Ko Chang/Trat, Thailand
Transport from Bangkok: Personally, think you are better taking public transport, not the private minivans from the Khao San. The A/C is not adequate - you can't open windows some scary driving.I bought a ticket to Trat (200-250B) and was not taken to Trat.
The driver dropped off and picked up customers to/from Ko Samet en route and he was running late (despite driving as fast as he could - through redlights, overtaking on the inside lane) so he didn't bother to detour to drop me off in Trat, just went straight to the ferry point for Ko Chang. I assumed that he would take me to Trat after dropping everyone else at the pier but no. I was told to take a songthaew, 15B/p if it is full, 100B/car if it isn't. I was the only customer so the crowd of whisky drinking songthaew drivers wanted to charge me 100B. As I had just had a horrible 6hour drive with a maniac, getting into a songthaew driven by a drunk did not appeal. I went to the Tourist police office - no one there,
so popped next door to the Tourist Office, realised very quickly that they were unable to help (at least not the sort I wanted which was to help me convince the minibus driver to take me to Trat) so asked them the direction to Trat and said that I was going to hitch, and could they explain to me the route, they didn't understand so I said I was walking show me the way, 'NO, it's 18km, you can't' they exclaimed. I left, started walking, after a few minutes the tourist officer came up to me on his motorbike, "go back take Songthaew, one will leave in about an hour no problem".
I had no idea where I was, no idea how much traffic there would be (nothing had passed me up to then), thought perhaps I'm being stupid here, if the tourist officer was concerned enough to follow me, maybe this isn't sensible so I went back, but seeing the raucous whisky party still in progress, I instantly regretted it, whilst deciding what to do I put my hand out at a car approaching, the car stopped and a lovely Thai lady asked me in a perfect English accent "where are you going" Trat I replied, "Okay", problem resolved.
Accommodation in Trat: There are 4 traveller style hostels all within 100m of one another.
Foremost 80B/single, double 120B basic rooms, friendly staff, good travel info. Windy 50-100B/single, 100B double only has 5 rooms. Very popular, friendly staff, basic rooms, scenic location on the river, has a boat for the use of guests.
and 2 new ones -
NP, just down the road from Foremost, run by a friendly woman. Room prices seem to be flexible here,cheaper than Foremost and Windy. The 4th option, is a modern, recently built. It wasn't fully set up when I was there but was accepting guests. Room prices were very good value at 100B as the facilities were good and it is very clean, however I think the price will probably rise.

Food:
The night market is by far the best place to eat. An excellent place to try oyster omelet - 20B.

The Department Store in Sukhumvit Rd. sells water at 3B/bottle.
Internet: there is a computer shop offering internet facility but it's very expensive 40B to log on plus 8B/min, should get cheaper in the future.
Exchange: If you are heading to Ko Chang it is better to change money here. Several ATM's in the city.
Transport: The A/C buses to Bangkok East Terminal on Sukhumvit Rd,run from the center (opposite 7-11 store) approximately every hour from 7:00-23:00 169B,take about 6 hours, drinks and a cake served on route.
Boat to Ko Chang seems to cost 50B, on the return journey I took the fast boat and was also charged 50B for that one too.
Ko Chang:
Weather: Still rainy season when I was there late October but for the last few days, the weather was hot and sunny during the day with heavy rain in the evenings.
Mosquitos are a problem, there is Malaria on the island, take precautions.
Water is expensive - 10B/bottle, not certain that it is legitimate, reports that some places are boiling water and passing it off as treated.
There are 3 main beaches on Ko Chang, the most developed and popular Hat Sai Khao - White Sands Beach.
There are several places offering book rental. The best I found was on Hat Sai beach, run by a Western woman. She has an excellent selection of contemporary fiction. You can find it across the small river, North from the Fisherman's restaurant.
Accommodation: Lots of bungalows, budget options range from 50B for very basic, located away from the sea to comfortable attractive huts for 300B. During the low season you can pay half price for some of the better quality, but high season started the end of October and prices went up.
The beach isn't so long so walk along, checking until you find what you want. At the far end of the beach, where there is no sand are some excellent value 100B bungalows.
!Warning, there were several robberies from huts on Hat Sai beach reported whilst I was there.
Food: Wasn't impressed with the food options along the beach, the best value food I found was the simple noodle stall on the beach near the Fishermans restaurant.
The White Elephant is an excellent, justifiably popular restaurant on the main road about 10 minutes walk towards Khlong Phrao beach. The food is good, cheaper than most beach restaurants and the family running it are very hospitable - they offer all guests a cigarette on arrival and present them with bottles of water on departure.
Khlong Phrao beach:
Accommodation: bungalow complexes are spread out so it is difficult to check out several particularly as there are also some non-budget ones. Better to get recommendations from other travellers beforehand.
KP bungalows currently seems to be getting a lot of recommendations from travellers, but I thought the bungalows were overpriced at 100B. They are basic, rundown, no fans, and there is no security - broken windows. The restaurant is mediocre,(though other guests seemed to like it)it has a relaxing atmosphere and is social. One attraction is that the complex has the beach to itself and it is in a lovely scenic setting - a coconut grove. Mosquitos are horrendous though so take precautions.