Ao Nang

Ao Nang reviews

Backchat from the Travelfish community

• Ao Nang - Just about OK for a few days

  I spent six nights here. I didn't mind the first two as it was a bit of a change from island life, but a week later, bad weather forced another four on me. I kept going from feelings of "It's not so bad really" to "I hate it here!"
  
  The first two days were enjoyable as we headed North on a bike to Klong Muang. I only saw Klong Muang and Tubkaek beaches through clouds and a down pour, but they looked lovely, stunning even compared to Ao Nang's gritty sand. The second day we rode to the hot spring waterfall. I live in Japan, the land of hot springs, but was pleasantly surprised at how nice it was: lying in a 40 degree pool with the water rushing over you. It wouldn't be worth it on a hot day though as it is over an hour's ride and you wouldn't be able to stand the heat for that long. I stayed in Friendly Bungalows for 650 and all was good apart from 5:15am mosque wake-ups!
  
  On the second leg, we spent a horrendous night in Chez Anawin in one of the 500 baht fan rooms: full of mosquitoes as the bathroom is not screened and paper thin walls - woken up by chatting neighbours. All of the other budget options were full so took a room in Piyaporn Hotel, just behind the Dragon cafe, Moo 2. 900 baht for a new, clean room with big bathroom, hot shower, fridge, air-con, tea and coffee and nice balcony. The back rooms overlook another resort's garden so are better and 100 cheaper than the front ones. Quiet and great value.
  
  Took a trip to Ko Poda which I had loved before, but it was so crowded it wasn't much fun (still beautiful though). Get to the ticket office on the corner at about 08:30, 300 baht return, wait for 6 people. About 20 minutes wait at that time. The boatman makes a big fuss about what time you want to return, but in reality, you could board any boat back. No need to take lunch as the "boat restaurants" all appear and sell fried rice for about 70 baht.
  
  Walking to the far left of Ao Nang beach, there is a nice beach bar for an evening drink, The Last Fisherman. No food, unfortunately.
  
  A ten minute puff takes you over the headland to the better beach of the Centara resort. You have to sign in. but you are welcomed by friendly security. Pleasant, but the beach isn't a patch on Railay.
  
  Heading right along the beachfront and passed the shops you end up at three, big, open-aired casual restaurants - good atmosphere at night and reasonably priced.
  
  Cheap internet (40b/h) at Amorn mansion just off Moo 2, about 200 metres in Krabi direction from the ticket office.
  
  The main problem for me was the main area and its constant "snake-show, snake show" photo with sorrowful-looking monkey opportunity, "Indian cuisine/suit madam?" "Tickets?" type atmosphere. It was so grating after a few days that I wouldn't really suggest Ao Nang as a base for more than a couple of days: you can get out and about during the day, but have to face the tourist assault during the evenings. For a budget traveller one of Railay's cheaper places is a far better option.

  • Sights & activities
  • History & culture
  • Scenery & environment
  • Eat & drink
  • Traveller's scene
  • Romance
  • Value for money
  • I'll be back (or not)

  By Tennouji (dabbler)
  Written on 25th January, 2011 after a visit to Ao Nang in January, 2011

  
  

• Ao Nang

  Been to Ao Nang several times and your review is misleading. There are loads of good value accommodation a mere 500m to 800m from the beach. There are several good food markets and it has lots of tours that are available and easy to do from snorkelling to rock climbing to kayaking to swimming in hot and cool springs.
  
  The area has low traffic and is quiet scenic so exploring on bike is very good. Only a 20 min ride to Krabi town and that place has two good food markets and a laid back feel.
  
  The beach near the Sheraton at Khlong Muang about 15 mins by bike from Ao Nang is very quiet. There's some restaurants in the area too.
  
  There's a Muay Thai stadium at Nopphora that has fights every Friday night.
  
  You can easily spend a week doing activities in the area.
  
  Your suggestion of Ko Lanta being better is just wrong. There's hardly anything to do on Lanta and the beaches there are no better than West Railay or Phra Nang.
  
  Railay Bay is a lot more expensive and crowded during high season but ok in low season. Ao Nang is very quiet in low season and tour prices are heavily discounted so you can pick up a bargain. Fancy doing a full day snorkelling trip to Phi Phi and Poda (Chicken Island) incl lunch and water for a mere 900 baht/$30? Hard to beat that anywhere in Thailand. You can do kayaking trips to caves for the same price.
  

  • Sights & activities
  • History & culture
  • Scenery & environment
  • Eat & drink
  • Traveller's scene
  • Romance
  • Value for money
  • I'll be back (or not)

  By Krabiman (dabbler)
  Written on 12th January, 2011 after a visit to Ao Nang in July, 2009

  
  

Have your say

• You need to be logged in to add a review.

  Username: Password:

  Not a member? you can join here.

  Review title

  Snappiness encouraged ;-)

  When did you visit here?

  January February March April May June July August September October November December 2013201220112010200920082007200620052004200320022001200019991998199719961995199419931992199119901989198819871986
  

  This gives your review a bit of context - especially if you were last in Chiang Mai in 1932.

  Your review

  (Remotely sensible, non-ranting comments are much appreciated. If you don't like somewhere, please explain why -- it's all far more helpful for others that way.) Serial ranters, loons and spammers will be banished!
  And please, no self-promotional URLs -- that's what your signature field is for.

  So how does it rate?

  On a scale of one to ten (with 10 being outstanding and 1 being bloody awful) how would you rate here under the following criteria?

  Note: Ratings are OUT OF TEN -- not five!

  • Sights & activities: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • History & culture: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Scenery & environment: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Eat & drink: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  • Traveller scene: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Romance 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • Value for money: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
  • I'll be back (or not): 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

  Please note comments are edited for clarity, typos and style before they appear. Ranting tirades, spam and anything else that really belongs somewhere else won't make the cut. If you want to rant, go to Thorntree.

  Please login and refresh this screen before writing your review -- thanks!