Snorkeling in Krabi

QUESTION: We are a group of six adults and two children aged 4 and 6. We wish to visit Thailand in January 2009. We enjoy snorkelling and would like to stay in Krabi. Please recommend reasonably priced accommodation which is quiet and has easy access to snorkeling - Collin Hey.

ANSWER: January is peak season in Thailand, so prices will be much higher. If you were to come in the low season, you would pay 50% less for accommodation. However, assuming you have to come in January, and wish to stay on the mainland, the best place would be Ao Nang, which has plenty of accommodation. A double room in a decent guest house or small hotel would cost you around 1200-2000 baht (R285-R475). A hotel with a pool would cost from 3000 baht (R715). There is little snorkelling in Ao Nang bay, but you can hire a longtail boat for daytrips to snorkelling spots such as Poda Island, Chicken Island, Taloo Island and Ao Phra Nang beach. Phi Phi Islands has great snorkelling, so your best bet would be to stay on Phi Phi Don Island, where accommodation will cost much the same. My budget accommodation of choice in Ao Nang would be The Verandah Guesthouse or The Palace. On Phi Phi try the Phi Phi Hotel or the Phi Phi Cabana Resort.