Hello everyone,
It’s no secret – accommodation can make or break a trip, especially if it’s a holiday you’ve been anticipating for a long time. Here are a few things to keep in mind while choosing a location and hotel in Thailand. This article is a guide for where to stay in Phuket, Krabi & Bangkok and it also includes some of my favorite hotel recommendations. Let’s begin?
Where to stay in Phuket, Krabi & Bangkok
1. Phuket
When it comes to Phuket, it is very easy to narrow down and choose the place you’ll be staying. Even though Phuket has a lot to offer, each place is distinct and it is easy to pick one. There are 4 options when it comes to staying at Phuket – Patong, Karon, Kata and Phuket Town.
Patong & Karon is where all the action happens – Parties, lady boys and more. With all the action comes the crowd. Patong is the most frequented location in Phuket so you can imagine how crowded it will be. Karon is the younger sister of Patong. The place is picking up pace, slowly. If you are a party animal – head to either Patong / Karon. However, I would never recommend it. Kata, on the other hand, is more subtle and good for families.
Shyam and I were not interested in partying (or the lady boys :P), and we did not want to stay in Patong, Karon or Kata. To avoid the crowd and chaos, we chose to stay in Phuket Town.
Phuket Town is far from the airport and most of the tourist landmarks, but, it is one of the best neighborhoods to experience the amazing Thai culture. Phuket town is often overlooked in favor of the beaches, but there’s a lot in this place. It is difficult not to love a town that has a laid back charm and a bohemian vibe to it. In this historically rich part of town, you will find shrines, temples (Buddhist and Chinese), ornate and beautifully preserved shops/houses, quaint cafés, and museums. Phuket Town is a more vibrant version of Fontainhas, Goa.
Where to stay in Phuket Town?
We stayed at ‘The Memory at On On Hotel‘ which is yet another historical landmark of Phuket Town. Located along Phang Nga Road, this hotel is a beautiful blend of ancient and modern architectures. This hotel is like a beautiful dream and has a blue and white themed decor. I loved the fact that they had left a lot of open space outside the rooms which are great for relaxing and reading a book. There are a galore of plants and flowers surrounding old wooden verandahs and the tall doors and windows overlook the stunning gardens. The perfect amalgamation of old and new is this hotel.
Apart from the decor and interiors, I loved the fact that they had an in-house washing machine and a clothes dryer. It was such a blessing because who likes to keep the wet, sandy clothes in the bag? I think all beach/tropical hotels should have this facility where you can wash your own clothes. Not only does it save the huge laundry cost at the hotel, it also makes traveling a lot easier.
I highly recommend staying at The Memory at On On Hotel. Another great option within Phuket Town is the Casa Blanca Boutique Hotel. We wanted to stay at Casa Blanca but they were fully booked when we were traveling. Casa Blanca is also housed in a beautiful building and is close to all the sites of Phuket Town.
2. Krabi
Krabi is where all the magic is. 🙂 Without thinking twice, I can tell you that you should stay in Ao Nang if you’re visiting Krabi. The other options would be Krabi Town or Railay Beach.
Unlike Phuket Town, Krabi Town is very plain and could get really boring. I would give Krabi Town a skip.
Railay is a good option if you’re looking for a peaceful holiday. It is also THE PLACE to do Rock Climbing and there is also a school which teaches you that. Railay is a 10 minutes longtail boat ride from Ao Nang. But, what you need to keep in mind is there is no road connectivity to Railay. And within the island, there are no motorized transports as well. The last boat to Railay <-> Ao Nang is at 6 PM. So, after that, you can’t really go into or come out of Railay.
Some great hotels in Railay Beach are listed here. Do check it out if you plan to stay in Railay.
The best place to stay in Krabi is Ao Nang. This place is a perfect beach town. It has the right mix of everything and suits all kind of travelers. It has a massive choice of nightlife, dining, and shopping. Plus, there are many live music restaurants where singers perform until 10 or 11 PM in the night. Ah, so beautiful! Ao Nang is definitely not Patong (thankfully!) but Ao Nang has something for everybody. 🙂
Where to stay in Ao Nang, Krabi?
We stayed at The Capuchin Hotel which was in close proximity to the beaches. Capuchin is a very modern hotel.
Firstly, I loved how spacious and huge the rooms were. Each room had a balcony which was also very spacious. Secondly, I loved the beach bag they provide. It had all the essentials like a mat, towel etc. All you need is your phone, money and this beach bag to go out. I think it is very common for hotels in Thailand to provide beach bags especially the hotels that are in beach towns. It was a new concept for me, though. And, above all, I loved the breakfast which was a combined buffet breakfast with ‘Apple A Day’ resort. By the way, ‘Apple A Day‘ resort is another good option to stay in Ao Nang.
I liked The Capuchin Hotel a lot. The only con that I can think of is that there were no elevators in this hotel and the stairs were very steep. So not recommended if you have elderly people in your group. Apart from this one con, I think Capuchin is wonderful.
3. Bangkok
Bangkok is tricky and whichever part of Bangkok you decide to stay you will be stuck in endless traffic jams. I will stick to Sukhumvit in this post because that is where we stayed. Staying in Sukhumvit was a blessing because of quick access to BTS. Sky trains are the only way you can escape the traffic in Bangkok. We used the metro every day for our commute. Uber is also a great option if you can cover half distance via metro. It saves you money and time.
Sukhumvit is poor on traditional tourist attractions but rich on street shopping, nightlife, malls and restaurants. It is very modern and cosmopolitan. Sukhumvit also houses most of the luxury hotels in Bangkok.
Where to stay in Sukhumvit, Bangkok?
We stayed at Aloft (Sukhumvit, Soi 11) and Four Points by Sheraton (Sukhumvit, Soi 15). These two hotels are in proximity to Nana and Asok BTS and are surrounded by zillions of restaurants, cafe, and malls. We had a great stay in Aloft and Four Points. At Aloft we were on the 32nd floor and had the best view of Bangkok city from our room. Four Points was more of a calm and relaxed setting. Both these hotels are great options in Sukhumvit.
So that was my list of hotel recommendations from Phuket, Krabi, and Bangkok for you. I hope you find it useful. Now, your turn. Comment below and tell me which is your favorite hotel/resort in Thailand? 🙂
That’s it for now. Oh, don’t forget to check out ‘The Store’ which is a personally curated compilation of all my favorite things & products that I use on a day-day basis. I am sure you will love it.
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