We booked a last-minute trip to Krabi (Ao Nang area) and ended up at Centra by Centara. It's about a 20 minute walk from the beach, but they have a beach shuttle that runs several times a day, and otherwise Tuk Tuks are pretty affordable and it's a lovely walk as well if it's not too hot out. Centra is a pleasant hotel with a restaurant and a pool; we didn't eat at the restaurant so cannot comment, but the pool is nice. Rooms were medium-sized with comfy (though firm) beds. Everything was quite clean and new-looking, and the bathroom had good water pressure/temperature throughout. Service was wonderful, English was widely available though some patience is required (don't be a rude American -- it's amazing that folks speak English at all, so be kind if you are a native English speaker, or learn Thai instead).
Our room had a view of a dirt parking lot behind the hotel, but we were never in our room long enough to care much. The rooms on the front side of the hotel have a better view facing some amazing limestone cliffs, but also a bit more road noise.