Ko Chang and its surrounding 50 islands are poised to become the next Phuket of Thailand. The group of islands, which were designated as a National Marine Park back in 1982, are rapidly developing and fortunately most of the new construction is top quality resorts.
The national marine park area spreads over 650 square kilometers off the Ngob Headland of Trat Province, which borders on Cambodia. The islands have been a favorite spot for Thai holidaymakers for many years. It is only in the last decade that the farangs have ventured here.  
Ko Chang is the major island of the group, the second largest in Thailand – Phuket is the largest, and Samui the third – and is 30 kilometers in length from north to south and eight kilometers across at its widest point. The island is, you can see from the picture, covered in dense virgin rain forests and skirted by white sand beaches. The best beaches are on the island’s west coast.
It lacks a great deal of the modern conveniences, but they are coming. The new airport on the mainland at Trat, built by Bangkok Airways, and the good super highway from Bangkok, 360 kilometers away, makes getting here easier. The airport, which is a 15-minute drive from the ferry terminal, has services that link it to Bangkok, Phuket and Samui. A new telecoms system has been installed and prompted the opening of several internet cafes on the island. There are small medical clinics on the island but the closest hospital is at Trat.
The name chang means elephant in Thai though the big beasts never roamed here until now when elephant trekking is one of the options afforded visitors. It is possible the name came because of the island’s shape but to me it looks more like a tortoise with a hat on.
Until the big resorts opened for business, the only accommodation that was available on the islands was basic bamboo huts. Most of them offered a mattress on the floor, beds put you in a higher price bracket, and power was only available at certain times of the day when the generator ran. Today it is still possible to get a room for under 100 Baht but it is very basic living and needs a tough skin to withstand the mosquito and sand fly bites.

              Amari Emerald Cove Resort
This was the first luxury chain resort to open on Ko Chang. It was in full swing for the 2004-2005 Christmas and New Year holidays. It is one of the largest resorts on the Chang Islands with 165 rooms and suites. Amari went for quality with all its accommodation having fine-looking solid wood furniture and modern Thai décor. The rooms have great views either of the cove or nearby mountains. All the rooms have a separate shower and bathtub, high-speed Internet access, tea and coffee making facilities, an in-room safe, satellite television, hairdryer and IDD telephone.
Guests have a choice of three restaurants, one with an outdoor terrace, as well as two bars. The resort has a 50-meter pool, a rarity in the archipelago, Jacuzzi, a children's pool and a scuba diving centre. There is also the Sivara Spa and a fitness room. The property offers a laundry service, tour desk, Internet room, games room and a souvenir shop.
There are three meeting rooms for business or social events. The largest can accommodate 360 guests.
High season Internet rates started at $136 +++ for the deluxe rooms with suites costing as much as $400 a night. 
Contact details: 88/8 Moo 4, Klong Prao Beach. Tel:  +66 03955 2000 , fax +66 03955 2001. www.amari.com

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                                      The Dusit Princess Ko Chang
This resort is located at Bai Lan Bay and has 96 rooms, villas and suites all decorated in modern Thai style with private balconies either overlooking the gardens or the sea.
All of the guest rooms have a 26-inch LCD flat screen television, in-room safe, IDD telephone, minibar, coffee and tea making facilities, separate shower room, hairdryer and a private balcony or terrace.
The hotel has its own private beach, outdoor swimming pool, spa and fitness center and a Kids Club. Dining options include The Bay Restaurant offers all-day dining and the Reef Bar serves a full range of beverages and tapas. The Starfish Lobby Bar also has drinks and snacks.
The resort has a business center, 24-hour room service, a tour desk, laundry and dry cleaning services and a meeting room for business or social functions.
Watch the hotel’s website site for special deals.  A recent package was for two nights in a beachfront deluxe room for only 5,500 Baht. The price included a daily breakfast buffet, welcome drink, fruit plate in the room and a dinner. The price was subject to service and taxes. Contact details: 111/1 Moo 1.Ao Bai Lan, King Amphur Ko Chang, Trat 23170, Thailand. Tel: +66 (0) 3961 9111.

                                             
                                                                   Aiyapura Resort and Spa

A large leaf-shaped infinity swimming pool with a swim-up bar is a focal point for this upmarket resort, which has 77 rooms including villas and suites all fully equipped including in-room tea and coffee making facilities. There are three restaurants and there has been an emphasis on things Thai in décor and design. The decks have been constructed with the kingdom’s teak and the umbrellas that adorn the area came from Chiang Mai. You can read more about the village where they make umbrellas on the Chiang Mai page of this website. 
Rates, which include breakfast and taxes, vary from a low season standard room at 4,200 Baht to 14,000 Baht for the honeymoon suite in high season. If you check prices on the web you can find prices dropping as low as 3,000 Baht. Be sure to check that the prices you pay are including tax and service. They can amount to around an additional 20 percent.
The resort has one of the best spas on the island where you can expect to pay 3,000 Baht for a two-hour session. There is a nightly barbecue (750 Baht) or a set dinner (650 Baht).
The hotel offers Thai cooking classes and fruit carving classes as shown in the picture. The second above is the resort’s private pier. 
Contact details: 29 Moo 3, Klong Son Beach. Ko Chang, Trat 23170, Thailand. Tel: +66 03955 5118. www.aiyapura.com

                           Ramayana Ko Chang Resort

This elegant new luxury resort set inland amid the island’s finest gardens. The picture gives you an idea of the gardens. The 64 fully equipped rooms and suites have private patios and are well furnished.
The resort has its own beach and provides an hourly shuttle. The resorts maintains a beach club with a sundeck terrace, scuba and snorkeling center, a snack bar and traditional Thai massages are available.
There is a swimming pool at the resort and several restaurants. Complimentary shuttle services are provided to the Bang Bao fishing village as well as to the island’s pier. There is an upmarket spa at the resort as well as a library and Internet center. An elaborate buffet breakfast is provided at the hotel’s Sritandorn Restaurant from sunrise until 11.30am. Room rates start at 5,000 Baht for the room and go as high as 12,000 Baht for the two bedroom family suites. The resort does offer several attractive package deals on its website, which brings these numbers down dramatically. You should be able to get a room for around 1,800 Baht, which makes this affordable luxury.
Contact details: 19/9 Moo 4, Klong Prao beach. Bangkoksales office Tel: , fax . www.ramayana-kohchang.com

                The Centara Chaan Talay 
                        Resort and Villas 
This new 44-room resort is not on Ko Chang but is on the mainland in Trat overlooking the island. The resort opened in March 2008 and is on a vast pristine beach.
Eight of the suites are beachfront spa suites with a personal outdoor Jacuzzi. For a small resort, there are numerous dining options and activities available. Each suite has at least 62 square meters of living space divided up into the bedroom, bathroom, and living room. The resort has a Cenvaree Spa, large beachfront infinity pool and a separate children’s pool. The resort provides complimentary non-motorized water sports equipment including sailboats, snorkeling gears and windsurfers. There is a library lounge and wireless high-speed Internet access. The tour desk can arrange islands tours, visits to Cambodia and transfer from Bangkok and Trat Airport. Dining option include the Azure restaurant with specializes in seafood with the tastes of the Mediterranean and Asia’ the Breezes Beach Bar, for lighter dining and cocktails amd the beachfront dining salas for private dining.
Contact details: 4/2 Moo 9, Tambol Laem Krud, Amphur Muang, Trat, 23000, Thailand. Tel: +66 03952 1561, fax +66 03952 1563. www.centralhotelsresorts.com