The Amari Factor

After a five-hour drive from Bangkok and a twenty-minute ferry crossing, it was a relief to have finally reached our destination. We turned off the car’s air-conditioning, turned up the music, and opened every window as we drove along the hilly coastline heading to Klong Prao Beach, a quiet stretch of coast that would be our home for the next three days.

TheAmari Emerald Cove Koh Chang resort has a finely-tuned aptitude for giving holiday-makers happy memories of their stay in Thailand, and we were sure our short time here would be one to remember.

 

The resort is located on a Klong Prao Beach and presents guests with white sands and an emerald sea on one side and a lush mountainous tropical rainforest on the other – a stunningly beautiful backdrop. There are plenty of things to do around the resort and it all depends on whether you want to stay on land or take a dip in the water. For the sun-shy, a small games room offers pool and other table games, while sun-worshippers are sure to be impressed with the large number of sun-loungers that surround the stunning fifty-metre swimming pool.

 

The resort offers 165 Superior and Deluxe rooms and suites, each with terraces from where guests can soak up the tropical atmosphere. Superior rooms have mountain views, whilst deluxe rooms look out towards the sea, and all offer a host of amenities, including DVD players in Deluxe rooms and suites.

 

The Amari Emerald Cove is also ideal for taking advantage of the spectacular waters surrounding the island, with a fantastic scuba-diving centre equipped for novices and experts alike. Take a short walk from the resort to the main road and hitch a ride in one of the island’s many ‘songtaews’to see Fisherman’s Village, waterfalls, and other beaches such as the main White Sand Beach.

 

Koh Chang is Thailand’s second largest island after Phuket, and it also holds the status of being a national park, so the more adventurous tourists can be found exploring the spectacular forest habitats from canopy level at the Tree Top Adventure Park or kayaking to hidden bays around the island or around the mangrove swamps at Baan Salakkok.

 

You can hire a boat for a spot of sea fishing, and when you’re done you can have the boatman take you to one of the many beautiful islands nearby, such as Koh Klum.

 

At the end of the day, if you’re in need of some of the calories you may have burned off in the gym, pool, or sea, you’ll be happy to know that there are a number of dining options available, including Thai and international cuisine. Start at Breezes Bar as the sun begins to set, to relax and unwind at the end of the day. Then head off to Cove Terrace, which boasts an all-day A La Carte menu and special theme nights, or Sassi, where you can sample traditional Italian cuisine complemented by modern interior design. If you want to go local, then visit Just Thai for a wide selection of Thai and fresh seafood specialities.

 

Amari Emerald Cove Koh Chang
Klong Prao Beach, Koh Chang
Tel: + 66 (0) 3955-2000