barefootbeach

Hi,
Click on the following link to see our photos taken at Layana Resort on Koh Lanta and a day trip to Phi Phi Leh. These accompany the trip report "SE Asia: It's So Hot" posted in April.

If you have trouble viewing, please let me know. There's a hidden "Fast" button on the upper left that you can use to make the photos advance faster.

This is the last of the photos from our 5 week SE Asia trip. I have enjoyed communicating with many of you Fodorites and am grateful for all the sage advice. Hopefully, we'll get to experience Asia again! Good travels!

http://barefootbeach.smugmug.com/pho...AlbumKey=Nhfje

filmwill

Beautiful pics (yet again!)--makes me want to go back to Phi Phi even more than I already want to.

barefootbeach

filmwill,
we liked staying at Layana because it was closer to Phi Phi so we could visit the Phi Phi Leh beach before all the hordes descended. We just saw the main village beach on Phi Phi Don, which I didn't care for...pretty scruffy.

rhkkmk

poor quality pics....please remove them for fodors

barefootbeach

Thanks Bob for your vote of confidence!

Jim0884

Barefootbeach, were you happy at Layana overall? We're trying to decide between that and Pimalai...these decisions are always so tough (although both are probably great)

barefootbeach

Jim0884m
sorry it took so long to reply to you...I've been on vacation in Oregon (just a bit different from Thailand!)
Yes, we thought Layana was lovely, with the only negatives being that your room doesn't overlook the ocean, (actually, they have one villa that does) and I didn't like the fact that I wasn't warned to reserve our day excursions in advance, because they fill up. The pool was lovely, the food excellent, the sevice friendly and great. You can take a kayak or sunfish out. But, there's not a lot to do if you don't do a boat trip or other day trip, which is probably fine with a lot of people. The beach was fine, but I wouldn't say outstanding. And, it's a bit of a trek to get there, but arriving by their private speedboat was fun. Hope this helps.

travel04

hi, im torn between staying in koh phi phi don for 2 nights during NYE (8 of us) or going to koh lanta for nye for 2 nights - the beaches on long beach etc LOOK nice - why do u say it's not outstanding? are waters warm, shallow, non rocky for hanging out in?

The other 3 nights we're in Ao nang so we can do trips to hong island and other islands...that can supposedly only be done from Ao Nang.

what would you recommend?

barefootbeach

Hi travel04,
I'd still pick Layana over koh phi phi don because the latter was SO touristy. However, I only saw the main beach area there during our day boat trip so maybe staying at a resort's beach would be better. I believe the water color was more beautiful in the koh phi phi area.

I'm probably being overly picky, because yes, the water was warm, shallow enough and non-rocky. Scenically, it just wasn't overly impressive...I like a curving beach with real white sand and palm trees curving over it. We walked it for awhile and you pass some not too scenic type accommodations.

travel04

i see...ok tell me some more...how is the sand at Lanta - say long beach or neighboring beaches - somewhat white yes? yeah the resort beaches on koh phi phi - first of all too expensive and we want to be close to the new year's eve beach parties on the bars....

i wonder how the nye parties are on koh lanta - is it happening...or is a beach bar normally filled with about 20-50 ppl max - more family oriented?

Any ideas anyone?

barefootbeach - thanks again for your response!

barefootbeach

Yes, the sand is white...but the whole stretch is a little shabby once you're away from Layana. I really don't know anything about Koh Lanta's scene....outside of Layana Resort..and that was more sedate...not families there, but couples. Not a big party place....more elegant. Of course, NYE could be completely different.

But for just 2 nights, I don't think it's worth the hassle of getting to Koh Lanta. I'd probably stick closer to Au Nang, but I haven't been there so don't know what that's like.

live42day

your pictures are amazing, makes me wish we booked Phi Phi instead of Koh Samui.

barefootbeach

Thanks live42day! I'm sure Koh Samui will be gorgeous too. I'd like to visit there sometime as well.