Locals told us the best time to visit Koh Kood is during the Thai winter, from November to February.

We had planned to visit back in 2016, but someone double-parked behind our car without using common sense — in Thailand, if you park like that, you’re supposed to leave your car in neutral!

Because of that, we missed our flight, lost our ferry ticket, and although we were able to reschedule the hotel, we never found time to go back.
In the end, we lost nearly $1,000 — all because of that one guy!
Well, if we had gone back then, we probably wouldn’t be going now. So maybe it worked out after all!

Koh Kood Ferry / Pier
There are many ferry companies in Trat offering trips to Koh Chang, Koh Kood, and Koh Mak. The most popular and convenient option is Boonsiri, which provides bus, van, or private group transportation from Bangkok to the pier.

For our trip, since we already stayed in Trat, we went to Laem Sok Pier. Our hotel arranged transport for us, and we paid about 500 baht for the ride to the pier.

We traveled on a Monday, thinking it would be less crowded — but I was wrong! It was packed with Thai tourists, expats, and even Cambodian visitors.

Yes, Koh Kood is that close to Cambodia — so close that sometimes it feels like Cambodia wants to claim it!

The ferry ticket costs 1,200 baht per person for a round trip.
We bought our tickets online, but once we arrived, we still had to check in at their counter to get boarding numbers.

A staff member told us there was a VIP room onboard upgrade for 100 baht per person. I didn’t pay for the upgrade, but if you arrive late and your boarding number is over 150, I recommend it.

Why? Because once it’s time to board, most of the good seats are already taken — especially if you’re traveling as a couple or in a group. It gets hard to find seats together.
Our boarding numbers were 116 and 117, so it was still easy for us to find good spots to sit together!

Getting to the Pier and Boarding the Boat
After checking in at the ticket area, we waited for them to call us for the tram ride, which takes just about 5 minutes to reach the pier.

When it’s time to board the boat, you simply walk on — no need to carry heavy luggage yourself. The staff will take care of all large suitcases.

Arrival at Koh Kood (Ao Salad Pier)
The ferry ride from Laem Sok Pier to Ao Salad Pier (the only pier for big boats on Koh Kood) took about one hour.

Once we arrived, all the passengers started lining up to get off. We were confused — we thought they would call us by boarding number again, but it was total chaos!

The real problem was with the suitcases. The staff unloaded them quickly, but they didn’t match them with the owners. So, bags ended up scattered along the narrow bridge, and people who had already gotten off were crowding around trying to find their luggage.

At the same time, passengers still on the boat were trying to get out — but there was no space to walk through. It was a bit of a mess!

What We’d Do Differently Next Time
If we ever go back to Koh Kood, we’d probably choose the high-speed boat instead. It takes about the same ride(one hour) and costs the same, but it’s not as comfortable if you get seasick easily.

Or, if we decide to take the ferry again, we’d definitely pack light and use backpacks that we can carry with us the whole time.

The chaos with the suitcases,  it happens on both the arrival and return trips!

Hotel Pickup at Koh Kood Pier
The ferry ticket already includes hotel pickup and drop-off in Koh Kood.

I emailed High Season Resort ahead of time with our ferry arrival details, and they arranged for their own hotel truck to pick us up at the pier.

Surprisingly, the truck only took the two of us, even though I recognized some other guests from the boat who ended up at the same hotel.

So, my guess is — if you don’t email the resort in advance, you’ll probably just ride with the shared ferry company truck instead.

When we checked in at the resort, I asked about their speedboat service. They do offer a private charter ride for 22,000 baht per trip, which is great if you’re traveling with a large group or family — but definitely too expensive for just the two of us.

The receptionist also mentioned that most tourists arrive on Saturday and leave on Monday, so those days tend to be a bit busy. And yes — it was!

This trip was a birthday celebration for Tim, so I emailed the resort ahead of time to ask if I could order a cake.  High Season Resort kindly provided a complimentary birthday cake for him, they even decorated the room for his birthday — how thoughtful and sweet was that?

High Season Resort is located on Klong Chao Beach, which we think is the best and most beautiful beach on Koh Kood.

Along the same beach, there are several other resorts like Tinkerbell, High Season, Wendy the Pool, and Peterpan. The average price for these resorts is around $300 per night.

Our Pool Villa at High Season
When I booked our stay, I requested a quiet zone away from the main pool and public areas. The hotel kindly assigned us room 307, which was exactly what I wanted.

If we had stayed in rooms like 301 or 302, which are closer to the main pool and restaurant, I don’t think I would have enjoyed our stay as much!

Our pool villa was just the right size for the two of us to relax and unwind after swimming in the ocean or visiting waterfalls. We really loved our room — a big, spacious hut with plenty of room to move around. The king-size bed was amazing — I swear we could’ve run around on it!

We honestly think the food in Trat is better than in Bangkok — seriously! Everywhere we stopped to eat was so good.

Even at the hotel, I loved their food. The prices weren’t that different from outside restaurants, but the final bill is higher because they add a 10% service charge plus VAT.

Breakfast at the hotel was excellent — with a wide variety of fresh, tasty options.

But I would definitely recommend trying the Pad Thai with river prawns — it’s 690 baht per plate, but totally worth it! The flavor was amazing, and the prawns were fresh and perfectly cooked. One of the best dishes we had on the trip!

During our visit, there was a happy hour from 5–7 PM, with a buy one, get one free deal on drinks. Since a cocktail normally costs about 400 baht per glass, we always waited for happy hour — which brought it down to just 200 baht per glass. Definitely worth the wait!

The resort also offers beautiful beach setups if you want to celebrate something special right by the ocean. But honestly, we’re a bit too old for all that fancy and romantic stuff — LOL!

If you’re planning to stay at the resort for several days, you won’t have to worry about getting bored — they offer a schedule of free activities you can join. Just make sure to let them know at least one day in advance to reserve your spot.

As for us, we stayed for three days but spent most of our time exploring outside the resort during the day, so we didn’t get a chance to join any of the activities.

By the way, did I mention the main pool? It’s spacious and perfect for swimming, with an amazing beachfront view!

Tim and I have what we call “lazy bodies” — so we’re always on the lookout for a good massage wherever we go in Thailand.

At the resort, we booked the early bird beach massage, which was listed as 800 baht per hour per person. But by the time the final bill came (with service charge and tax), it turned into 1,000 baht per hour per person.

We still gave extra tips to the masseuses — it was honestly one of the best massages we’ve had since arriving in Thailand two weeks ago.

Massage shops are everywhere on the island, and they charge around 450 baht per hour. Just FYI!

Getting Around the Island
There are plenty of ways to get around the island, and you can always ask the hotel receptionist for help with bookings.

But for us, we went with a motorcycle rental — Tim’s favorite way to explore! The hotel arranged it for guests, at 300 baht per day (24 hours). Since it’s not owned by the hotel, you’ll need to pay in cash or via bank transfer — no credit cards accepted.

The motorcycles aren’t brand new, but they’re in decent condition. I asked for helmets, and yes, they had them — but they were a bit smelly, so I’d recommend bringing a small towel or scarf to put on your head before wearing one!

Oh, and don’t forget to ask how or where to fill up gas for your rental motorcycle!

We totally forgot — and ended up standing there like confused, silly tourists, staring at the empty tank. Thankfully, a kind guard from Peter Pan Resort came over and helped us out.

Big thanks to him — our hero of the day! 😂

Gas stations, ATMs, and convenience shops (most are pharmacies) were easy to find around our resort!

If we ever go back to Koh Kood, I honestly can’t imagine staying anywhere else — we loved High Season Resort that much!

Even on our last day when we checked out, the resort took great care of us. The driver helped with our suitcases all the way onto the boat, and the hotel staff assisted everyone with boarding tickets. Their service was excellent right up until the very last moment on the island.

If I had one wish, it would be for the resort to offer a pickup and drop-off boat service between Koh Kood and Trat, like the resorts in the Captain Hook group. That would be absolutely perfect — and we’d definitely visit Koh Kood more often!

Traveled date 7-8-9-10 April 2025

Trip expenses for 2 people
– Car from Bangkok to Trat and Trat back to Bankok = 8000 Baht ($245)
– Ferry tickets (round trip) = 2400 Baht ($73)
– 3nights at High Season Resort with Breakfast $903.09
– Boat tour 3500 Baht ($110)
– Food/etc about 2000 baht per day, total 6000baht or $180

Grand Total $1,510 or about $500 per day

Read more about our trip around Koh Kood ….(stay tuned)