Our friends at Koh Chang Holiday invited us to spend some time on the beach – sun and sand is all the convincing we need! We stayed in a welcoming 3-bedroom, private pool villa with a lush garden reaching to the sands and ocean. 7G Beachfront Villa is part of the Siam Royal View development and so by staying here, you have access to all of the amenities. We’ll bottom line that for you and say that there are multiple pools you can splash around in!
Our villa was nestled at the far end of the development bordered by open green space to one side and the beach in front. With palms, plants, and vines, this villa is one of the most private homes in the development. Arching for 2 kms along the shores of Klong Son Bay, Chang Noi Beach was there to greet us every morning, saw us through our days, and wished good night. The sands are the colour and feel of brown sugar and are filled with the most beautiful shells. Each morning the tide moves the sea about 200 meters back from shoreline and so we began each day with beach walks. With the waters receded, you could see clearly that the bottom of the bay is nothing but lovely sand (a little peace of mind for those who do not like to share their swimming time with underwater creatures). With the bay being so shallow, the waters were warm and we were able to let our kids explore near and far. The bay is hemmed in by a peninsula to the north and hills to the south. Both are part of a national park and sure to remain jungle covered and mysterious. You’ll never have some condo development looking down on you while you stroll or swim.
At the north end of Chang Noi Beach you are able to cross the narrow peninsula. Be sure to say hello to the Lonely Tree in the Sea (it’s worth coming back to see it with the tide in and out). With just a few steps across the peninsula, you’ll step onto Pebble Beach. Stroll down the pier to watch the ferries make their sailing and chat with locals as they fish.
With a dedicated parking space at the villa, we were able to arrive and unload with ease (which is a big deal for a family of 6). Check-in was a breeze and the staff came to meet us and show us around the property. Be sure to have cash on hand for the security deposit. Because Koh Chang Holiday is a local company, anytime we had a question, they were just a quick message away. We were able to ask about restaurants, have our laundry picked-up, cleaned, ironed, and delivered, and bounce activity ideas off of them. Traveling with little kids won’t allow you to kick into auto-pilot, but having someone to help you plan was a close second.
With the parking behind the home on the street, you enter the villa by walking down a path. As you corner the home you are met by views of the pool, the garden, and the ocean beyond. Pop up a few steps and you are on the patio overlooking the pool. With an outdoor dinning set, overhead fan, and massive lounger our children called “the nest”, you’ll do a lot of living outside. Sliding glass doors will take you into the main floor (and offer you views out). You enter into a sitting area with couch, coffee table, and television. The TV has surround sound and Netflix is preloaded. Our kids loved watching their favourite movie but now hearing the dragons sneak up behind them! There is a desk and printer if you do need to buckle down and work while here. Moving past this there is a well stocked kitchen and you’ll be able to prepare meals, snacks, and drinks as if you were at home. There is an indoor dining table as well. There is AC but this villa has screens on all the windows and we thoroughly enjoyed those beach breezes.
Passing through double pocket doors, you enter the main bedroom. With a large bed, wardrobe, and mirror, you’ll quickly be at home here. There is also a baby cot available (surcharge) and our youngest joined us there. Passing through another set of pocket doors, the main bathroom is outfitted with a bidet, toilet, double sink, and walk in shower. This bathroom is bigger than ours at home and it was a treat to not jostle for space while brushing teeth.
From the patio, you ascend an exterior staircase. You arrive on the second floor in an open courtyard space between the bedrooms. 7G Beachfront Villa is a modern take on Thai design and so you’ll find yourself flanked by the rising peaks of the roofs on either side. An unexpected family favourite was sitting at the bistro table and chairs in this landing space. It offered one of the best views of the nearby mountains. In the mornings, the low clouds would hug these jungle covered hills and it reminded us of Canada’s west coast (if we overlooked the palm trees and heat).
Both bedrooms have sweeping ceilings as you are now in the peaks of these Thai-style roof lines. The ocean-facing bedroom has a large bed, clothes rack, and TV (also set with Netflix). We didn’t even turn it on as this bedroom also has a balcony with table and chairs. It’s a far better view than anything on television. At night, you’ll be put to sleep with the sound of the waves meeting the beach.
Across the courtyard, you enter a hallway. To your left is a room with a sink, mirror, and generous amounts of counter and cupboard space. To your right, another room with a divider wall between shower and toilet. Beyond these you enter the third bedroom. With a bed big enough for two and a wardrobe, this room is smaller but still big enough to fit two of our kids. There is ample space to spread out a suitcase (or backpacks filled with toys). All three of the bedrooms are equipped with AC.
Sitting on Koh Chang’s northwest shore, this villa is a short drive to the main ferry. Within 10 minutes of driving onto the island, you can be walking in the front door of 7G Beachfront Villa. As part of the Siam Royal View Development, there are two restaurants and a coffee shop on site. The Beach Club serves both Thai and Western dishes. You can dine beach side or have the food delivered to your villa. With mini golf, a pool, parking, and the beach just steps away, this is a great place to invite friends and enjoy time together. Also on Chang Noi Beach is the Little Sunshine Boutique Resort Restaurant. Enjoy an evening drink or morning coffee while the ocean provides the soundtrack.
If you’re wanting to cook for yourselves (because you may be one of those people who relax this way) or ensure you’re well armed with snacks for the kiddos, then Koh Chang has a number of markets, small shops, and grocery store chains. You’ll be able to stock up easily once you arrive on the island.
The villa became our own oceanside hideout. We loved that our biggest decision was whether we play on the beach, in the garden, or in the pool. More than a thoughtful space, a great vacation is made by the people. We truly enjoyed getting to know the team at Koh Chang Holiday. They celebrate local and they’re excited to see small business on Koh Chang thrive. Be sure to connect with them the next time you set sail to Koh Chang.