Hotel Hunting

Sitting at the coffee shop in Vernon and listening to the stories about Thailand and how easy it is to get cheap rooms sounded like it would be real simple to just book as we go. Definitely not quite so easy, even the budget hotels recommended in Lonely Planet are mostly booked. Probably because Ao Nang is such a popular destination. First we searched the web and then struck out on foot to see the hotels. A lot were nice but too expensive, a lot did not have any availability or if they did it was just for a night or two and others just did not appeal to our tastes or meet our requirements, basically being "clean and having a window and of course AC".
We checked a lot of hotels with very little success. I had heard of a hotel by a Muay Thai gym so we walked about 2 km eventually finding the hotel, The Cliffs Villa. It was a nice place and very secluded but too far out. Fortunately the shuttle truck for the hotel was heading to the beach so we jumped aboard and had a ride back. One of the hotels that was a booked recommended a hotel called the Pavilion, saying they were offering special deals for longer stays. As we approached and saw the grand lobby we thought "no way can we get in here". Persistent as I am (most of you know this) we went in and inquired about the rooms. We viewed a room, large with a large balcony and beautiful view overlooking one of the three pools, (we thought of David & Mary-Jo and how much they enjoyed a pool) actually quite spectacular. We ended up with a substantial discount, around 60% (all you have to do is ask) so we move in on the 22nd.
With over half the day gone pounding the pavement and searching, it was time for som R & R. We hopped aboard a Tuk Tuk and headed to Noppharat beach which is just past and around the point form Ao Nang beach. There is a beach, more or less, on either side of the town.
The beach was equally beautiful as the first, but the seemed to be a lot more locals here, camped out under the trees. We aren't sure if it is because it is Sunday or if this is their preferred beach. There is also in island connected to the beach via a sand bar and during low tide you can walk across.
Leisurely we walked back toward town and came across the "Love Cafe", a quaint little grass but type restaurant/bar. We liked the atmosphere so we sat and enjoyed a tasty chicken and green curry dish. This may turn our to be a regular hang out for us. Somewhat refreshed but still exhausted we continued back. We passed more hotels but one in particular stood out ( the orange one in the photo) so I managed to convince Marie to have a look. A roof top pool and a ground floor pool where the door to the suite virtually was right at the pools edge. A brilliant hotel and a price to match. Ok no more looking!
Back at Ao Nang beach there is a paved walkway lined with hotels on one side and the trees lining the beach on the other. Just happened to be Happy Hour so we sat and enjoyed a refreshment while watching a steady stream of people.