OYO 695 My Hostel Koh Chang — a budget hostel with a pool in Bailan Bay that still starts at a few hundred baht
Picture this: a small place down a lane in the Bailan Bay area, with a pool to cool off in, a few minutes' walk to the beach, and enough money left over for seafood by the water in the evening — OYO 695 My Hostel is a budget hostel sitting between Bailan Beach and Lonely Beach on the west coast of Koh Chang · One thing to be clear about before you book: this is not a beachfront stay. It sits in a lane about 600–700 metres from Bailan Beach, an easy walk of roughly 7 minutes · The selling point is a price that starts at a few hundred baht, plus a swimming pool that is hard to find at this price, air-con rooms with en-suite bathrooms, and the on-site Lemon Bar restaurant · Rooms run roughly THB 700–1,030/night depending on the season · With just 12 rooms it is a small property, and reviews on booking platforms are still few, so read the details carefully before you decide.
Who OYO 695 My Hostel is for, at a glance — The shortest way to put it: this is a hostel for people coming to Koh Chang on a tight budget who still want the basics covered — an air-con room, an en-suite bathroom, and, importantly, a swimming pool, which is not easy to find at a few-hundred-baht price on the island · It is not a beachfront resort where you open your door onto the sand, and it is not a luxury stay with every service laid on · It is a small place of just 12 rooms in the Bailan Bay area on the west coast of Koh Chang, built around value first · The best fit is budget travellers, backpackers, couples on a low budget, and people who plan to spend most of their time out of the room — swimming, snorkelling, strolling the beach, or sitting at a bar at night — and come back only to sleep · On the other hand, if you expect luxury, pretty boutique styling, or full hotel-grade service, this may not be what you are after, and you should look instead at the pricier resorts on Bailan Beach or Klong Prao · Put plainly, My Hostel plays the "cheap but with a pool" game well, in exchange for simple rooms and a location that means a short walk to the beach.
Location and getting around — OYO 695 My Hostel sits at 4/22 Moo 1 in the Bailan Bay area, a zone between Klong Prao to the north and Lonely Beach to the south · From the hostel it is about a 7-minute walk to Bailan Beach (roughly 600–700 metres), and around 800 metres to 1.2 kilometres from Lonely Beach · The upside of this spot is that it is not far from the liveliest zone on Koh Chang for the backpacker crowd — Lonely Beach, known for its bars, wallet-friendly restaurants and easygoing party scene at night — while still being quieter than staying right in the middle of Lonely Beach · For getting around the island, most travellers rent a motorbike, because the main road on Koh Chang is fairly steep in places and having your own wheels is the easiest way to reach other beaches, waterfalls or the pier · The hostel has free parking, so it suits people who rent a car or motorbike · If you do not drive yourself, there are red songthaews running along the main road, but late at night they can be hard to find and prices go up, so plan around that · One thing to note: the hostel is down a lane, not directly on the beach road, so if you are carrying heavy bags or travelling as a group, having your own vehicle helps a lot.
Getting to Koh Chang — For anyone who hasn't been, Koh Chang is in Trat province, a bit over 300 kilometres from Bangkok · The most common way is to travel by road (a coach, a minivan or your own car) to Laem Ngop pier, then take a ferry across to Koh Chang, which takes about 30–45 minutes · There are two main ferry operators, Centrepoint and Ao Thammachat, running frequently during the day · Once on the island you need to carry on south to reach the Bailan Bay area, which sits around the middle-to-south of the west coast · If you fly into Trat Airport it is closer, since the airport is not far from the ferry pier, but flights are limited and pricier than road travel · A tip: if you come in high season, check the time of the last ferry carefully, because if you reach the pier too late you may miss the boat and have to spend a night on the mainland · Once you've sorted out the trip to the island, staying in the Bailan Bay area puts you in a spot where nothing else is too far away.
"Really cheap for a place that has a pool to swim in. The room is small but the air-con is nice and cold and clean enough, and it's a few minutes' walk to Bailan Beach. Good for anyone on a low budget who plans to spend most of their time out and about."
Room types and decor — My Hostel has 12 rooms in total, a small property, split between private doubles (Deluxe Double) and twin rooms (Deluxe Twin), plus a dormitory option with a bed in a shared room for solo travellers who want to save as much as possible · Every room has air conditioning, a flat-screen TV, and an en-suite bathroom with free toiletries — a standard that many hostels at the same price don't offer (some have shared bathrooms) · Some rooms have a small sitting corner and a mini-fridge · The decor is simple in the budget-stay style, practical rather than pretty, and the rooms aren't very large (compact), as is typical for island hostels · Most real guest reviews agree that the rooms are clean enough for the price, the air-con is nicely cold, and the beds are reasonably comfortable to sleep on, without expecting luxury · That said, because it's a small, budget property, the materials and some of the finer details are basic — these aren't brand-new rooms or heavily designed spaces · If quiet matters to you, ask for a room away from the pool or restaurant, since in a small place sound can travel easily.
Facilities and the swimming pool — The highlight that makes My Hostel more appealing than hostels at the same price is the outdoor swimming pool · Among the few-hundred-baht places on Koh Chang, having a pool to cool off in after a full day out is a clear advantage, especially in the hot season when the island gets very warm · Be realistic, though: it is a small pool in the budget-stay style, not a big resort pool, more for cooling off than for serious laps — but for value at the price, it is a plus that many guests mention · Other facilities include free Wi-Fi in the rooms and common areas, free parking for those who rent a car or motorbike, laundry service (dry cleaning/laundry), which is very handy on a longer trip, a terrace to sit out on, and help arranging tours or buying tickets on the island · There is also a barbecue corner available at certain times · Overall the facilities are complete for a budget stay, with the pool as a key edge.
Food and the Lemon Bar — Inside the property there is a restaurant and bar called Lemon Bar, serving Thai and international food for breakfast, lunch and dinner · The upside is you don't have to travel far when you're hungry — you can order right at the hostel, especially for breakfast or a late meal after a day out · The bar has a relaxed, hostel-style vibe, good for a cold drink and a chat with other travellers in the evening · That said, because the location is in the Bailan Bay area close to Lonely Beach, most travellers also like to eat out, since this zone has plenty of wallet-friendly restaurants and bars, including seafood spots near the beach · Honestly, the food here is a convenient extra rather than a reason to come specifically — but having an on-site restaurant helps a lot on days when you can't be bothered to go anywhere, or on a rainy night, which is normal during Koh Chang's wet season.
Service and care — As a small property run hostel-style, the strength of the service tends to be friendliness rather than formality · Some real guest reviews praise the staff as friendly, helpful with recommending places to visit, arranging snorkelling or island tours, and sorting out motorbike rentals · Because it's a hostel under the OYO brand, a budget-stay chain, the service standard depends mainly on the on-site manager · To be straight about it, OYO properties in Thailand get mixed reviews — some are praised for value, while at times there are complaints about booking coordination or rooms that don't match the photos exactly · The advice is to confirm your booking directly with the property again before you travel, especially in high season, and keep your booking confirmation handy.
What real guests say (the good and the bad) — Because My Hostel is a small property of just 12 rooms, the number of reviews on the main booking platforms is still very low — on Booking.com there may not even be an overall score shown at times (you need a minimum number of reviews first), while some platforms have gathered around 40 reviews at a middling score · So the overall picture has to be read carefully; this is not a property with a thick review base like a big resort · On the praise side: great value once you count the pool, air-con rooms that are cold and clean enough for the price, a location within walking distance of Bailan Beach and close to Lonely Beach, an on-site restaurant, and friendly staff · On the watch-out side: small rooms with simple decor, not a luxury stay; it's down a lane so there's a short walk to the beach rather than being on the water; the small number of reviews makes consistency hard to judge; and it's an OYO property where quality depends on the on-site manager · In short, it's a "value for money" choice for people who set their expectations to match what it actually is, rather than a property that guarantees perfection.
"Came solo on a low budget and booked a double for almost half the price of a beachfront place. Having a pool to swim in was beyond what I expected at this price · The only downside is you have to rent a motorbike to ride to other beaches, because the hostel is down a lane and not on the water."
Price comparison and value — My Hostel's room rates start in the very budget range, with doubles and twins usually around THB 700–1,030/night depending on the season and the platform, while a dormitory bed is cheaper still for solo travellers · In high season (November–April) or over long weekends prices can rise, and at times the rack rate may be much higher before discounts, so it's worth comparing several platforms · Compared with beachfront resorts in the Bailan or Klong Prao area, which usually start in the high thousands or several thousand baht, My Hostel is great value among budget stays with a pool · What makes it worth it is getting a private air-con room with an en-suite bathroom, plus a swimming pool, at a price close to a plain guesthouse without a pool · But you trade that for a location that isn't on the beach and basic facilities · If the goal of your trip is to "see Koh Chang as cheaply as possible while still having a comfortable bed and a pool to soak in," you get a fair bit back for every baht you spend.
Good to know before you book — A few things help make the stay smoother · One: since it's a small property with still-few reviews, confirm your booking with the property or the platform again before you travel and keep your booking confirmation · Two: the hostel is down a lane, not on the beach, so renting a motorbike is recommended for the flexibility to reach other beaches, waterfalls or the pier, and you can use the free parking · Three: if you're sensitive to noise, ask for a room away from the pool or the Lemon Bar, because in a small place sound travels easily · Four: check the time of the last ferry when you arrive on the island, especially if you reach Trat in the evening · Five: Koh Chang has a clear wet season (around May–October); at times the rain is heavy and some services on the island close, so check the weather and pick a free-cancellation option if your plans aren't firm · Six: set your expectations right — this is a budget hostel with a pool, not a luxury resort, and once you understand that, it's easy to be happy with the value.
Verdict — From the real guest reviews and the information available, OYO 695 My Hostel is the best fit for budget travellers who want to see Koh Chang on a tight budget but still want a private air-con room and a swimming pool · The strengths are a price that starts at a few hundred baht, a pool that's rare at this price, an en-suite bathroom, the Lemon Bar restaurant, and a Bailan Bay location within walking distance of the beach and close to Lonely Beach · If you're after a beachfront resort, a pretty luxury room, or full hotel-grade service, this isn't the answer, and you should look instead at resorts on Bailan Beach or Klong Prao · And because it's a small property with still-few reviews, confirm your booking and set your expectations to match the price · But for a budget Koh Chang trip where you want a comfortable bed, a pool to cool off in, and money left over for activities and food — My Hostel is a good-value choice in this area.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Budget price with a swimming pool, which is rare at a few-hundred-baht stay
- ✓ Air-con rooms with en-suite bathrooms, both doubles and dorm beds
- ✓ Bailan Bay location, walk to the beach, close to Lonely Beach
- ✓ Has the Lemon Bar restaurant, free Wi-Fi and free parking
- ! Still few reviews on Booking.com; sometimes no overall score yet
- ! Down a lane, not on the beach; you have to walk or ride to the beach
- ! Small rooms with simple budget-stay decor
- ✓ Great value among budget stays with a pool
- ✓ Rooms clean enough, air-con nicely cold
- ✓ Friendly staff who help arrange tours and motorbike rentals
- ✓ Close to Lonely Beach's wallet-friendly bar and restaurant zone
- ! It's an OYO property; quality depends on the on-site manager
- ! Small property of 12 rooms; sound can travel easily
- ! Best to confirm your booking again before you travel, especially in high season
- 💡If you expect a beachfront resort or a luxury room — this is a budget hostel down a lane, with simple rooms and a walk to the beach → consider the pricier resorts on Bailan Beach or Klong Prao instead.
- 💡If you don't drive a car or ride a motorbike yourself — the hostel is down a lane and Koh Chang's roads are steep in places, with songthaews hard to find late at night → renting a motorbike is best for flexibility, and parking is free.
- 💡If you want certainty about quality — it's a small OYO property with still-few reviews → confirm your booking again before you travel, keep the confirmation, and pick a free-cancellation option to be safe.