Ao Nang attracts the two-week jet-set pack to its showy resorts, which outshine the beaches. Sadly, the beach is nix spectacular and the panoptic ‘European’–style esplanade that tourism-boosters boast about is actually but one large mall with souvenir shops, tailors and restaurants. Still, there are some spiffy midrange and top-end resorts with lovely garden pools, appealing adequate to make the emplacement irrelevant.
Ao Nang serves as the chief jumping-off channelise for Railay, solely a 20-minute long-tail sit away. For your money, Railay is a heaps nicer situation to stay. Ao Nang is appealing, however, if you want to partake in popular island-hopping tours or sea-kayaking adventures, as about companies are based here. Plus, if having booze with meals is paramount, Ao Nang will do a amend job quenching your thirst: many of Railay’s resorts are Muslim owned and don’t serve alcohol in their restaurants (although you could buy beer at the local store and convey it into restaurants that don’t serve).