We recently travelled to Thailand on a nine-day trip; this was our second time in the country. We entered Thailand through Krabi this time and it was our best decision.

We’ll tell you why.

Easy Immigration

When we visited Thailand in 2020, we landed in Bangkok; meaning that’s where we went through immigration. The Thai capital is one of the most-visited cities across the globe and that didn’t make the immigration process easy. Since Thailand had waived off the visa for that period for many countries, we found a MASSIVE queue in the immigration and it took us nearly four hours to get our passports stamped and enter the country.

Even last month, when we travelled to Thailand, it was visa-free for a few countries. But this time, we picked Krabi as our point of entry. The entire immigration process barely took some 20 minutes.

Sim Card at Krabi Airport

Once you cross the immigration, you’ll come across a SIM card counter. They didn’t have many options, but they had an AIS SIM card for a flat rate of 499 TBH. AIS’ price at Krabi airport is certainly higher when compared to other Thai airports and convenience stores but we have read good reviews about this mobile operator.

Also Read: Which Sim card to buy in Thailand: Where to buy, cost, calls, internet data packs

Krabi Airport to Ao Nang: Easy cab rentals

There are plenty of cab rental options from Krabi Airport. You can either book a cab on landing at the airport to popular areas such as Ao Nang Beach and Krabi Town or pre-book one as it may be cost-effective.

Krabi is a tourist-popular island in Thailand © Journo Travellers

Krabi to Phuket

Phuket to Krabi distance is around 163 KM and one of the popular ways to travel between the islands is by minivan. Many tourists and even locals opt for this option as it is more convenient than going by ferry in terms of comfort and cost. Speedboats are also available, but ticket prices are twice the minivan price.

Minivans have pick-ups from Krabi Airport, so you may head straight to many nearby islands, such as Phuket, Koh Lanta and Phang Nga, to name a few, from Krabi airport. The airport in Krabi may be a small one in comparison to other airports in Thailand but we have realised that it is quite convenient.

Also Read: Koh Lanta: Thailand’s underrated island paradise near Krabi

Landing in Krabi may cost us a tad more than Bangkok but we feel it’s worth it. There are a few money exchange counters, too and a few eateries as well such as Subway, and Black Canyon Coffee near the Arrivals gate.