Ao Nang isn't exactly lovely, but it's a base to off and explore with a few decent restaurants and some shops too. It's safe in accordance with normal procedure. I stayed just off one of the main streets. Walking around you will see many places for about 1500 a night, but you'll also find a decent place under this, even as low as 800 B if you look.
Nearby Koh Lanta is worth a look too.
800 baht is regarded as low price at Ao Nang these days !!!!!!!! . You can get a decent room in middle of Bangkok for 300 baht , but have to pay 800 baht in Ao Nang ! . In the begining Ao Nang had huts for average price of 60 baht , now 800 baht is regarded as low price . Poor Krabbi,
Yeah but in Bkk you are in the city with 7 million people, loads of cars, pollution and the like with the nearest beach and sea 2 hours away.
In Krabi, namely Ao Nang, you are 10 minutes from Railay beach.
Gotta be worth more.
Thanks! So is Ao Nang a good place to base myself for 9 nights??
I want somewhere quiet but also want to be able to venture out for a few nights...is that likely here?
Hi, I am booked to stay at the Bay View Resort Phi Phi Island in just over a week. I have not heard any bad things about the island, am I missing something?
Ok...so maybe I should be more specific. I am travelling from 27th Nov to 12th Dec. I plan on doing a short trip in the north via intrepid and then have a flight booked down to Karbi on 3rd dec. I want to stay somewhere that is cheap but that looks like that postcard picture - but also want to be where the backpackers are as travelling alone and would like some good nights out. Does such a place exist???
Cassandra - I have always wanted to Stay at Bay View - great position midway between Ton Sai and Long Beach - with bungalows up the hill giving great views. Seriously good deals in low season - quite expensive high season.
nquin - you want to be somewhere cheap with backpackers looks like a picture postcard. Well Ao Nang don't - although it is cheap and there will be other travellers. Seemed to me to be starting to be a bit of a hang for mid-aged package types and the socks and sandle barfly set though.
My suggestions of Jum and Lanta may be a bit quiet low season.
I reckon your idea of Phi Phi aint bad. But for a nice place relatively cheap I'd be turning hard LEFT off the ferry and walking down to the end of the beach where Rock Climbing Bungalows and a similar new trad style joint are now built up against the headland. The beach is real nice down here, these are the style of place to attract backpackers and it is only a 5 minute walk up to the action in town.
Realise its very fashionable for the experienced traveller to knock Phi Phi. I must admit I'm over it in high season except for the Long Beach and East Coast. But the high prices and overcrowding which spoils it for me in high season is not a factor low season.
Edited by: tezza
I'm not saying stay at Ao Nang for 9 nights, no way-that would be a waste. Check out Ao Nang or another part of Krabi for a night or 2, then stay at Railay, maybe Koh Lanta and you could also go to Phi Phi and see what the fuss is about, but follow Tezza's hang left tip when you arrive at the pier in Phi Phi.
Heaven or Hell? Phi Phi's a beautiful island but has suffered at the hands of tourism. If you're from a landlocked cold country it probably feels like paradise though. The nature aspect of the island is gorgeous aside from the human development. Like Tez says go stay on one of the more remote beaches if you want more peace and quiet. I would not discourage someone to visit Phi Phi unless they were clearly anti-tourism. Oh, except for xmas-nye when it is positively bursting 110% with tourists. By all means go check it out for a couple days then balance it out with time on Ko Lanta.
Wow thanks guys really helpful!
Cassandra - would you mind letting me know what this place is like?? Baring in mind i'm a female travelling alone so don't want to be too far out by myself!
And thanks everyone else for your comments - is all starting to make more sense now. Ok great - so which beach should I be looking to stay on at phi phi? Any recommendations of hostels/hotels? I have to fly back from Krabi on Dec 12th evening. So could do Ao Nang for a couple of nights/Railay for a couple/Koh Lanta and Phi Phi for atleast one night. Is this realistic enough to be relaxing within 9 days (10th day back to Krabi)?
I'm starting to think my 6 day trekk around the north could be better spent on a beach - what do you think? Is it worth doing Chang mai? I want to ride an elephant!
Is it quite the norm that I will meet people to tag along with along the way? Others travelling alone?