Longtail boats on the sand at West Railay Beach beneath limestone cliffs

Where to Stay on the Andaman Sea

Twenty-four hotels across the coast, chosen as much for where they are as for how good they are.

On this coast the right base matters more than the right room. A hotel on the wrong side of Phuket adds two hours to every boat trip; a resort on Railay means every bag arrives by longtail. So we have organised our picks by hub, with a few words on which beach each sits on and who it suits.

Every property below is listed on Trip.com with strong guest scores (shown out of 5). We do not show prices: rates here can double between low and peak season, so each card links out for live availability. For help choosing a hub, start with which island for whom.

Where to stay

Phuket

Kata and Karon for an easy all-round beach stay, Patong for nightlife, the Old Town for character and food, and Mai Khao in the north for quiet and the airport.

Katathani Phuket Beach Resort

4.3/5

A large beachfront resort that has quiet Kata Noi Beach almost to itself, a short ride from the restaurants of Kata.

Directly on Kata Noi Beach
Several pools
Good for families

See rates & availability

Amari Phuket

4.3/5

Set on the headland at the calm southern end of Patong Bay — close to the action, but away from the noise.

Sea views over Patong Bay
Walk to Patong’s restaurants
Own small beach area

See rates & availability

The Memory at On On Hotel

4.7/5

A restored heritage hotel in a 1920s building in the middle of Phuket Old Town, with excellent guest scores.

In the heart of the Old Town
Historic building
Good value

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SALA Phuket Mai Khao Beach Resort

4.4/5

A design-led pool-villa resort on long, undeveloped Mai Khao Beach in the far north, minutes from the airport.

Quiet Mai Khao Beach
Many villas with private pools
Close to the airport

See rates & availability

See all Phuket hotels

Krabi, Railay & Phi Phi

Ao Nang for convenience, Railay for the setting — and on Phi Phi, the quiet bays of the north and east rather than the busy village if sleep matters to you.

Rayavadee

4.8/5

Pavilions in a coconut grove on the Railay peninsula, touching three beaches including Phra Nang — the classic Krabi splurge.

Access to Phra Nang Beach
Arrival by the resort’s own boat
Outstanding guest scores

See rates & availability

Sand Sea Resort Railay

4.6/5

A long-established mid-range resort right on West Railay Beach, where the longtails from Ao Nang land.

On West Railay Beach
Sunset views
Walk to Phra Nang and the climbing walls

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Centara Ao Nang Beach Resort & Spa Krabi

4.5/5

A modern beachfront resort in Ao Nang, handy for the longtail boats to Railay and the island-tour pickups.

Across from Ao Nang beach
Pools and family rooms
Easy road access from the airport

See rates & availability

Outrigger Phi Phi Island Resort

4.7/5

Village-style villas in a tropical garden on Laem Tong Beach, at the quiet northern tip of Phi Phi Don — reached by boat.

On Laem Tong Beach
Far from the bustle of Tonsai village
Boat transfers arranged by the resort

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SAii Phi Phi Island Village

4.5/5

Thatched-roof bungalows spread along sheltered Loh Bagao Bay on the east coast of Phi Phi Don, with a dive centre on site.

Long, private-feeling beach
On-site dive centre
Far from the party scene

See rates & availability

See all Krabi hotels

Koh Lanta, Koh Yao & the Trang islands

The slow-travel islands: long sunset beaches on Lanta, bay views from Koh Yao, and a handful of small resorts on Koh Mook and Koh Kradan.

Pimalai Resort & Spa

4.8/5

Koh Lanta’s best-known luxury resort, on a forested hillside above Kantiang Bay in the scenic south of the island.

On Kantiang Bay
Hillside villas and beachfront rooms
Outstanding guest scores

See rates & availability

Layana Resort & Spa

4.8/5

An adults-only resort on Long Beach with a big beachfront pool and a deserved reputation for service.

Adults only
On Long Beach (Phra Ae)
Sunset-facing pool

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Six Senses Yao Noi

4.8/5

Hillside pool villas on Koh Yao Noi looking straight at the limestone islands of Phang Nga Bay.

Every villa has a private pool
The best view of the bay
Boat transfers from Phuket

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Santhiya Koh Yao Yai Resort & Spa

4.7/5

A teak-built resort on a west-facing beach on Koh Yao Yai, with its own speedboat link to Phuket.

Sunset beach
Carved-teak villas
Resort boat from Phuket

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Koh Mook Sivalai Beach Resort

4.7/5

Villas on a sand spit on Koh Mook with the sea on both sides — the best-placed resort in the Trang islands.

Beach on two sides
Longtail trips to the Emerald Cave
Very good guest scores

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The Sevenseas Resort Koh Kradan

4.4/5

A stylish small resort on Koh Kradan’s main beach, with the house reef a few fin-kicks from the sand.

On Kradan’s east-coast beach
Snorkelling from the shore
No roads, no cars

See rates & availability

See all Koh Lanta hotels

Khao Lak & Koh Phayam

Calm mainland beaches within reach of the Similan pier, and one comfortable option on car-free Koh Phayam.

The Sarojin

4.9/5

A serene boutique resort on Pakarang Beach in Khao Lak with some of the highest guest scores on the coast.

Quiet beach north of Khao Lak centre
Adult-oriented and calm
Top-tier guest scores

See rates & availability

La Vela Khao Lak

4.7/5

A contemporary beachfront resort at Bang Niang with a long lagoon pool, close to shops, dive centres and the market.

On Bang Niang Beach
Walk to restaurants
Short drive to the Similan pier

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The Blue Sky Resort Koh Phayam

4.1/5

Overwater-style villas on a mangrove inlet at Buffalo Bay — the most comfortable place to stay on Koh Phayam.

On Ao Khao Kwai
Pool
Far more comfort than the island’s bungalows

See rates & availability

See all Khao Lak hotels

Koh Lipe

Small enough that everything is walkable. Pattaya Beach is the lively arrival bay; Sunrise Beach is longer and faces Koh Adang.

Akira Lipe Resort

4.6/5

A large, well-run resort right on Pattaya Beach, steps from the boat landing and the start of Walking Street.

On Pattaya Beach
Central for restaurants
Pool and beachfront rooms

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Serendipity Beach Resort Koh Lipe

4.6/5

Villas stepped up a rocky headland at the quiet end of Pattaya Beach, with some of the best views on Koh Lipe.

Hillside sea views
Quiet corner of the bay
Very good guest scores

See rates & availability

See all Koh Lipe hotels

Langkawi & the Andaman Islands

At the Malaysian end of the route, and on Havelock Island (Swaraj Dweep) on the Indian side of the sea.

The Datai Langkawi

4.9/5

Langkawi’s landmark rainforest resort, on a private bay in the island’s north-west with resident naturalists.

Private beach on Datai Bay
Ancient rainforest setting
Among the top scores in Malaysia

See rates & availability

Pelangi Beach Resort & Spa, Langkawi

4.5/5

A village-style resort of wooden chalets at the top of Pantai Cenang, convenient for the beach strip and the airport.

On Pantai Cenang
Large gardens and pools
Family friendly

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Taj Exotica Resort & Spa, Andamans

4.8/5

Stilted villas among the trees behind Radhanagar Beach — the most luxurious address in the Andaman Islands.

On Radhanagar Beach, Havelock
Large pool
Excellent guest scores

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Barefoot at Havelock

4.6/5

A long-running eco-lodge of thatched cottages in the forest behind Radhanagar Beach.

Steps from Radhanagar Beach
Rainforest setting
Low-key and quiet

See rates & availability

See all Langkawi hotels

Choosing a base: quick comparison

Base	Good for	Less good for	Rough price level
Phuket (Kata / Karon)	First visits, families, choice of restaurants, day trips	Quiet; monsoon swimming	฿฿–฿฿฿฿
Phuket Old Town	Food, culture, low prices, early ferries from Rassada Pier	Beach holidays	฿–฿฿
Ao Nang	Value, road access, tour pickups, restaurants	Postcard beaches	฿–฿฿฿
Railay	Scenery, climbing, no traffic	Heavy luggage, tight budgets	฿฿–฿฿฿฿
Phi Phi Don	Early access to Maya Bay, atmosphere	Quiet nights near the village; value	฿฿–฿฿฿฿
Koh Lanta	Families, long stays, sunsets	The monsoon months	฿–฿฿฿
Khao Lak	Similan and Surin trips, calm resorts	Nightlife; the monsoon months	฿฿–฿฿฿
Koh Lipe	Clear water, walkable island	Short trips; peak-season prices	฿฿–฿฿฿

Booking tips

Peak weeks sell out. For Christmas, New Year and Chinese New Year, book months ahead; many resorts add compulsory gala-dinner charges.
Check how you get there. On Railay, Phi Phi, Koh Yao and the small Trang islands, ask whether the hotel arranges the boat and where it leaves from.
Ask about the low season. Some island resorts close from about May to October; those that stay open discount heavily.
Beachfront is not always swimmable. Many east-facing beaches are too shallow at low tide; many west-facing ones are rough in the monsoon. Look for a pool.
Before an early boat, sleep near the pier: Phuket Town for Rassada, Khao Lak for the Similans, Ao Nang for the 4 Islands.

Simple bungalows and tents inside the national parks — on the Surin Islands, Koh Tarutao and Koh Adang — are booked through Thailand’s Department of National Parks, not through hotel sites.

Accommodation links go to Trip.com. We may earn a commission on completed stays at no extra cost to you. Guest scores were checked in October 2026 and change over time.

Plan your days on the Andaman Sea

Turn a beach holiday into an island-hopping trip

Paddle into the sea caves of Phang Nga Bay, step onto Maya Bay before the crowds, snorkel the Similan reefs and watch the sun set behind Krabi’s limestone islands. Compare the best-rated boat trips and book in a couple of taps.

Browse Andaman Sea tours Compare all tours

Good to know

Where to stay: frequently asked questions

Frequently asked questions

Where should I stay for a first trip to the Andaman coast?

Split your time between Phuket (Kata or Karon) and Krabi (Ao Nang or Railay). Between them you can reach nearly every famous sight on a day trip.

Is it better to stay on Phi Phi or visit on a day trip?

If you can spare a night or two, stay. Being on the island lets you visit Maya Bay and Pileh Lagoon at dawn. Choose a hotel away from the village if you are a light sleeper.

Which area of Phuket is best to stay in?

Kata and Karon for most visitors, Patong for nightlife, Bang Tao or Mai Khao for resort quiet, and the Old Town for food and culture on a budget.

Are hotels open in the low season?

On Phuket, in Krabi and Khao Lak, almost all are. On Koh Lanta, Koh Phayam and the small Trang islands, many close from about May to October.

Can I stay overnight in the Similan Islands?

Not in recent seasons. Stay in Khao Lak and visit on a day trip, or join a liveaboard.