My Trip to Koh Lanta & Krabi
Weather
Although still the tail end of rainy season (we arrived 27th October) we had great weather and during our 9 days visit we only had 2 days where we had a terrific downpour late afternoon and then back to sunshine so it didn't bother us at all.
Crowne Lanta
We stayed at the Crowne Lanta in Koh Lanta which was a lovely hotel and worth upgrading to the swim up room (see picture) as you just walked out into a lovely cool pool. There was a great reggae bar on the sea front where you could watch the sunset which was amazing. The pool bar was lovely and served great cocktails - cocktails were about £6 but they had offers on at certain hours at both bars.
Location
The Hotel was a bit out of town, but the hotel offered a shuttle into Saladan (but not much there really) so we got a Tuk Tuk to Long Beach where there were a lot more bars and restaurants to choose from along the main road or on the beach front cost about £3 pp each way.
Local Trip
We went on a snorkelling trip to Koh Rok which stopped in about 3 places for snorkelling and then stopped on Koh Rok island for lunch and a bit of sunbathing. Great trip and well worth it for the beautiful sites and snorkelling it offered. It picked up from the hotel and was about 1.5 hours by boat and a full day trip from 8-4 pm and cost was approx. £30 pp and well worth it but take your tablets if you get sea sick.
You must take a ferry to get to Koh Lanta which is about 2.5 hours from Krabi airport. It’s great to be able to do a twin centre without having to take a flight between the two so although 3 hours between resorts we stayed at there is no messing around with airports, the taxi just takes you on the ferry which is about 30 minutes and then a further 2 hour drive the other end.
Dusit Thani Krabi (their claim to fame is the Hangover 2 had a short filming in the reception area which I had to watch when I got back). An amazing hotel very friendly with well-kept gardens with ponds scattered throughout. On a beautiful beach with great sunsets with a cocktail bar selling 2 for 1 cocktails from 5-6pm in perfect time for the sunset. Cocktails at the hotel were expensive but for a 5* hotel you expect that approx. £8 but if you sign up for Dusit Thani customer you get 20% off everything so well worth it.
Thai Massage
Great little massage place right next to the hotel at less than half the price - I had a back and shoulder massage for about £10 which was so relaxing, and they offer a range of treatments.
Eating & Drinking
There are a few restaurants right outside the hotel and to the right of the entrance and a couple of minute walk there was a cocktail bar which was lovely as they were so friendly, and it became our favourite.
if you turn left and walk 15 minutes there are many other restaurants and bars and just by the reggae bar where you walk down to the beach which we only found on our last couple of nights were some lovely restaurants and bars where you could watch the sun go down.
Our favourite meal was at Sa-Ing which was on Klong Muang beach front we had a variety of dishes and they were all great. Food is great value on both islands a 2-course meal and cocktail/drink approx. £12.
Nearby
You can get a taxi into livelier AoNang for about £10 (20 minutes journey). Great if you like nightlife as there are lots of restaurants and bars and we went to a great bar called Boogie Bar which had great live bands. We also ate at a great restaurant that was recommended called Jungle Village.
We did have to wait 30 minutes for a table as there was 8 of us and its very popular so found a bar nearby and it was worth the wait as the food was great. We had a variety of dishes and all at a great price with it being about £10 pp with drinks and 2 courses.
I loved Koh Lanta and Krabi and although the hotels were very different, I loved the Crowne Lanta as it was more authentic and the swim up room was a bonus. The Dusit Thani was a lot bigger with lovely grounds and set on a lovely beach but both very friendly and welcoming and I wouldn't hesitate to return or recommend both.
The drive back to Krabi airport from the Dusit was about 35 minutes not a lot to do at the airport just a few shops and snack bars but very efficiently run. We flew with Thai Airlines via Bangkok which was my first time and I couldn't fault them either.
Thanks for reading!