Where to Stay in Ao Nang

Ao Nang is the tourist center of Krabi Province and is the most popular place to stay in the region for first-time visitors. It has all the tourist amenities and a convenient location to explore all the beaches and inland attractions in Krabi.

I’ve been traveling all across Thailand, visiting popular destinations to hidden gems. Ao Nang felt a bit too touristy and overpriced for my taste, but I still had a great time enjoying the nightlife, dining out, and taking boat trips to Railay Beach, the Hong Islands, and the Four Islands.

I was a solo female traveler looking at a budget-friendly and private place to stay in Ao Nang. However, I booked accommodation spontaneously in the high season, so I didn’t have many options to choose from. I had to book two different hostels during my time in Ao Nang.

In this article, I will help you to find the best places to stay in Ao Nang, including the best areas and recommended hotels in each area. I will also share the details of my stay in Ao Nang at the end of this article. If you are looking for a place to stay in Ao Nang, keep reading.

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Best Areas to stay in Ao Nang

Some of the best areas to stay in Ao Nang, in my opinion, are Ao Nang Beach, Ao Nang Town center (Main Road 4203), Nopharat Thara Beach, Pai Plong Beach, and Ao Nam Mao Beach.

There are a wide range of budget and mid-range hotels on the main road. If you want to stay right on the beachfront, you’ll need to pay a little extra for the prime location.

Ao Nang is a relatively small area, so no matter where you choose to stay, you can easily explore the area on foot, by using tuk tuk, Grab Bike and Taxi.

Although it’s the tourist center of Krabi and packed with accommodations for all budgets, it can fill up quickly, especially during the peak season from November to May. Make sure to book a hotel well in advance if you travel to Ao Nang during this period to have the best deals and quality.

My top hotel picks in Ao Nang:

Luxury: Anana Ecological Resort
Mid-range: Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa
Budget: Phu Pha Aonang Resort & Spa

Best Places to Stay in Ao Nang

1. Ao Nang Beach

If you are looking for a stay right on the beach, choosing a resort on Ao Nang Beach Road is a good option. Ao Nang Beach has a wide range of mid-range 4-star and 3-star resorts and hotels.

Ao Nang Beach is around 1.5km long with white sand, calm water, and lots of shade from the shores. The beach road running parallel with the beach is lined with tourist amenities like restaurants, bars, massage parlors, tailor shops, convenience stores, and fast food chains like Mc Donald.

The middle of Ao Nang Boat is where the long tail boat departs to Railay, Tonsai, Hong islands, Koh Poda, Chicken Island, and Koh Tup. You can easily buy boat tickets directly at the ticket booth on the main road right next to the boat docking area.

Ao Nang Beach is a great place to watch the sunset and enjoy the views of the limestone cliffs. The beach around Ao Nang Soi 17 and the area near The Last Fisherman Bar are popular spots to sit and watch the sun go down. At sunset, you can often see people practicing yoga on the sand.

Ao Nang Beach also has a central location to explore most parts of Ao Nang. It is close to both the main road, Pai Plong Beach, Nopharat Thara Beach, and Railay.

Where to stay in Ao Nang Beach:

Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi

Centara is a popular 4-star mid-range beachfront hotel in Ao Nang. It is located at the intersection of Ao Nang Soi 17 and Soi 15, near the monkey trail to Pai Plong Beach. It is a great location with direct access to the beach and to watch beautiful sunset view.

All tourist amenities along the beachfront and on the main road are located within walking distance from Centara. You can also walk to the long tail boat ticket booth at the corner of Ao Nang Soi 17 and the main road to buy a ticket to get to Railay and Tonsai.

The resort has outdoor pools with lots of sunbeds and umbrellas. It is also home to onsite beach bars and restaurants, as well as massage services. Rooms at Centara are spacious and you can choose rooms with pool access for the best experience.

There is one downside of this hotel is that it is close to a smelly stream running into the seas. I recommend avoiding the river-facing rooms to avoid the pungent smell.

Aonang Villa Resort I Beach Front

This 4-star resort is located right at the busy section of Ao Nang Beach and is just a stone’s throw from the Main Road. It has a prime location close to everything, including the beach and all tourist amenities.

La Medusa Restaurant Ao Nang Villa Resort

The resort has a large outdoor swimming pool with lots of sunbeds and umbrellas. There are also multiple beachside restaurants such as Lan Le Restaurant and La Medusa Restaurant. It is overall a good base for families and couples who want a central location on the beach.

The L Resort, Krabi

The L Resort is located near the northern part of Ao nang Beach. It has a convenient location, just a short walk away from all shops, restaurants, bars, massage places, and beach.

The resort has a lovely pool, great breakfast, and spacious well designed rooms. There are plenty of tuktuks, taxis, and long boats around the hotel, to take you to the night market, or Railay beach.

BlueSotel SMART Krabi Aonang Beach – Adults only

This is a popular 4-star adult-only hotel located on Ao Nang soi 15, just a few steps from Ao Nang Beach. You can easily walk to the main road for more restaurants, bars, and shops.

The hotel has a lovely rooftop pool overlooking the ocean and the limestone cliffs. The road from the main street to the hotel isn’t well lit at night, but the area is generally safe. The hotel is ideal for couples and anyone seeking a peaceful retreat near the beach.

2. Ao Nang Town – Main Road 4203

While the beachfront mostly offers mid-range and high-end accommodations, Ao Nang Town Center or the Main Road 4203 areas have a wider range of hotels to suit all budgets.

Staying somewhere on the main road within a 1km radius to Ao nang beach is a good option, so you can walk or use a short tuk tuk ride to the beach and the longtail boat area easily.

The main road is parked with travel operators, tailor shops, massage parlors, motorbike rental services, fast food eateries, self-service laundry shops, and convenience stores.

It’s home to many restaurants, bars, and cafés, offering a wide variety of Thai and international dishes, including Vietnamese, Indian, Italian, and Japanese cuisine.

You can find reasonably-priced street food stalls on the main road around the local mosque called Masjid Aonang Al-Munuawarah. Most of the shops are run by Muslim Thais, and they serve Halal food.

The main roads are always busy with traffic, crowds, and bars. I stayed at two hostels near the main road but I didn’t experience any noise issues.

Where to stay in Ao Nang Town Main Road:

Holiday Inn Resort

This is a good 4-star mid-range hotel located near the main road of Ao Nang Town center. It is just 500m from the beach and the long tail boat pier. You can also easily walk to a range of tourist amenities like 7-eleven, ATMs, restaurants, bars, and shops.

The hotel has a couple of outdoor swimming pools, 24/7 front desk, and an onsite restaurant. It is a family-friendly hotel with clean rooms with comfortable beds.

Note that the hotel has multiple buildings, and some rooms in the upper areas are accessed by stairs. If you don’t want to work out or have mobility problems, you can request a lower block close to the reception area. The hotel provides a buggy ride from reception to going up.

Panan Krabi Resort

This is a popular mid-range hotel in the central location of Ao Nang. It is only a stone’s throw from the main road, and is an 8 minutes walk to Ao Nang Beach.

The hotel has a rooftop pool, good-sized rooms, lovely breakfast, and helpful staff. You can book tours and day trips with the hotels. It is overall a great base in Ao Nang due to its prime location, great facilities, and warm hospitality.

Krabi Tipa Resort

This 4-star hotel is in a quiet location behind the main road and is just 400m from Ao Nang beach. It has a nice swimming pool, and is surrounded by nature. The hotel is located in the hillside area, and has electric golf cart services to take you up and down the hill if you don’t want to climb.

3. Nopharat Thara Beach

Nopharat Thara Beach is a 2km long beach, located northwest of Ao Nang beach. This area has a quieter atmosphere than the central of Ao Nang, but still has plenty of tourist amenities for a comfortable stay.

This area is home to Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, which is a must-see attraction in Ao Nang. You can try lots of street food, buy souvenirs, enjoy live music, and even watch a Muay Thai show at the boxing stadium at the market.

The west end of the beach is Nopparat Thara Pier, where you can take a boat excursion to Phang Nga Bay, the Four islands, Phi Phi island, and Phuket.

The beach is a great place to watch the sunset, especially at the west end near the Hat Noppharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park. It is also a good picnicking area under the shade of casuarina trees.

The beach has a different atmosphere at low tide and high tide. At low tide, the water recedes far enough that you can walk to the nearby Little Rock Island.

There are a wide range of restaurants on the beach road 4203 running parallel to Nopharat Thara Beach. You can find many big seafood restaurants at the eastern end of the beach.

Where to stay in Ao Nang in Nopharat Thara Beach:

Holiday Style Ao Nang Beach Resort, Krabi

This is a popular mid range resort in the eastern part of Nopharat Thara Beach. It is in a quiet area but just 7 minutes walk from the famous Ao Nang night Market. It is also close to many restaurants, shops, and convenient stores. The resort has good-sized rooms, an outdoor pool, and a lovely dining area.

Holiday Ao Nang Beach Resort, Krabi

This 5-star resort is located in a quiet area near Nopharat Thara Beach. It is 10 minutes walk from Ao Nang Night Market and there is the long tail boat station just across the road.

This is a family-friendly resort with a kid’s pool with slides, kid’s club, and teenage club. All other facilities at the resorts like rooms, spas, and restaurants are very well maintain.

Aonang Buri Resort

This mid-range 4-star hotel is located just across the road from Nopparattara beach. It is close to many tourist amenities and the night market. They have a nice pool and are comfortable. It is overall a good base for a quiet holiday close to everything.

4. Pai Plong Beach

Pai Plong Beach is a secluded beach with stunning rock formations, located south of Ao Nang Beach. If you want a remote location for a quiet holiday, this is a good base.

The beach is accessible from Ao Nang Beach by hiking or taking the long tail beach. The steep Monkey trail connected Ao Bang and Pai Plong beach. The hike is around 15 minutes and is best to do during daytime.

There is only one luxury 5-star hotel located in Pai Plong Beach called Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi. The resort has its own pier, and they have complimentary shuttle boat services in fixed schedule to Ao Nang beach.

Where to stay in Ao Nang in Pai Plong Beach:

Centara Grand Beach Resort & Villas Krabi

This is the only resort on the remote Pai Plong Beach. It has spacious rooms with beautiful ocean views. The resort has a lovely pool, spa services, and kayaking rentals. If you are looking for a peaceful beach destination to disconnect and relax in nature, this is the best choice for you in Ao Nang.

5. Ao Nam Mao Beach

Ao Nam Mao Beach is located just 10 minutes drive from Ao Nang Beach. It is a good location for those who want a quieter atmosphere, local vibe, and plan to rent a scooter to explore the region.

Ao Nam Mao has a pier where you can take a boat to Railay East Pier in Railay, tour to Hong islands and the Four islands.

The beachfront is lined with several nice beach bars and restaurants which are great places to chill and watch the sunset. This area is still undeveloped but you can find a few tourist amenities like restaurants, and shops in the village near the pier for a comfortable stay.

This area has some local attractions like Fossil Shell beach and Shell Cemetery. There are activities like Horse Riding on the beach.

There are several small hotels and resorts scattered around the beachfront and the village. It is best to rent a scooter when staying in this area to get to Ao Nang for more dining options.

Where to stay in Ao Nam Mao Beach near Ao Nang:

Where did I stay in Ao Nang? – My personal experiences

I booked the hotel at the last minute, so I went with the available options that fit within my budget. These are Fah Sai Hostel and Koko Party Hostel. It was mid-January, during the peak season, so the prices had spiked and most hotels were already sold out.

Since neither of those hotels was available for the entire length of my stay, I had to book two different ones. They are located within walking distance of each other, so getting from one place to the other was easy on foot. I also saved money on transportation when moving between the two hotels.

If you are traveling to Ao Nang in the high season (November to May), make sure to book your accommodations well in advance. This will allow you to choose good priced and quality hotels.

Fahsai Hostel

Fahsai is located in the heart of Ao Nang Town center, close to everything. There are hundreds of shops, restaurants, and bars on the main road, within walking distance from the hotel. It is also 600m from Ao Nang Beach and the long tail boat ticket booth where I booked a boat ticket to Railay and Tonsai.

It was also easy to find ATMs to withdraw the money. Otter House Aonang Laundromat is just five minutes walking distance away.

Lots of local Thai restaurants, Vietnamese, Indian, fast food eateries, and halal shops are nearby. For cheaper foods, fruits, and smoothies, you can walk to the stalls in front of Masjid Aonang Al-Munuawarah.

My room was an 8-bed mixed dormitory room with a shared bathroom outside of the room. The room was quite spacious and clean.

My bed has a thick curtain, which is good to block the light and keep privacy. The bed sheet was clean. There is a locker with a key on the side of the bed as well as a power outlet and light next to it.

The common area on the ground floor and the second floor have stunning views of the limestone cliffs. There is an outdoor pool on the ground floor with bed chairs to chill and sunbathe. The onsite bar and restaurant is on the second floor.

They have a water filtration station, so you can fill it for free. There is a party hostel located right next to Fahsai, but I stay in the back room, so I didn’t hear any noise.

The hostel also helped store my suitcase before checking and after check out. When I ordered an InDrive taxi, the driver picked me up right at the hostel. The cost to get to Krabi Town is just 300 baht..

Koko Party Hostel

As the name suggests, Koko is a party hostel. I’m not interested in parties or nightlife, but since it was the only option available when I booked, I chose it.

The hostel has a central location in the town center of Ao Nang, within walking distance to all tourist amenities. You can easily walk to all restaurants, bars, shops, travel agencies, and convenience stores.

I booked a 6-bed female dormitory room with a private bathroom and big lockers. The room was on the 3rd floor and there was no lift, so it was a bit challenging carrying my medium suitcase up and down.

The bed was not at its bed but it was an overall safe place to stay for a couple of nights. The bar on the ground floor was very busy from the evening onward. The breakfast was included in the room price. It was simple with toasties, yogurts, fruits,… but good enough for a budget hostel.