Any suggestions for where to stay in Krabi (Ao Nang) and Koh Phi Phi?

Is it better to stay in Ao Nang and do day-trips to the islands including Phi Phi, Lanta, Railay Beach etc? Or move about a bit and spend a few days in each?

Thanks in advance.

Nick

Hi Nick

We travelled around this area staying a few days in each place - we preferred it that way. Phi Phi fantastic - can only get to it by ferry and no cars on the island at all. A really beautiful chilled out place which is special to us as that is where we got engaged. You can do all the trips from there that you can do from Phuket/Krabi so definitely worth a few days there. We stayed at the Phi Phi hotel within easy walking distance of the jetty. Didn't really like Ao Nang that much - full of Scandinavians and Germans mainly and seemed to be catering for a more elderly clientele! Railay beach is like Phi Phi, absolutely stunning beach - but you can only reach it by longtail boat from Ao Nang. The ferry from Phi Phi stops off shore at Ao Nang and Railay Beach and you get a longtail boat to the beach. Be ready to carry your luggage over your head through the surf at low tide!

As far as day trips are concerned - definitely go for the "James Bond Island tour (Man with the Golden Gun beach)" coupled with kayaking in the caves. If you are into diving, climbing or fishing there is loads to do all around Phangnga Bay. The scenery and beaches are just stunning! Check out the beach featured in the Leonardo Di Caprio movie "The Beach" Off Phi Phi too. Check out the Rolling Stoned Bar for great rock music too on Phi Phi!

Have a fantastic time there - we certainly did!

Merry Christmas!

Nick and Fon

Thanks for the tips

Roll-on the 19th Jan


Nick

Hi Nick,
I lived in Krabi for over 15 years, 7 years on Railey and 8 years in Ao Nang, and for sure the area is stunning. Phi Phi is great but really small and not much to do. It really depends on what you want to do and who you are going with and how much time you have.
In general most people will stay in Ao Nang and the reason is simply the facilities it has. From here it is easy to reach all the islands and also the INLAND attractions. From Phi Phi the inland tours/sights are difficult/more expensive as it takes nearly two hours by boat to get from Phi Phi to the mainland. You will also find more accommodation options and restaurants, however it does therefore have more people, but nothing like the crowds/types of people in Phuket, Koh samui and Pattaya. Railey is an excellent place to stay and much easier to get to the mainland. I really miss living there!

I used to own a website that was all written by myself which I sold a few years ago. It looks like the new owner has not kept much of it up to date but it still has some useful info. The site is www.krabi-reservations.com and in particular you may find this page helpful http://www.krabi-reservations.com/scene.htm

Also I really recommend you look at a site that is written by a good friend of mine, who also publishes a monthly guide to the area. She is very well informed and has a lot of good advise on her site. The site is www.yourkrabi.com

Again destination depends on your requirements, budget and what you want from your holiday.

Give me a pm if you need any further advise.

Cheers
ian

Hi Nick, We have just got back from Ao Nang Bay, We stayed at the Best Western Spa Resort, And i think Ao Nang Bay is an OK place to use as a base if you want to go and do day-trips, We did'nt go to Phi Phi because we had been there before, But we hired a Long Tail Boat to go out to the Local Islands ( the cost approx 1500/2000 per day ), Just go to the beach where all the Men hang around looking for customers, Very easy, If you want to go to say James Bond Island then that is a lot further away, you can book that with a local travel agent, They will collect you from your hotel, drive a bit closer to the location, and then change to a Long Tail Boat, this you do with a group, I think the cost was about 1500 per person.

Whatever you do i am sure you will have a great time.

Cheers



PS: If you do book your own Long Tail Boat, I would recommend you take your own Bottled water, The driver does bring along bottled water, but to be honest it's a bit dodgy, for my stomach anyway.

when u arrive at krabi airport, u can ask for a map at the information desk. u'll probably receive a very useful booklet that gives lots of details of things to see, places to go and boat timetables.

the following website will also give an idea of islands to visit, from large ones like koh lanta (probably too far for a comfortable day trip) to tiny ones like koh poda (which is visible from ao nang beach). although i didn't have time, i have the impression that everyone who goes to railay beach loves it there (u can take a long-tail boat - i think for less than 100 baht - from ao nang).

http://andaman-island-hopping.com/index.htm

i stayed at aonangburi resort at nopparatthara beach, five minutes' walk from central ao nang. very pleasant with nice swimming pool and excellent thai food in the restaurant (inlcuding southern thai food), and there are motorcycles for hire.

http://www.aonangburiresort.com/

a restaurant to avoid is the swiss-german one in central ao nang (service reasonable, thai food worse than average).

don't miss the pancake stalls in ao nang: not just banana, but a list of flavours as long as ur arm.

ian.

Thanks again guys...Off on friday

Will post a report when I get back.


Nick

We went to Krabi over the 3 week period I was there and it is for sure the best place I have ever been.

Stayed on Ao Nang at the Somburi resort. It was ok but did not think to much of the restuarant or spa which seemed to be well overpriced.

But Ao Nang was excellent and the sunset as the restuarant down the resort was just great.

We was in Koh Samui last year and for some reason it just did not feel right whereas we felt much more relaxed in Krabi.

We will be going back for sure.

Derren