Watercolours

We checked in on March 18 planning to stay three nights, but left after only a few hours. The room had an overpowering artificial floral scent that we couldn’t tolerate, even after trying for hours. It nearly covered the grey water smell coming from the toilet, but that was still obvious. Under the bed we found an unknown brown and yellow substance, several centimeters long, irregular in shape, with soft, wet areas. It looked organic and decomposing. They first said it was modeling clay left by a child, then said it was glue from a recent AC replacement. Neither explanation seemed to fit what we saw. We told the owner, Jason, and a woman whose name we didn’t get that we couldn’t handle the smells and needed to leave. Jason was kind, understanding and apologetic. He said he was embarrassed by what had happened. The woman seemed personally offended that we disliked her choice of air freshener, repeatedly said it was our fault, then abruptly walked away mid-conversation. Jason offered a refund for the remaining two nights if we left, and we offered to pay for the first night since we’d used the room. He told me not to worry, said he’d arrange the refund, and we shook hands before leaving. The property later refused to return the money. Their written response contradicted what we’d agreed in person, was quite rude, and falsely accused me of asking to use drugs in the room and getting upset when they refused. When I contacted them to ask what was going on, they wouldn’t respond. Based on our experience, be very cautious, especially if your stay depends on an agreement made at the property. If you’re sensitive to smells, I’d avoid this place. If you do stay, know that they seemed agreeable to us but didn’t keep their word about the refund. Get any agreement in writing. I’ve stayed in hundreds of hotels in many countries, and I’ve never encountered a room that smelled like this, found anything so gross under a bed, or had such negative interactions with hotel staff. Koh Chang has endless wonderful places to stay. This wasn’t one of them. I’d strongly recommend taking your business elsewhere.

The hotel sits right by the river, and Klong Prao Beach, which I think is the island’s prettiest, is about three minutes away. You can paddle there in one of the free kayaks or canoes, which makes for a lovely little outing. The property is beautifully maintained, with spacious rooms, everything you need, and a very comfortable bed. The staff are lovely and happy to help. It’s a charming small boutique hotel that had only been open for three months. It is a bit out of the way and not very central, but that also makes it peaceful and idyllic.

What a view, mountains and sea together! This feels like the best spot on Koh Chang. The five rooms are colourful, modern, very roomy and quiet. There’s so much to do on site: take a boat, or use the free canoe, kayak or SUP to reach the beach or a restaurant. You can also walk, or stay put and enjoy a delicious meal. I had the best massage just around the corner. Jason and Tanja, along with their staff, take care of everything you could want. Tanja is the definition of friendly, and I’d happily have a pint with Jason every evening. We’ll definitely be back. THANK YOU 🙏🙏🙏

It’s a small place with just a couple of rooms, so the stay feels cozy and personal. The staff were the loveliest people and helped with everything. We really enjoyed Watercolours, a hidden gem with a relaxed feel, clean spacious rooms and a terrace roomy enough for morning yoga or a workout. Even by the river, mosquitoes weren’t a problem for us. We thought Klong Prao Beach was the nicest on the island. You can get there by canoe, and the staff can help you in and out if needed. SUP rental is free too, and we had a peaceful early paddle on the quiet sea. It’s not a place for partying and drinking, and you’ll need a scooter to get around, so if you want that kind of scene, somewhere nearer White Sand Beach or Lonely Beach may suit you better. We rented a scooter through the agency the owner recommended, and that was easy.