Looking For Hotel

[johnsurin]

Hi all,

I am planning to fly down to Krabi for a few days when I arrive in Thailand about October 22nd, before heading up country to Surin. I have not been down there before so I am asking for some information about hotels and nightlife. I plan on hiring a car from the airport if this is possible, and driving to wherever the hotel is and touring around for a couple of days and also renting a boat for a day to tour the islands. I will be coming with my wife and 3 year old son, but I also like a drink (nothing wrong with that), and deserve one after being stuck in Iraq, and don't want to be stuck in a remote location. So my questions are:

1. Can I hire a car from the airport and what type?

2. Ideally I would like a hotel right on the beach and willing to pay upto about 7000 Baht, but can pay more if need to. Which hotels can anyone recommend?

3. Which is the best beach in Krabi (white sands and scenic views), and is there any nightlife or ways to get where there is, rather than being stuck in one location.

4. What will the weather be like this time of the year.

5. Can I rent a boat (driver included), this time of year to tour the islands and best place to do this.

I have checked Asiarooms and Agoda but would like first hand information by Thaivisa members. Any help and recommendations are greatly appreciated and please give as much explanation or ask any questions you like.

John.....

[mr_lob]

Hi all,

I am planning to fly down to Krabi for a few days when I arrive in Thailand about October 22nd, before heading up country to Surin. I have not been down there before so I am asking for some information about hotels and nightlife. I plan on hiring a car from the airport if this is possible, and driving to wherever the hotel is and touring around for a couple of days and also renting a boat for a day to tour the islands. I will be coming with my wife and 3 year old son, but I also like a drink (nothing wrong with that), and deserve one after being stuck in Iraq, and don't want to be stuck in a remote location. So my questions are:

1. Can I hire a car from the airport and what type?

2. Ideally I would like a hotel right on the beach and willing to pay upto about 7000 Baht, but can pay more if need to. Which hotels can anyone recommend?

3. Which is the best beach in Krabi (white sands and scenic views), and is there any nightlife or ways to get where there is, rather than being stuck in one location.

4. What will the weather be like this time of the year.

5. Can I rent a boat (driver included), this time of year to tour the islands and best place to do this.

I have checked Asiarooms and Agoda but would like first hand information by Thaivisa members. Any help and recommendations are greatly appreciated and please give as much explanation or ask any questions you like.

John.....

I would contact asiareservations.net - they are based here and have the local know-how. i use them for bookings when family com here.

[johnsurin]

Thanks for the website Mr Lob it is appreciated.

However I would rather not use a travel service as I am not exactly a tourist, I know plenty about Thailand, my wife is Thai and we stay up in Surin when I am not working. It's just that I am planning a little trip to Krabi for a few days until I can fly upto Buriram on Monday. I was hoping some of the local expats or people who have been to Krabi could point me in the right direction to suit my needs.

John.....

[leftnose]

...

1. Can I hire a car from the airport and what type?

2. Ideally I would like a hotel right on the beach and willing to pay upto about 7000 Baht, but can pay more if need to. Which hotels can anyone recommend?

3. Which is the best beach in Krabi (white sands and scenic views), and is there any nightlife or ways to get where there is, rather than being stuck in one location.

4. What will the weather be like this time of the year.

5. Can I rent a boat (driver included), this time of year to tour the islands and best place to do this.

.....

1. Yes, but I don't know what model cars are available for rent.

2. Depends on how much luxury you desire, but 7,000 gives you quite a few choices. The beaches that you can drive to in less than an hour from the airport are Ao Nang Beach and Klong Muang Beach. You can also drive to Lanta Island due to the carry ferries but that is more than an hour.

I don't want to recommend any specific accommodation because the last week of October there are usually plenty of vacancies especially in the higher end places, so you can come have a look and choose on the spot. Klong Muang Beach is more isolated than Ao Nang.

3.Best beaches near to Krabi Town are most likely Phra Nang Beach and Railay West Beach but you cannot drive to those two beaches, (you can hire a long-tail boat to get there.) After that, I think Ao Nang would be third and Ao Nang probably has enough night life for you and your family. The problem with Ao Nang is the limited choice of accommodation that is actually beachfront. Most places there require a walk to get to Ao Nang Beach.

4. Weather in October is not very predictable, but the sea is usually still quite choppy at that time.

5. Renting a speedboat should not be a problem at all. Just depends on sea conditions during that time. Nearly all the many tour agencies in Ao Nang or Klong Muang can do this for you. Long-tail boats can be hired directly with their driver.

[nattymatt]

You will get a better rate at the hotels by going through someone like asia reservations.

Crazy but true.

And a "walk in" price is even more expensive......nuts!!!

[meandwi]

Hi all,

I am planning to fly down to Krabi for a few days when I arrive in Thailand about October 22nd, before heading up country to Surin. I have not been down there before so I am asking for some information about hotels and nightlife. I plan on hiring a car from the airport if this is possible, and driving to wherever the hotel is and touring around for a couple of days and also renting a boat for a day to tour the islands. I will be coming with my wife and 3 year old son, but I also like a drink (nothing wrong with that), and deserve one after being stuck in Iraq, and don't want to be stuck in a remote location. So my questions are:

1. Can I hire a car from the airport and what type?

2. Ideally I would like a hotel right on the beach and willing to pay upto about 7000 Baht, but can pay more if need to. Which hotels can anyone recommend?

3. Which is the best beach in Krabi (white sands and scenic views), and is there any nightlife or ways to get where there is, rather than being stuck in one location.

4. What will the weather be like this time of the year.

5. Can I rent a boat (driver included), this time of year to tour the islands and best place to do this.

I have checked Asiarooms and Agoda but would like first hand information by Thaivisa members. Any help and recommendations are greatly appreciated and please give as much explanation or ask any questions you like.

John.....

Good hotel...... The Cliffs. Stayed there a dozen times, love it! Walking distance to the beach, restaurants, night life, good food in house. Pick up and return to airport. Take a local cab, (back of pick up truck) To and from Krabi Town, Behind Vogue Department Store is a very good night market with restaurants,(Two Seasons Restaurant is my choice) and rides for children. A block away at the river, you can hire every type of boat,,cheap! remember to negotiate!

Better hotel.....Nakamanda. Stayed there twice, will go back again. Great food and Spa. directly on the beach. Huge pool. Very quiet and relaxing. No night life though. If you stay here, rent a SUV from the Krabi Airport, so you can drive into town or Ao Nang. Long boats with drivers come every morning to take you around the islands. Pack drinks, food and Toys and have him drop you at one of many islands.

Note: Go to Google Maps and search for Ao Nang and Krabi, Go to satalite and zoom in, search for hotels, all will show up. There is a tab "more" that will show you hundreds of photos of the areas, hotels, beaches, night life, etc. Very cool way to plan your trip.

[frenchFARANGbkk]

Hi,

1. Can I hire a car from the airport and what type?

YES

2. Ideally I would like a hotel right on the beach and willing to pay upto about 7000 Baht, but can pay more if need to. Which hotels can anyone recommend?

SOFITEL CENTARA AO NANG is the best place, as it seems you can pay, and the price is around 6000 thb (at least) a night during low season. They have a private beach behind the cliff, you can go by free boat, but you can also walk as there is a wooden bridge especially built by the resort. It's the bay before railey, and as it's the only resort on the beach no noisy backpackers around.

3. Which is the best beach in Krabi (white sands and scenic views), and is there any nightlife or ways to get where there is, rather than being stuck in one location.

At this time of the year (rainy season) beaches are not super nice there, the best is to go to KOH PEE PEE, 2 hours by speed boat from AO NANG or Krabi town.

Some nightlife, just enough, but not too much, perfect in my opinion.

4. What will the weather be like this time of the year.

I just come back form there, raining a little everyday (often at night or during evening) but not all day long rain, it's ok if you are not looking to sunbath all day.

5. Can I rent a boat (driver included), this time of year to tour the islands and best place to do this.

YES, boats are available everywhere.

Anyway it's the best choice to go to Krabi and tour the islands rather than going to Phuketayya (I cannot stand Phuket anymore), everything is better in Krabi, with the jungle just next to the beach, amazing Thailand.

Enjoy your vacation.

ps: incredible location of the Centara sofitel ao nang krabi

http://maps.google.co.th/maps?hl=en&so...mp;t=h&z=17

Edited October 11, 2009 by frenchFARANGbkk