The Koh Chang Experience

[Freeze]

Captain Dave

 

"I would recommend Asia Backpackers down near Bang Bao village.

Accommodation from luxury bungalows to dorms or even tents.

Very sociable and Josh (from I-Rovers) will make you welcome.

 

I have no financial interest in the place BTW.

 

Avoid minibus ride if possible."

 

http://asia-backpackers.com/kohchang/elephant-garden/

Edited February 12, 2015 by Freeze

[drummerboy]

Great report! I'm a big fan of Koh Chang, i've been there a couple of times and will keep going back.

[Pinoydave]

What do you need to provide to rent a a car??

[DaffyDuck]

Show your passport.

[AlitheWilde]

Spending some time in BKK/Los in June.

 

Not a big fan of Pattaya, so the Koh Chang experience for a 4-5 nights...just to have a break from the Bangkok wild life would be tempting. 

 

I don't much mind the beaches, love when there aren't that much tourists and know it's going to heavily rainy. Yet, some relaxed mongering  (not fussy wit the girls) would appeal. 

 

Any point about going there?

[DaffyDuck]

Go. You will definitely enjoy.
Stay at White Sand Beach.
Rent a car (not a motocy) and drive down to Bang Bao Pier.

Stop at some of the smaller beaches along the way.

 

It's a worthwhile trip.

[andy666]

Go. You will definitely enjoy.

Stay at White Sand Beach.

Rent a car (not a motocy) and drive down to Bang Bao Pier.

Stop at some of the smaller beaches along the way.

 

It's a worthwhile trip.

Motorcycle is more fun, the road to Long Beach is legendary.

 

 

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[DaffyDuck]

Motorcycle is more fun, the road to Long Beach is legendary.

 

Yes - legendary for the number of two-wheeled accidents and the Koh Change Tattoo is equally legendary. I repeat my advice wholeheartedly.

 

You're better off with a car - not only from a safety point of view, but also that it includes seating for more than a single person, and provides a trunk.

[andy666]

Yes - legendary for the number of two-wheeled accidents and the Koh Change Tattoo is equally legendary. I repeat my advice wholeheartedly.

 

You're better off with a car - not only from a safety point of view, but also that it includes seating for more than a single person, and provides a trunk.

Some people prefer a bike others a car...

 

I understand that some people are too afraid to ride a moped but it's all not that bad.

 

Funny story. BM Coolsmoe , i met him on his first trip, an experienced rider, owns a big bike back home. After a few days together i asked him: what's with the motorbike taxies and bahtbusses? Why don't you rent a scooter? His answer: 'i read on PA that it is too dangerous' lol

 

Now he is riding his bike everywhere of course, we took the trip to Koh Chang together on our Scooters last month, that was fun. But i still tease him. Like, when he is kissing a girl i ask him:' haven't you read on PA that you can get a VD from kissing?'

 

 

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[DaffyDuck]

Sure, you can get lucky and be fine. The odds are against it, though - this just particularly applies to the Koh Chang roads, and specifically the winding serpentine as you head down the mountain on the way to Bang Bao. Combine it with lots of gravel, and frequent rain showers as we are heading into rainy season - well, you've got all the makings of impending accidents. Considering that 90% of those that I've known to have rented Scooters on KC have wiped out (all on that hill, usually descending), I just advise caution.

 

If you never plan on going past the hill and only decide to remain on the flat side, you'll be fine.

[andy666]

90% of the people you know have crashed their bikes???? Wow! I know of one in my group, the only one who doesn't drink, som nam na! 5555

 

 

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[AlitheWilde]

Thanks for tips & encouragement guys.

 

I have actually a location booked from White Sand Beach (Paddy's Palm), but now I see no reason to cancel the trip.

 

As for the moving around thing. I'm counting on an skillful Thai beauty to assist me with that...whilst I assist them in other means. 

 

I am a sucker on traffic, unless its the order-above-everything -style like in Finland. 

[frankstain]

I'm starting the wonder if DaffyDuck owns a car rental place on the island 555

 

As most have said go slow, wear a helmet, don't drive drunk and mind the dogs.

 

But with rainy season coming up don't bother thinking about going up or down the hills. Whitesands to kai bae you will be fine(pretty flat) and basically all of the girly bars are in these 3 towns.

 

Have fun!!

[DaffyDuck]

I'm starting the wonder if DaffyDuck owns a car rental place on the island 555

55555

 

I really should, shouldn't I? ;-)

[tj916]

90% of the people you know have crashed their bikes???? Wow! I know of one in my group, the only one who doesn't drink, som nam na! 5555

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Might be a bit over the top, but he is right. Koh Chang is not the place to learn how to ride a bike.

The rental companies make Baht nit Noi on renting. They make money when you damage the bike!!

[andy666]

Might be a bit over the top, but he is right. Koh Chang is not the place to learn how to ride a bike.

The rental companies make Baht nit Noi on renting. They make money when you damage the bike!!

My daughter learned to ride a bike on Koh Chang last November. She is still alive, so is my best friends wife who rode for the first time too. And it rained and we rode from one side to the other.... 90% have accidents.... Please lol

 

 

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[DaffyDuck]

(rolls eyes)

[andy666]

(rolls eyes)

Yeah, we like to live dangerous :-)

 

 

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[Jack Frost]

Never been would love to hit KOH CHANG.

 

[Jack Frost]

Forgot to say what a outstanding thread.

 

Superb.

 

[Piece Corp]

For this visit, I decided to try Bangkok Air.  They operate the airport at Trat so no competitive prices, one-way for 2600 on this prop plane, flight time is about 30 minutes.  There were just a couple dozen passengers.

 

 

Some nice views of Koh Samet along the way

 

 

Trat province looks so peaceful, hard to believe it was once the home of a man responsible for overseeing one of the worst genocides of the 20th century, as Pol Pot lived there in the late 1980's and early 1990s.

 

 

The island is too mountainous to support an airfield, the Trat airport is a single airstrip on the mainland, about 20 minutes from the ferry pier.  It is still necessary to take a minibus along the more treacherous 2-lane segment of the journey for a slightly unreasonable 500 baht.  After leaving my condo in Bangkok at 9:30 A.M., I arrived at the resort just after 2:00 P.M.  That's very good time, I imagine a minibus from Victory Monument would take at least until 4:30, even later if I had to wait for more passengers to fill the seats.

 

[skipper67]

Been their twice and stayed Mercure hideaway both times for the tranquility

no nite life so u need take a girl with you

approx 3.5 hours hire car to get there from patts

Lovely beaches and very fine dining around some of the beaches south of Mercure

[Piece Corp]

This is my 7th stay at the Emerald Cove Resort, of the 14 visits I've made to the island. Opened in 2004, I brought along Pui from Galaxy A-GoGo Walking Street (shown on page 1 of this thread), and we were the oddly matched couple at the massive breakfast buffet. Not the same crowd as breakfast at the Nana hotel, that's for sure, the looks of contempt I received from the farang women my age were priceless.

 

The resort had higher occupancy than I anticipated, maybe 40% or so (mainly Russians), and since I booked the lowest rate, just 2100 baht, I get a mountain-facing room. A sea view used to be important to me but, after living at VT6 for 2 years, 26th floor, Walking Street side, I've been saturated with the sea view and am no longer willing to pay extra. This makes the Emerald Cove an outstanding value since the sea views are roughly twice the price. Rooms are exactly the same, only the view from the balcony is different.

 

 

Of course, I can still enjoy sea views just chilling out on the premises

 

 

I spend the 2500/day I'm saving at the Pool Bar enjoying Long Island Iced Tea, Mango Daiquiris, and Passion Fruit Mojitos with my Tom Yum Goon

 

 

 

 

The 50 meter lap pool is always awesome

 

 

No sunset from my balcony, but a full moon

 

 

And magnificent sunsets from the grounds. It rained a bit, but the weather was excellent.

 

 

I spent a good part of the week just laying in this hammock, smoking my hand-rolled. Cigars, of course.

 

 

There's no one around unless there's a volleyball game

 

 

The promotion for the month was a free daily oil massage at the Emerald Spa. Sorry, no happy endings.

 

 

A 5-star resort for 2100 baht, that's a good deal. I didn't go anywhere, spent the entire week just at the resort.

 

Edited June 6, 2015 by Piece Corp

[tj916]

Fantastic pictures. Can I ask the make and cost of your camera?

[Piece Corp]

Thanks. I used a Nikon D610 & 28-300 mm. The moon shot was without a tripod, just zoom and crop.