Where to stay in Krabi? A guide to Ao Nang Beach

Should you base your holiday in Ao Nang?

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For further information about Ao Nang, including pictures, see the links on the right

AO NANG is, without a doubt, the centre of the tourist scene on the Krabi mainland, with the most developed services and hotels on offer. Most people who come to Krabi stay here as it offers the widest range of accommodation and is ideally placed to explore the rest of the region. It is also a great destination in itself - the local people pride themselves on being known as the friendliest and most laidback in the region.

Ao Nang beach road Most of the activity is concentrated on and near the recently widened beachfront road. You'll find countless souvenir and cheap clothing shops, tour agents, banks and ATM machines, restaurants with a wide selection of international cuisine and seafood, bars, massage and beauty salons as well as a range of hotels. The road means that no accommodation in Ao Nang can be situated directly on the sand; however, the advantage of this is that the beach is permanently visible and accessible by everyone - and the view is amazing, especially at sunset.

The beach itself is pretty and palm-fringed, although - for Krabi - relatively unspectacular, especially now part of it is used as a parking lot by the longtail boat drivers that will take you to the more beautiful nearby islands. However, it is still a popular sunbathing spot as its gently sloping sand offers some of the best swimming in the area.

Ao Nang nightlife Daytime in Ao Nang tends to be fairly quiet and relaxed, as most people go off on tours, island-hopping or simply lie on the beach. Night-time is busier, especially on the Beach Road, with its concentration of shops, bars and restaurants. The crowd in Ao Nang is very mixed, with old and young people, couples, families and groups of friends. Typically Ao Nang can accommodate them all: there are quiet restaurants and cafes, loud and boisterous bars, sports pubs and, of course the beach or the terrace of your hotel for an evening under the stars.

The huge and rapid development of Ao Nang over recent years has brought benefits such as these: choice and availablity of leisure options, higher standards of hotel accommodation and service and much better infrastructure - banks, ATM machines and pharmacies are now everywhere. On the other hand, many (particularly those who visited it years ago) feel that it has lost some of its charm as a result. An influx of south Asian business owners (Bangladeshi, Indian and Thai-Indian people) in particular has meant that even the experience of walking down the street has changed: where Thai people rarely hassle passers-by, south Asians will think nothing of standing outside their shop or restaurant to aggressively solicit business. If you experience such unpleasantness, please note the people who do this are rarely Thai and do not reflect the general attitude towards tourists here.

Ao Nang Beach is a definitely a holiday resort in the truest sense in that all businesses are there to cater exclusively for the tourist trade. However, the village of Ao Nang, which used to be a sleepy fishing hamlet, still exists, around 1km back from the beach. There is a strong sense of community here; most local people have not left and many still live 'old-style', in traditional houses.

As always, with holidays abroad, there is a trade-off between convenience and authenticity. If you are looking for a more 'real' Thai experience, you may like to consider renting accommodation near the village, or in Krabi Town, where tourism is very minimal. However, if the prime concern of your holiday is comfort, relaxation and choice, you can do no better than the various pleasures of Ao Nang beach.

HOTELS IN AO NANG

Where to stay in Krabi? A guide to Ao Nang Beach

Should you base your holiday in Ao Nang?

HOTELS IN AO NANG

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