Aonang Phu Petra Resort, Krabi

Rooms and decor

Aonang Phu Petra Resort picked a setting that makes guests feel like they are staying inside a scene from Jurassic Park — the resort hides on a ridge above Ao Nang, ringed by sheer limestone cliffs that rise hundreds of metres. There are 25 standalone villas spread out along the slope rather than packed together, built with dark brown tile roofs and raw stone walls in a contemporary Thai-Asian style. The standard rooms run 57 sqm — larger than the usual 4-star — with a private balcony and day bed, a marble bathroom with a rain shower, and a large jacuzzi tub that reads more expensive than the rate. Every villa has its own 2 x 3 metre wading pool off the terrace. Real reviews on Trip.com (8.3/10) line up on the same points: the villas are spacious, the atmosphere is quiet, and the beds are soft.

Food and amenities

The highlight that makes Phu Petra a photo stop is the pair of main pools facing the limestone cliffs — the top one an irregular infinity pool whose edge looks like the water spills into the tropical jungle. The 360-degree karst view is the shot everyone takes, especially in the evening between 5pm and 6:30pm as the sun sets through the cliffs. The pools have sun beds and a pool bar open 10:00 to 22:00. The main restaurant serves Thai and Western food from about $6 to $14 a head, and the breakfast buffet is middling — fried eggs, Thai dishes, bread and fruit are all there, but the spread is smaller than a 5-star resort. There is a small spa doing Thai herbal treatments, a 24-hour gym, and in-room Wi-Fi. A free shuttle heads to Ao Nang beach every 30 minutes from 09:00 to 21:00, and staff help book Phi Phi and 4-island boat tours. Overall score 8.3/10.

Location and getting there

Phu Petra sits on a ridge above Ao Nang, 1.3 km from the centre of the tourist strip. This is the location that decides whether you love it or regret it — anyone who wants quiet, privacy and a knockout cliff view will love it, while anyone after beachfront will feel it is far. Walking down the hill to Ao Nang beach takes 15 to 20 minutes; the resort shuttle does it in 5 to 7, convenient but on a fixed schedule. The closest beach is Noparatthara Beach, a 15-minute walk away and quieter than Ao Nang since fewer resorts sit on it. The pier for boats to Railay is 1.5 km off. Krabi Airport is 18 km out, about a 25-minute drive with a Grab running $11 to $17, and the road in from the airport is direct with no traffic.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, it is not beachfront — if you expect to step out onto sand, this will not deliver, and getting to and from the beach means the shuttle or a 15 to 20-minute walk that is downhill out and a harder climb back. If beachfront is the priority, look at Princeville Pool Villa on Ao Nang beach for a similar budget. Second, the dining options are limited: there is one main restaurant and a middling breakfast buffet, so if you like eating several meals across different spots inside a resort this is not the place — the fix is to take the shuttle down into Ao Nang, which has far more to eat. Third, the shuttle stops at 21:00, so if you are out at night you have to call a Grab back yourself, around $6 to $9.

Our take

Aonang Phu Petra Resort is hard to beat in the $71 to $143 range for anyone who wants a quiet standalone villa among the limestone cliffs — a roomy 57 sqm room, a jacuzzi in the bathroom, and pools that frame the karst. If the trip in your head is a private retreat with your partner, you do not need the beach outside your door every day, and you want a calm base between island tours, this lands almost perfectly. If instead you want to sleep beside the sand with a range of restaurants on site, Princeville or Avani Cliff will suit you better. Overall we give it 8.3/10, best for couples and anyone after a calm, private villa among the cliffs.