Exploring Krabi, Thailand | Our First Stop Around The World!
I’d be lying if I didn’t contemplate turning around during the 48 hours of getting to Krabi. Let me start from the beginning:
First off, in my great idea to save money I booked our flight out of Tokyo from the Narita Airport…that was an hour and $150 away from where we were staying. We did try (so, so hard) to take the train but dear lord is it hard to navigate Japanese transportation & I was not about to miss this flight, so we ate the money and got a Taxi. (PS. if you ever find yourself in the same situation, be sure you book the airport flat rate!) The fun didn’t stop there because Mom was missing some brain cells when she scheduled this flight and didn’t put our middle names on our tickets. If you didn’t know, that’s a big deal. After standing silently at the ticket counter with the agent, I asked if there was an issue & he informed me they could get Ellie to Bangkok, but the rest of us were only going to be stuck at our layover in Beijing. Luckily, we got it handled and made the flight but wow what a freaking start LOL.
After a quick 12 hours in Bangkok, we finally made it to Krabi! Let me tell you, there is no greater welcome than the landscape of Krabi. It’s rock formations covered in the most beautiful green you’ve ever seen everywhere you look. It took about 40 minutes from the airport to get to Ao Nang Beach, where we were staying at the Centara Anda Dhevi Resort and Spa. (Once again, I used booking.com to find this place & got a great discount by booking early and being a genius member.) Never in my life have I stayed at a place with that grand of a title, but being our first destination we decided to treat ourselves (little did we know the cost per night at a 5-star resort would be comparable to a Hampton Inn in Parker, CO.)
This hotel has my whole heart. When you first come in, you’re greeted with a icy cool tea and the warmest welcome from the staff. After upgrading to a family suite they had available, we told Oom, the front desk attendant, about Ellie’s allergies and she immediately put a note in for the whole staff AND alerted the chef to meet with us the next morning and figure out some safe breakfast options (the stress that immediately left my body.) From that moment on, they went above and beyond for us the entire week.
Since we opted for a family room, we had two balconies overlooking the pool and waterslide, a large king bed, bunk bed, and two full sized bathrooms with showers and tubs that even this 6’1 mama was able to fit in. We tested out room service and the cocktail bar the first night and it did not disappoint. There is a daily breakfast buffet that is TO DIE FOR (think omelet bar, fresh tropical fruits, & the best cappucinos at the press of a button), 2-for-1 happy hour at the pool bar from 3-4pm and at the lobby bar from 8-9pm - highly recommend the mango blends and moscow mules. Ice, one of the staff members, guided me through the menu each day for Ellie and be-friended our two girls so much that they still talk about her each night. The spa is a small room right in the heart of the resort, but I had the most incredible 90 minute massage for about a third of what it would cost in America, and struggled not going back for a facial. The kids “Camp Safari” was Ellies favorite place in all of Krabi. Its a small room with some fun activities for the girls and made the perfect spot to get some homeschool done with Joss. Amina, the attendant in there, was another amazing addition to our stay who just went above and beyond to make us all feel so special. I could talk forever about this place and it’s staff, but Centara Anda Dhevi, we will be back!
Our first few days, we lay low and enjoyed the resort and night market scene! We started the first night at Ao Nang Landmark Night Market, which if you’re looking for an authentic, high-energy night market scene - this is your spot! (tip: grab some Singha or Chang beers from the 7-Eleven nearby and carry them in to save some money!) There were so many amazing food options, vendors, and fruit stands to choose from. Matt started with “the best fried rice he’s ever had”, and Joss got a few good slices of pizza and fresh coconut water. I wish I had some allergy cards ready that night, because knowing what I do now Ellie definitely would have been able to eat something, but it felt too overwhelming. Instead, we found “Making Street Smashburger” which was able to prepare a completely safe burger for Ellie and also created a mustard monster in the process.
If you’re someone stressed about traveling to Thailand with allergies, don’t be! With some good allergy cards and some common sense, you can find plenty of options. We downloaded this app called SPOKIN and have been marking as many spots as we can that are “Ellie Safe”, as we like to say. “Spokin’s mission is to make managing food allergies and celiac easier by connecting the community to safe foods, restaurants, bakeries, travel, recipes, and each other.” (You have access to tons of restaurants, hotels, venues, etc that are marked safe or not by other fellow allergy fams, it’s amazing!) Minus Thai Tea, dairy isn’t used very often in Thai cooking and nuts can easily be omitted from a lot of dishes. If you’re like Ellie and have a severe nut allergy, make sure you make it known on your allergy card and places will turn you away if they can’t assure no cross-contamination. Here’s where we ate or got food for Ellie (remember, she is a picky 3-year-old who only wants burgers and chicken nuggets right now, but the staff went above and beyond at each of these establishments.)
Thunder Bites Burger Truck
This street food stand just past Cairo Nights
Fruit blends at nearly every stand you walk past
Mother Marche Supermarket
Surprisingly, 7-Eleven had a ton of bar, pasta, & lunch meat options.
And our hotel, Centara Anda Dhevi.
The next day we went to Monkey Trail on the south end of Ao Nang Beach. It was a quick Tuk-Tuk ride from the hotel (tip: use these everywhere you can, they are affordable, on every corner, and such a fun way to get around town with your fams!), but what we found at the end was like out of a movie. You’re greeted with monkeys hanging out, pretty much putting on a show. While some people were doing so, I would not recommend feeding the monkeys. We watched one climb up on a girl and try to steal her phone once she ran out of snacks! The beginning and end of the trail are steep, but short-lived, wooden stair cases built exactly how you would expect to find in a jungle, mellowed out with a small trail of potato sacks as stepping stones in the middle. About halfway through, you’re rewarded with the spectacular view of a secluded beach surrounded by giant rocks and beautiful landscape. The beach is on resort grounds, but the sand is wide enough to give plenty of space. If you’re looking for shade I would recommend getting there early and setting up camp under the trees, or bringing an umbrella. We spent most of our time swimming in the gorgeous dark turquoise waters and admiring the views around us.
If you’re going with kids, Joss (6) absolutely crushed this hike. Constant encouragement and a hand to hold definitely helped, along with our favorite “we’re going o a ___ hunt” rendition. For Ellie, we threw her in this backpack, but even she wanted to take the trek herself most of the way. I promise you, the end point is well worth it.
Alot of our days here were filled with hanging by the pool, catching up on homeschool, and walking around the lively streets, but we did make sure to schedule this one adventure- a private longtail boat tour around the four islands with Boat and Beyond. I can’t stress enough how amazing of an experience we had! It started with a 7:45am pick-up from our hotel, where we were taken to ________ park to load up. Matt and I both fell in love with how efficient the Thai people are. In America we’d be waiting for at least an hour at the meeting point, but we met our host, Fah, and were immediately whisked away to our private boat and were off with our captain Bid. There is a delicious mint tea waiting for you when you arrive, and the bow of the boat is set up with comfortable cushions and pillows to lounge and enjoy the truly out of this world views. We opted to sit as close to the front as possible, but we loved that there was a covered area to get a break from the sun.
Our first stop was Tub Island, that connects at lowtide to the backside of Chicken island. Part of what made this day so special was how secluded our guides tried to get us. Most places we went, we were one group of very few or no one else at all! We walked the shallow pathway and I think that was the first time that I truly grasped where we were and what we were doing. The views were like nothing I had ever seen.
Next, we went to Chicken Island. Ellie and Joss love to pretend they’re chickens (don’t ask lol), so this was an obvious win for that reason alone. Can you see the chicken head?! While here, we were ancored up completely alone and got to spend some time exploring the waters. Matt and I spent alot of weekends diving in the florida keys when we lived in Miami, but never in my life have I seen coral as alive as this place. Joss was pretty hesitant at first, but she’s such a stud & eventually jumped in too and we all got to enjoy the reef while Ellie hung with Fah on the boat. We were here in February, which is peak jellyfish season and they were definitely out. Bid, our captain, literally picked them up and threw them out of our way (talk about setting a standard for men, okay?) while we were coming to and from the boat. We all got a few minor stings from the tiny ones that aren’t really visible, but never came close to the big ones & nothing that will ruin your day. Just keep your eyes open and you’ll be fine.
Fah gave us the option of checking out Railay Beach or this secret beach next, and it was no question which one we were choosing. The secret beach is settled in a little cove of this massively tall rock island, and inside of it was an incredible cave that we got to climb in and explore. Hands down, my top five favorite experiences of this trip.
The last stop was Poda island, where we were spoiled with a gorgeous thai picnic that included fresh coconut water, fresh juice, cold brew, soft drinks, fried rice, chicken sliders, chicken wings, a special allergen-free meal for Ellie, and desert. There were even beach toys, masks and snorkels, and floaties available for us to use. You do need to pay a special park fee while here, but its worth it for the crystal blue water and all the views. Then, we loaded back up & headed in for shore. The amout they are able to seamlessly fit in on the half-day tour is truly magical, and it’s the perfect length for young kids. Boat & Beyond, thank you for the adventure of a lifetime - we will definitely be back!
Krabi was the perfect location for our first stop. From the breakfast buffet, to the fire shows on the beach each night- everything and everyone made this place so special. As for a family vacation spot, couldn’t think of a beter place. It’s affordable, the thai people adore children, easy to get around (would recommend a stroller if you have young kids!), and there is so much culture to explore. We’re already wanting to come back to visit the Emerald pools, visit Hong Island with Boat & Beyond, check out Railay Beach & find a few other hidden gems we know are out there. Next up is Koh Samui, & if you didn’t think the views could get better, just wait.
