The Nantra De Deluxe

Part of the Thailand-based Nantra Hotel Group, The Nantra De Deluxe is a sleepy beach property that guests either love or hate. On the "love it" side, many visitors are delighted by the remote beach location; beautiful sea views; cheap rates; and freestanding villas. Those on the "hate it" side are spooked by the middle-of-nowhere hotel site (far from any traveler convenience or point of interest) and the deserted quality of the place, and frustrated by its limited service and offerings. We won't plant ourselves in the latter group, but we will say that on our 2018 visit on a weekend afternoon, we detected almost no signs of life. The hotel felt eerie, practically abandoned, and barely operational; the restaurant could barely scrape together our order of a coffee and a bowl of soup.Reviews range from "nightmare hotel" to "little paradise," but we suspect this has to do largely with expectations. The first expectation to set is that no Krabi hotel is free from shortcomings. Even international luxury chains are vulnerable to the tropical elements here as small properties like Nantra, and things like warped wood and bugs inside are probable sights at most hotels. That being said, there is a real sense of neglect throughout Nantra, especially by its pool deck (where past guests have reported seeing protruding rusty nails), semi-functioning restaurant, and beach, which was muddled with dead leaves and weeds on the day we stopped by. The second expectation to set is that Nantra is far from anything of interest or traveler convenience stores and there is little to zero guest mingling on-site, a result of the hotel's small 21-room size, seemingly very low occupancy, and few common areas. This may be a plus to those in search of solitude and/or travelers with a rental car or motorbike. But for everyone else, the hour-long taxi rides into town will probably feel like an irksome expense and a time-suck. It's not unheard of for Nantra guests upset with the conditions or location to check out early -- or leave upon arrival -- in search of alternate accommodations in Ao Nang. The hotel may not be up to international standards, but truly beachfront properties in this region are surprisingly hard to find, especially at this price. And for what it's worth, the sunsets are wonderful.

On our sister site TripAdvisor, Nantra lists its address as Krabi Town. On the hotel website and in reality, it is set in Had Yao, or Long Beach, which is nearly an hour's drive through countryside from Krabi Town. (Between Krabi Town and Nantra are complex coastal mangroves, so one must drive inland and then back towards the coast to get to either point.) There is really nothing catering to tourists nearby, and reaching the action of Ao Nang Beach (where many island tours depart) requires a full 60 minutes by car or motorbike. A rental vehicle is basically mandatory for those wanting to see region -- note that Thailand drives on the left -- as taxi costs will likely add up and grow old. Either way, explorers need to budget the two hours (round trip) into their days.On the plus side, the hotel is right on the beach (few Ao Nang hotels can claim the same) and convenient to Krabi Airport -- a half-hour's drive. Travelers familiar with the area and in want of beachfront seclusion may have no trouble with the location, but first-timers, travelers uncomfortable with driving on the left, or any tourist with hopes of a full itinerary will likely be disappointed.

Nantra De Deluxe's 21 freestanding villas come in three categories -- Deluxe Villa, Suite Villa, and Beachfront Pool Villa -- and all are arranged along a reflecting pool that runs perpendicular to the shore. For most units, the terraces face the pond and the room entrances are on the back side. Deluxe Villas are basic on the inside, with wood-veneer furnishings, off-white tiled floors, linen lanterns, and a few small pieces of floral art on the walls. Deeply recessed ceilings and glass doors leading to the terrace add a sense of openness. Suite Villas are similar, but have canopy beds, additional living rooms with daybeds, and larger bathrooms with wood-slat walls, pebble flooring, skylights, and plants. At the end of the reflecting pool closest to the beach are the two Beachfront Pool Villas. These, like the Suite Villas, have canopy beds, skylit bathrooms with pebble flooring, and more art on the walls than the Deluxe Villas. In lieu of the living rooms in the Suite Villas, Beachfront Pool Villas have private pools. Beachfront Pool Villas are also the only units whose terraces face the sea, though note that the pool is between these terraces and the beach.All rooms have flat-screen TVs and DVD players, empty mini-fridges, kettles with coffee and tea, and electric safes. In all three categories, the terraces have daybeds, tables, and chairs and bathrooms have separate soaking tubs, rainfall showers, and toilet vestibules. Bathrobes, slippers, and a few toiletries are provided, as are beach towels. Wi-Fi is free in all of the rooms.Past guests have reported maintenance issues involving things like missing baseboards, cracked walls, and decaying door frames. On our visit, we noticed that most terraces were patchy with mildew.

There are a few features at Nantra that offset the loneliness of its location. A pool facing the beach is a decent size, but its deck is uneven and cracked in places. Past guests have reported mold and tears on the loungers. Next to the pool is a small restaurant, where a free basic breakfast of toast and fruit is available in the morning. Other items can be ordered for a fee. The restaurant has lunch and dinner menus, but note that the kitchen often runs out of items and there is nowhere else nearby to eat. The beach that the pool and restaurant overlook is very pretty and peaceful, though dead leaves and debris can mess up photo ops. A few kayaks are available to borrow. Toward the reception side of the resort are small rooms for games (ping-pong and darts), working out, and getting Thai massages. Trips are available through the hotel, including a free one to the Emerald Pool and hot springs, about an hour's drive to the east. Laundry service is available and Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort, though it's often described as poor.