Kantary Hotel Ban Chang

A hidden gem in the area, with a breakfast selection that includes both Asian and Western dishes. The staff are friendly and courteous. I hope they do well and open a hotel chain in Bangkok and Phuket.

This is our regular hotel in Ban Chang. The showers have excellent pressure and plenty of hot water, and breakfast is better than at most upcountry hotels in Thailand. The rooms are clean and comfortable, and the staff are very welcoming. The bed may feel a little firm to some, though I find it comfortable enough. My one gripe is the pillows, they're too hard. It'd be nice if softer ones were available on request.

Can't believe this room is only about 33,000 baht a month! 😍 It comes with everything: a gym, swimming pool, breakfast, excellent service, and indoor parking. I love it, and it feels totally worth the price. 💯✨

I used to look for novelty, new streets and faces, unfamiliar scents. These days I like the comfort of a place that feels familiar, somewhere I can pause, breathe, and rest without realizing I needed it. That's what Kantary Hotel Ban Chang has become for me, a quiet refuge. I started choosing Ban Chang in Rayong over busy tourist spots, much as I prefer Sriracha over Bangkok and Jomtien over Pattaya. It's a calm little town about two hours from the airport, with peaceful beaches within 10 minutes, golf courses, malls, and local markets nearby. It may look like ordinary countryside, but there's a rare, unspoken peace to it. The hotel feels right from the location and lobby through to the room layout, breakfast lounge, and especially the 6th-floor facilities. The room is compact but cozy, bright, quiet, and thoughtfully arranged. The bed and sofa are comfortable, and there's a kitchenette, good lighting, a small table, and a power outlet conveniently by the bed. Netflix and YouTube are available too, always a bonus. Breakfast is still a quiet delight, nicely selected and balanced. There's at least one Asian-inspired dish each day, like stir-fried squid, braised salmon, or pork belly stew. Salads, eggs, sausages, and fresh bread are consistently good. I especially like the French dressing and buttery croissants. The fruit changes daily, and the individually packaged yogurt is a thoughtful touch. Top, the restaurant manager, greets guests kindly and takes good care of them, adding something special to the morning. Sometimes the chef comes out to explain the day's menu as well. One small letdown: the milk at breakfast seems to be sterilized, and I prefer fresh milk. The lounge is a peaceful place to sit with coffee or tea, read, write, or do nothing at all. There's no ocean view, but the wide view of distant hills has a subtle way of opening the heart. The gym is compact but useful. Morning stretches on a yoga mat in gentle sunlight and deep breaths set the day nicely, and running on the treadmill with that sweeping view feels unexpectedly light. Up on the roof, the town, sea, and sky seem to go on and on. Afternoons on a sunbed with Bill Evans' Peace Piece playing softly from my airpods feel like bliss. At night there are stars above the pool. Floating quietly and looking at the constellations has become my new ritual for deep rest. The staff make the place feel welcoming. Donut greeted me warmly again; Thomas Clay was cheerful and fluent in English; Ja responded with natural kindness; and the smiling housekeeper on the 6th floor was lovely. Small things like watering plants, greeting guests, and keeping the spaces spotless add warmth throughout. The manager in the pink shirt makes detailed rounds each morning, which explains why Kantary Hotel Ban Chang is so well kept. (Of course, I imagine the staff might feel differently. 😉) A small thing by the pool made me wonder about cleaning. I noticed the same leaf on the bottom for a few days. I didn't check the water's pH, but it did make me question the cleaning schedule. 😅 I'm sure it's regularly cleaned and sanitized!