Wondering where to stay in Krabi? Thailand has no shortages of gorgeous destinations, and one of the best ones is Krabi. It’s an exotic vacation spot like no other with its natural gorgeousness is not to be underestimated, any visitor can surely tell you about Krabi’s breathtaking scenery. Due to Krabi’s location in southern Thailand, the climate is perfect, and the landscape is filled with pristine sandy beaches, turquoise waters, fascinating jungles, and general beauty all around.
Table of Contents
- Where to stay in Krabi
- Where to stay in Krabi – Ao Nang
- Why stay in Ao Nang
- Why avoid Ao Nang
- Where to stay in Krabi – Railay
- Why stay in Railay
- Why avoid Railay
- Where to stay in Krabi – Ton Sai
- Why stay in Ton Sai
- Why avoid Ton Sai
- Where to stay in Krabi – Krabi Town
- Why stay in Krabi Town
- Why avoid Krabi Town
- Where to stay in Krabi – Phi Phi Islands
- Why stay in Phi Phi Islands
- Why avoid Phi Phi Islands
Where to stay in Krabi
Krabi is not a small place, and while it has numerable hotels and accommodations, it can get a bit tricky to understand just which area is most suited for you. It’s important to know that generally, it is not as crowded as larger places like Phuket, at least as relaxing as Koh Samui, and on top of that, it’s easily reached from Bangkok by air – the flight takes less than an hour and a half.
Where to stay in Krabi – Ao Nang
The de facto most popular tourist destination in Krabi, Ao Nang is a tourist resort town with an amazing ambience, scenery, and charm. The past few years the town’s seen quite a bit of development, so now it has numerous modern amenities and it’s become the main place to go in all of Krabi.
Why stay in Ao Nang
As arguably the most developed place in Krabi the services and accommodations are spot on. The hotels are fantastic, the bars and restaurants are great, and because of the climate, the beach is probably the best place to hang out on, and do some of the best swimming in the region. There are services, bars, and restaurants that will suit anyone’s needs, as there are both active and relaxing bars, and the nightlife is just vibrant enough so that you’ll have something to do once night falls.
Why avoid Ao Nang
The past few years might have been beneficial for Ao Nang as a whole, but because of recent development booms, some of its charms was lost in the process. Passersby are often aggressively solicited by salesmen in the streets, and with the rise of tourist business, a lot of boats are parked near or on the beach, making it unnecessarily cramped. Also, in the height of the tourist season it can get a little crowded, but thankfully it’s still manageable.
This property is 12 minutes walk from the beach. Andaman Pearl Resort offers accommodation in Aonang, a 5-minute drive from the beach and nightlife. The resort has an outdoor pool and views Krabi’s famous limestone hills. WiFi is free in public areas. Prices start from £40 per night.
Click here for prices and book Mid-range Andaman Pearl Resort
This property is minutes walk from the beach. Situated a 15-minute walk from the beach, Sugar Marina Resort CLIFFHANGER Aonang offers stylish rooms and a year-round outdoor pool. Free WiFi is featured throughout. Prices start from £57 per night.
Click here for prices and book Mid-range Sugar Marina Resort CLIFFHANGER Aonang
his property is 1 minutes walk from the beach. Located on the private Pai Plong Bay, Centara Grand Beach houses beachfront dining options, 2 outdoor pools and a spa. Its rooms offer a private balcony with garden or ocean views. Prices start at £159 per night.
Click here for prices and book Luxury Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi
Where to stay in Krabi – Railay
Although technically part of the mainland, Railay has an amazing island charm, mostly because it almost is one. Surrounded by the sea from three sides, and bordered by towering cliffs from the fourth, it’s one of the cutest destinations in all of Krabi. The entire spot is practically picture perfect and has amazing waters around it. Railay is one of the most famous sites in the surrounding region – numerous celebrities have been spotted here over the past several years.
Why stay in Railay
Possibly the greatest aspect of Railay is its size, because everything is within walking distance, and yet none of the buildings are excessively tall or get in the way of sightseeing. The service is consistently excellent, especially in the resorts found on the west side of Railay. There are plenty of activities to do – besides partying on the beaches, the most popular one is rock climbing, and you are quite likely to encounter monkeys while climbing the nearby towering cliffs.
Why avoid Railay
As it’s cut off from the rest of the mainland, Railay can get a bit on the pricey side. On top of that, since almost the entire area is developed and there’s no room to grow further, crowds are a regular affair on Railay.
This property is 1 minutes walk from the beach. Located along Krabi’s Railey West Beach, Sand Sea Resort offers rooms with a private balcony. It boasts an outdoor pool and free Wi-Fi in public areas. Prices start at £66 per night.
Rooms at the Railay Princess Resort & Spa have Thai-style furnishings and include a satellite TV, a seating area and a private balcony with garden and pool views. Prices start at £49 per night.
Click here for prices and book Mid-range Railay Princess Resort & Spa
Surrounded on all sides by tropical gardens and beaches, Rayavadee features free-standing 2-storey pavilions and beachfront pool villas. Each room has a terrace, a flat-screen TV and a minibar. Prices start at £480 per night.
Where to stay in Krabi – Ton Sai
Truly one of the most relaxed locations in the entirety of Krabi, Ton Sai is a backpacker’s dream destination. There is almost no development to speak off, and while there are accommodation options, those are mostly bungalows and bamboo shacks – this means that the rest of Ton Sai is bars and small restaurants that cater to a relaxed crowd, while visitors go about their days lounging on the beach, climbing, or doing fantastic watersports.
Why stay in Ton Sai
Due to its relaxed nature, there is little in the way of intrusions in Ton Sai. As there are no hotels and excessively modern amenities, there is an absolutely relaxing and charming atmosphere in the air that can only be matched by the gorgeous scenery. While Ton Sai is quite secluded, it’s easy to reach the nearby Railay and Ao Nang by boat, or even by paddling.
Why avoid Ton Sai
Because of its secluded location, it’s not an easy place to arrange transfers to, and once you reach Ton Sai you’ll immediately notice how underdeveloped it is. While the sands of the beaches are definitely fine, to reach to Ton Sai itself you’ll have to pass through mud and slippery rocks, so you’ll have to wrestle with luggage and personal items in order to even step foot on the place. Trekking through the jungle to reach nearby places can be quite difficult.
This property is 4 minutes walk from the beach. Featuring a freeform swimming pool with kid’s wading pool, U Rip Resort offers comfy accommodation located in the hill of TonSai Mountain. Prices start at £63 per night.
Guests can enjoy sunset views while indulging in the outdoor pool. Delectable meals and refreshing drinks are daily served at the on-site restaurant. All guests have access to free WiFi throughout the property. Prices start at £77 per night.
Click here for prices and book Mid-range ChaoKoh Phi Phi Hotel & Resort
PP Princess Resort is 2.6 km from Long Beach and 50 m from Lo Da Lam Beach.The island’s main pier, Ton Sai Pier is just a 5-minute walk away. Rooms at PP Princess feature a flat-screen cable TV, a refrigerator and air-conditioning. Prices start at £106 per night.
Where to stay in Krabi – Krabi Town
The provincial capital of Krabi offers the authentic Thai experience – something that can be easily missed when visiting the many resorts of the region. The town is sizable enough to offer plenty of entertainment and attractions and has a very unique charm that’s quite different than the rest of Krabi. It’s not a beach town so the focus is on the urban side of things, and while it does feel modern at times, it’s definitely quite a bit a traditional Thai place.
Why stay in Krabi Town
It may be a relatively small town, but Krabi Town has a lot to offer. There are numerous spots around town, like the newly constructed temple, as well as plenty of affordable restaurants and accommodations. However, one of the best aspects of Krabi Town is the shopping – it’s the only place in the region where you can find a centralized market at much more affordable prices than the rest of the beachside spots, and you can easily find whatever you need.
Why avoid Krabi Town
The town may be entertaining, but it doesn’t have its own beach, so getting to a nearby beach means hassling with local transport. On the other hand, while the city is quite alive during the day, there is little nightlife in Krabi Town.
The units in the hotel are fitted with a flat-screen TV with satellite channels. Complete with a private bathroom, the rooms at The Sasi House are fitted with air conditioning, and some rooms have a seating area. Prices start at £20 per night.
Built in 2017, the property is within just 1.5 km of Chaloem Rattanankosin Stadium and a 5-minute walk of Weekend Night Market Krabi town. Staff at the 24-hour front desk can provide guidance on what to do in the area. Prices start at £23 per night.
Fitted with tiled flooring, rooms at Lada Krabi Residence are equipped a flat-screen cable TV, a refrigerator and a telephone. Shower facilities are included in an en suite bathroom. Prices start at £19 per night.
Where to stay in Krabi – Phi Phi Islands
Arguably the most modern tourist destinations in the entire region, the Ko Phi Phi, or just Phi Phi Islands, are a gorgeous set of six islands off the coast of Krabi. It’s a very popular destination, which in part is thanks to the movie The Beach which was shot on location on the islands in 1999. It may have previously been an extremely laid back backpacker’s destination, it is not very much a modern beach resort area.
Why stay in Phi Phi Islands
The beauty of the islands is quite unsurpassed. There is almost no place in Krabi that can match the gorgeous scenery found on these islands, and the development of the main island – which is the only inhabited one – hasn’t hurt the beautiful surrounding nature. There’s always something to do on the islands, and diving is one of the most popular activities. While the islands are very modern, there is a distinct bohemian feeling found constantly present on Phi Phi Islands.
Why avoid Phi Phi Islands
Because of modern development and a large surge in tourists, what authentic charm was present in the past is now almost entirely gone. This is an international place often teeming with crowds from all over the world. There is almost no type of individuality when it comes to adventures compared to the rest of Krabi. This might not be a bad thing, per se, but it’s something that’s noticeable when being compared to other parts of the region.
This property is 4 minutes walk from the beach. Featuring a freeform swimming pool with kid’s wading pool, U Rip Resort offers comfy accommodation located in the hill of TonSai Mountain, 0.8 km from Tonsai Bay. Free WiFi is accessible in the public areas. Prices start at £63 per night.
This property is minute walk from the beach. Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island sits on a white sandy beach bordering the Andaman Sea. The resort features 3 landscaped pools, a fitness room and the Scuba Schools International Dive Centre. Prices start at £150 per night.
Click here for prices and book Mid-range Holiday Inn Resort Phi Phi Island
This property is minute walk from the beach. Relaxing beach stays await at Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort, which features a private beach and infinity pool equipped with a pool bar. First-rate amenities include tennis courts, dive centre and 4 restaurants. Free WiFi is available at the lobby. Prices start at £181 per night.
Click here for prices and book Luxury Phi Phi Island Village Beach Resort
Krabi is absolutely stunning. The sheer beauty, hospitality, and activities found in this destination make it one of the most worthwhile spots in Thailand. There are numerous other beautiful areas in the country but very few are as vibrant, lively, and lovely as Krabi. We hope we helped you find where to stay in Krabi and you are ready to pack your bags and go on an endless adventure.
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