Ao Nang attracts the two-week jet-set coterie to its showy resorts, which outshine the beaches. Sadly, the beach is cipher spectacular and the broad ‘European’–style esplanade that tourism-boosters boast virtually is really 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 enough to make the locating irrelevant.
Ao Nang serves as the main jumping-off steer for Railay, alone a 20-minute long-tail ride away. For your money, Railay is a heaps nicer position to stay. Ao Nang is appealing, however, if you desire to partake in popular island-hopping tours or sea-kayaking adventures, as virtually companies are based here. Plus, if having booze with meals is paramount, Ao Nang will do a meliorate business quenching your thirst: many of Railay’s resorts are Muslim owned and don’t dish alcohol in their restaurants (although you can purchase beer at the local shop and take it into restaurants that don’t serve).