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(Last Updated On: March 22, 2023)Ao Nang is usually where people mean when they talk about places to stay in Krabi. Krabi is the name of the province and there is also Krabi town, which has no beach. Most visitors stay in Ao Nang, Krabi province and it is a great jump off point to explore the islands of Krabi or to travel onwards to other islands in Thailand such as Koh Lanta, Koh Phi Phi, Koh Yao Noi and Koh Yao Yai.
Where to stay in Krabi
Visitors have many options for where to stay in Krabi. If you would like to stay in Ao Nang then these are the best places to stay in Krabi on a range of different budgets:
The best location to stay in Krabi : Ao Nang Thailand
Stay in Ao Nang Thailand if you would like a great base that is great for island hopping, experiencing beaches in Krabi, getting from Ao nang to Railay and to hike some of the national parks in Krabi. This area is also very accessible to get from krabi airport to ao nang so the best for a shorter journey time. Ao Nang has many restaurants, bars, parties and a lot of accommodation on offer.
The best location to stay in Krabi : Railay
If you would prefer a slightly quieter place to stay in Krabi then stay in Railay. In peak season (December time) Railay can get very busy but it is still a quieter area than Ao Nang. Many visitors go from Ao Nang to Railay as a day trip so it is worth staying on Railay to enjoy the beaches once the day trippers return to Ao Nang. Railay is not an island but it is only accessible by boat which makes it a longer journey from Krabi airport to Railay and you should consider this if arriving at the airport late at night.
Best Place to Stay in Ao Nang
Where to stay in Ao Nang Thailand : Budget Accommodation
Seaseeker is very conveniently places, has a swimming pool and is a five minute walk to the main road and to the beaches of Ao Nang. It is also close to the longtail boat office where you take boats from Ao Nang to Railay. Seaseeker has clean rooms with balconies, waterfall showers and is great value for money. If looking for the best place to stay in Ao Nang on a smaller budget then Seaseeker is a great hotel for you. It is also near the Ao Nang monkey trail with access to a smaller beach over the monkey trail hike, which is about a 15 minute walk. Book your room at Seaseeker via Agoda or Booking.
Where to stay in Ao Nang Thailand : Mid Range Hotels
The best place to stay in Ao Nang is the Blue Sotel SMART with a rooftop pool that has a bar and ocean views. The rooms are clean, spacious and felt quite hi-tech. In a similar area to Sea Seeker, this Ao Nang hotel is in a great location for walking to one of the beaches in Ao Nang, the main road with many restaurants and bars and a short walk to the monkey trail in Ao Nang. Blue Sotel is the best place to stay in Ao Nang if you want to splash out a little more money, enjoy a rooftop pool and still be in an accessible location. Note that there are two Blue Sotel, the best hotel near Ao Nang beach is Blue Sotel SMART. Look at prices at the Blue Sotel SMART on Agoda here or on Booking.com.
Click on the rooftop pool for Agoda prices for your Thailand travel dates
Where to stay in Ao Nang Thailand : Luxury Hotels
Most of the luxury Ao Nang resorts are right on the beach road so consider luxury hotels like the Centara. There are two options for the Centara, one on the AO Nang beach side (compare prices here on Agoda or Booking.com)and the other across the short hike of monkey trail which makes the Centara Grand (Agoda link) slightly more exclusive. Do note that you would need to walk up and across the short hike to access other restaurants and bars.
Airport – Krabi to Ao Nang
To get from Krabi airport to Ao Nang it is very simple. When you arrive there are small tour operators just outside baggage reclaim where you can book and take a shared minivan with other travellers. The cost is 150 baht per person. The minivan may wait for a little while to fill up but this usually doesn’t take long, particularly if a couple of flights have landed at a similar time. The minivan will take you right to your hotel. This option is also available for the return journey from Ao Nang to Krabi airport. You can book via your hotel or a roadside tour operator. The cost should be the same of 150 baht per person.
Hopefully this helped you to find the best place to stay in Ao Nang Thailand for you. For a full guide on Ao Nang and what to do there as well as island hopping recommendations then find more information for a full Ao Nang Krabi Guide.
Further reading: Thailand islands
Full Thailand Island Hopping Guide with mini summaries for each Thai island
Travelling on from Ao Nang Krabi – Stay on floating bungalows and a treehouse in Khao Sok National Park
