Is Krabi Worth It? Why I Spent 2 Weeks There (Solo) with My Kids
When I started planning my month in Thailand, I knew that I wanted somewhere for the first two weeks that I could use as a base. My main priorities were:
Somewhere that felt safe for me and my boys
Somewhere with plenty going on and things to do with the kids
Somewhere that had great access to other parts of Thailnd.
After doing a lot of research, I decided to settle on Krabi. In my previous travels to Thailand, I had only ever passed through Krabi and never stayed, so I had no first hand experience. I started to see a lot online with people calling it a tourist trap, specifically Ao Nang where we were going to be staying, so I did start to have some doubts before I went.
What I would say is that, whilst Ao Nang definitely is busy, the level of business works for families. It is not so busy that you feel surrounded by tourists but it has easy access to pharmacies, 7-Elevens and plenty of food choices, all which are really important for me when I am in one places for a couple of weeks with my sons.
For me, the biggest benefit to staying in Krabi was how accessible it was to other places. If you walk down to Ao Nang beach, on the corner there is a hut where you can book a longtail boat and within 30-40 minutes you are on another island. Places like Railay beach, Hong islands, Poda island, Chicken island, Tup island, and Phra Nang Cave are all really easily accessible from Ao Nang Beach.
A great example for me was one evening I had been telling the boys about when I had been to Thailand in my 20s and one of the places I went to was an island where there are no cars: Phi Phi. The boys were fascinated by this and were keen to go. Once they were asleep, I booked us a ferry from Krabi port and one night’s accommodation in a cute beach bungalow and the next day we were able to go and explore it!
It is also worth mentioning that I felt entirely safe walking around Ao Nang, both in the day and in the evenings, as a solo parent with two young, lively boys. Two boys who do not like to stay right next to me! The locals were all so kind and friendly and I never felt wary when out and about (something which cannot be said about the UK!) Krabi felt like I was in easy mode for the whole two weeks I was there, and it made parenting two young kids a breeze - something I do not say lightly!
Krabi might not be a "hidden gem," but for a 2-week trip with children, it is a functional gem and one I will continue to recommend. If you want rugged, untouched wilderness, go elsewhere. If you want a stress-free, beautiful adventure with your kids, Krabi is 10/10.
