Salak Phet, Chek Bae and Long Beach resorts, bungalows and guesthouses are very limited in scope, so do not expect the same range of options as over on the west coast.
Whilst there are plenty of homestays targeted at Thai weekenders, these are not suitable for the more conventional tourist, so your choice comes down to one solitary luxury resort, Parama Resort and its sister boutique resort Parama 2 in Chek Bae (Jek Bae), alongside a couple of 2/3 star resorts such as The Mangrove Hideaway and Salak Phet Resort.
You will also find some nice guesthouses here and there around Salak Phet Bay, while for backpackers looking to completely escape the crowds, Treehouse Bungalows on Long Beach is the main attraction.
Prices given are for the peak Xmas period via booking sites, not the hotel websites. They are intended as guides only.
You can jump straight to each section:-
- Staying in This Part of Koh Chang
- Salak Phet Resorts and Guesthouses
- Chek Bae (Jek Bae)
- Long Beach
- Selected Others
Staying in This Part of Koh Chang
If wanting to stay here, do bear in mind that the two beaches at Long Beach and Wai Chek are not in any way readily accessible, nightlife is non-existent and the few restaurants around, close early.
Unfortunately, public taxis too only run three times daily back and forth from the ferries, so without your own transport, getting about can be both an organisational headache and very expensive.
What the area does offer, however, is authentic and local Koh Chang life, tons of peace and quiet and some wonderful scenery.
Salak Phet Resorts and Guesthouses
On the whole, accommodation in Salak Phet consists of Thai homestays, but scattered about, you’ll also find a few surprises.
The Mangrove Hideaway, on the concrete walkway by the water which skirts the houses in the village, is a small boutique hotel with rooms from 1,500bt to 1,800bt.
In the heart of the fishing community, the tiny 600bt a night guesthouse, Baan Yemaya, sits at the end of a wooden walkway amongst the stilted houses. Sleepover! (currently closed), same owners and just down the road from the temple, offers 2 large mixed dorms, sleeping up to 16 persons, with beds from 300bt a night.
Far Side of the Bay
Aimed at Thai packages, Koh Chang Marina, home to the yachts of Gulf Charters, has bungalows and a small pool, but only really gets busy in Thai holidays. Picasjo House, a real curiosity next door, has accommodation from 1,200bt and is worth a look.
Salak Phet Seafood, perhaps the best of the Salak Phet resorts, is situated at the very far end of the bay, a mixture of simple a/c rooms at 1,600bt for a double or more elaborate cabanas over the water at up to 4,000bt.
Island View Resort is a German owned, older resort down the track at the end of the bay, rooms on the water at around 1,000bt, more expensive on the hill – mixed reviews. It is also used as the base for Sailing Koh Chang.
Wai Chek Beach
Years back, a never completed road was constructed with the intention of linking up Salak Phet and Bang Bao on the west coast. It has deteriorated enormously over the years but it does give access to the remote and undeveloped Wai Chek Beach and here you will find the occasional Crusoe type pitching a tent – all bungalow operations previously opened there have now closed.
Pricing Code/Per night in Baht (B): B= under 500; BB= 500 to 1,500; BBB= 1,500 to 3,000; BBBB= over 3,000;
The Mangrove Hideaway
Per Night: BB-BBBB
Heart of Salak Phet Village
With its restaurant terrace backing onto the water inlet, this is a small boutique two storey resort with a collection of different sized room and suites, all with superb polished teak floors and complimentary wooden furniture. You can rent kayaks, take boat trips, eat locally or just laze away days by the water. Please note that the resort changed hands a good few years ago from its original French owners.
Salak Phet Resort
Per Night: BBB-BBBB
Far end of Salak Phet bay
Popular with Thai packages, the resort offers sea view or deluxe rooms and cabins, all a/c and ensuite, built out over the water. Its large seafood restaurant draws locals from all over the province. You can organise boat trips, rent kayaks, but having your own transport is very useful if you want to explore.
Baan Yemaya
Per Night: BB
In Salak Phet village
Over the water at the end of a small walkway lined with local houses, this long running guesthouse comprises just two a/c rooms with bathroom, alongside a restaurant/cafe (not always open) and nice terrace area. Very relaxing and away from it. Friendly host, can organise trips to Wai Chek Beach.
Sleepover!
Per Night: B
Start of Salak Phet village
Same owners as Baan Yemaya, this hostel is found a few hundred metres straight down from Salak Phet Temple. It’s two storey, offering a 2 x 8 bed a/c mixed dorms, with separate bathroom, kitchen and chill-out area. For drinks and snacks, you can use the in-house Cafe Gaya or walk into the village for more local choices. WiFi. Best to have your own transport if you want to explore.
Picasjo Guesthouse
Per Night: BB
Around the bay in Salak Phet
Next door to Koh Chang Marina, this guesthouse within an artist’s home has six nicely designed rooms with their own tiny pier overlooking the bay. Alongside the accommodation, you’ll find a gallery and small coffee shop. Breakfast is available or the marina has a restaurant and you can easily walk to Salak Phet Seafood. Free kayaks but as always here, it would be best with your own motorbike to explore. A peaceful spot.
Chek Bae (Jek Bae) Resorts and Bungalows
The village of Chek Bae, also spelt on signs as Jek Bae, is located over on the other side of the bay to Salak Phet.
Home to a handful of older resorts that cater to the Thai weekenders at Rommai Chailay, Ban Mae Resort and Karang Bay View, it is also, in stark contrast, the location for Parama Resort.
Parama Resort, which sits about midway, is an upmarket getaway of luxury rooms, spa, ocean-front restaurant and swimming pool. Superior doubles start at 6,000bt but prices go right up to 17,500bt for the top floor suites with the best views. Parama 2 is just up the road, a cheaper boutique version with rooms from 3,000bt a night upwards.
You can kayak in the bay, but no one takes a dip, so for a beach, guests are ferried across to the tiny strip of sand on the island in the middle, Koh Si Khao or offered the little strand at Karang Bay View at the very end of the road.
Look out too for the new section being built between the 2 resorts where accommodation will be in a hotel style block overlooking the vast and very deep pool. Slides and Easter Island style statues complete the picture.
Far End
Also towards the far end down by the ocean, Journey’s End is an tiny English run homestay from 450bt for a fan bungalow and just beyond it, you will find the long stay bungalows of Baan Vitee Thai, priced per night at 1,200bt, but with rent negotiable for weekly or monthly stays. Further rooms and a house rental are also available on the sea at Baan SuanNgaChang – it’s about half way along the central section near Parama.
Parama Resort
Per Night: BBBB++
On the water, Chek Bae
Luxury resort by the water, with just 18 superior and deluxe rooms or suites. Lots of high end wood finishes, swimming pool, vast fish ponds, spa, shuttle boat to the beach on Koh Sai Khao in Salak Phet bay. Restaurant with daily changing menu, wine and spirit selection. All activities can be organised, luxurious but remote.
Parama 2
Per Night: BBBB
On the water, Chek Bae
Boutique resort adjunct to Parama, collection of nicely appointed, nautically styled rooms around a small swimming pool. Restaurant, pier, use of main resort facilities with a shuttle cart on hand to save the walk. Boat trips, beach visits, bikes, motorbike rental. Do check the rates on booking to make sure you end up in the correct part of the resort – the cheaper options are this one (standard).
Journey’s End
Per Night: B – BB
On the water, Chek Bae
English owned homestay of 6 simple bungalows which are laid out at the back of a grassy area by the sea. Family room too, can pitch a tent. WiFi, breakfast, restaurant and bar on site. Boat trips organised on their own vessel at 1,000bt per person. Friendly chatty host, homestay style hang-out.
Vitee Thai Resort and Restaurant
Per Night: BB – BBB
On the water, Chek Bae
At the very far end of Chek Bae, a interesting selection of 8 to 10 houses come bungalows by the sea, all a/c with ensuite bathroom. Restaurant on site, popular for long term rent by retirees. Great location, very quiet, but definitely need your own transport.
Long Beach Bungalows
Off the Chek Bae road that skirts the bay, a newly repaired and repaved road takes you far far down to the south east corner of Koh Chang and Long Beach.
Like Wai Chek Beach, this is a remote, wild spot but it does have backpacker accommodation in the shape of Treehouse Bungalows. Rooms are cheap, 250bt to 350bt, but if you do stay here, there are no shops whatsoever, so you are very cut-off. Electricity may finally be connected in the next year but don’t hold your breath.
Day-trippers from the west side head here during the day, though safe to say, it is far further than they envisaged when setting off, a 100km round trip of coming from down the west coast at Lonely Beach.
Tantawan Resort, which sits beyond Long Beach overlooking Koh Ngam is also now open to allcomers, but only with a minimum of 2 rooms booked and has no wifi, not even with your mobile provider.
Treehouse Bungalows
Per Night: B
On the water, Long Beach
Rudimentary old style Thai beach bungalows, all thatch and wood, arranged in rows up the hillside, shared bathroom, restaurant, cable wifi, generator electricity for 6 hours a night. It’s fun and backpacker but remember you will be hanging out with just those staying there. There are no shops so bring all you need with you for a few days – it’s a long haul on a motorbike back to Chek Bae.
Tantawan Resort
Per Night: BBB
On the water, Long Beach
Small boutique style resort tucked away behind Long Beach amongst the mangroves, with large bungalows on stilts overlooking Koh Ngam, the tiny offshore island. Restaurant. Very remote, it’s often closed but brings in Thai weekenders direct from the mainland by speedboat. Note there is no WiFi, so data on your phone is the only way to connect to the internet. Bookings are nomally required as a minimum 2 rooms.
Other Salak Phet Resorts, Chek Bae Bungalows
Here are a selection of other resorts and guesthouses in this area.
Baan Chan Lay
Per Night: B – BB
Next door to The Mangrove Hideaway, an older but renovated resort in the heart of the village by the water. It has a/c double and family rooms, no restaurant but options within walking distance locally. Thai packages and weekenders.
Koh Chang Marina
Per Night: BB
Around the bay in Salak Phet, practical a/c bungalows, motel style building and a restaurant on one side of the road, with the marina, coffee shop and small swimming pool on the other. It’s never busy other than on Thai holidays when they also provide a boat trip package. Can walk to Salak Phet Seafood.
Island View
Per Night: B – BBB
At the far end of Salak Phet bay, German owned and one of the oldest Salak Phet resorts with 9 a/c rooms at the end of a wooden jetty or appartments on the hillside above, together with a swimming pool. Restaurant on site, motorbike rental.
Ban Mae Resort
Per Night: B – BBB
18 a/c bungalows set around a lagoon or on the sea front in Chek Bae. Kayaks and boat trips are available, restaurant on site but there is no beach. Popular with weekenders.
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