The Emerald Cove Koh Chang — A 50-Metre Pool on South Klong Prao Beach, Facing the Sunset
Anyone who has been to Koh Chang knows that White Sand Beach (Haad Sai Khao) up north gets busy and lively, while South Klong Prao Beach stays quieter, with softer sand. The Emerald Cove Koh Chang has sat on this beach since 2004 — a 4-star beach resort once run by the Amari group and now rebranded as Dinso Resort & Villas under IHG, though the building, the location, and the beach are all the same. What guests keep coming back to is the 50-metre pool that runs along the beach and the chance to watch the sun drop straight into the sea, because this stretch of coast faces due west.
One thing to clear up before you book — this resort opened in 2004 as The Emerald Cove, was run for years by the Amari group, and has since been rebranded as Dinso Resort & Villas under the IHG Vignette Collection. Several booking platforms still list it as Emerald Cove, some have switched to Dinso, but it is the same building on the same beach, on the southern end of Klong Prao on Koh Chang. The structure is a curved three-storey block that wraps along the shoreline, so nearly every room gets a balcony facing either the sea to the west or the green hills to the east.
There are 165 rooms across four categories — Deluxe with garden or hill views, Deluxe Ocean Facing looking out to the water, the larger Grand Deluxe Ocean Facing with a full sea view, and a One Bedroom Suite for families. After the renovation the rooms look noticeably fresher, in natural wood tones with raw plaster walls and timber ceilings, and a bathroom that several reviewers say feels better than the price — some come with a freestanding tub. Every room has a balcony, air-conditioning, fridge, minibar and free Wi-Fi. If you want the sunset from your room, specify Ocean Facing when you book, because a standard Deluxe looks at the hill and not the sea.
The centre of the resort is the 50-metre pool set parallel to the beach, with loungers and umbrellas lined up along the timber deck. Before 9 am it is almost empty and you get the whole length to yourself. In the evening the poolside bar (Breezes) switches on its warm lights, and looking through the coconut palms you can watch the sea change colour — the moment several guests describe as the one that made the flight to Koh Chang worth it. A few steps down from the pool is the resort's own stretch of sand, with canvas beds set out for catching the breeze.
Guests say: "Dinner on the sand, feet in the beach, the sky turning orange and pink, and then the sun just sank into the sea right in front of them — that one meal stuck with them the whole trip."
There is a decent spread of places to eat on site. The Cove Terrace is the main restaurant, serving the breakfast buffet and an all-day menu; Just Thai handles Thai à la carte in the evening; and Sassi is the Italian, where reviewers say the pasta and pizza are genuinely well done — plus Breezes Bar by the pool and a separate pool bar. The breakfast buffet draws consistent praise, with a live station cooking eggs and fresh dishes to order. The honest caveat: food and drink prices inside the resort run high compared to places off-site, simply because you are on an island.
Guest scores land in strong territory — 9.0 on Hotels.com and as high as 9.4 from 235 reviews on Trip.com. What guests praise most is the quiet beach, the pool, the spacious rooms, and the staff. What you should know going in: the water in front is shallow at low tide and patchy with seagrass, so at times you walk out a fair way before it is deep enough to swim. Some reviewers note the path down to the beach runs through a bit of garden rather than straight onto the sand from the room. And there is that island markup on food. These are real limitations worth knowing before you book.
Pricing starts around ฿4,500/night for a Deluxe in normal periods, with Ocean Facing and Grand Deluxe rooms running ฿6,000–9,000 depending on view and size. In the low season (May–October, which is Koh Chang's rainy stretch) rates drop a lot further, dipping under ฿2,000 on some days — though you are gambling on the weather. High season (November–February) and long weekends fill quickly, so book 3–4 weeks ahead and compare Agoda, Booking and Trip.com every time, since the name change means rates can differ noticeably between platforms.
The bottom line: The Emerald Cove works best for couples and families who want the quieter side of Koh Chang — a long beachfront pool and a sunset over the sea — at a price below the island's high-end resorts. People who come to genuinely switch off get what they came for. The trade-off is the shallow water at low tide and the island prices on food. If you want a full sea view, book Ocean Facing; and if you run into the name Dinso while booking, it is the same place.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ South Klong Prao Beach is quiet, with soft sand and fewer people than White Sand Beach
- ✓ 50-metre beachfront pool with a great atmosphere
- ✓ Rooms are spacious and look fresh after the renovation, with smart bathrooms
- ✓ Sunset views over the sea from the front of the resort
- ! Water shallow at low tide with patches of seagrass
- ! Food and drink prices inside the resort run high
- ! Name is changing to Dinso, which can confuse the booking
- ✓ Genuinely quiet and calm — a place to actually rest, not a party scene
- ✓ Staff are attentive and helpful
- ✓ Sassi Italian and the breakfast buffet are both good
- ✓ Natural wood room design that feels better than the price
- ! Beach access goes through a bit of garden, not straight onto the sand
- ! Rooms fill quickly in high season — book ahead
- ! It is on an island, so getting out means a taxi or motorbike
- 💡If you want the sunset from your room — specify Ocean Facing or Grand Deluxe Ocean Facing when booking → a standard Deluxe looks at the garden or hill and misses the sea and sunset entirely
- 💡If you plan to swim in the sea — check the tide times in advance → the water is shallow with seagrass at low tide, easiest to swim at high tide; the 50-metre pool, meanwhile, is usable all day
- 💡If the hotel name worries you — you may see both The Emerald Cove and Dinso Resort & Villas while booking → it is the same property in the same building; compare prices under both names across platforms before you commit