Rayavadee Resort

This is the kind of place you book when the hotel is part of the vacation, not just the bed you fall into. It sits on the Ao Nang coastline, upscale in the proper sense, and it's aimed at travelers who want comfort without spending the whole week behind a resort wall. Honeymooners, families willing to pay for space, anyone who has decided this is the trip they're not going to economize on.

What makes it work is the position. You get the beach and the limestone scenery on the doorstep, and the rest of Krabi, temples, traditional villages, local craft workshops, is close enough to do as a day trip and be back for a swim. If your idea of a good vacation is never leaving the pool, you're paying for something you won't use. If you like a mix, it earns its price.