Shopping may not be the largest magnetism to the region but there are a few decent places to quell a shopping fix. Markets are found throughout many towns and villages and sell charming souvenirs and handmade textiles such as scarves and batiks.
The best choice of shops can be enjoyed in the main tourist haunts, with hotels and resorts providing guests with tailors who specialize in world-class customer service along with quality materials and styles.
Bargaining with street vendors can be exhausting and the easiest way to win the war of the bartering is to smile your way through the stalls, which sell everything from local silver jewelry to cheap sunglasses.
Local minimarts sell basic necessities throughout the main tourist areas, with a few supermarkets found close to Krabi Town. There are no upscale shopping malls in Krabi.
This small congregation of shops is home to a selection of boutique-style fashion stores with a food court and accessories also on offer. A fish spa is located in the plaza and guests can sip on a cold beer while a tank filled with small, skin-nibbling fish eat away at visitor's dead skin in a fashion that is fast taking over the world.
Shopping in Railay is perfect for those with a hippy sense of style as dresses, flip flops, head scarves and jewelry can all be found in the local markets and shops here. Shops are not particularly cheap here and for those on a shoestring budget, better deals can be enjoyed in Ao Nang or Krabi Town.
Ko Phi Phi/Tonsai Village Long gone are the days when beer and beach towels were the only things for sale on Koh Phi Phi and Tonsai Village is the modern hub of the shopping life on the island. The village is a labyrinth of shops and stores with second-hand bookstores, handmade batiks, beachwear and handcrafted jewelry all available for purchase.
Shopping in Krabi is most enjoyable out of the peak season when the crowds have dispersed and you can really put your bartering skills to the test. With the monsoon rains tourists flee for sunnier climes, leaving locals slashing their prices in both the shopping plazas and the market stalls.
Find more information about Krabi and hotels in the area:
Krabi hotels | Thailand hotels
