Amber Sands, originally called “Funky Hut Resort”, started life in about 2000 as beach huts and shared ablutions. These were moved to the back of the property when the current bungalows and swimming pool were added in about 2004.

The resort has been owned by South Africans, Cheryl and Julian since October 2008, who were looking for a holiday in South East Asia, found Koh Chang on the internet, and ended up buying the business and “retiring” from the corporate world of London. We have since been joined by our partners, our daughter and son-in-law, Kerry and Deon together with their baby, Amber.

After two months of extensive upgrading and repairs to provide our guests with good value for money in comfortable surroundings, we opened for business in December 2008. It soon became apparent that the previous name was no longer appropriate for what had been created, so in April 2009, we changed the name to “Amber Sands Beach Resort” to better reflect our offering here on a quiet golden sand beach.

Apart from the amazing Thai people, their friendliness and high service standards, where nothing is too much trouble, what attracted us to this location is the absolute peace and tranquillity. There is also a sense of karma one experiences as you “step over the threshold” and enter Amber Sands, which is enhanced by the gorgeous views over the bay towards the point and Cambodia.

What you can expect

• Family owned involvement in daily management.
• Attention to detail in your rooms, with mosquito spray, slippers etc provided for your comfort!
• No self-catering.
• A quiet and tranquil atmosphere without karaoke, disco or televisions.
• Free WIFI and use of a computer with broadband to keep in touch with the rest of the world.
• A selection of English language and a few foreign books and some outdoor and beach games to help you make the most of your stay with us.
• Warm and friendly hospitality.
• As one of our guests said “five star service at 2 star prices!”
• A menu offering good quality items like real cheddar cheese, fresh filter coffee, proper tea, real mustard or mayonnaise, etc.
• “Put your feet up and relax” environment.
• Although we are located on the quiet side of the island, you are never far away from a variety of things to do. You could use Amber Sands as a stepping stone to explore the rest of the national park and the host of other islands in the archipelago.

We are small enough to offer an individual service. If you have any specific requirements or preferences, please let us know beforehand and we’ll do our very best to meet your requirements wherever possible.

The climate
The day time temperature rarely gets below 20 C, averaging 27 C, with humidity averaging 88%. The seasons in Koh Chang can roughly be divided into the following:

When it does rain outside the rainy season, these tend to be heavy tropical downpours lasting maybe 30 minutes, and then clearing up. It certainly isn’t cold!

What to pack
Our best travel advice is to pack light. Loose fitting, light weight cotton clothes, shorts, sarongs, swimming costumes, crocs and sandals. Swimming shoes or “Rocky” sandals are useful. Sun cream and hats are definitely required. We offer a laundry service, but if you run short, all the usual clothing and brand name copies can be bought inexpensively on Koh Chang.

What’s in a name?
After purchasing “Funky Hut Resort”, we spent much time debating whether we should change the name or not. We chatted to all our friends and family about it, and although our sense was to make a change as soon as possible after we took ownership, no alternative jumped out at us, and we just couldn’t think of a name that would be right. It even became something of a laughing matter amongst the pin stripe insurance brigade with business friends and colleagues back in London when it was mentioned that I was leaving a solid corporate career and going to own and manage “the Funky Hut”!

The debate continued after we opened with many of our guests, usually over sundowners or late into the evening. Golden Sands, Golden Palm, Paradise Palms and even Changrila were some of the suggestions. Whatever the name, our guests were almost unanimous in saying that the name did not suit the resort. It wasn’t seen as “funky” in the normal sense of the word, implying hippy, groovy, loud music or parties. On the contrary. And although the resort started life as some beach huts, those were replaced by modern air conditioned bungalows many years back! We have done much to improve the resort and upgrade the offering to guests that a kind of “hippy” name does little to explain. All in all then, the name really didn’t describe what the resort had become.

According to one of our guests, who runs an image consultancy in Germany, a business name should describe the offering, or at least not alienate people who take one look at a name and feel put off. 

A Scottish couple who stayed with us came up the name, to reflect the colour of the sand in Dan Kao bay... and so Amber Sands was born.