Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Courses
Break up your lazy days with classes designed to enhance mind and body. Khlong Prao
hosts a well-regarded culinary school. Classes are typically four to five hours, include a
market tour and cost 1200B per person; book ahead.
COOKING
Koh Chang Thai Cookery School
( 0 3955 7243; Blue Lagoon Bungalows, Khlong Prao)
Slices, dices and sautées in a shady open-air
kitchen beside the estuary.
Sleeping
Ko Chang's package-tour industry has distorted accommodation pricing. In general, rates
have risen while quality has not, partly because hotels catering to group tours are guaran-
teed occupancy and don't have to maintain standards to woo repeat visitors or walk-ins.
There is also a lot of copy-cat pricing giving value-oriented visitors little to choose from.
A few places close down during the wet season (April to October) and rates drop pre-
cipitously. Consider booking ahead and shopping for online discounts during peak season
(November to March), weekends and holidays.
On the west coast, Lonely Beach is still the best budget option, Hat Kai Bae is the best-
value option and Hat Sai Khao is the most overpriced; you will also find accommodation
on the east coast at Ao Salak Kok and Ao Dan Kao.
Hat Sai Khao
The island's prettiest beach is also its most expensive. The northern and southern ex-
tremities have some budget and midrange options worth considering if you need proxim-
ity to the finest sand. There's a groovy backpacker enclave north of KC Grande Resort ac-
cessible only via the beach. There are more further north.
At the southern end, you can find some good-value budget and midrange places but this
end of the beach is rocky and lacking sand during high tide.
If you want to splash out, don't do it on Hat Sai Khao where good money will be
wasted.
Independent Bo's
GUESTHOUSE
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