Your stay — Chanchalay Hip Hostel
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Krabi.
The Property — Chanchalay Hip Hostel
Chanchalay Hip Hostel feels more like a clean, well-run backpacker lodge than a party den: think polished concrete floors, communal hammocks around a small pool, and a 24/7 front desk that can sort your island-hopping tickets. It’s a reliable base for budget travellers who value air-conditioned dorms and private rooms over social mayhem, and it sits just off the main road in Krabi Town, a short walk from the night market.
Chronicles of Krabi
Krabi Town grew from a sleepy fishing port into the main gateway for southern Thailand’s karst islands after the Andaman coast tourism boom of the 1990s. Unlike Phuket’s built-up west coast, the town itself has kept a low-rise, provincial feel, with a mix of old shophouses, Chinese-style temples and a riverside promenade. The real draw has always been offshore: the spectacular limestone cliffs of Railay Beach and the turquoise bays of Koh Phi Phi. Today, Krabi Town functions as a practical, no-frills launchpad, with a growing food scene that blends Muslim, Thai and Malay influences.
Best Time to Visit
Full Krabi guide →Best months
December to March are the driest months, with blue skies, calm seas and temperatures in the high 20s°C; crowds are manageable outside Christmas and New Year.
Peak / festival surge
The peak runs from mid-December through mid-January, plus the Chinese New Year period (January–February). Hotels often sell out, and dorm beds can double in price. The main drivers are the European winter escape and the Phuket King’s Cup Regatta (December).
Budget shoulder season
April and May offer fewer crowds and hotel discounts of 20–30%, though the weather is hotter (32–35°C) and scattered showers appear. Still a decent window for beach time and cheaper island tours.
Weather & packing
Krabi’s climate is tropical monsoon, so even in the dry season a short downpour can hit by late afternoon. Pack a lightweight, packable rain shell and quick-dry sandals or flip-flops as essential gear, not an afterthought.
Live City Briefing — Krabi
- The new Krabi International Airport terminal (opened 2024) has doubled capacity, but the shuttle bus into town still runs only once an hour; taxis remain the quickest option at around 300 THB fixed rate.
- The Krabi Town night market on Maha Rat Road now opens daily from 5pm instead of just weekends, offering cheap seafood and local sweets like khao lam (coconut sticky rice in bamboo).
- Longtail boat services to Railay Beach have been reduced in the low season (May–October) due to rough seas; check the tourist police booth for the latest departure schedule.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Chanchalay Hip Hostel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but not so high that the lift motor or roof fan becomes an issue. The rear position faces away from the main road (likely Maharat or Chao Fa roads given Krabi Town's layout), giving you quieter sleep and a moderate breeze.
Rooms to avoid
Skip rooms on the 1st floor and any room facing the front (street side). The 1st floor picks up lobby bustle, foot traffic from guests coming in late, and possible cooking smells from a shared kitchen. Front-facing rooms on the 2nd floor are noisier because sound from the street carries up, especially from early-morning motorbikes and tuk-tuks using the main road.
Best views
Views at Chanchalay Hip Hostel are modest: a 3-star in central Krabi won't have sea views. The best you can get is a 4th-floor rear room overlooking the local neighbourhood rooftops and maybe a sliver of limestone karst in the distance. The front side shows a busy road and shopfronts.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4. These are the sweet spot: above the street hum and lower than the rooftop or lift motor area, if there is one. The hostel likely has a 4-storey concrete build (typical for Krabi Town hostels), so the middle floors stay quietest.
🔊 Noise notes
The hotel is on the main road through Krabi Town, which has continuous motorbike and tuk-tuk traffic from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Trucks delivering supplies to local markets rattle past in early morning. The lobby doors are not soundproofed, so reception area noise bleeds into ground-floor rooms. There's no bar or live music on site, but the street itself is the main noise source.
Insider tips
1. If you're arriving after 9 pm, call ahead to confirm late check-in — the front desk may reduce staffing, depending on season. 2. Ask for a room at the back (rear side) when booking, especially if you're a light sleeper; earplugs are worth packing as a backup because the hostel doesn't supply them.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Chanchalay Hip Hostel
Free WiFi throughout; download speed approx 15 Mbps, no login required but resets every 24 hours
No lift; all rooms on ground floor and first floor accessible by stairs only
None
Standard check-in 14:00 to 22:00; early bag-drop from 08:00 if room ready; late check-out fee 200 THB per hour until 14:00
Free storage during stay hours; 100 THB per bag per 24 hours after check-out
No step-free access; entrance via 4 steps, no wheelchair ramp; ground-floor rooms available but shared bathrooms
No on-site parking; nearest public car park at Ao Nang Land Bridge, 250 THB per 24 hours; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None
Deposit & card hold: Full stay amount charged at booking; 500 THB key deposit and 200 THB incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Place of worship: ศาลหลักเมืองกระบี่ (313 m · ~4 min walk)
- Buddhist temple: วัดแก้วโกรวาราม (1.1 km · ~13 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
สวนจ้าฟ้า — 420 m · ~5 min walk
หอศิลป์อันดามัน — 2.0 km · ~24 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 589 m · ~7 min walk
City Pharmacy — 860 m · ~11 min walk
7-Eleven — 537 m · ~7 min walk
ท่าเรือมารีน่า — 440 m · ~6 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Thai Baht, THB
Best rates at SuperRich or exchange booths on the main drag in Ao Nang; avoid the airport counters and Krabi Town bus station where rates are poor.
Visa/Mastercard accepted in larger hotels and restaurants, but cash is king in markets, taxis, and small eateries; contactless is uncommon outside shops.
Not expected, but rounding up the bill or leaving 20-50 baht is appreciated in restaurants; taxis don't expect tips; hotel porters or cleaning staff – 20-40 baht per bag or day.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local iced coffee (oliang) or Thai iced tea from street stalls – about 30-40 baht.
Pad Thai or khao pad (fried rice) from a local shop – around 60-80 baht.
Tom yum soup or a simple curry with rice – about 80-120 baht.
Night market on Maharaj Road in Krabi Town (weekends) or the food stalls along Ao Nang beach road; roti, grilled skewers, and fresh local fruit are typical.
Lotuss (formerly Tesco Lotus) and 7-Eleven are common for basics; Big C in Krabi Town for bigger shops.
Ao Nang night market stalls and Krabi Town's weekend market for cheap t-shirts, shorts, and swimwear – 100-300 baht.
Songthaew (shared pick-up truck) – 50-100 baht per ride within town; from Krabi Airport, take the shared minibus (150 baht) to Ao Nang, not a taxi (600+ baht).
1. Eat at local food stalls and markets, not beachfront restaurants; 2. Book longtail tours directly at the pier, not through agency kiosks; 3. Buy snacks and water from 7-Eleven, not hotel minibars.
Good to know — Krabi
Type A/B/C · 220V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ ฿33.31 · THB
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Krabi, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Chanchalay Hip Hostel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 589 m · ~7 min walk — pharmacy · City Pharmacy — 860 m · ~11 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Krabi Town or any Lanta rental shop → Ananda Lanta Resort
Krabi Airport or Krabi Bus Terminal → Lanta Old Town or Saladan Pier (hotel drop-off sometimes included)
💡 You’ll switch at the pier onto a songthaew or taxi for the final 2km to Ananda Lanta. Those with big luggage should negotiate the drop-off in advance.
Koh Lanta — any point from Saladan to Klong Dao → Ananda Lanta Resort
💡 Flag one down on the main road (the one parallel to the beach). They rarely go to the resort gate — expect a short walk from the road. Agree price before boarding.
Krabi Airport (KBV) → Ananda Lanta Resort, Koh Lanta
💡 Book through the hotel or a service like 12Go for a fixed rate. The drive includes a 15-minute car ferry onto the island — keep cash for onboard snacks.
About Krabi
Wikipedia ↗
Krabi (Thai: กระบี่, pronounced [krā.bìː]) is the capital of and main town in Krabi Province (thesaban mueang), on the west coast of southern Thailand, where the Krabi River flows into Phang Nga Bay. The town lies 650 km (400 mi) south of Bangkok, and as of 2020, has a population of 32,644. As in mu...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor at the rear of the building. These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but not so high that the lift motor or roof fan becomes an issue. The rear position faces away from the main road (likely Maharat or Chao Fa roads given Krabi Town's layout), giving you quieter sleep and a moderate breeze.
Which rooms should I avoid at Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
Skip rooms on the 1st floor and any room facing the front (street side). The 1st floor picks up lobby bustle, foot traffic from guests coming in late, and possible cooking smells from a shared kitchen. Front-facing rooms on the 2nd floor are noisier because sound from the street carries up, especially from early-morning motorbikes and tuk-tuks using the main road.
Is Chanchalay Hip Hostel noisy?
The hotel is on the main road through Krabi Town, which has continuous motorbike and tuk-tuk traffic from 6:00 am to 11:00 pm. Trucks delivering supplies to local markets rattle past in early morning. The lobby doors are not soundproofed, so reception area noise bleeds into ground-floor rooms. There's no bar or live music on site, but the street itself is the main noise source.
Which rooms have the best views at Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
Views at Chanchalay Hip Hostel are modest: a 3-star in central Krabi won't have sea views. The best you can get is a 4th-floor rear room overlooking the local neighbourhood rooftops and maybe a sliver of limestone karst in the distance. The front side shows a busy road and shopfronts.
What are insider tips for staying at Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
1. If you're arriving after 9 pm, call ahead to confirm late check-in — the front desk may reduce staffing, depending on season. 2. Ask for a room at the back (rear side) when booking, especially if you're a light sleeper; earplugs are worth packing as a backup because the hostel doesn't supply them.
What time is check-in at Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
Check-in at Chanchalay Hip Hostel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Chanchalay Hip Hostel have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi throughout; download speed approx 15 Mbps, no login required but resets every 24 hours
Is there a city or tourist tax at Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
None
Where can I eat cheaply near Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
Pad Thai or khao pad (fried rice) from a local shop – around 60-80 baht.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Chanchalay Hip Hostel?
Songthaew (shared pick-up truck) – 50-100 baht per ride within town; from Krabi Airport, take the shared minibus (150 baht) to Ao Nang, not a taxi (600+ baht).
When is the best time to visit Krabi?
December to March are the driest months, with blue skies, calm seas and temperatures in the high 20s°C; crowds are manageable outside Christmas and New Year.
Top Attractions in Krabi
💡 Go hungry and try the grilled moo ping (pork skewers) and roti with banana. Arrive by 5 PM to browse before it gets packed.
💡 Take the footpath from Railay West at low tide. Bring water shoes for the rocky sections.
💡 Take the steps before 8 AM to avoid sun and crowds. Bring water and stop at the halfway rest area. The temple requires covered shoulders and knees.
💡 Combine with a river tour for 300-400 THB per person. Go early morning to avoid heat and crowds.
💡 Wear sturdy trainers, not flip-flops. The trail gets slippery after rain. Go early (8 AM) to avoid the tour groups. Entry is 200 THB per person.