Best Boutique Hotels in Krabi, Thailand

The 39-room Nakamanda Resort and Spa is an upscale romantic retreat on a secluded cove with traditional Thai decor and attractive tropical grounds. An outdoor pool and an open-air bar with two private terraces face the Andaman Sea, and there’s also a full-service spa and a fitness center. Stylish, modern villas have soaking bathtubs, and some come with kitchenettes and hot tubs or pools. Nakamanda Resort & Spa provides a romantic retreat, but the property’s many steps and rocky shores are less than ideal for kids or guests with limited mobility.

On a pretty beach overlooking the iconic limestone karsts of Phang Nga Bay, this luxuriously rustic boutique resort is surrounded by lush jungle. The property’s 59 contemporary rooms include several spacious villas with private plunge pools and hot tubs tucked into the jungle. With a full-service spa, outdoor pool, and a list of tours and activities, the resort offers everything needed for a relaxing or adventurous vacation, though it's 10-minute drive from the nearest village and 35 minutes from Krabi town.

This 57-room boutique resort hotel holds a private spot on Thailand’s gorgeous Tubkaek Beach. Luxurious rooms and villas are furnished with local accents and gorgeous natural wood, and feature massive bathrooms and private balconies -- some even have private plunge pools or hot tubs. Although it is a little isolated, being 10 minutes from the nearest village, the property offers all the ingredients for a relaxing beach vacation for couples in particular, with its full-service spa, swimming pool, delightful beachfront restaurant, and view of the Hong Islands. Prices in the on-site restaurant and bar can be a bit steep, though, and shuttle transport into town can add up.

The Houben is a chic, upscale boutique hotel that's a sleek choice in Koh Lanta's far south jungles. It's a six-minute walk to Kantiang Beach, and three minutes to Kantiang village, a slow-paced local hub with plenty of delicious street food. All 15 rooms have contemporary, funky design with walls of windows that lead out to private furnished balconies and views of the Andaman Sea. Some of the more expensive rooms have outdoor jetted tubs.

The 40-room Ban Sainai Resort is an upper-middle-range property nestled amid gorgeous tropical landscaping and views of Krabi's limestone karsts. Several restaurants and bars are within walking distance, but the beach is about a five-minute drive and the hotel provides free tuk-tuks to the shore. Rooms are spacious and have bright details, with flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and air-conditioning. All also have balconies or terraces with lovely views. Breakfast is free, and lunch and dinner are also served, but beware that alcohol isn't available. The outdoor pool is beautiful and relaxing, and massage services can be arranged, but there is no spa. 

The Centara Anda Dhevi is one of Ao Nang's more elegant resorts. Located on a side street just up from the beach in central Ao Nang, the Centara is surrounded by other high-end boutique properties. Thai-style rooms have balconies or terraces as well as marble bathrooms with separate tubs and rainfall showers. There's a large swimming pool with a small waterslide, and the on-site Palm Court Restaurant is among Ao Nang's finest, serving gourmet international cuisine. The only major drawback beside the high room rates is that the nearby beach isn't the most pleasant in the area. 

Long Beach Chalet is a small, rustic value resort located towards the southern end of Long Beach, Lanta's longest strip of sand on the island's west coast.  There are 27 bungalows here, and standard accommodations are pleasant enough, with wooden floors, traditional thatched roofs, and hammocks. Sea View, Deluxe Sea View, and Beachfront Villas are more luxurious. However, bathrooms are located outside of the rooms in some units (though they're extremely close and still private to each unit)  Resort features include a small swimming pool with a whirlpool and a waterfall, plus a beachfront restaurant.

Chaw Ka Cher Tropical Lanta Resort is a small garden resort that has cheerful and bright comfortable rooms of varying sizes, set amid a lush tropical garden and around a small swimming pool. The resort is just south of Koh Lanta's longest beach, the aptly named Long Beach, and it is a pleasant escape from the Lanta crowds. Accommodations here are in stylish bungalows with sloped traditional roofs; all have safes, mini-fridges, and TVs. In addition to the garden pool, there is also a small open-air massage area here for spa treatments. While the resort is not next to the beach and not close to other restaurants and shops, there is a shuttle run to the town and ferry pier each day, plus tuk tuk taxis and scooter rentals are available.

The 34-room AliSea Boutique Hotel is an upper-middle-range property located off the main road in Ao Nang, within walking distance of beaches, restaurants, bars, and shops. Its attractive rooms are styled with charming a mix of Thai and Mediterranean decor, and they feature air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, mini-fridges, and balconies or terraces. Some have outdoor tubs. The hotel's Italian restaurant gets rave reviews, and the rooftop infinity pool is a big plus, as is the spa. A billiard table and small cinema room are popular on rainy days. 

Moonlight Bay Resort is a small mid-range property with 26 rooms set on the coast of tiny, rocky Khlong Toab beach, and is somewhat isolated from the larger resorts to the north and south. With only one other resort nearby, Moonlight Bay feels secluded and a bit wild, with the rocky shoreline at its doorstep. Rooms have well-maintained hardwood floors, plus terraces, flat-screen TVs, and free Wi-Fi; and the resort has been undergoing extensive renovations in 2015. Beach Front Rooms have decks with whirlpools. Moonlight Bay has a spa with Swedish massage treatments and ancient Thai therapies, and a library. Moonlight Bay is for those seeking seclusion, but some may find the location inconvenient.