Your stay — Mangrove bungalows
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The Property — Mangrove bungalows
Mangrove Bungalows is a low-key collection of wooden chalets suspended over the Klong Yai estuary, about 20 minutes south of Trat town. The lobby is an open-sided deck where the air smells of mud and salt, and the soundtrack is the creak of mooring ropes and boat engines. It suits travellers who want a working waterfront, not a polished resort: families and budget backpackers come for the direct pier access to Koh Chang ferries and the no-fuss fish restaurant on stilts. The USP is location — you can watch longtail boats unload squid while you eat breakfast.
Chronicles of Trat
Trat town was founded as a trading outpost in the Ayutthaya period, its name derived from the Khmer word for a river crossing. It grew wealthy on gemstone mining and pepper plantations in the 19th century, trading with French Indochina. The old shophouses along Thanon Tha Reua Rue Thai still show Chinese and Vietnamese architectural touches from that era. Today, Trat is the quiet mainland gateway to the Koh Chang archipelago, its identity rooted in agriculture (rubber, fruit) and cross-border commerce with Cambodia at the nearby Hat Lek checkpoint. The city keeps a sleepy, provincial air despite the steady flow of ferry-bound tourists.
Best Time to Visit
Full Trat guide →Best months
November–February: cool, low humidity, blue skies; excellent for exploring Trat town and island hopping without monsoon interruptions.
Peak / festival surge
December–January: peak season across eastern Thailand; hotels near the pier often book out early and prices rise 30-50%. New Year brings crowds from Bangkok and international tourists heading to Koh Chang.
Budget shoulder season
March–early May: still dry but hotter; good discounts on rooms before the southwest monsoon starts. September–October: quietest months with lowest rates, though expect heavy downpours.
Weather & packing
Trat is one of Thailand's wettest provinces even in the dry season, so a light, packable rain jacket is essential year-round. Pack a torch: many bungalows and alleyways have poor lighting after dark.
Live City Briefing — Trat
- The new Trat–Koh Chang ferry terminal at Laem Ngop (20 mins from the hotel) opened extra daily sailings from June 2025, reducing wait times. Check the Siri Ferry schedule for cancellations during heavy rain.
- The annual Trat Fruit Fair runs from late June to mid-July at the city sports field — expect stalls of local durian, rambutan and mangosteen, plus folk performances. Road closures around Thanon Rat Bamrung happen most evenings.
- A landslide on Route 3156 near Hat Lek in May 2026 has been repaired, but some hillside sections remain single-lane with traffic lights. Allow an extra 30 minutes for any trip to the Cambodia border crossing.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Mangrove bungalows, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a bungalow on the far side of the property, away from the entrance road. Upper-floor bungalows (if any) offer more privacy and better airflow, but at a 3-star hotel in Trat, single-storey or duplex units with a sea or garden orientation are quieter.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid bungalows near the main road or parking area — Trat’s streets can have motorbike and truck noise, especially in early morning or late afternoon. Also skip any close to the reception block or common areas where staff movement and deliveries happen.
Best views
Trat is near the coast, but the hotel address is just 'Trat' — likely inland. Best view will be the garden/pond (if present) or any raised bungalow with a partial sea glimpse. Request a bungalow at the rear or side with greenery, not car park.
Quietest floors
If the bungalows are on stilts or split-level, the upper units are quieter. For ground-floor units, choose those set back from the path and with vegetation between you and neighbours.
🔊 Noise notes
Trat town has local traffic (songthaews, scooters) from early morning till evening. Generators or AC units on-site may hum at night. Ask for a bungalow away from any laundry or generator room.
Insider tips
1. Check if the hotel offers a free shuttle to the ferry pier for Koh Chang – common for Trat hotels. 2. If you arrive by car, park away from your bungalow to avoid engine noise and headlights. Request a quiet bungalow at check-in; they often accommodate if you ask politely.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Mangrove bungalows
Free WiFi in all rooms and common areas. Speed around 20 Mbps, steady for browsing but slow for video calls. No login needed – just select network
No lift. All bungalows are single-storey, spread over ground level; pathways are sandy or with small steps
Complimentary digital newspapers via a tablet in the lobby; no physical papers. Building is a cluster of traditional wooden bungalows on stilts over mangrove channels
Check-in 14:00, check-out 11:00. Early bag drop (from 08:00) free if room ready. Late check-out to 13:00 costs THB 500, subject to availability
Free for same-day arrivals/departures; overnight storage not available
No step-free access – all bungalows have steps to enter. Sandy paths and wooden walkways; not suitable for wheelchairs or limited mobility
Free on-site parking for up to 20 cars, no reservation needed. Closest public car park is at Koh Chang ferry pier, 5 km away, THB 100 per day. No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: THB 40 per person per night for adults, collected at check-in
Deposit & card hold: Full stay amount due at booking; THB 1,000 incidental hold per room on a credit card at check-in
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 495 m · ~6 min walk
Nine shop — 234 m · ~3 min walk
Speedboat pier — 751 m · ~9 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
SuperRich or similar exchange booths in town give better rates than hotels; avoid airport kiosks at Trat Airport unless desperate.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in most hotels and larger shops; smaller eateries and markets are cash-only; contactless less common than chip-and-PIN.
Not expected but appreciated — round up bills in restaurants, leave 20-50 THB for good service; taxi drivers don't expect tips; hotel porters 20-40 THB.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Fresh-brewed Thai iced coffee from a street stall or market — around 30-40 THB.
Pad Thai or a simple rice dish from a local market food court — 40-60 THB.
Stir-fried basil chicken with rice at a family-run eatery — 50-70 THB.
The night market near the clock tower has dozens of stalls; also along Sukhumvit Road in town.
Tesco Lotus Express and 7-Eleven are everywhere for basics; Mini Big C also common.
The day market (Talad Sod) has cheap T-shirts, sarongs, and flip-flops; prices negotiable.
Songthaew (shared pickup truck) around town — 10-20 THB per ride; from Trat Airport take the minibus or songthaew into town for about 50-80 THB.
Eat at the local market for meals; negotiate songthaew fares before getting in; buy bottled water from 7-Eleven, not hotel mini-bars.
Good to know — Trat
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.41 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Trat, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Mangrove bungalows
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 495 m · ~6 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Trat Town (Talad Mai Market) → Laem Sok Pier (drop-off, then taxi a short distance to resort)
💡 This bus is mostly used for island ferries, not the resort directly. Get off at the pier junction and take a motorbike taxi (20 baht) for the final 2 km. Ask locals to point 'Siam Beach' – it's a well-known bungalow strip.
Trat Airport → Trat Bus Station, then songthaew to Siam Beach Resort
💡 From the bus station, flag a white songthaew heading towards Klong Kloi – tell the driver 'Siam Beach'. Share the fare group-style; don't pay more than 40 baht per person.
Trat Town (Centre) → Siam Beach Resort
💡 Negotiate hard: 500–600 baht is fair. If you’re coming from the ferry pier (e.g. Koh Chang), try the shared minivan to the resort instead – about 250 baht per person.
Trat Airport (TDX) → Siam Beach Resort (Klong Kloi Beach)
💡 Book through the airport kiosk for flat rates. Avoid touts outside; meters are not used on this route. Shared vans cost half but wait for 6–8 passengers.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Mangrove bungalows?
Request a bungalow on the far side of the property, away from the entrance road. Upper-floor bungalows (if any) offer more privacy and better airflow, but at a 3-star hotel in Trat, single-storey or duplex units with a sea or garden orientation are quieter.
Which rooms should I avoid at Mangrove bungalows?
Avoid bungalows near the main road or parking area — Trat’s streets can have motorbike and truck noise, especially in early morning or late afternoon. Also skip any close to the reception block or common areas where staff movement and deliveries happen.
Is Mangrove bungalows noisy?
Trat town has local traffic (songthaews, scooters) from early morning till evening. Generators or AC units on-site may hum at night. Ask for a bungalow away from any laundry or generator room.
Which rooms have the best views at Mangrove bungalows?
Trat is near the coast, but the hotel address is just 'Trat' — likely inland. Best view will be the garden/pond (if present) or any raised bungalow with a partial sea glimpse. Request a bungalow at the rear or side with greenery, not car park.
What are insider tips for staying at Mangrove bungalows?
1. Check if the hotel offers a free shuttle to the ferry pier for Koh Chang – common for Trat hotels. 2. If you arrive by car, park away from your bungalow to avoid engine noise and headlights. Request a quiet bungalow at check-in; they often accommodate if you ask politely.
What time is check-in at Mangrove bungalows?
Check-in at Mangrove bungalows is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Mangrove bungalows have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in all rooms and common areas. Speed around 20 Mbps, steady for browsing but slow for video calls. No login needed – just select network
Is there a city or tourist tax at Mangrove bungalows?
THB 40 per person per night for adults, collected at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Mangrove bungalows?
Pad Thai or a simple rice dish from a local market food court — 40-60 THB.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Mangrove bungalows?
Songthaew (shared pickup truck) around town — 10-20 THB per ride; from Trat Airport take the minibus or songthaew into town for about 50-80 THB.
When is the best time to visit Trat?
November–February: cool, low humidity, blue skies; excellent for exploring Trat town and island hopping without monsoon interruptions.
Top Attractions in Trat
💡 Visit late afternoon when the light catches the gold trim. No entry fee, but polite to leave a small donation (20-40 baht) for incense.
💡 Bring insect repellent after dusk – mosquitoes are active. Stop at the floating noodle boat (50 baht) near the end of the promenade.
💡 Go before 7am for the best dried squid and durian chips. Bring small change – stallholders rarely accept cards.
💡 Ring the bell once for luck – locals say it brings safe travel. Temple dogs are friendly but ignore them if they bark.
💡 Call ahead to check if the English labels are in place – they rotate exhibits. The garden has a free map of local waterfalls.