Koh Chang or Koh Samet??

[kingwilly]

^ yah go to the island to sit and relax, not walk a bladdy kilometre in the heat lugging 300 bags of luggage!

[dirtydog]

Were you a sherpa in a previous life? I only carry my own bag and that is usually less than 3 kilos in weight, then again I don't take make up with me and stuff like that when I go away for a few days, unlike most women do

[Fstop]

Quote: Originally Posted by kingwilly or catch the flipping speed boat! yup. that will save you a lot of money.

100 per person ferry, 400 baht per person entry, 100? or 200? baht per person for a song toew.....

not far different really.

plus, time waiting = nil

plus time on water = 20 mins vs 1 hour

plus time getting to your accommodation .

= major convenience!

Yes, but your Thai girlfriend/wife should get in for free, yes?

if you walk from whatever the pier is called, you can take a left about 100 metres from the NP entrance.

takes you through a monastary of some sorts that borders onto the beach.
then you are through.

Seriously? I've got to try this. This seems like a major miscalculation on the Thais collecting the money. I can't imagine people dragging suitcases through a monastary and no one saying anything.

[The Gentleman Scamp]

I prefer Koh Samet but begrudge the 400baht entrance fee, but it probably still works out cheaper as the accomodation is cheaper etc, plus it has better beaches

Seconded.

Ko Chang is ok but massive.

[bbigman21]

Quote: Originally Posted by kingwilly or catch the flipping speed boat! yup. that will save you a lot of money.

100 per person ferry, 400 baht per person entry, 100? or 200? baht per person for a song toew.....

not far different really.

plus, time waiting = nil

plus time on water = 20 mins vs 1 hour

plus time getting to your accommodation .

= major convenience!

Yes, but your Thai girlfriend/wife should get in for free, yes?

if you walk from whatever the pier is called, you can take a left about 100 metres from the NP entrance.

takes you through a monastary of some sorts that borders onto the beach.
then you are through.

Seriously? I've got to try this. This seems like a major miscalculation on the Thais collecting the money. I can't imagine people dragging suitcases through a monastary and no one saying anything.

It depends on how many bags you are carrying. Ther is a road to your left before you get to the maingate it is where the locals live and some local shops go left and just keep walking you will evetually hit the water
If you are not carrying to many bags just walk through the gate and if they stop you tell them you just came out to use the atm and that you already payed

[The Gentleman Scamp]

If you choose Ko Chang over or before Ko Samet then you are a trat.

[sityparamount]

Ko Chang wins for me.

[Bexar County Stud]

If you're thinking about staying several days on an island, Koh Chang wins hand down IMO. It's a much bigger island (2nd biggest in Thailand), more things to do, a far greater range of accomodation, from luxury digs down to backpacker huts, wider selection of restaraunts, you name it.

You can also explore the nearby islands, go on day snorkeling trips, waterfalls, hikes and treks and more...

Koh Samet is more a weekender for BKK Thais and western backpacker types. It seems to have more of these wankerish "traveler" folk per capita than in any other place I've been to. It's kinda amusing and cringeworthy to watch the Trustifarians do their thing, but you wouldn't want to stay there any longer than a coupla days.

[DrAndy]

look down young man, then look up

I like somewhere else completely, so everyone can go to Koh Samet or Koh Chang

[bkkmadness]

I always avoid the national park fee by taking the speedboat over there and getting dropped off at the beach. Of course you need to be a with a few people for this to work out.