Where to stay in Krabi: Best areas and locations for Malaysians

Krabi is both a town and a province in southern Thailand, offering brilliant beaches, unusual land- and seascapes, and a great jumping off point for boat trips to many popular Thai islands. But what’s the best place to stay in Krabi to make the most of all the options?

This guide explores where to stay in Krabi for couples, where to stay in Krabi with family and where to stay in Krabi near the beach, to get you excited about your trip, no matter what you’re planning. We’ll also share more about the Wise card, a handy way for you to save while spending abroad.

What types of accommodation are there in Krabi?

Krabi covers a pretty large area, including islands, beaches, towns and more rural inland areas. This means that the choice of accommodation type is huge. You’ve got hotels and hostels, villas and B&Bs, but you could also pick a farm stay in an inland area, or a quirky glamping option in a converted bus by the beach.

Krabi’s economy has quite a focus on tourism, which means that accommodation is plentiful in most areas, and all price points are covered. To get some ideas, have a glance at an umbrella site like Booking.com¹ or AirBnB² which offer many different accommodation types and sizes, for inspiration.

And if you need more, this guide gives loads of ideas of which area to stay in Krabi based on the type of trip you’re taking.

Is Airbnb legal in Thailand?

Yes. AirBnB is legal in Thailand provided the host complies with all relevant Thai law³. Depending on the property size and primary use, for example, the host might need to get a hotel license, and all properties used for rented accommodation must adhere to strict safety standards.

If you plan on using the service, only use reputable AirBnB hosts with good customer feedback to make sure you get a great deal and a property you’ll enjoy spending time in.

Where to stay in Krabi for couples?

You can fly to Krabi from KLIA in under one and a half hours, making this a good choice for a couples getaway. There’s lots of choice of what to do in Krabi once you’re there - if you just want to chill on the beach or by the pool, that’s fine, but there are also outdoor activities, culture and loads of good eating to consider. Let's take a look at some ideas of where to stay in Krabi as a couple.

Tubkaek

Arguably, the best area to stay in Krabi for a luxury getaway is Tubkaek (also Anglicised with different spelling, including Tab Kaek or Tubkaak). You’ve got your pick of 5 star hotels, from popular global chains to boutique places, which usually have excellent amenities including spas and water sport equipment, ocean views and wonderful restaurants. The area is fairly quiet, but once you’ve had your fill of the beach there are also hiking options nearby if you’re looking for adventure.

Railay

You can only get to Railay by boat - either arranged by your resort, or one of the public boats which ply the coastline all day. Railay is home to amazing Karst rock formations which bring in lots of climbers and other adventurous folk - but if you’re thinking of something more sedate, a dinner on one of the beaches may be more in order. Railay also offers the unusual experience of taking a clear bottom kayak or SUP out at night to view bioluminescent plankton as it twinkles in the darkness - well worth it if you’re there.

Where to stay in Krabi with family?

Krabi can make a top family destination with lots of fun activities to get involved in, as well as the obvious beach time. If you’re more interested in getting an insight into local life than topping up your tan, Krabi Town should be on your list - while heading to an island like Koh Lanta is a manageable and exciting trip, even for younger families.

Krabi Town

Krabi Town is a good place to stop for a night or two at least, to visit night markets and see what local life is all about. You’re not very close to the best beaches but there are still important cultural and religious sites to visit, activities like cooking classes and local wet market visits, and it’s also a good place to pick up a ferry for island hopping or to continue your trip on one of the islands we’ve picked out in this guide.

Koh Lanta

At the very south of Krabi district, Koh Lanta is an island but has road access to make it easier to reach with the family in under 2 hours from the airport. Famous for diving and snorkeling, Koh Lanta is quiet with stunning beaches, coral reefs, and amazing sunsets. It’s not got the touristy feel that much of Krabi has, making this a good pick for a quieter stay to enjoy relaxing, eating and dipping your toes in the turquoise waters.

Where to stay in Krabi near the beach?

We may have saved the very best Krabi beach ideas for last. Depending on what you want, Ao Nang is an accessible and popular family destination and a good base to explore, while Koh Phi Phi has a reputation for being one of the most beautiful clusters of Thai islands out there. While Krabi has a lot to offer in addition to beaches, peak season tourists arriving November to April will usually spend at least some of their stay exploring the water - check out these options for a guaranteed good time.

Ao Nang

Ao Nang is one of the main tourist beaches in the mainland of Krabi, and is very well set up with accommodation, eateries and activities for all budgets and interests. The beach isn't huge at about 2 km long, but there are handy facilities and shops, and you can watch the longtail boats - or use this as a location to pick up a boat ride out to explore the islands. The beach gets good sunsets and is generally pretty clean and well maintained making this a good all round pick if your main reason for hitting Krabi is to get to the beach.

Koh Phi Phi

The Phi Phi Islands are off the coast of Krabi and easily accessible by speedboat or long tail boat. You’ll see sheer cliffs dotted along the coastline with clear waters and small coves. You can swim, snorkel, dive or just enjoy relaxing on the beach and taking in the view. The islands do get pretty busy, and there are plenty of day trippers, so pick your accommodation according to how much you want to be part of the buzz, versus getting your own little retreat.

Krabi is a lovely destination just a short flight from Malaysia, with everything from budget to luxe accommodation, relaxing spots to adrenaline activities, great food and friendly people. No matter whether you’re heading out there alone, as a couple or with the whole family, you’re sure to have a good time.

Save even more on your travels when paying in foreign currency with the Wise card

Check out Wise and the Wise card for a great - low cost - way to spend while you’re away from home. Top up in MYR from your bank or with a card, and manage your money in THB with the mid-market rate and low, transparent fees.

You can use your Wise card to spend in 150+ countries around the world, in over 40+ currencies. Start spending with your free virtual card, or order a physical Wise card for a one time fee. This grants you some free ATM withdrawals of up to 1,000 MYR each month as you travel, to save time waiting at a money changer.

Choose to convert your MYR to THB in advance at your desired rate, or leave it to Wise’s auto conversion and spend in MYR directly. All Wise currency exchanges use the rate you see on Google, so you’ll know you’re getting a great deal without the hassle.

This guide gives you some food for thought on where to stay in Krabi - and to keep the costs as low as possible while you’re away, why not also take a look at Wise and the Wise card for a great - low cost - way to spend while you’re away from home.

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Sources:

1. Booking.com
2. AirBnB Krabi
3. AirBnB Help