Sharing a villa with friends, or with another small family, is one of the most enjoyable ways to see Ao Nang. You get a private pool and a living room to gather in, and the cost of the stay is shared between everyone. It works best when a few things are agreed before anyone lands in Krabi. This guide covers how to split the rooms, handle food and groceries, get around as a group, book island tours together, and keep the house running smoothly.
Who a Two-Bedroom Villa Works For
The villa at Arterra Haven has two bedrooms and two bathrooms, and it is set up for a maximum of four guests. That makes it a comfortable fit for:
- two couples travelling together
- four friends who are happy to share bedrooms in pairs
- two small families — for example, two parents each travelling with one child
If your group is larger than four, or includes a baby, contact the team before you book to ask what's possible rather than assuming.
Splitting the Rooms
Two bedrooms, two ensuite bathrooms
Each bedroom has its own ensuite bathroom with a rain shower, so nobody queues for the shower in the morning and nobody walks through someone else's room to reach one. The two rooms have different moods: bedroom one has warm dark wood and generous wardrobe space, while bedroom two takes a softer sage-and-mint palette with its own mirror desk and wardrobe. You can see both on The Villa page and in the gallery.
Deciding who sleeps where
Because the rooms differ in style, it's worth settling who takes which before you arrive, not on the doorstep after a long journey:
- Let preferences go first. Light sleepers, early risers, or anyone planning to work at the dining table for an hour each morning may care more than the rest.
- Families with children often want the room that makes bedtime easiest, so let them choose early.
- If two people want the same room, toss a coin, or swap halfway through a longer stay.
Food and Groceries
Shared breakfasts, dinners out
The villa has a compact kitchenette in the open living and dining area — enough for breakfast, snacks and a simple meal, but it isn't a full kitchen. Most groups settle into an easy rhythm: a slow breakfast together at the dining table, lunch wherever the day takes you, and dinner out on Ao Nang's beach road, where most of the restaurants are, or at the night market when everyone wants something different.
Run a shared kitty
Shopping as a group is easier with one simple system. On the first afternoon, do a single shop for the basics everyone uses — water, coffee and tea, fruit, breakfast supplies and snacks — and pay for it from a shared kitty or log it in a cost-splitting app. Convenience stores for everyday basics are a few minutes from the villa, and Krabi Town has a fresh market if you want more choice.
Label what's personal
Anything that isn't for sharing — a special diet, a favourite brand, one family's snacks for the children — gets a name on it. It saves a surprising amount of quiet resentment by day four.
Getting Around as a Group
The villa sits a short ride from Ao Nang's main strip, so it helps to decide early how the group will move around:
- Grab. The ride-hailing app works reliably in Ao Nang. Check the vehicle size when you book so the whole group fits, or split into two cars.
- Songthaews. These shared pickup-truck taxis run along the main roads. Fares change, so confirm the current price with the driver before you set off.
- Motorbikes. Arterra Haven arranges daily motorbike rental delivered to the villa — see current models and rates on our Tours page. Helmets are required by law, and riders should carry an international driving permit that covers motorcycles. Our guide to renting a scooter in Ao Nang covers the road rules.
- Island tours. Every tour we arrange includes hotel transfer, so a boat day doesn't need its own transport plan.
Not everyone needs to do everything together. A pair heading into Krabi Town for the afternoon while the others stay by the pool is a perfectly good day for everybody.
Booking Tours Together
A day at sea is often the part of the trip everyone remembers. Through our Tours page you can request Hong Island and Phi Phi Islands speedboat tours, including the sunset BBQ trips. A few tips for booking as a group:
- Send one request for the whole group, with the number of people and the ages of any children, so the team can confirm everyone's places and a single pickup time.
- Check the final price with the team. Prices are per person and may be adjusted seasonally, and national park entrance fees are not included. The team confirms final pricing when they receive your request.
- Collect the money beforehand. You reserve online and pay on the day, so gather everyone's share before the pickup.
- Leave a spare day. Itineraries can change with the weather and sea conditions, so avoid booking the boat trip for your final day.
Not sure which trip suits your group? The Hong Island day trip is a full day of lagoons and sandbanks, while the Hong Island sunset and plankton BBQ trip suits groups who prefer a later start and an evening at sea.
House Etiquette for a Shared Villa
Most friction on group trips comes from small things. Agree a few basics on the first evening and the rest of the stay takes care of itself:
- Quiet hours. Sound carries at night, especially across water. Keep music and pool games down late in the evening, out of respect for each other and for the neighbours.
- Pool rules. No glass around the pool, and if there are children in the group, agree who is watching them whenever they're in the water.
- Shared spaces stay shared. The living room, dining table and pool deck belong to everyone, so clear plates, cups and wet towels as you go.
- Air conditioning. Switch it off when you head out for the day — it's easy to forget when you're not the one who'll notice.
- One point of contact. Choose one person to message the villa team about arrival times, tours and questions, so everything stays in one thread.
- Settle up as you go. Check the shared kitty every couple of days rather than leaving one big reckoning for the airport.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many people can stay in the villa?
The villa is set up for a maximum of four guests, which suits two couples, four friends, or two small families. For a larger group, or if you're bringing a baby, contact the team before you book.
Does each bedroom have its own bathroom?
Yes. Both bedrooms have an ensuite bathroom with a rain shower, so each couple or family has its own space.
Can we cook group dinners at the villa?
The villa has a compact kitchenette — enough for breakfast, snacks and a simple meal, but not a full kitchen. For a big group dinner, the restaurants on Ao Nang's beach road and the night market are the easier option.
Can the villa team arrange tours and motorbikes for our group?
Yes. You can request island tours and daily motorbike rental through our Tours page, and the team confirms final prices and pickup times. Every tour includes hotel transfer, a tour guide, insurance, snorkeling equipment and life jackets.