Tips on Avoiding Krabi Tourist Traps

Krabi Tourist Traps

Make sure to haggle for everything – from transportation to shopping to accommodations to laundry.

Phuket

Phuket is a big tourist trap. It is crowded, very commercial, completely geared towards tourists and prices are very high.

Tour and Travel Agencies

Local tour and travel agencies jack up the prices of travel and accommodation in order for them to make some money. They have been known to charge up to double the walk-in prices for accommodation.

For accommodations, at least insist on seeing the rooms first before you commit to anything. If you find that it’s worth the amount you’re paying then it’ll be a little more bearable. Talk to the locals or other tourists and get tips from them before making your decisions.

Laundry

There are several places in Railay that charge by the garment, sometimes up to $1 per shirt. If you just need to wash some t-shirts and shorts, there’s a place on East Railay near the King Climbers office that charges just $1/pound, a great deal if your clothes don’t require special care.

Shopping

The row of shops opposite the beach in Ao Nang charge the skies for everything, even a bottled drink. If you don’t bargain, you lose out. Do your research and scout around for the best deal. Bargain, haggle a lot. Go into the main city for shopping. That’s where tourists don’t normally go, but the locals do. Contrary to most cities where the central business district has a surcharge on retail prices, Krabi’s doesn’t normally have one, and you can still bargain.

Editor’s note: The information contained on this page was compiled using real traveler reviews about Krabi Tourist Traps.