Grand View Resort - Koh Chang

[Rockheart]

Just took my LB GF for a beach vacation in Koh Chang, one of my favourite spots.
Stayed at the Grand View Resort in White Sand Beach which is the main town/beach.

Got the room for 1900 baht per night on Agoda and it turned out to be quite a good deal.
It included a great breakfast and the resort is right on the beach.
The portion of the beach the resort is on is at the end of main beach just before the rock cliffs start.
So the beach is quite small but gets bigger depending on the tides, you can walk or wade to the main beach and action quite easily.
The main road is on one side of the resort with lots of bars and restaurants and the beach is on the other side, good location.

There was free breakfast at the outdoor restaurant and bar.
You can sit and relax in the afternoon and evening on bean bag chairs and enjoy a drink.
There was a large sea side swimming pool and most of the hotel rooms had a small shared dipping pool.
There is a large lawn down by the beach with Thai massage for 250 baht overlooking the gulf.
They have regular hotel rooms of various styles and private bungalow/villas.
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[Rockheart]

We booked what I believe was a deluxe room which was upstairs and quite private.
The room was almost a villa of it's own on top of the hotel with great ocean views and a large balcony.
The room was very comfortable and was clean and nicely decorated.
For the price it was fantastic and close to everything.
It also had a small private pool shared by 6 other rooms.

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[flamingofarmer]

It looks like a long ride to the ferry, over 5 hours is that right? what did the ride cost. On the other side i guess there was rides to hire as well? What did
all the rides cost?

[Rockheart]

It was just under 5 hours to the ferry from central Bangkok and the ferry is about 30 minutes or so and goes hourly.
We used https://www.kohchangminibus.com/
Booked the cheapest which was a Toyota Camry but the driver picked us up at our place, on time, in an SUV.
They go across on the ferry with you and drive you right to your hotel or resort.
You get picked up right at your resort and taken back over the ferry on the return trip too.
For the return trip we had a mini bus all to ourselves.
The ferry tickets are included in the total price which was 8700 baht return for 2 people.
This was my second time using this website and both times were good.

You can fly to Trat then take a car to the ferry but it ends up taking about the same amount of time overall i think.
You would have to take a taxi to and from the bkk airport and waiting time etc.
It is a bit of an easier drive from Pattaya.

There is no normal taxis on the island just baht bus trucks that can take you anywhere.
They are quite cheap usually about 50 baht per person between villages.
The roads are hilly and quite sketchy with wild life like monkeys darting out, so renting a motorbike isn't the safest.
So the baht buses or seroengs are a very good option.

Overall Koh Chang is a fraction of the price of Phuket, a fraction of the people and all the beauty.

[outlander5]

Did the same last april with my ladyboy friend stayed at the sang aroon bungalows north end of white sand beach great spot also and an amazing restaurant right on the beach!! Had a great time snorkeled ,rode elephants and traveled the whole island all the way to lonely beach, rented a car in pattaya she drove the 5 hrs it takes to get to the ferry would go back again!

[Rockheart]

Did the same last april with my ladyboy friend stayed at the sang aroon bungalows north end of white sand beach great spot also and an amazing restaurant right on the beach!! Had a great time snorkeled ,rode elephants and traveled the whole island all the way to lonely beach, rented a car in pattaya she drove the 5 hrs it takes to get to the ferry would go back again!

Yes I have been to Koh Chang 3 times.
The first time was with my Ladyboy friend who drove us in her car.
The second time I went alone in a car from BKK.
My reports are here from the first two.

https://ladyboy.reviews/forum/the-total-thailand-scene/phuket-the-islands-bars-etc/21242-koh-chang

I will post a current trip report to Koh Chang soon.

[magical]

Yes I have been to Koh Chang 3 times.
The first time was with my Ladyboy friend who drove us in her car.
The second time I went alone in a car from BKK.
My reports are here from the first two.

https://ladyboy.reviews/forum/the-total-thailand-scene/phuket-the-islands-bars-etc/21242-koh-chang

I will post a current trip report to Koh Chang soon.

I enjoyed reading your previous posts on Koh Chang and look forward to the next one. Koh Chang will definitely be on my itinerary sometime in the future ... when I'm able to come to LOS for a month at a time or more. I envy your ability to come to LOS as frequently as you do! Also, you've sold me on Koh Chang as an alternative to Phuket.

[flamingofarmer]

Ok cool . Sounds like a destination next trip out !

[flamingofarmer]

It was just under 5 hours to the ferry from central Bangkok and the ferry is about 30 minutes or so and goes hourly.
We used https://www.kohchangminibus.com/
Booked the cheapest which was a Toyota Camry but the driver picked us up at our place, on time, in an SUV.
They go across on the ferry with you and drive you right to your hotel or resort.
You get picked up right at your resort and taken back over the ferry on the return trip too.
For the return trip we had a mini bus all to ourselves.
The ferry tickets are included in the total price which was 8700 baht return for 2 people.
This was my second time using this website and both times were good.

You can fly to Trat then take a car to the ferry but it ends up taking about the same amount of time overall i think.
You would have to take a taxi to and from the bkk airport and waiting time etc.
It is a bit of an easier drive from Pattaya.

There is no normal taxis on the island just baht bus trucks that can take you anywhere.
They are quite cheap usually about 50 baht per person between villages.
The roads are hilly and quite sketchy with wild life like monkeys darting out, so renting a motorbike isn't the safest.
So the baht buses or seroengs are a very good option.

Overall Koh Chang is a fraction of the price of Phuket, a fraction of the people and all the beauty.

I just noticed the lack of wires hanging everywhere on the streets.

That old ferry looks rough i wonder what it looks like below deck. Is there a speedboat option or ferry is pretty much it?

I actually found this and will add on edit ...

https://iamkohchang.com/activities/private-speedboat-tour.html

[flamingofarmer]

Found this handy little map that shows ferry terminals at such .

[flamingofarmer]

The speedboat stuff posted earlier is for trips from Koh Chang to surrounding islands. Day trips

[Rockheart]

I just noticed the lack of wires hanging everywhere on the streets.

That old ferry looks rough i wonder what it looks like below deck. Is there a speedboat option or ferry is pretty much it?

I actually found this and will add on edit ...

https://iamkohchang.com/activities/p...boat-tour.html

There is less wires but most of the resorts generate their own power I've heard.
There just isn't any apartment buildings or anything so less wires, i think buildings cannot be more than 3 or 4 stories on Koh Chang.
Plus there is nobody living in the middle of the island because it is just a big mountain, so power and cables are not as necessary.

Only the ferries are allowed for guests because it is a national park no private motorized boats, i've seen a few private sailing ships.
There is only speed boats you can rent from the island to go on snorkeling and fishing tours and they do scuba diving tours also.
From the docks at Bang Bao you can take larger boats like the one we took.

https://ladyboy.reviews/forum/the-total-thailand-scene/phuket-the-islands-bars-etc/925107-trip-to-koh-chang-november-2017?p=925297#post925297

The Kae Bae Huts speed boats only stay on land unless they are rented.
I want to stay in Kae Bae because of the restaurants, great snorkeling off the beach and you can rent a kayak and go out to those little islands.

https://ladyboy.reviews/forum/the-total-thailand-scene/phuket-the-islands-bars-etc/925107-trip-to-koh-chang-november-2017?p=925226#post925226

The ferries are fine they just don't look that great from the outside, you just do not want to use the washroom.
The car drivers always take you right to your hotel. You can buy a walk in ticket and then take a baht bus on the other side.
I have taken the green ferries from two different piers.

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