Long a backpacker favourite, the Thai island of Koh Chang is beginning to see some upmarket resorts appear on the island which are still relatively inexpensive by Western standards
There was an excellent article in the Bangkok Post magazine last week (sadly not available online) that talked about how Koh Chang, long a Thai island haven for backpackers, is starting to see a few more upmarket hotels and resorts open up on the island.
There’s still plenty of backpacker accommodation, of course, but as I’m getting older I’m also getting more interested in finding accommodation that’s a bit more luxurious if I go away for a weekend break from Bangkok. I’ve not been to Koh Chang yet, but this article has whetted my appetite for going.
Koh Chang itself is located on the eastern coast of Thailand, almost on the Thai-Cambodian border. The nearest town in Trat, which has plenty of rail, road and air connections. It’s a good place to go and chill out if you are on your way into Cambodia overland. From Trat you can cross to Cambodia and head to the capital Phnom Penh or down to the Cambodian coastal town of Sihanoukville, the latter of which I definitely recommend.
Here’s the Koh Chang resorts that were highlighted in the article, along with links to reviews by other travellers about each on TripAdvisor:
Amari Emerald Cove (hotel site) plus hotel reviews
Aiyapura Resort and Spa (hotel site) plus hotel reviews
Aana Resort and Spa (hotel site) plus hotel reviews
Koh Koh Island Resort – no Tripadvisor reviews for this one.
You can browse and book a complete list of Koh Chang hotels for all budgets too – just check you select hotel whose location is “Koh Chang”, not “Ayutthaya” or anywhere else.
It’s the Koh Kood Island Resort that interests me the most out of all of the 4 hotel mentioned above – it’s on its own island just off Koh Chang, and it’s the only resort there. From their basic but very well written website with lots of excellent photos, it looks like that rarest of things – a beach place in Thailand where you can truly get away from everything and everyone. One of the big problems with Thailand’s popularity these days is actually getting peace and quiet on a beach that isn’t interrupted by other tourists, endless construction noise or the roar of longtail boats going in and out of the bay. From Bangkok it’s easy to get to – get a budget flight to Trat and let them pick you up and head out on a speedboat direct to Koh Kood.
If anyone’s been there, I’d love to hear from you about what you thought of it. And if anyone has other recommendations for boutique places on Koh Chang, it’d be great to hear about those too.
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