Krabi Tipa Resort

Greenery surrounds this four-star resort, while the main strip of Ao Nang remains close enough for an evening stroll. You can return from the beach, the shops or dinner to a property with gardens, balconies and room service rather than carrying the whole holiday around with you.

The mood is practical and easy-going. Air conditioning, free WiFi, a swimming pool, a fitness centre and daily bottled water cover the unglamorous details that matter once you are hot, tired and ready to sit down. Families have a playground, indoor and outdoor play areas, a children's pool and a kids' club for ages four to twelve; couples have balconies, massages and the option of a candlelit dinner.

You are in Ao Nang Beach, Thailand, at 121/1 Moo 2, Tambon Ao Nang. Ao Nang Beach is about 0.1 miles away, with the beachfront promenade, shops, restaurants, spas, bars and entertainment reached in roughly a five-minute walk. That gives you the useful combination of a proper choice of places to eat outside and a resort base to return to afterwards.

Pai Plong Beach is about 0.7 miles away on foot, while Nopparat Thara Beach is about 0.9 miles away. The surrounding area also gives you options beyond the sand: Blue Pool is about 1.5 miles away, and The Fun Garden is about 2.6 miles away. For a longer outing, Railay Beach is about 2.4 miles away on foot, while Krabi International Airport is about 16 miles from the resort.

Wooden furnishings give the rooms a straightforward resort feel, and the large balcony is the place to sit with a drink while the day finally stops demanding things from you. Views vary by category, including inner-courtyard views and ocean views, so the choice matters if looking out from the room is part of your holiday rather than a decorative line in the brochure.

For a couple, the Grand Deluxe Double Room gives you a super-king bed, while the Executive with Ocean View is the obvious category to consider when the outlook carries more weight. The Family Suite is the useful option for a family or group needing more room and two super-king beds. You do not need to turn the bedroom into a storage locker: wardrobes, a clothes rack and a drying rack keep the practical business under control.

Every room has air conditioning, a private bathroom with shower, a kettle, a refrigerator and free bottled water each day. Room service is available when the sensible plan is food without another walk. A seating area and desk help if you need to sort photographs or travel plans, while soundproof rooms are available for a quieter night. Daily housekeeping keeps the routine simple, and the balcony gives wet clothes somewhere to dry without sacrificing the bathroom.

Breakfast is served as a continental, Asian and buffet spread, with the restaurant overlooking the cliffs for the sunrise. Lunch and dinner are also available, so you can eat at the resort rather than making every meal a logistical exercise. Breakfast can be taken in your room, which is particularly useful when an early start has already claimed your enthusiasm for conversation.

During the day, the pool bar near the lobby handles lunch or a light meal. There is also a lobby lounge for speciality cocktails, while the restaurant can arrange a candlelit dinner when you want something more deliberate than a plate followed by an early night. A snack bar, on-site coffee house and bar facilities keep smaller appetites covered.

Thai favourites and international dishes share the menu, with special-diet options available on request. Kids' meals, fruit and wine or champagne are also available. In other words, you can keep things simple after a long day or make an evening of it; neither requires leaving the grounds.

The Turquoise Pool is the main answer when you want water without putting on a mask, and pool and beach towels are available. Sun loungers and parasols are provided for the serious business of doing very little. The gardens and outdoor seating give you somewhere to read, recover or wait for the evening heat to ease.

A fitness centre is available if you still have energy to spend, although the more appealing recovery option may be a massage. Head, neck, back, foot, hand and full-body massages are available, as well as couples massages. There are massage facilities on site, so you can replace the day's exertion with something less ambitious.

When you want an outing rather than another lounger, the tour desk can arrange a four-island tour, Phi Phi Island, Hong Island, elephant trekking or kayaking. Billiards, karaoke and snorkelling are also available. Families have a children's playground, indoor play equipment, babysitting and a kids' club for children aged four to twelve.

Check-in starts at 15:00 and check-out runs until 12:00. You need photo identification and a credit card at check-in, while cash is accepted for payments. A refundable damage deposit is collected on arrival and returned at check-out after the property has been inspected, so keep that small piece of arrival admin in mind.

The resort has a 24-hour front desk, private and express check-in and check-out, luggage storage and a tour desk. Free WiFi works throughout the property. Private parking is available on site with reservation, and valet parking is also available. Car hire, packed lunches, laundry and ironing services cover the jobs that tend to appear halfway through a longer trip.

An airport shuttle service is available to and from Krabi International Airport and is arranged through the resort. Ao Nang's main promenade is close enough to reach on foot, while the tour desk can help with excursions and local arrangements. Families can request cots or extra beds, subject to the selected room and availability.