcome,

Thanks very much!

i think you may find Koh Chang a bit of a dissappointment......

Koh Chang…a paradise lost…

This is a quick overview of the state of Koh Chang, the second largest island in Thailand. Now with the sudden unpopularity of the west coast (i.e. Phuket) there is an ever increasing number of western tourists heading for this island...here is my polemic on why this is not so good....

I've been to Koh Chang many times over the past three years, largely because it's near to Sri Racha where I live, and every time a friend comes to stay this is the most convenient "paradise island to take them to". My brother even got married there in March.

So why can I not recommend this slice of bounty advert?

(Deep breath)

Koh Chang is a dull, badly developed, overpriced pit of a place and it's going down hill at a rate of knots......

Why? The land for development was all bought up by bigwig friends of the "great and powerful" and now anyone who wants to set up a business there has to pay through the nose for it. All the hotels are overpriced especially when you compare with Phuket and Samui.

Almost all the west coast is now covered with these awful self-contained resorts, which are for the most part badly designed and ill finished. Frequently you can find your room is on a building site. Health and safety is simply not addressed - some of the pool designs look positively lethal.

If you're coming from Europe or the States you'll find that the cost of living and rooms is cheap but not compared to elsewhere in Thailand. You'll love the sunsets and the white sand, you won't wonder where all the sewage is going and what happened to the mangroves or the fishing industry that gets smaller catches every year, or the fishing villages being turned into a souvenir arcade-cum-hotel.

The centre of Koh Chang is a national park , but unlike all of Thailand's other National Parks, apart from the odd waterfall, no-one is allowed inside, you can get a guide who will take you in but strictly speaking that's against the law. There is virtually no effort made to set up a good system of eco-tourism in the park as you might find in Australia.

There is only one road around KC and it doesn't go all the way round, it's a horse-shoe affair. There is a motorbike track that connects the two ends but it's not for the faint of heart! The road is barely more than single track (asphalted) but cannot cope with the ever increasing load of traffic pouring onto the island.

KC is the second biggest island in Thailand and walking around it in a day is not an option, KC is also very mountainous and the roads are very windy and hilly and as the resorts are all a long way from any shops etc its essential to hire a motorbike or car. These of course are about 50 to 100 % more than on the mainland. The baht taxi service is very patchy. Any where you want to go is further than you want to walk.

The main town, if you could call it that is White Sands a long strip of hotels ,resorts and motley bars about 3 km long. If you arrive on foot a baht taxi will take you from the ferry to Whitesands and drop you there. (So long as he has a full load or he'll want you to foot the extra money) You will then have to find somewhere to stay this is impossible on foot and with luggage So book in advance at least for the first night. Then get some wheels.

There is no airport on KC itself, if you go by plane you'll land at Trat airport which is on the mainland quite near to the ferries to KC. Get a taxi to the ferry - only a few baht. There are several ferries across, the crossing takes 45 to 90 min, depending on which ferry you take. On one ferry I paid 30 e/w for me and my car, on another I paid 360 baht for my car an five people return.

Now you may think I hate the place, well I don't, I just get very disappointed in the direction the powers-that-be have taken KC, it's lack of infrastructure and any forward planning will mean that sooner rather than later this place will become a collection of overprice resorts and nothing else.

Where to stay? - Klong Prao Beach is probably as good as it gets, there are about 4 resorts there actually with beach frontage, The Paradise is all nicely built new bungalows, Coconut and Royal Coconut are next to that and Klong Prao resort has a long beach front and good pool beside the sea.

However the last time I stayed at Klong Prao Resort in last August the place was a building site. They didn't tell me until the day I arrived even though I was a regular guest there. If you do book in advance you must ask about this sort of thing because you will very likely not be told by the staff. Building also precedes a hike in prices. I used to pay 1800 baht to stay there. That time I paid 1750, a discount of 50 baht (just over a dollar) because it was the wet season and there was building going on! I was told the new price is 3500 baht and that was what they would still charge whilst the building was continuing.

The problem with Koh Chang is that it is changing and changing rapidly for the worse. Hotels are constantly building and encroaching on the environment. Prices are rising and beach access is getting more and more taken over by private resorts. The days of a hut on the beach for 200 baht are virtually gone. The scuba divers are going further and further a field in search of clear water and fish, and don’t be kidded that so long as the hotel claims to be by the sea that it has a beach!

Remember that during high season (Nov to April) and with the tsunami still driving many extra visitors over from the west coast, you may find many places fully booked.

PS – I cannot recommend the Ramayana and Boutique resorts!

If you want up to date local info on KC, try this site - IamKohChang.com -

Good site for info on Koh Chang and sounds like a good place to stay too!

A nice long accurate report. I know it took quite an effort to compose.

Have very similar opinions based upon very similar experiences over a six year period of frequent Koh Chang visits.

I guess the best hope is the highly-likely/inevitable crash in it's economy and it cleanses itself and reverts to its past ways as the bottom-line is its a place I really liked.

[wilko]

[

A nice long accurate report. I know it took quite an effort to compose.

Have very similar opinions based upon very similar experiences over a six year period of frequent Koh Chang visits.

I guess the best hope is the highly-likely/inevitable crash in it's economy and it cleanses itself and reverts to its past ways as the bottom-line is its a place I really liked.

I fear that if that happens the damage has already been done. It would be nice to be able to wipe the slate clean and set up a truely environmentally friendly holiday island. te nature reserve could learn a lot from Australia's protected rainforests and island management. They give access to the public AND preserve the ecology of places.

[RAZZELL]

Unfortunately, Thais are no different from other nationalities around the world...

The same can be said of many places in Greece, Spain etc...

The very things that make you want to go there ...are destroyed by it's popularity...

Edited June 6, 2006 by RAZZELL

[wilko]

Unfortunately, Thais are no different from other nationalities around the world...

The same can be said of many places in Greece, Spain etc...

The very things that make you want to go there ...are destroyed by it's popularity...

Most of the destruction in Spain and Greece started in the 60s/70s and subsequently there have been efforts by the EU and the countries themselves to ameliorate the effects of this unregulated development. There are sea quality tests and building height regs etc etc….. (these are also enforced)

Thailand however does not live in isolation and could have benefited from the wisdom of hindsight, but has chosen the unregulated path of quick money and rampant development. This is not only in the unsympathetic tourist developments but also untrammelled agricultural/industrial development along its coastline.

As I said before other countries look further ahead and try to preserve the settings that make for the tourism in the first place.

So I can’t really agree with your fatalistic argument that all nations are the same and s*** happens. I think it’s about time that the Thai tourist industry woke up and smelled the coffee.

[wilko]

Oh good gracious!....I've just looked at the prices listed above, they must be way out of date....as a rule of thumb I would double them and in some cases triple them....where did you get that list from?????

[Artisan]

Oh good gracious!....I've just looked at the prices listed above, they must be way out of date....as a rule of thumb I would double them and in some cases triple them....where did you get that list from?????

Please read my posting again. I did say that it was well out of date.

As I said also, despite the list being out-of-date, the reason that I posted it was to give the original poster an idea of the range of accommodation available and I suggested that the phone numbers would be useful. The list was never meant to be a definitive gazetteer and it's origin isn't relative.

[Jolly_Roger13]

How would one get to Ko Chang?

From Pattaya to Trat...Are there private minibus or taxi services available? or just the "bluebus express"?

Have anyone been to Bhumiyama Beach Resort?

[wilko]

How would one get to Ko Chang?

From Pattaya to Trat...Are there private minibus or taxi services available? or just the "bluebus express"?

Have anyone been to Bhumiyama Beach Resort?

From Pattaya to Trat...Are there private minibus or taxi services available? or just the "bluebus express"?

Have anyone been to Bhumiyama Beach Resort?

You can certainly get a minibus from Pattaya (200 to 300 baht pp??) - it takes about 4.5 hrs. Any travel agent in Pattaya will arrange for a seat and they should pick you up from the hotel. Furthermore they will take you to one of the ferry ports. It might be an idea to book a return seat as you can't be 100% sure of getting a ride back once you leave the island.

If you book into a hotel first, see if they will send a bus to meet you, as the baht buses at the ferry port on Koh Chang usually refuse to move until they are full (= very full with luggage on roof etc.).

Also there is an airfield at Trat; you can fly from Bkk (sadly not U’tapao) and the hotel will meet you at the airfield. It's not far from the ferry port.

As I mentioned in my earlier posting it could be well worth your while if you have some form of transport on Koh Chang. It's very hilly so you might unless experienced feel uncomfortable on a motorbike in this kind of terrain, so why not consider hiring a car or 4wd in Pattaya?

The ferry fares a still reasonable and you have the added independence of setting your own timetable. the road to Laem Gnop (ferry ports) is not daunting; mostly dual carriageway, but slippery when wet.

As for the resort...I don't know...make sure it actually has a beach AND that you can swim off it. Many of the "beach" resorts are built over mangroves; this environmental catastrophe is killing the breeding grounds for all the local fish and other wildlife, thus doing the locals out of a living that has existed there for centuries.

It's also on Klong Phrao Beach which is getting excessively overdeveloped and crowded.

[Jolly_Roger13]

Thanks! For the detailed information, I am looking forward on visiting the island next month.

Edited June 8, 2006 by Jolly_Roger13

[RAZZELL]

Thanks! For the detailed information, I am looking forward on visiting the island next month.

Take an umbrella....

[RAZZELL]

Unfortunately, Thais are no different from other nationalities around the world...

The same can be said of many places in Greece, Spain etc...

The very things that make you want to go there ...are destroyed by it's popularity...

Most of the destruction in Spain and Greece started in the 60s/70s and subsequently there have been efforts by the EU and the countries themselves to ameliorate the effects of this unregulated development. There are sea quality tests and building height regs etc etc….. (these are also enforced)

Thailand however does not live in isolation and could have benefited from the wisdom of hindsight, but has chosen the unregulated path of quick money and rampant development. This is not only in the unsympathetic tourist developments but also untrammelled agricultural/industrial development along its coastline.

As I said before other countries look further ahead and try to preserve the settings that make for the tourism in the first place.

So I can’t really agree with your fatalistic argument that all nations are the same and s*** happens. I think it’s about time that the Thai tourist industry woke up and smelled the coffee.

And do you seriously think that's going to happen???

[wilko]

Unfortunately, Thais are no different from other nationalities around the world...

The same can be said of many places in Greece, Spain etc...

The very things that make you want to go there ...are destroyed by it's popularity...

And do you seriously think that's going to happen???

Many places in Spain and elsewhere have had to re-invent themselves due to market pressure. I think that as Koh Chang becomes better known as a sham, then it will suffer in terms of numbers and revenue and will have to re-think its approach too.

Koh Chang does not just compete with other destinations in Thailand, and it is certainly not a sex tourist destination, the kind of customer, high or low cost is looking for pristine beaches, good clean sea, and a connection with nature and the environment, it would seem inevitable that this kind of customer is going to be driven away in not too long a while.

Edited June 9, 2006 by wilko

[DIMESTOREROCK]

I was in Koh chang a few days ago before flying back to Scotland. We were staying in pattaya and got a private mini Bus for 5000 baht between 6 of us. It took about 5 hours and then the mini bus got on a ferry which was only 30 baht each.

Nice island but i was bored as it doesn't quite have the same nightlife as Pattaya. A few good restraunts (especially the Indian Restraunt on the main road about 1 mile from white sand beach) A few good music bars (especially OOdies. Nice rexaled feeling and a good pool table).

Enjoy your time there, the beaches are nice and always rent a motor bike and go round the island. It's amazing!

CJ

[chatters]

I was in Koh chang a few days ago before flying back to Scotland. We were staying in pattaya and got a private mini Bus for 5000 baht between 6 of us. It took about 5 hours and then the mini bus got on a ferry which was only 30 baht each.

Nice island but i was bored as it doesn't quite have the same nightlife as Pattaya. A few good restraunts (especially the Indian Restraunt on the main road about 1 mile from white sand beach) A few good music bars (especially OOdies. Nice rexaled feeling and a good pool table).

Enjoy your time there, the beaches are nice and always rent a motor bike and go round the island. It's amazing!

CJ

hello mr scotland, wake up and smell the roses, you have been blown away by a new young thai girl,cannot understand where you mentioned mum and dad live???? you have already, met them and things are moving????????????????

[wilko]

I was in Koh chang a few days ago before flying back to Scotland. We were staying in pattaya and got a private mini Bus for 5000 baht between 6 of us. It took about 5 hours and then the mini bus got on a ferry which was only 30 baht each.

Nice island but i was bored as it doesn't quite have the same nightlife as Pattaya. A few good restraunts (especially the Indian Restraunt on the main road about 1 mile from white sand beach) A few good music bars (especially OOdies. Nice rexaled feeling and a good pool table).

Enjoy your time there, the beaches are nice and always rent a motor bike and go round the island. It's amazing!

CJ

hello mr scotland, wake up and smell the roses, you have been blown away by a new young thai girl,cannot understand where you mentioned mum and dad live???? you have already, met them and things are moving????????????????

What the????????? has Chatters answered the wrong post or what!?!?!?!

[Pattaya_Fox]

I was in Koh chang a few days ago before flying back to Scotland. We were staying in pattaya and got a private mini Bus for 5000 baht between 6 of us. It took about 5 hours and then the mini bus got on a ferry which was only 30 baht each.

Nice island but i was bored as it doesn't quite have the same nightlife as Pattaya. A few good restraunts (especially the Indian Restraunt on the main road about 1 mile from white sand beach) A few good music bars (especially OOdies. Nice rexaled feeling and a good pool table).

Enjoy your time there, the beaches are nice and always rent a motor bike and go round the island. It's amazing!

CJ

hello mr scotland, wake up and smell the roses, you have been blown away by a new young thai girl,cannot understand where you mentioned mum and dad live???? you have already, met them and things are moving????????????????

What the????????? has Chatters answered the wrong post or what!?!?!?!

Just mumbling by the look of it