How is Ao Nang now for retirement?

[grumpyoldman]

On 6/28/2024 at 8:42 PM, simon43 said:

As an update, I moved from smoky Laos to temporarily stay in Pattaya while I sort out a few admin things (update bank card etc).  The offer from my wife is still on, but I have had another offer to rent a detached house on Koh Lanta for 6,000 baht. Weighing up the 2 houses, the Lanta one is preferred because it has a garden for my radio antennas. I also have a 6,000 house in Khanom right near to the beach. My suitcases are in Khanom right now and the beach is lovely, but I'd like to do some snorkelling/coral reef visits in my dotage and Khanom beach has none of that.  Coral reefs are more accessible from Ao Nang and Lanta.

 

Anyway, since moving south from Laos to be by the sea, my bronchitis has gone, my coughing and phlegm have gone and I have no need for daily anti-hystamine and mucus thinner medicines :).  Pattaya is not a preferred long-term base for me (cheap condos, hanging 10 meter antenna poles out of the windows upsets the locals!).

Lo and behold, you remove the air particulates, shazaaam, all that disappears.

 

Just had some friends return from Patters, they had a great time. A best buddy's wife had passed away a year earlier, a year of melancholy and then I think Pattaya was a good cure for the guy.

 

I love Koh Lanta, not as much in the low season. Lots of places closed up as they take the brunt of the monsoon winds, but rest of the year, Lanta is great.

[kuma]

On 6/2/2024 at 2:32 AM, Hummin said:

I guess it is free housing? 

 

Ao Nang I lived before it got to well known, and dropped by once or twice a year the last 7 years. Its okay and a place I could live. Never found that air as bad as Isaan or North.

 

And as you say, if you get sick, your x will be there. I think it is a good solution

Really like Ao Nang the few times we have been there to visit. Have some agents showing me the condos in the area///there certainly are not many at all compared to your phukets, pattayas, hua hins etc....wonder why it is the market there is so small? something keeps people from wanting to buy there? (Thai and foreign)?

[it is what it is]

On 5/7/2024 at 8:04 AM, marin said:

Ao Nang did not impress me at all. Just a Thai beach town full of travellers and cheap restaurants that are basically all alike. Hard to find a simple Thai restaurant.  If it was Krabi town a solid yes, but Ao nang is run down and simply dirty.

 

Ao nang is run down and simply dirty.

 

no it's not.

[Hammerheads]

Is there anyone in this post who lives in Ao Nang and would recommend it? I currently live in Bath, UK. It is full of tourists and, quite frankly, it's brilliant having them here. I'm not interested in anyone moaning about petty things that you can find almost anywhere. 

[Hammerheads]

On 5/7/2024 at 8:04 AM, marin said:

Ao Nang did not impress me at all. Just a Thai beach town full of travellers and cheap restaurants that are basically all alike. Hard to find a simple Thai restaurant.  If it was Krabi town a solid yes, but Ao nang is run down and simply dirty.

You may wish to visit Wangsai Seafood restaurant next time. The food is wonderful and the view is beautiful. Sometimes you have to go a little off the beaten track to find the gems.  

[donx]

On 3/16/2025 at 8:55 AM, Hammerheads said:

Is there anyone in this post who lives in Ao Nang and would recommend it? I currently live in Bath, UK. It is full of tourists and, quite frankly, it's brilliant having them here. I'm not interested in anyone moaning about petty things that you can find almost anywhere. 

Although I don't live there since we live in the US, my wife owns a townhouse in Ao Nang that is in a relatively quiet area not far from Noppharat Thara beach which is part of a national park. We rent it out on Airbnb and guests comment about it not being too close, but not too far from Ao Nang beach with plenty of local food options available.

 

Remember that Ao Nang includes a larger area than just Ao Nang beach. There are many less touristy areas within what is called Ao Nang, Krabi.

 

My wife and I plan on buying a piece of land near the mountains in Krabi and building a house there for us to live when we retire.

[grumpyoldman]

On 5/28/2025 at 7:14 AM, donx said:

Although I don't live there since we live in the US, my wife owns a townhouse in Ao Nang that is in a relatively quiet area not far from Noppharat Thara beach which is part of a national park. We rent it out on Airbnb and guests comment about it not being too close, but not too far from Ao Nang beach with plenty of local food options available.

 

Remember that Ao Nang includes a larger area than just Ao Nang beach. There are many less touristy areas within what is called Ao Nang, Krabi.

 

My wife and I plan on buying a piece of land near the mountains in Krabi and building a house there for us to live when we retire.

Clearly the Mrs. is Thai if you are talking ownership in Thailand.

 

Sounds like a good plan, and you are correct, I believe people get pigeon hold into thinking Ao Nang is only Ao Nang Beach area.

 

Hammerheads, not so sure that end of Hat Napparat could be considered "off the beaten track" considering thats where Ao Nang beach road dumps off into Napparat............but to each their own, and yes, food there, aroy.

[KhunLA]

All the tourist hang out in the white area, so plenty of other option in Ao Nang District, or beyond.   Just came back from Ao Luek area, and very scenic, few to no tourist where we were.

 

[K2938]

Just risky to do business with your ex #3. What happens if your future partner does not get along with her or her future partner does not get along with you or whatever other iterations there are imaginable.  It is always an already fraught relationship

 

[Hummin]

21 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

All the tourist hang out in the white area, so plenty of other option in Ao Nang District, or beyond.   Just came back from Ao Luek area, and very scenic, few to no tourist where we were.

 

Ao Nang gets a bit more grown up tourists now these days, and much more relaxed than many other places. The negatives, is around the hot spots is the massive noise of long tail boats during high season. 
 

Great food festival last time I visited along the beach strip. 
 

 

[KhunLA]

35 minutes ago, Hummin said:

Ao Nang gets a bit more grown up tourists now these days, and much more relaxed than many other places. The negatives, is around the hot spots is the massive noise of long tail boats during high season. 
 

Great food festival last time I visited along the beach strip. 

We popped in a couple times during scamdemic, quite nice, though most shuttered.  

 

Prior to that, more than few times, cusps of high season (sept/oct & mar/apr/may), during school breaks.

 

Ibis is nice (budget chain) there.  Quiet, pool in the back, and limestone wall view from higher room's balcony, and a bit from pool area.

 

 

If haven't been over on West side, Nong Thale area, and more your style & budget, with lovely views.  I tried to rent a villa over there during scamdemic, but everything was shut down.

 

 

 

[Hummin]

Just now, KhunLA said:

We popped in a couple times during scamdemic, quite nice, though most shuttered.  

 

Prior to that, more than few times, cusps of high season (sept/oct & mar/apr/may), during school breaks.

 

Ibis is nice (budget chain) there.  Quiet, pool in the back, and limestone wall view from higher room's balcony, and a bit from pool area.

 

 

If haven't been over on West side, Nong Thale area, and more your style & budget, with lovely views.  I tried to rent a villa over there during scamdemic, but everything was shut down.

 

 

 

 There actually good priced higher standard in Ao Nang, and you can got decent hotels for 30k a month with kitchen facilities there. During covid 15k