Thread: Koh Chang - A good place to chill Oct'2010

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Have to get back over to Koh Chang sometime. Any resort recommendations? Think I stayed at White Sands last time.

It all depends on what you want. White Sand Beach is pricier, but is located near the better restaurants and bars. If you want quiet, but still nice accommodations Klong Prao Beach has that. If you want quiet and cheap bungalows, go to Long Beach on the south eastern part of the island. If you want the backpacker party scene, go to Lonely Beach.

Thanks everyone, we are finished house renovations and due a break.

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Treetop adventure park

That's an awesome day out. Both me and the wife loved it.

Originally Posted by pickel

If you want the backpacker party scene, go to Lonely Beach.

No. I'd just say: Stay away from Lonely Beach at all costs.

was the weather OK Pat?

I ask as my favourite island in that group is closed until next month as the sea is too rough to get there

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

Around 10-12 years ago, I lived on Kata beach for 6 months. Again, went back a few years ago and got stuck in a traffic jam amongst the concrete jungle; unbelieveable...

I agree with you, but don't you think it's your own memories that do it.

I first went to samui in 1987, then worked there in 1991. At that point I considered it fucked and have never been back.

You lived in Kata late 90's, I was there late 80's, again by the time I worked there I considered it going well in the wrong direction.

These places are always great first time when they are new to the senses, going back damages the earlier memory....

Originally Posted by The Fresh Prince

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Treetop adventure park

That's an awesome day out. Both me and the wife loved it.

Yes, gone up a bit in price since I was last there.

Entrance Fee for Tree Top Adventure Park Koh Chang : Tree Top Adventure Park - Koh Chang (Ko Chang) & Pattaya, Thailand

Foreigners are obviously heavier so cost more for the extra rope strain.

Originally Posted by DrAndy

was the weather OK Pat?

I ask as my favourite island in that group is closed until next month as the sea is too rough to get there

We arrived a day after a landslide and very high tide had killed two people. The sea was a bit rough, and it rained in the evenings for about an hour, there was only two days when we were confined to the room all day due to a deluge. Three days of sunshine, but generally it was ok, nothing unlike the usual rainy season in Bangkok.

There was no flooding to speak of that I could see.

Maybe now since last weekends full moon it's changed?

The wife was there on the day of the floods and mudslides here are a few shots.

Main St. at White Sands.



Mud Mud and more mud.



Quite the mess. The wife was supposed to leave at 9am, they got off 12 hours later.


Finally getting the road open.

yes, AO, not the best time to be in that area

from Dec through to April is best

Originally Posted by pescator

Originally Posted by Nostradamus

Have to get back over to Koh Chang sometime. Any resort recommendations?

Think I stayed at White Sands last time.

If you dont mind staying some 500 metres away from the beach, I found this to be excellent value/location and good standard/service:

Klong Prao Garden Hill Resort:





We slept 2 adults and 2 children in the room 2 years ago in december during the xmas holidays.
1.200 baht including breakfast.

The rooms adjoing the pool area are the most attraktive.

Thai Garden Hill Resort, Koh Chang, Thailand

That resort is fine. Not next to the beach, but only 5 minutes past White Sands, and nicely set back from the road. Watch out for the karaoke room inside the main building though, which will keep you awake unitl 3am if you are in a bungalow on that side of the resort

Originally Posted by Chairman Mao

Originally Posted by pickel

Originally Posted by "Chairman Mao"

One company was pick up, lunch, and a day trip of snorkling to four islands for 700b.

That's now only 500B and is one of the best values on Koh Chang. I've gone on it about 6 times.

Next time I pop down I'll probably do:

Day 1: Snorkeling trip.
Day 2: Riding the bike around the island checking out the waterfalls/pools for swimming.
Day 3. Treetop adventure park and kayaking out to the nearby island.
Day 4: All day sitting on the beach eating/drinking.
Day 5: Either home or another snorkeling trip.

I get restless and any more than this down there would get boring.

Didn't I read elsewhere that you are planning to spend the next 40 years retired in isaan?

^^ Isaan is boring for some, not for others. I thoroughly enjoyed living there. Don't think I got bored once.

Far fewer farangs there, always a bonus.

Horses for courses.

I was in White Sands the day after those muddy floods, looks terrible.

They'd obviously done a good clean up job.

^^ Would be interested to know what there is to do there to keep a "restless" person interested for 15,000 days. Care to add some meat to your statement?

Good thread Pat, thanks for sharing

Originally Posted by aging one

Main St. at White Sands.

That's not the main street in White Sands.

This is:

Originally Posted by ninja

^^ Would be interested to know what there is to do there to keep a "restless" person interested for 15,000 days. Care to add some meat to your statement?

You moving there permanently?

Lessons learned:

If, as planned, I return to Koh Chang in january, I would do several things differently from the things I experienced earlier this month:

It's obvious that the Sabai Bar and KC are the best places on the beachfront for music. They have two decent bands and the settings are good. Also many European girls hang out there. The Thai girls that tend to go there are of the low-class 'career minded' variety.

I would stay at a cheaper guest house in White Sands, as there are many places to choose from in the 700-1000 price range.

I would only stay 5-6 days maximum.

I would stay away from the arsehole backpackers in Lonely Beach unless I wanted some sweaty farang girl ass.

Originally Posted by DJ Pat

When we got back our cat had a visit.


The next day we hit the beach at Klong Prao.


Kayak downriver to the beach..this was fun.



These sheesh things are overrated.

Bullshit.

The smoke is nice, smooth and tasty. I tell you what is over rated, cigarettes.

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

It's standard stuff isn't it Jesus: over development, raping the beautiful resources. You can map it out:

Samui: fuked.
KPG: fuked.
Pataya: fuked.
Phuket: fuked.
Koh Chang: fuked...

The greedy fuking developers. The dirty fuking locals. The stupid fuking tourists. The corrupt government who'd rather take their split today, and for our kids to have nothing.

Look at this flooding now - anything to do with deforestation and over-development??? When making money is concerned the environment stands no chance...

Thats BS man. Koh chang is still a nice little place.

Originally Posted by socal

Originally Posted by Bettyboo

It's standard stuff isn't it Jesus: over development, raping the beautiful resources. You can map it out:

Samui: fuked.
KPG: fuked.
Pataya: fuked.
Phuket: fuked.
Koh Chang: fuked...

The greedy fuking developers. The dirty fuking locals. The stupid fuking tourists. The corrupt government who'd rather take their split today, and for our kids to have nothing.

Look at this flooding now - anything to do with deforestation and over-development??? When making money is concerned the environment stands no chance...

Thats BS man. Koh chang is still a nice little place.

Indeed. I stayed at the Siam Beach Resort at Loney Beach just 5 weeks ago and we almost had the whole place to ourselves. It's one place I shall definietly be going back to.

^ He's just doing the usual forum shit. That is .. spouting off hearsay he's read on the net .. but lacking actual first hand experience. I hate that!

I've been to Phuket, Ko Samui, etc, etc... But Ko Chang is without a doubt the better of all the islands. I should be going back in January. Can't wait.

I've been there 4 times this year.(Seeing as it's almost in my backyard!) I usually stay at Lonely beach too. For sure .. White Sands is a bit of a dump .. but it's only one localized area on a huge beautiful island.