Green View Village Resort

In a place like Ao Nang, where most hotels are packed alongside bars and tour operators on the main road, this out-of-the-way bungalow compound feels like a respite. It's far from the most modern, luxurious, or well-equipped option in town, but for what it offers -- a quiet, low-lying garden property set close to the cliffs -- it's great. Throughout, green grounds contain sprinkling ponds and pools, low-slung room buildings, and brick bungalows. Butterflies flit between tropical ferns and orchids and palms sway overhead. Green View's big variety of room options make it a solid choice for all sorts of travelers: multi-bed family rooms appeal to groups and parents with children, while bungalows, especially those tucked into the property's corner near the cliffs, are nice for couples. And the hotel's rates (starting in the teens for Budget Single Rooms) are competitive, even for Ao Nang.Set off a side street at the end of a long driveway, Green View's property opens with a modern glass building. Here's where guests find the front desk, the restaurant, and the basement-level parking lot. Brick paths lead to red-tin-roofed bungalows with elevated wooden front porches. Newer bungalows are made of brick and have ground-level porches. The greenery encloses the main garden pool, where a kid or two is usually splashing around, with parents nearby reading a book with bottled water in hand. It's a peaceful place -- remarkable, considering the crowded sidewalks and wall-to-wall businesses of the main road are so close by. However, past guests have claimed that unfriendly staff members and poor maintenance were sticking points for them.

Green View Village is a one-minute walk to the south of Ao Nang's main road. Many travelers find the location ideal in the sense that it's seconds from restaurants, bars, smoothie stands, spas, tour providers, and minimarts -- but far enough away from the street's nonstop noise. However, the hotel's location is a full 20-minute walk from the beach. For those who don't want to walk, the hotel offers a free tuk-tuk to the beach every hour or so. It's a 25-minute drive to Krabi Town and about a 30-minute drive to Krabi Airport.

Green View's 29 rooms, suites, bungalows, and villas are split into more than a dozen categories. Budget Single Rooms are the entry-level category -- with king beds and 323 square feet of space, they're larger and nicer than their name implies. Other room types include the two family categories, Standard Family Rooms and Family Rooms. Of the two, Family Rooms are very much worth the upgrade. They're larger than Standards (775 square feet versus 580) and have far more amenities (including air-conditioning and private balconies). Pool-view and pool-access rooms are both available.Suite Rooms are one-story brick units facing the main garden pool. Standard Bungalows either come with two twin beds and pool views or one double bed and garden views. "Fan" bungalows are also available with either two twins or one double bed. These units lack AC and pool views. Thai Villas are located in the back corner of the property, close to the cliffs. These freestanding brick units surrounded by greenery also lack pool views, but most guests appreciate their seclusion, private wooden decks, and mountain views.Decor is all over the place and depends largely on the room type booked. Budget Single Rooms are surprisingly modern, but Standard Family Rooms (and all bungalows) are sparse and dated. The bright and spacious Family Rooms, Suites, and Thai Villas are much cheerier, with traditional Thai decor fabrics and details like warm wood floors, bamboo ceilings, and accent walls. The modern pool-access rooms have brushed concrete walls and wood-finish floors. All rooms have free coffee and tea and mini-fridges. Most rooms have balconies or terraces, air-conditioning, bathrobes, and flat-screen or tube TVs, but not all. Rooms generally have more modern bathrooms than what you'll find in the suites, bungalows, and villas. Housekeeping visits daily, and Wi-Fi is free in all rooms.

Green View's biggest features are its two swimming pools. Of the two, the main one is a lagoon-style pool located at the resort's center. It's surrounded by lush greenery with the red-tin roofs of the suites and bungalows popping through. A wood and concrete pool deck has loungers who have seen better days and the occasional green sun umbrella. This pool offers direct views of the cliffs overhead. The other pool is a long, narrow rectangular pool located by the room building. The building blocks most of its views, but the cliffs are visible from one end. Both pools are generally quiet and laid-back, but the main pool is often a bit more populated.The hotel's restaurant and bar is good for its free breakfast (including fried eggs) and lunch selections (sandwiches and Thai dishes), but there are much better options off-site. In fact, one of the best restaurants in Ao Nang, 11/1 Thaifood & Cocktail, is located by the end of Green View's driveway. Room service is available, too. Green View offers free shuttle service to the beach every hour (give or take), as well as airport transfers for a fee. Guests can book trips through the hotel's tour desk. Laundry service is available at a cost. Underground, on-site parking is free, and so is Wi-Fi throughout the property.