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The small resort is one of a handful of properties that have been successful on Ko Chang’s sparsely developed east coast. There’s little else in the immediate area and travellers not renting some wheels will likely get frustrated with the isolation, but Amber Sands does has a very good on-site restaurant serving fresh coffee and Thai/Western food with a sea view.

Rooms enjoy a great outlook. Photo: David Luekens

With high ceilings, polished wood floors, white or woven-bamboo walls and wide glass doors opening to sea-view verandas, we love these rooms. Those we’ve checked out come with comfy queen beds, small desks, wall-mounted safes and hot-water showers in wet bathrooms with black-and-white checker tiling. Tasteful decor includes hill-tribe crafts and paintings of the Buddha’s face.

One room close to the beach also has a fridge and sofa in a private nook, and all rooms bag you at least a partial sea view. Six rooms come in freestanding concrete villas, including a two-room family bungalow. There’s also one “beach house” with a room on either floor and a great elevated porch. WiFi is free and the rooms we saw were spotless.

Spacious and well fitted out rooms. Photo: David Luekens

The eight rooms stand in a half-oval around a small swimming pool and lawn just off the beach. Along the shore you’ll find kayaks, hammocks strung to an umbrella tree and Thai-style axe cushions on bamboo platforms for lounging. The setting is sedate, even if the reddish sand disappears at high tide and the water tends to be murkier than off the west coast.

Though we didn’t meet the new owner who took over since our last visit, the Thai man who showed us around had a positive, service-minded attitude. Rates might seem inflated considering the lack of TVs in all rooms and fridges in most, but we reckon the service is worth an extra bit of cash at this beach resort that feels more like a bed and breakfast.

Just down the road from Amber Sands on the way to Dan Mai, a few other small resorts include The Sook, Blessed Residence and Garden of Joy, all offer comfortable rooms and small patches of seafront in the 2,000 to 3,000 baht range. In the same price range as Amber Sands, Serenity Resort and Residence is worth a look for a larger villa with kitchen and dining space. You also might like Little Sunshine over in Khlong Son.