Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi

Rooms and decor

Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi is built to be a family destination, full stop. It sits in the Noparatthara part of Ao Nang, about 1 km from the centre of the beach, on a plot big enough to hold a 43-metre pool and room for kids to run around. The 150+ rooms spread across three buildings in a contemporary Thai style — browns, creams and soft greens. There's a 35 sqm Superior with a private balcony, a Deluxe Pool Access room where you step straight out to the water (kids love it), and a 65-80 sqm Family Suite with two bedrooms that suits a couple plus two or three children. Real reviews on Trip.com (8.7/10) split fairly cleanly: guests who land a recently renovated room praise it as clean and comfortable, while those in the older wing complain of a musty smell and damp. The move is to book a Pool Access room or Family Suite when you reserve.

Food and amenities

The thing that makes Anda Dhevi the top family resort in Ao Nang is the 43-metre pool, with a waterslide for kids, a safe shallow zone, and a pool bar where parents can sit with a drink and watch. The pool runs 06:00 to 22:00 and there's pool aerobics at 9am. The Kids Club is split into two age bands, 4-7 and 8-12, with staff running Thai-sweet making, colouring and games; it's free for guests and open 09:00 to 18:00. The main restaurant serves a well-regarded international breakfast buffet — Thai, Western, Indian, Arab and seafood — with halal options that work for Muslim families. There's also a pool bar, a snack bar, and Spa Cenvaree for Thai treatments, plus a gym and an indoor playground. Overall score: 8.6/10.

Location and getting there

Centara Anda Dhevi sits in the Noparatthara part of Ao Nang, 1 km from the heart of the tourist strip — a 15-minute walk or a tuk-tuk for $1.50-2.50. The nearest sand is Noparatthara Beach, a 10-minute walk and quieter than the main Ao Nang beach since it has fewer resorts and no longtail pier. Central Ao Nang, with its restaurants, bars and night market, is a 15-to-20-minute walk; the Ao Nang pier is 17 minutes on foot or a tuk-tuk for $2.50-3. Krabi Airport is 18 km away, a 25-minute drive — about $14-20 by Grab, or a resort airport transfer for $30-43. The location is great value for families who spend a lot of time at the resort; if you want to be closer to the beach and restaurants, look at Princeville or Avani Cliff.

Things to know before booking

Straight talk to help you decide. First, the older-wing rooms have issues, as ageing resorts tend to — most of the poor reviews come from here, citing a musty smell, damp, and noisy air-conditioning. The fix is to book a Pool Access room or Family Suite when you reserve; the $23-43 a night extra is well worth it for a much better room. Second, it's not beachfront — if you expect to walk straight onto the sand, this isn't the place. Noparatthara Beach is a 10-minute walk and the main Ao Nang beach is 15 minutes, which can tire out small children, so lean on a tuk-tuk or a rented scooter. Third, peak season gets crowded — over Songkran and New Year the Kids Club and children's pool are packed, so try early November or late February for a calmer stay.

Our take

Centara Anda Dhevi Resort & Spa Krabi is the top 4-star family resort in the Ao Nang area at a price you can actually reach. The 43-metre pool with its waterslide, the two-age Kids Club, and the halal food make a combination that keeps Thai, Malaysian, Singaporean and Middle Eastern families coming back. Starting around $80, it's strong value for a resort this fully equipped. If your trip is about letting the kids play in the pool all day without leaving the grounds, and a 10-to-15-minute walk to the beach doesn't bother you, this fits. But if you want to sleep right on the sand, or you're a couple after quiet, look elsewhere. Overall we give it 8.6/10 — best for families with children who want a resort where the kids have fun and the parents get a rest, all on a mid-range budget.