We stayed at Railay Beach, Krabi area for just over a week and used that as our base for exploring the Southern Thai islands and the Krabi area. There are two Railay Beaches: East and West. East faces onto the mangroves and is much cheaper (which is where we stayed) and the West (ocean facing) side. The two sides are on a peninisula and 5 minutes very easy walking apart. Railay beach is an odd mix of its backpacker origins and the arrival of the rich and famous. The resort 1 minute away from us was charging $2,000 per night. There are no wharves or jetties on Railay Beach. You arrive by longtail boat from Krabi or Oonang and have to wade through the sea (or mangroves) hefting your luggage. People who arrive not knowing this interesting fact inevitably get expensive clothes salt-water stained. Similarly, Oonang has no jetty, and the jetty at Krabi requires an athletic leap into the long-tail boat and a Scottish hammer-thrower's technique to get their luggage on the long-tail.