A 3D2N Getaway to Krabi for less than RM 1000!

Hi all, I just came back from a short weekend trip to Krabi! As most of you have asked, how can we afford to go abroad so often? It is actually very simple: make use of public holidays or long weekends and use some money management and budgeting.

We always know how much we have and how much we are going to spend even before our trip. I hope this little budgeting table below will help you in your planning to Krabi. With towering limestone cliffs, soft white sand beaches, small coves and many offshore islands around; Krabi is definitely a great holiday destination. My only gripe was 3 days is definitely too short to enjoy what Krabi has got to offer.

Flight (Subang Airport to Krabi)*	350		Malindo Air
Data Roaming (RM 32/day)	96		Digi
Hotel (Mercure Krabi Devana, 2 nights stay, per head)*	320		Asia Web Direct (stay 3 nights, pay 2 nights)
Local Transport (songthaew to Krabi Night Market)	12
Food	70
Day Tour	80
Long Tail Boat to Railay Beach (2-way)	20
Massage Session	50
RM	998

* estimation based on a long weekend in end November

DAY 1

On 11 September 2014, Malindo Air began daily flights from Kuala Lumpur Subang to Krabi in Thailand. The following day four times weekly flights from Penang to Krabi were added. Fares for the Penang-Krabi and Subang-Krabi services start from RM149 and RM179 respectively, one-way, and inclusive of airport taxes, free baggage allowance, light refreshments and aerobridge use.

I was fortunate enough to go on board Malindo Air’s maiden flight to Krabi. Malindo Air prepared some surprise goodies bags for fellow passengers.

Digi that offers fellow travelers with hassle-free Unlimited Postpaid Internet Roaming was also there so hand us some goodies.

Within one and a half hour, our flight landed safely in Krabi airport and we were being transferred to Mercure Krabi Devana, located just a few minutes walk from Ao Nang Beach.

I like how the location of the hotel was close enough to Ao Nang Beach, yet private enough to be quiet and away from the crowd and noise. A 7-11 and plenty of food stalls are just around the corner.

The hotel is small but well equipped, with 213 stylish rooms and suites, each with a private balcony. I like the pool design that surround the hotel blocks, offering guests different access to the pool area.

The room was clean, modern and well-designed. Surrounding the pool, each room is fitted with a private balcony, to provide a tranquil sanctuary.

The hotel offers a beach tote with beach towel and bottle water too!

Mercure Krabi Deevana
186 Moo 3, Ao Nang Soi 8, Ao Nang Beach,
Ao Nang, Muang, Krabi 81000 Thailand
Phone: +66 (0) 7563 9999
Fax: +66 (0) 7563 9911
Email: H7539@accor.com
Website: www.mercure.com

After heading to our lovely rooms to freshen up, we headed off to Railay Beach – as recommended by fellow travelers and instagrammers. We stayed in aonang so we took a long tail boat from Wang Sai seafood restaurant’s ticketing counter. It costs us 100 bath each for a one way trip.

Just a heads up to first timers: there are no piers in most beaches in Krabi and the long tail boat could not start its propeller if the water is too shallow. So expect to get at least your feet wet or probably more when you are boarding the long tail boat.

The journey took us about 25 minutes so as an instagram addict, I got to take out my phone to upload some holiday photos. The Digi internet roaming worked just fine, even in the middle of the Andaman Sea.

Even before the long tail boat approached Railay Beach, the setting looked spectacular with high rock formations, white sandy beaches and crystal clear water.

Railay beach is famous for being so beautiful after sunset, when the silhouetted surrounding rock-faces give the place a totally unique and almost supernatural look.

However, the weather did not permit a beautiful sunset. By the way, my skirt was all wet from taking the long tail boat. A lesson learnt for a first timer like me.

We bought another ticket to go back to Aonang Beach from Railay Beach. It costs us another 100 baht.

We were strolling along Aonang town and came to this restaurant that was packed with people. The Bamboo Restaurant is a halal seafood restaurant. Our dinner that consisted of a thai lemon steamed fish, barbecued tiger prawns, stir fried kangkung, tom ga kai and drinks came out to about 900 baht. Not too bad for a seafood dinner for two.

Remember to always ask for the price of fresh seafood such as fishes and prawns if you do not want to get a bill shock. The wait staffs are more than happy to weigh the seafood and inform us on the prices.

BAMBOO Restaurant
Address: 31/1 Moo 3, Ao Nang, Krabi Town 81000, Thailand (diagonally across Mcdonalds and Starbucks)
Tel: 895889571

Day 2

We bought a day tour package to Daeng Island, Paradise Island and Hong Island (with kayaking) from this tour agent called Krabi Andaman Horizon located in Aonang town. The day tour costs us 900 baht and Krabi Kingdom is the tour company. It is highly recommended as the Krabi Kingdom’s tour always have a small group and two tour guides will be taking care of everyone.

Later on, we realised that we’ll have to pay only 800 baht if we booked directly with Krabi Kingdom. So for Hong Island tour, it is recommended to book directly via Krabi Kingdom where as for the other tours, look for Nidchanun Rutnin from Krabi Andaman Horizon. We really liked her for her honest feedback and reasonable pricing. She quoted us 900 baht even before we started to bargain, where as the other tour agents quoted us 1000 baht and above for the same package.

Krabi Andaman Horizon
Address: 49/5, Moo 2, Aonang, Krabi, Thailand 81000.
Tel: +66 (0) 857848883 – Nidchanun Rutnin
Email: nidchanun_2511@hotmail.com
Website: krabiandamanhorizon.com

Krabi Kingdom
Address: 105/4, Moo 5, Aonang, Muang, Krabi 81000
Tel: +66 (0) 800457247 – Blorney
Email: krabikingdom@hotmail.com

We were picked up from our hotel at 8.45 am. There were about 20 of us and we took the long tail boat to reach Daeng Island for snorkelling. It was quite a nice place for a beginner at snorkelling as there were quite a few schools of fish.

We left Daeng Island and headed off to Paradise Island for more snorkeling and swimming sessions.

Paradise Island is a small island with small beach front.

However, it is a good place to chill and rest.

We even walked to the back of the island with no one in sight!

Lunch was provided in buffet style. The selection was simple but the food tasted extra yummy after all the swimming and beach activities.

A (dead?) jellyfish was flushed to the beach and this was my closest encounter with one.

Our third and last stop was Hong Island.

I chose to kayak so we  set off to go one round around the main island.

We kayaked to Hong lagoon. The water is crystal clear and you can see anything on the bottom. Our tour guides are really nice in helping us to take photos.

After a tiring kayaking session, what better time to lounge on a breezy beach with a breezy book? Of course, I will need to update my instagram photo feed again. Digi’s internet roaming was again, fast and seamless. I got to show off to KampungBoy the beautiful beaches at Hong Island.

With shallow, crystal-clear waters at certain part of Hong Island, fishes come swimming to you without having to snorkel.

We got back to our hotel at around 5 pm. After we freshen up, it is time to hit the happening weekend night market in Krabi town.

The cheapest mode of transportation to get to Krabi town is by taking the white Songthaew (60 baht per person, one way). It literally means “two benches” and refers to the converted pick-up trucks with two benches installed in the back. Around Krabi Town we mainly see red and white songthaews. Red ones cover the area around town, while the white ones go to and from Ao Nang.

Remember to look out for this stall if you are hitting the night market. The squid salad with thai dressing (80 baht) was really delicious!

We had our dinner at the open air food court smacked right in the middle of the night market. Apart from the usual Thai hawker fares, there were plenty of halal options available too!

Krabi town night market offers the best range of merchandises, from traditional Thai handicrafts, art paintings to t-shirts, magnets, pouches and etc. The prices are definitely cheaper as compared to Aonang beach too!

I loved this particular stall selling hand made dresses for Barbie dolls!

I also bought a pair of custom made hat for KampungBoy and me (500 baht per pair)!

Day 3

Since we had some time to spare before checking out and heading to the airport – Aonang town it is! Our hotel Mercure Krabi Devana offers free shuttle service to the Aonang town so it is really convenient for us!

Attarak opposite Mcdonalds and Starbucks received plenty of good review online. I opted for the 60 minutes oil massage. My masseur was really good in gradually breaking up my muscle “knots”!

Attarak aka Let’s Sea:Let’s Relax
Tel: 66876744005
Opens from 10.30 am to 10.30 pm (last appointment 9 pm)

After my massage session, I walked for about 5 minutes to the famous Aonang Boat Noodles. My pork boat noodles (50 baht) was really delicious! The broth was so flavourful and they never skimp on the ingredients.

Ao Nang Boat Noodle
Address: 689 Moo 2, Baan Ao Nang Road | Near the Cliff Resort, Ao Nang, Krabi Town 81000, Thailand
Tel: +66 86 2719528

That marks the end of my 3D2N trip to Krabi! Of course, it is recommended to stay on for a longer time as Krabi’s attractions are not only limited to island hoppings. The Emerald Bay and the Tiger Cave Temple, just to name a few, are some of the must-see and must-do things in Krabi.