· Thai Islands - Ko ChangKo Chang, Thailand · Added 19th Nov 2007
Where to stay:
On Whitesands beach, cheap beachfront bungalows, 150-200 baht/night, a stone's throw from a 7-11, are available at 'KC Grande Resort' as are aircon bungalows for around 600 baht/night.
The long and almost always deserted Klong Prao beach is home to 'KP Huts', an ever expanding assortment of over 30 huts of varying styles, sizes and prices right in the centre of the empty beach.
Moving on Kai Bae offers a mix of tourist & backpacker accommodation, you wont find too many flophouses but there's plenty of nice beachfront bungalows to choose from although the price is at the top end of a traveller's budget (400 baht/night & up) 'KB Bungalows' is convenient, friendly, clean and affordable.
If it has to be Lonely Beach you'll find that you can find a place to lay your head for 100 baht or less/night but you get what you pay for i.e. f&%k all in terms of decor, ambience, location and service. A couple of decent places to stay are 'Nature Beach' has a wide expanse of beach on its doorstep and the clean, airy, cheap and new 'Paradise Cottages'.
Bailan Bay is the quietest stretch on the west coast and is a good bet if budget peace and quiet are what you're looking for. New resorts are springing up here all the time, all within 10 minutes walk of each other and all after your custom as comparatively few visitors stay in this area.
How to get there:
Depending on how much of an independent traveler you really are you can either:
Pop down to any travel agent's office on Khao San Road, say the magic words 'Koh Chang', point at the photo of a minivan designed to comfortably seat six but refitted to seat ten, hand over around 250 baht and then return at the day and time stated on the ticket to board the van. The drive to the ferry pier will take around 5 hours by which time you'll have probably lost all feeling in your legs.
Or
Find your own way to either Ekkamai or Morchit bus stations, buy a ticket to Trat, it'll be about 170 - 190 baht. The bus takes around 6 hours to get to Trat, depending on the number of toilet stops the driver requires. From Trat, the passenger ferry pier at Laem Ngop is a 20 baht, 20 minute songtaew ride away. Bus company staff will point you in the direction of the songtaews.
The ferries to the island takes around 40 minutes and once on the island you'll see the white pick-up songtaews which are the island's poor attempt at providing public transport.
Url: http://www.khaosanroad.com/kohchangnotes.htm
On Whitesands beach, cheap beachfront bungalows, 150-200 baht/night, a stone's throw from a 7-11, are available at 'KC Grande Resort' as are aircon bungalows for around 600 baht/night.
The long and almost always deserted Klong Prao beach is home to 'KP Huts', an ever expanding assortment of over 30 huts of varying styles, sizes and prices right in the centre of the empty beach.
Moving on Kai Bae offers a mix of tourist & backpacker accommodation, you wont find too many flophouses but there's plenty of nice beachfront bungalows to choose from although the price is at the top end of a traveller's budget (400 baht/night & up) 'KB Bungalows' is convenient, friendly, clean and affordable.
If it has to be Lonely Beach you'll find that you can find a place to lay your head for 100 baht or less/night but you get what you pay for i.e. f&%k all in terms of decor, ambience, location and service. A couple of decent places to stay are 'Nature Beach' has a wide expanse of beach on its doorstep and the clean, airy, cheap and new 'Paradise Cottages'.
Bailan Bay is the quietest stretch on the west coast and is a good bet if budget peace and quiet are what you're looking for. New resorts are springing up here all the time, all within 10 minutes walk of each other and all after your custom as comparatively few visitors stay in this area.
How to get there:
Depending on how much of an independent traveler you really are you can either:
Pop down to any travel agent's office on Khao San Road, say the magic words 'Koh Chang', point at the photo of a minivan designed to comfortably seat six but refitted to seat ten, hand over around 250 baht and then return at the day and time stated on the ticket to board the van. The drive to the ferry pier will take around 5 hours by which time you'll have probably lost all feeling in your legs.
Or
Find your own way to either Ekkamai or Morchit bus stations, buy a ticket to Trat, it'll be about 170 - 190 baht. The bus takes around 6 hours to get to Trat, depending on the number of toilet stops the driver requires. From Trat, the passenger ferry pier at Laem Ngop is a 20 baht, 20 minute songtaew ride away. Bus company staff will point you in the direction of the songtaews.
The ferries to the island takes around 40 minutes and once on the island you'll see the white pick-up songtaews which are the island's poor attempt at providing public transport.
Url: http://www.khaosanroad.com/kohchangnotes.htm
