Krabi over Christmas
Hi,
Is it worth staying in one hotel in krabi over Christmas for 5 days (23-28) and then just doing day trips to any islands or should we do something else?
Thanks
It really depends on what you actually want to do & see on your trip, and what you would prefer to do
There is no right answer as its a personal decision each individual makes themselves really
Where in Krabi are you thinking of staying ?
I had 3 weeks there in Feb 2024, & spent all but a couple of days on Ko Lanta
Thank you.
For the trip, our flights include
Bkk 2 days,
Krabi 5 days
Hanoi 3 days
Phu Quoc 5 days.
Happy to just relax really, just don't want to spend a fortune on krabi hotel accommodation (tubkaak, banyan tree and the likes) if others recommend visiting different islands every day and we are hardly in the expensive resort.
If you mean Krabi TOWN it's a GREAT idea.
Krabi town is cheap and charming, the polar opposite of Ao Nang. No 5 night minimums over Christmas or mandatory galas (read overpriced buffet). Khlong Muang another option.
Avoid Ao Nang and Railay at all costs over the circus that is Christmas. Really avoid all the famous places.
You can get a longtail boat along the riverside to go to the offshore islands or Princess Cave beach at end of Railay peninsula (the best on the mainland in all of Thailand).
On another note; I highly suggest you skip Phu Quoc which has been thoughly Sinicized like all of Cambodia and go to the awesome Con Dao islands instead. Pure magic of a place just coming into its prime vs way past its prime Phu Quoc.
Also we were in Ha Noi in December and the air polution was the worst I've ever had to endure AQI over 250! Its horrendous in mid winter. Id skip and go to Ha Long Bay instead.
Plenty of hotel options in Aonang who don't have a compulsory dinner over Christmas!
Aonang is the best place to base yourself for daytrips.
Krabi Town is worth a trip but will possibly get boring after a few days if you stay there.
Boring is a relative term. If you are a drinker/party animal then Ao Nang is better for you. There are more group tours departing from there that is also true. But it attracts huge crowds of bottom end travellers, has a lousy beach, is a magnet for touts and is very noisy and traffic choked. Krabi's answer to Patong, Pattaya or Khao San Road. Worst place in Krabi province by a huge factor.
Krabi town is still very Thai and not overly touristy. One of the best Italian restaurants in the South has a huge sign out front saying "No we do NOT have a branch in Ao Nang." The owner's attitude towardsAo Nang matches my own.
''huge crowds of bottom end travellers'' - very snobbish and unrealistic comment. How are these travellers below your good self?
''has a lousy beach'' - not the best beach around, but there are many great beaches just a short boat ride away
Yes Khlong Muang and Railay WEST are both much better beaches than Ao Nang, not to mention princess cave beach the best of all, which is why I suggested alternatives to Ao Nang. Staying in Krabi town its still not a long ride, about 30 minutes along a lovely coastline in smooth water, and we go directly to the best beach on the mainland of Thailand skipping Railay. You can also get private longtail to the incredible Hat Nappharat Thara-Mu Ko Phi Phi National Park which, while a bit longer ride, is way more fun than the group tours from Ao Nang. We go at dawn so we enjoy the islands before the hordes of packed group tours arrive. At Christmas, OP's query, this is particularly important to escape peak season crowds which swarm the islands at midday.
Hello, what trips do you suggest? We already did Phi Phi and James Bond , a couplw of yeats ago from Phuket. Did you use an agency for trips? Can you recommand somebody?
Best part of Krabi, for someone that likes a few drinks, not a party animal though, a quieter part with good restaurants and bars, for a Christmas break.
