Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort

Dusit Thani Krabi Beach Resort stands on Klong Muang Beach, a calmer stretch of coast north of Ao Nang. It has 240 guest rooms and suites, from Deluxe Rooms of about 42 square metres to suites of up to 150 square metres with private plunge pools. Expedia lists it as a five-star luxury property, rated 9.4 from more than 700 reviews. The resort is about a twenty-minute drive from Ao Nang, and it offers airport transfers and shuttles.

Location and getting around: Klong Muang is a long, quiet beach with a more relaxed pace than Ao Nang, which suits people who want to stay inside a resort and take day trips. Ao Nang, with its restaurants and boat piers, is about twenty minutes by road, so you need a taxi or the resort shuttle for evening outings. Many Krabi tours include hotel pickup here, though some charge a supplement for the Klong Muang zone, so check when booking.

The rooms and facilities: Deluxe Rooms are spacious at about 42 square metres, and suites go up to private-pool villas. There are two outdoor beachfront pools with direct beach access, a children's pool and an infinity pool, with a swim-up bar. Dining includes Mangosteen's for Southern Thai and Indian dishes, Limoncello for Italian, Toh Kin Khaw as a multi-course chef's table, and the Breeze Sunset Bar. The Linger Longer spa has a traditional hammam, and the DFiT Fitness Centre includes a Muay Thai ring. Kidz R Kids Club and a babysitting service make it practical for families, and guests have free use of snorkels, fins, kayaks and paddleboards.

Who it suits and what to know: families, couples and anyone who wants a full-service beach resort with plenty on site. The swimming on Klong Muang is good at high tide but the beach is long and flat, with shallow water at low tide, so check tide times. Breakfast is a surcharge on some rates, and the resort is not walkable to nightlife. If you want to be among the restaurants and bars of Ao Nang, choose a hotel in town instead.