The Dewa Koh Chang — Design Beachfront Resort on Klong Prao with a Big Black Pool and Roomy Loft Rooms
Picture this: dark raw-concrete buildings set against coconut palms and a large black-tiled pool that stretches out toward the sand. A few steps past the pool and you're on Klong Prao Beach, sitting down to watch the sun drop straight into the sea in front of you — The Dewa Koh Chang is a 4-star design resort that plays with fusion architecture about as distinctively as anything on Koh Chang · Its selling points are clear: a look all its own, a big black pool, roomy loft rooms with high ceilings, and a fully beachfront location at a mid-to-upper price that plenty of people say feels close to luxury · Rooms start at around THB 4,000/night, with an overall score of about 8.9 from real guest reviews
Overview and who it suits — The shortest way to put it: The Dewa Koh Chang is a beachfront resort for people who want a place with real design and character, not your average island resort, and don't mind paying a little extra for the looks and the atmosphere · This isn't a wooden seaside bungalow from Koh Chang's early days, and it isn't a faceless high-rise chain hotel · It's fusion architecture that plays with dark raw concrete, high ceilings, light wells, and tropical greenery until the whole thing feels half resort, half gallery · Real reviews agree the people it suits best are couples who want a good-looking, photogenic place, small families who want a big pool and roomy rooms, and travelers who value design over chasing the cheapest rate · On the flip side, if you're after a simple budget stay, or a resort with bright, airy, clean white rooms, The Dewa's dark concrete look may not be your thing · Overall this is a place that sells "experience and atmosphere" first, with a strong beachfront location as a solid bonus
Location and getting there — The Dewa sits on Klong Prao Beach, toward the southern half of the beach, which is the longest beach on Koh Chang, running more than 3 kilometers · The big plus here is that the resort is fully beachfront — a few steps from the pool through the greenery and you're on the sand, with water that slopes in gently, good for swimming and for sunsets since the beach faces west · A short drive around the resort, the Klong Prao area has plenty of restaurants and local shops to choose from, easy to reach on foot along the road or by motorbike taxi · For longer trips: it's about a 20-minute drive from the ferry pier (Ao Sapparot side), with Kai Bae Beach and Klong Plu Waterfall nearby, and the livelier White Sand Beach about 15–20 minutes away · One small note: Koh Chang has no city-style public transport, so getting around the island mostly means songthaews or renting a motorbike/car. If you plan to visit several spots, sort out transport in advance or use the resort's transfer service
"You wake up, walk from your room past the big black pool to breakfast by the beach, then go straight into the sea. In the evening the sunset is right in front of you and the beach is gorgeous · The resort design is cool and unlike anywhere else — every angle photographs beautifully."
Room types and decor — The Dewa splits its rooms into two main groups · The first is the Deluxe Room of around 48 sqm, noticeably bigger than the standard rooms at many island resorts, set in a three-story main building that wraps around the pool, with both king and twin beds, lofty high ceilings, a private balcony or terrace, and pool or garden views from many rooms · The second group is the standalone Villas and villas with outdoor tubs/jacuzzis (Suite Villa / Pool Access), which offer more privacy — some have semi-outdoor bathrooms and outdoor soaking tubs that couples love · The decor overall is dark raw concrete set against wood and warm-toned fabrics, giving that raw, cool design-resort feel · Real reviews consistently praise the roomy, high-ceilinged, airy, stylish rooms, but there's also a common observation that the dark concrete makes some rooms feel fairly dark or closed-in during the day, and that the open semi-outdoor bathrooms in some rooms can feel a bit short on privacy for some people · Every room has air conditioning, a TV, a minibar, a coffee/tea maker, and free Wi-Fi
Facilities, pool, and spa — The most talked-about highlight at The Dewa is the large black-tiled pool of around 700 square meters, designed in a curve that stretches toward the beach, lined with sun loungers, shaded by coconut palms, and with a shallow zone for kids · The black tiles make the water look deep and reflect the sky in a way that's all its own — it's where guests spend the whole day and a favorite photo spot · Beyond the pool there's a spa offering Thai massage, aromatherapy, body wraps, and facial treatments, plus a sauna, a jacuzzi, and pool and beach bars · On the water-activities side there are kayaks and bodyboards, and the resort helps arrange snorkeling trips or island-hopping tours nearby · There's a tour desk, airport/pier transfers, and free parking · To be straight about it, the big black pool here leans toward atmosphere and photos more than being a lap pool for serious swimming, but in terms of design and that seaside feel it does very well for an island resort
Food and bars — The Dewa has several places to eat: a beachfront restaurant serving breakfast and dinner, another restaurant, a cafe, and pool and beach bars · The menu mixes Thai and European, working for both people who want seafood and people who want familiar Western dishes · The breakfast buffet earns praise for its variety and fresh ingredients, and sitting by the beach looking at the sea in the morning is an atmosphere many reviews mention · The pool and beach bars are a popular spot for an evening drink while watching the sunset · One point that draws some grumbles is the coffee and tea, which some feel still aren't as strong or as good as they'd like, and since the resort sits on the beach in an area where restaurants are spread out, many people choose to head out and try the seafood places and local spots around Klong Prao, alternating with eating in — which is part of the charm of staying in this area
Service — Service is another point that consistently earns praise in real reviews · Many staff are mentioned as very friendly, attentive, and more helpful than expected, with check-in, arranging trips, calling cars, and recommending restaurants · Several families say the team looks after kids well and helps smooth things along, which makes the whole trip feel relaxed · To be fair, a few voices say service at some points can slow down when the resort is full or during peak hours, but overall service remains a strong point that makes many guests want to come back, and one reason the resort's overall score sits so high
What real reviews say (the good and the not-so-good) — Pulling from Trip.com, Booking.com, and TripAdvisor, the picture lines up pretty consistently · On the praise side: the resort design is cool and unlike anywhere else and photographs beautifully, the large black-tiled pool is lovely and refreshing, the rooms are roomy, high-ceilinged, and airy, the beachfront location lets you walk straight into the sea with great sunset views, the staff are friendly and attentive, breakfast is varied, and the villas with outdoor tubs are romantic for couples · On the watch-out side: the most-mentioned thing is the dark raw concrete that makes some rooms feel fairly dark or closed-in, especially for people who like bright, airy rooms · After that come the open semi-outdoor bathrooms in some rooms that feel short on privacy, some cushions and outdoor furnishings showing wear from the seaside weather, and the coffee/tea quality that some find underwhelming · Most of these gripes are about taste and picking the right room for your style rather than big problems that keep people from coming back
"The design is gorgeous and the big black pool photographs incredibly well. The staff are lovely and arranged a snorkeling trip for us · My only gripe is the dark concrete rooms feel a touch too dark during the day — next time I'll try asking for a villa on the brighter side."
Price comparison and value — The Dewa sits in the mid-to-upper group of beachfront resorts on Klong Prao · The starting rate for a Deluxe Room is around THB 4,000/night in normal periods, climbing to around THB 6,700+ during the year-end high season · Villas and villas with tubs run from around THB 7,000 up, while the large Grand Villa can reach the low tens of thousands at peak, up to around THB 14,000–15,000 · The low rainy season (May–October) brings prices down a lot and is the best-value window if you can accept the weather · Compared with design beachfront resorts at the same level on Koh Chang, The Dewa feels good value in the sense that you get design, roomy rooms, a beautiful pool, and a beachfront location in one package · Value scores sit around 8.8 in reviews, reflecting that many people feel they get a near-luxury feel at a still-attainable price, as long as you value design and atmosphere rather than just the cheapest nightly rate
Good to know before you book — A few things help make the stay go smoother · One, if you like bright rooms and worry about the dark concrete looking gloomy, specify at booking that you want a room or villa with plenty of natural light or a floor that isn't blocked · Two, if you're with a partner and want privacy with an outdoor tub, pick the villa-with-tub/jacuzzi group rather than a Deluxe in the main building · Three, getting around Koh Chang isn't as easy as in a city, so if you plan to visit several spots, rent a car/motorbike or use the resort's transfer service, and ask about pickup from the pier in advance · Four, in high season (November–February) and on long weekends, rooms fill fast and prices climb quickly, so book ahead and compare rates across platforms · Five, if you come in the rainy season, allow for rain and waves, and go with free cancellation if your plans aren't set
Bottom line — From all the real reviews, The Dewa Koh Chang is the best fit for people who want a beachfront stay with design and character, roomy rooms, a beautiful pool, and a near-luxury atmosphere, at a mid-to-upper price that's still attainable · The fusion raw-concrete design, the big black-tiled pool, the high-ceilinged loft rooms, the villas with outdoor tubs, and the Klong Prao Beach location with its sunsets make it one of the most distinctive resorts on the island · If you're after a simple budget stay, or you like bright, airy, clean white rooms, this may not be the answer, and you should look at other resort styles on Klong Prao or Kai Bae instead · But for an island trip where you want looks, comfort, and a seaside location all in one — The Dewa nails that balance well, and it's why it keeps scoring high in real guest reviews
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Cool resort design with character, photographs beautifully from every angle
- ✓ Large black-tiled pool by the beach, lovely and refreshing
- ✓ Beachfront on Klong Prao — walk into the sea and watch the sunset
- ✓ Roomy, high-ceilinged rooms; friendly, attentive staff
- ! Dark raw concrete makes some rooms feel fairly dark during the day
- ! Open semi-outdoor bathrooms in some rooms feel short on privacy
- ! Some cushions and outdoor furnishings show wear from the weather
- ✓ Beautiful, stylish resort atmosphere — great for couples and photos
- ✓ Villas with outdoor tubs are romantic and private
- ✓ Varied breakfast you can enjoy beside the beach looking at the sea
- ✓ Staff are good at arranging snorkeling trips / island tours
- ! Some find the coffee and tea underwhelming
- ! Getting around the island means renting a car/motorbike or using transfers
- ! High-season prices climb fast — compare several platforms before booking
- 💡If you like bright, airy, clean white rooms — the dark raw concrete here makes some rooms look fairly gloomy during the day → ask for a room or villa with plenty of natural light, or consider a brighter resort style on Klong Prao/Kai Bae
- 💡If you're concerned about bathroom privacy — some rooms have open semi-outdoor bathrooms → specify at booking, or choose a room/villa group with a fully enclosed bathroom
- 💡If you plan to visit several spots on the island — getting around Koh Chang isn't as easy as in a city → rent a car/motorbike, or ask about the resort's transfer service and pier pickup in advance