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How is Ao Nang now for retirement?

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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.

  • 5 months later...
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  • BritManToo
    BritManToo

    Your past posts lead me to believe you won't be happy wherever you are.

  • 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 ye

  • Hammerheads
    Hammerheads

    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.  

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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)?

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.

  • 2 months later...

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. 

  • Popular Post
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.  

Screenshot_2025-03-16-13-01-12-340_com.android.chrome-edit.jpg

  • 2 months later...
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.

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.

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.

 

image.png.2253ff3750e7b11594104a6a698813ac.png

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

 

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.

 

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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. 
 

 

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.

 

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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.

 

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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.

 

image.png.f5bdc8d8e50da03d344d9a088663a3e1.png

 

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.

 

image.png.715b1c83b88e8ba8adf4a21d0b81ef5d.png

 

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 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

18 minutes ago, Hummin said:

 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

Really can't be away from home for more than 10 days, at most.  Let alone a month in one place.

Just now, KhunLA said:

Really can't be away from home for more than 10 days, at most.  Let alone a month in one place.

Sometimes we packed up the car with the bikes and headed south for a few months. 

 

IMG_2220.jpg.7fc5840c741700298a219aa69f94c1f3.jpgIMG_2201.jpg.23e86aa3d52966fe0a574f0b93fdb897.jpg

1 hour ago, Hummin said:

Sometimes we packed up the car with the bikes and headed south for a few months. IMG_2201.jpg.23e86aa3d52966fe0a574f0b93fdb897.jpg

I don't think I've stayed anywhere for even 1 week, the past decade or more.  Get bored quick, as been most places, too many times.  Really is a small country.

 

Having a pool with a view definitely helps.  Thinking of popping back to Phuket next week, and Ao Nang area (on topic 🙄), since yakkin' about it.  If can find quiet place with view to stay.  Ibis as last resort, though prefer someplace new.

 

Our go to at Phuket, if not staying at North shores ...   Secret Cliff @ hilltop between Patong & Karon beaches. Quiet and away from tourist.

 

Was ~4k a night when real high season kicked back in, after scamdemic.   Off season prices again, not like we'd swim in the surf this time of year anyway.

 

Think we stayed there 4 times during scamdemic.  Last time was May 2023, and beaches were packed.  Surprisingly for off season.  Traffic and lack of parking was annoying.  Hopefully calmed down now.

 

 

11 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

I don't think I've stayed anywhere for even 1 week, the past decade or more.  Get bored quick, as been most places, too many times.  Really is a small country.

 

Having a pool with a view definitely helps.  Thinking of popping back to Phuket next week, and Ao Nang area (on topic 🙄), since yakkin' about it.  If can find quiet place with view to stay.  Ibis as last resort, though prefer someplace new.

 

Our go to at Phuket, if not staying at North shores ...   Secret Cliff @ hilltop between Patong & Karon beaches. Quiet and away from tourist.

 

Was ~4k a night when real high season kicked back in, after scamdemic.   Off season prices again, not like we'd swim in the surf this time of year anyway.

 

Think we stayed there 4 times during scamdemic.  Last time was May 2023, and beaches were packed.  Surprisingly for off season.  Traffic and lack of parking was annoying.  Hopefully calmed down now.

 

 

 

Quiet with view and reasonable priced is 3 good key words, and not easy to find these days.

 

Enjoy Stay outside Khao Lak on the way down from Ranong. Have a nice loop down to Chumphon over the mountains, a few days or more at Koh Phayam before heading south down to Krabi, Trang, Satun and over to the gulf islands. 

 

A good option to live is South of Khao Lak, not so far from an international airport and a larger city.

3 minutes ago, KhunLA said:

  Ibis as last resort, though prefer someplace new.

 

 

 

 

 

Been over 40 times to Ao Nang in the past 10 years and stayed at many 3/4 *Hotels there but never at the Ibis....been in and looked around pool is good but that,s about it....Andaman Breeze just behind is much better.....stayed there earlier in March and Phu Pi Maan a couple of weeks ago.....Sugar Marina/Seeseeker/Infinity and Centara Phu Pano are much better options.....if it,s budget you want try Silver Orchid or Marina Express.

4 minutes ago, petermik said:

Been over 40 times to Ao Nang in the past 10 years and stayed at many 3/4 *Hotels there but never at the Ibis....been in and looked around pool is good but that,s about it....Andaman Breeze just behind is much better.....stayed there earlier in March and Phu Pi Maan a couple of weeks ago.....Sugar Marina/Seeseeker/Infinity and Centara Phu Pano are much better options.....if it,s budget you want try Silver Orchid or Marina Express.

Pet friendly decides where we stay, so very limited choices.

Many nice hotels in the area 100%.

 

Topic being for retirement, don't sleep on Krabi Town. Not so far from Ao Nang waterfront, a ton of great restaurants including riverside seafood, pricing tends to lean a bit more to the Thai side.

  • 1 month later...
On 6/4/2025 at 12:48 PM, KhunLA said:

I don't think I've stayed anywhere for even 1 week, the past decade or more.  Get bored quick, as been most places, too many times.  Really is a small country.

 

Having a pool with a view definitely helps.  Thinking of popping back to Phuket next week, and Ao Nang area (on topic 🙄), since yakkin' about it.  If can find quiet place with view to stay.  Ibis as last resort, though prefer someplace new.

 

Our go to at Phuket, if not staying at North shores ...   Secret Cliff @ hilltop between Patong & Karon beaches. Quiet and away from tourist.

 

Was ~4k a night when real high season kicked back in, after scamdemic.   Off season prices again, not like we'd swim in the surf this time of year anyway.

 

Think we stayed there 4 times during scamdemic.  Last time was May 2023, and beaches were packed.  Surprisingly for off season.  Traffic and lack of parking was annoying.  Hopefully calmed down now.

 

 

choke me in the shallow waters before I get too deep ?

  • Popular Post
On 6/4/2025 at 12:01 PM, Hummin said:

Sometimes we packed up the car with the bikes and headed south for a few months. 

 

IMG_2220.jpg.7fc5840c741700298a219aa69f94c1f3.jpgIMG_2201.jpg.23e86aa3d52966fe0a574f0b93fdb897.jpg

Yea we love road warrior livin here, no bikesd, well we bring the 125 honda to get around, but got a camper for the back of the truck and we go go go whereever we like stay as long as we wish and havev complete freedom with that camper - its great. Hop from park to park across the country, so many great places to bed down. We did stop in Krabi in 2020 and as mentioned it was pretty clapped out. We did really like it though so sinve then have purchased two condos, one for rental and for when friends visit and one we keep to have a base when we overland down south. We have two cats so the camper is almost needed as very few hotels will take pets and of the ones that do many have said one cat ok but no to two....so we do not have those troubles anymore...the camper is their home on the road as well

sounds good, why not give it a go, if you fine it is not for you after a while then you can move.

  • 2 weeks later...

Kuma, you've lost me.

 

"Retirement in Ao Nang"; so you have two properties in Ao Nang (y/n?) One you rent out, (I'm interested), and one is the "retirement residence"? But really you prefer to travel in the camper, not really retired in Ao Nang?

 

Need to start a new thread, "Retired in Khao Lak" as I like that coastline better than murky Ao Nang.

Blimey, you really are all over the place aren't you, you have been putting up these types of posts for years now. Wherever I lay my hat etc.

 

The other month you were going back to the UK.

 

I look forward to your new thread in 3 years titled ''I'm leaving Ao Nang. where next?''

5 minutes ago, Stuck in Thailand said:

Blimey, you really are all over the place aren't you, you have been putting up these types of posts for years now. Wherever I lay my hat etc.

 

The other month you were going back to the UK.

 

I look forward to your new thread in 3 years titled ''I'm leaving Ao Nang. where next?''

Topic is a year old

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