Koh Chang with kids is our favourite family holiday, and we go back every year. For us, it is worth the drive. We take our car across on the ferry, settle into island life and leave plenty of time for the beach, food and relaxing.
What keeps us returning is the choice. There are busy areas with restaurants and places to go out, but also very calm corners where the day can revolve around the beach. We love the beaches, and as a family who enjoys fishing, we also make room for time on the water. We have chartered a yacht for the day and visited elephants during our stays.
Our practical advice is to choose the part of the island that suits your holiday, then think about getting around. Having our car works for us, but the winding, hilly roads deserve attention. Here are seven things to consider before planning your own stay.
Not sure which island fits your holiday? Our Koh Samet and Koh Chang comparison helps you choose by travel time, getting around and the kind of stay you want.
1. Choose your beach and accommodation around your holiday style
We usually book a pool villa through Airbnb with beach access. That is our style of holiday: plenty of time at the villa, in the pool and on the beach, without going out very much. We choose somewhere we are happy to spend most of the day, rather than using it only as a place to sleep.
When we do go out, we mostly head to White Sand Beach to find somewhere to eat. That is where we tend to go for meals, rather than a claim that we have stayed in or explored every beach area below. Another family may prefer to be closer to restaurants every day.
Choose the area around the holiday you want. We find Koh Chang relaxing overall, but it is not uniformly quiet. Some areas are busy, while others feel very calm. That difference matters more than choosing a hotel from its pool photograph alone.
A resort with meals and a pool on site suits a different routine from a hotel beside a village where you can walk out for dinner. Most of the familiar beach areas are on the west coast. The east and southeast offer a different setting, including mangrove areas and bays.
| Area | Why consider it? | What to check before booking |
|---|---|---|
| White Sand Beach, or Hat Sai Khao | A developed beach area to compare if nearby restaurants and shops matter. | The exact beach frontage, evening noise and the walking route from your room to meals. |
| Klong Prao | A long west-coast beach area with beachfront resorts. A useful starting point for a stay built around pool and beach days. | The distance to the village and the position of channels and estuaries. Do not assume you can walk continuously along the sand. |
| Kai Bae | A beach and village combination to compare if you want to eat out as well as use your hotel. | The particular stretch of beach, room access and whether the restaurants you want are a comfortable walk. |
| Bang Bao and the southern area | Worth investigating if boat outings and spending time around the bay are priorities. | Whether the property has sandy beach access or a bay view, and transport to other areas. |
| East and southeast | An alternative if the bay, village or mangrove setting interests you more than being in a main west-coast beach area. | Meals, transport and the full route to any west-coast outings you plan. |
This is a shortlist for comparing locations, not a ranking of individual hotels. The Tourism Authority of Thailand’s Koh Chang overview introduces the main destination areas. Water channels divide Klong Prao into sections. Ask your shortlisted hotel for the practical walking route, rather than judging from a map pin alone.
2. Make the ferry and hotel arrival one complete plan
We take our own car on the ferry. It is part of how we make our annual family holiday work: the car comes with us for the island stay. For us, the drive is worth it. If you are hiring transport rather than bringing your own vehicle, check how the complete journey is arranged.
Reaching the mainland pier is only part of reaching your room. Plan the road journey, ferry connection and onward island transfer together. If you fly to Trat, the airport is on the mainland, so you still need the crossing and island journey.
The ferry crossing uses Ao Thammachat on the mainland. Confirm the current pier and operating arrangements for your date before committing to connected travel. Avoid building a plan around an old timetable or assuming a late flight will fit the final crossing.
- Ask whether your vehicle crosses with you or whether you change transport.
- Confirm the island pickup point and who meets you if you travel as foot passengers.
- Keep water, a snack and children’s essentials accessible while larger bags are packed away.
- Check passenger tickets, vehicle ferry charges and the final hotel drop-off in the written quotation.
Our Bangkok to Koh Chang transfer page explains the road and ferry arrangements to discuss with SPNJ. Send your hotel name as well as your travel date, passenger count and luggage details. A mainland-pier drop-off and an island-hotel drop-off are different bookings.
3. Check how you will get around before planning outings
You do not need to hire a motorbike to have a holiday here. Ask your accommodation about local transport and collection for activities. Agree the destination, total group price and return arrangement before leaving, particularly if you are going somewhere away from your base.
The island roads are winding and hilly, and driving is the part we take seriously. My husband, Pattarapong, handles the driving on our family trips. Taking the car gives us flexibility, but we would not choose a motorbike simply because it appears convenient.
The island has mountainous terrain, so short distances on a map can be misleading. Check the actual journey rather than planning several beach changes in a day. For children who find winding journeys uncomfortable, fewer transfers and a convenient base can make the day easier.
For a pushchair, ask about steps, the hotel driveway and the route to dinner. For an excursion, check whether collection is included and whether child seating can be arranged in the vehicle offered. Do not assume every local vehicle provides the same setup.
4. Leave full days for the beach and pool
Staying at our pool villa is a big part of why we enjoy Koh Chang. With beach access and a pool, we do not feel the need to go out every day. We keep plenty of days for relaxing where we are staying, with a fishing outing or our yacht-and-snorkelling day as separate plans.
This is our preference, rather than a set itinerary everyone needs to follow. If you enjoy visiting a different place each day, choose your base and transport around that. If you want a holiday like ours, check the pool, actual beach access and meal options before booking.
Choose a property around the facilities you will actually use: shade, a pool suitable for your children, convenient meals and comfortable room access. Check beach conditions locally each day and follow warning flags and staff advice. A beach described as family friendly is not a guarantee of safe swimming in every season or at every tide.
We have found plenty of Thai and Western food options, including Western meals we enjoy. That variety helps on a family holiday when everyone wants something different. When we go out for food, White Sand Beach is our usual choice. We do not eat out around the island every day.
For meals, look beyond the breakfast photograph. Check whether there is somewhere convenient for an early dinner and what happens if it rains. A longer outing for seafood or a café is more enjoyable when it is a choice rather than the only way to feed everyone.
5. Choose an outing beyond the beach
We have visited elephants on Koh Chang. That is part of our family experience, rather than a recommendation for a particular venue. If you are considering a visit, check what the current programme involves and choose activities that suit your family.
Klong Plu Waterfall is a place to investigate if you want a break from the beach. It is one of the highlights listed by TAT. Ask about current access, the trail and weather conditions before setting out. Wear shoes suited to a forest path and take drinking water.
Do not assume a waterfall visit is suitable for a pushchair or that swimming will be permitted. With younger children, the walk itself may be enough. Check current entrance requirements and fees separately from transport.
The southeast offers a different kind of outing around Salak Khok and Salak Phet. If mangroves or a bay visit appeal, discuss the actual route and activity with a local provider. Choose between a nature outing and a long sightseeing circuit rather than trying to cover the whole island between breakfast and dinner.
6. Plan fishing and a yacht day as separate outings
A dedicated fishing day
We are a fishing family, and our fishing trip was a separate day from our yacht charter. Fishing is one of the reasons we enjoy getting out on the water around Koh Chang. It deserves its own plan, with time for the activity rather than being treated as a quick extra on a sightseeing trip.
If you want a fishing day, ask the operator about the type of fishing, equipment, proposed area, trip length and any applicable restrictions. Explain the children’s ages and experience before booking. Check shade, suitable life jackets, meals and what happens if conditions change. A catch cannot be guaranteed.
A yacht charter with snorkelling
Our yacht charter and snorkelling were part of the same day. This was a different outing from fishing: time aboard the yacht, enjoying the sea and a snorkelling stop. The photos below are from that day.
When comparing a charter, ask about the planned route and snorkelling stops, time aboard, departure point and any hotel collection. Check shade, toilet access, correctly sized life jackets, snorkelling equipment, meals and fees. Tell the operator about the children’s swimming confidence and ask what works for anyone who prefers to remain aboard.
Sea conditions can change the itinerary, and underwater visibility varies. Keep a beach or resort day available if the sailing cannot go ahead. Do not assume that a yacht charter includes fishing; our family booked those as separate outings.
7. Give the return journey the same attention as arrival
Plan backwards from your next commitment. For a flight from Bangkok, include the island drive, ferry queue, crossing, mainland road journey and airline check-in. The road estimate alone is not enough to choose a pickup time.
For a late arrival into Thailand or a tight onward flight, discuss the complete connection before booking. An overnight stop or a different travel day may be more comfortable than relying on everything running to the minimum possible time.
For Koh Chang with kids, the most useful itinerary often has fewer moving parts: arrive, settle into your beach base, choose a nature or boat outing, and keep the return day clear. Add activities because they suit your group, not because a list says you must complete them.
Frequently asked questions
Can we book SPNJ to take our family to Koh Chang?
Yes. Send your pickup address, travel date, Koh Chang hotel, passenger count and luggage details. We will check availability and quote for a private vehicle with a driver. Include children’s ages and any child-seat requirements.
Can SPNJ take us to our hotel on the island?
Yes, subject to the arrangements confirmed for your booking. Request an island-hotel drop-off when you enquire so we can check the ferry and onward vehicle arrangements. Your quotation will state whether the vehicle crosses with you and where the service finishes.
Do we need to rent a car or drive ourselves?
No. When you book an SPNJ private transfer, your driver handles the agreed journey. If you want transport during your stay as well, tell us your plans so we can check and quote separately. Island touring is not automatically included with an arrival transfer.
Can we book SPNJ for our return to Bangkok or the airport?
Yes. Send your hotel, return date and destination. For an airport transfer, include your flight number and departure time so we can plan around the island drive, ferry and mainland journey.
Are ferry tickets, meals and activities automatically included?
No. Your quotation will specify the transport provided and whether passenger ferry tickets, vehicle crossing fees and onward island transport are included. Meals, waterfall entry and boat excursions are separate unless expressly included.
Is Koh Chang suitable for a day trip from Bangkok with SPNJ?
No, not for a relaxed family visit. Even with a private driver, the road journey, ferry and island travel take a substantial part of the day. Plan a stay on the island so you have time to enjoy it.
Related reading
- Koh Samet family holiday guide for another island option to compare.
- Choosing a vehicle for your family and luggage before arranging the mainland journey.
About this guide
By Natalie for SPNJ Travel, based on our annual family holidays to Koh Chang, taking our car on the ferry, pool-villa stays with beach access, meals around White Sand Beach, a yacht charter and an elephant visit. Fishing is a particular interest for our family. Photographs are from our family collection, with children’s faces and the yacht passenger’s face covered for privacy. Destination information was checked against official tourism and transport information on 20 October 2026. Confirm current access, boat operations, fees and transport arrangements for your dates.
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