Watercolours in Chang Island

We were very much looking forward to our stay, which we booked six months in advance. However, due to the war, both our government and the European Union advised against traveling to the area. Two days before our scheduled arrival, our Ministry of Foreign Affairs changed the area’s status to red, and we immediately tried to cancel our reservation. Unfortunately, our cancellation was declined from Aana Resort. Instead, we received the following response:

“We would like to kindly inform you that Koh Chang is not classified as a risk area, and that daily life and tourism activities on the island continue as normal. The island remains blessed with beautiful scenery and impressive beaches. In this regard, we would like to reassure you that Koh Chang continues to be a very safe destination for relaxation and travel.”

Of course, we understand that the situation is extremely difficult and damaging for the tourism industry. However, some understanding on your side, or at least a response offering alternative solutions, to rebook for 2026, would have been appropriate, so that our money would not go to waste. We tried repeatedly to have our reservation canceled, as our travel insurance would otherwise not cover the situation.

Naturally, we did not travel to Koh Chang. While we have full sympathy for what is happening near the border, the least that could be done is to acknowledge that an escalating war is taking place very close to Koh Chang and to respond to our emails. At the very least, our cancellation could have been confirmed. You have already received our payment.

We should have checked out the first of January.

And fyi, our friends staying at a different resort at Koh Chang received a full refund, and our dive center refunded our prepaid dives as well. So I guess Aana Resort lives in a different reality.

My girlfriend and I booked this hotel for 2 nights through a subsidiary of the hotel in Bangkok. When we arrived we were told that our Booking had not been confirmed (even though we had already paid) and that our room was not available, the front desk staff refused to deal with us and we had to speak to the Bangkok office. Eventually they agreed to give us a downgraded room and refund us 1000 baht... but they would refund us when we checked out. When it came time to check out the front desk staff refused to give us 1000 baht and referred us to the Bangkok office who will now not answer the phone.

I would not book this hotel again.