Places We Loved
KOH CHANG
By Rocky, mom of an eight-year-old boy
When we were planning our Songkran getaway, we wanted to visit an island we had never been to before. A few friends recommended Koh Chang. They touted it as one of Thailand's most beautiful islands, albeit with not much tourist action.
Having chosen Koh Chang, we decided to drive there from Bangkok. The entire drive was a little under 4.5 hours. My husband was a bit skeptical that we would manage it, but it turned out to be quite enjoyable. The beautiful scenery along the way with picturesque winding roads flanked by greenery and fields was definitely worth it.
We had heard that we could take our car on the ferry, which was exciting as we had never done this before. However, we were aware that the ferry could take a while, so we decided to leave early and set off around 5:30am. With a couple of coffee stops along the way we joined the queue for the ferry around 10am. It took us 1.5 hours to board, which was quite reasonable compared to the longer waiting times in the afternoon.
The ferry experience was truly unique, as we had never been on one before. After the passengers park their cars on the lower decks, they can either sit on the upper deck or stroll around.The entire ferry journey lasted around 25 minutes.
We stayed in a beachside resort called the Kacha Resort, with immediate access to a white sand beach that was one of the clearest we have ever seen. The weather was pleasant, unlike the sweltering heat of Bangkok. The resort offered oceanside massages and spectacular fire shows during dinner.
Koh Chang offers a variety of multicuisine restaurants, bars, and cafes, and we were determined to hit up as many places as we could during our stay. After we disembarked, we started with lunch at an Indian place called the Indian Chef Restaurant.
The next day, we opted for dinner at El Greco, one of the many Greek spots on the island. The food was absolutely divine. We also swung by The Spa Cafe, lured in by their solid plant-based selection. The desserts there hit the spot, especially the carrot cake and apple pie. On the last day, we were craving some local food, so we tried Yen Sabay over at Coconut Beach Resort. Their drinks and smoothies were out of this world.
Since we were there for the Songkran break, both locals and tourists engaged in water fights and other festivities. This was the most exciting part of the trip. We got to splash everyone with water, and get splashed with warm or cold water! Every corner had a huge group of people waiting to shower passersby with water guns, water hoses, and bucket loads of water. No one was spared!
One of the highlights of our trip was canoeing in the mangrove forest. Located in a fishing village called Salak Khok, the boatmen took us on a 40-minute wooden canoe ride through the mangrove forest.
After a relaxing couple of days, we were sad to leave this beautiful island behind. We will definitely be visiting again. Highly recommended for anyone looking to escape the hustle and bustle of Bangkok, even if just for a few days. It rejuvenates your body and soul!
Photos courtesy of the author.
THE LONDONER
By Natasha, mom of a two-year-old girl and a ten-month-old boy
For our little family, the Londoner is the best “English-style” family-friendly pub in Bangkok! We love to go with our kids for Sunday dinner as they do a great roast dinner with all the traditional British trimmings.
They have a wide menu of western and Thai food as well as the usual pub-style offerings, and most importantly their kids’ menu offers a huge range of options—it even includes baby food! Our kids love to share the kids’ fish and chips followed by a fresh fruit Popsicle!
The staff could not be more welcoming—they are always happy to play with the children and entertain them. They also provide coloring pages, color pencils, and various games for the little ones which keep them engaged during a meal. They have everything you need for a child-friendly meal: plastic dishes and cutlery, high chairs, and there is a baby changing table in the bathroom.
We find the food and drinks to be very affordable, especially for a family, with the children’s menu well-priced with good-sized portions. The Londoner also regularly hosts themed days with children’s activities at no extra cost such as Santa Day and Mother’s Day. They often have great live music.
My husband’s favorite child-friendly day out in Bangkok is a morning at WonderWoods Cafe followed by lunch and drinks at the Londoner! There is plenty of parking at the pub, otherwise it is about a ten-minute taxi ride from the nearest BTS station.
Hopefully we will see some more BAMBI families there!
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