TravelingLs

Hello!

We are pretty last-minute in planning our trip to Thailand. We are lucking out with some of our hotel choices, but unfortunately seem to be striking out with availability on Phi Phi. Holiday Inn was our first choice due to the solitude and gorgeous beaches. Can any of you offer some comparable choices in the same price range or that are less expensive in the same area as Holiday Inn, or an equally quiet/removed beach on Phi Phi?

Also be interested in budget bungalows in Laem Tong Bay area, if you've got a gem.

Thank you so much for your help!

LeighTravelClub

There are only four options at Laem Tong Bay. Holiday Inn, Zeavola, Phi Phi Natural and Erewan Palms. I've listed them in my order of preference. For me, Erewan Palms, is one I would avoid.

Phi Phi Island village is a little further south in Loh Bagaoh Bay. There are a couple of budget bungalow outfits in this area.

Going further south, you come to Long Beach where there are several options ranging from budget to mid-range. This area has the advantage of being fairly close to the main village, yet remaining fairly quiet.


The east coast of Phi Phi is really nice and contains some beaches and bungalow places which are as laid back as any on less visited islands like Ko Phayam, Ko Jum and Ko Kradan. So much for the knockers who say Phi Phi is dire and past it. I figure they must never venture away from Ton Sai/Loh Dalam.
The downside is that this area is an expenisve haul from town - I’m a good bargainer but I couldn’t get the long tail taxi mafia to go under 400 to Ao Toh Koh. Bungalow owners will pick you up for considerably less if you ring ahead.
Starting at the south-east corner is a tiny beach with one attractive backpacker-style place, Ao Poh Bungalows. Just north is a fairly big unsettled (except for a small restaurant/bar) beach called Loh Modee, a great place for a quiet swim and sun even in high season. Better hurry though because a big hotel has plans for this lovely place. You can walk over the saddle from Long Beach in about 10 minutes. About a km further north is one of the better backpacker places in Thailand, Ao Toh Koh Resort on its own little beach.

Over the next 2 km are two other beaches, Ao Rantee with 3 backpacker/ flash packer places and Had Pak Nam with the flashpacker Relax Beach Resort. Note that a fringing coral reef is fairly close to shore right along the east coast offering pretty good snorkelling.

Ao Toh Koh, could be the budget gem you are looking for. Some reviews on following link

http://tiny.cc/jUvOf

TravelingLs

This is fantastic information, Leigh. So detailed and thoughtful and we are so appreciative of your help -- we are lucky to have it.

We just have a couple more questions. Though we're leaning towards Phi Phi Island Village we've read in reviews that since it's quite removed, you're stuck there for meals, which people have said are quite expensive. Have you ever stayed there and successfully ventured to other restaurants, especially for dinner? Or do longtails no longer run in the evenings?

Is that also true of Holiday Inn and Phi Phi Natural?

Because of this, we were leaning towards The Beach Resort at Long Beach, but it got pretty poor reviews. Have you ever stayed there?

Thanks again so much for your help.

LeighTravelClub

O.K.,
Island Village is a little isolated....but then I think that's fine. Yes we have stayed there....recently. There are a couple of pretty basic eating options away from the hotel, but within very easy walking distance. Rough and ready...but great !!

Longtails run until very late so you have the option of heading to Tonsai Village, if that's what you fancy.

Holiday Inn and Phi Phi Natural are a little further away from the village, but have the advantages of the Sea Gypsies, who run two and sometimes three beach restaurants (just unforgetable), and, of course, the best off beach snorkelling at Phi Phi.

That brings us to Long Beach.....much closer to the village...predominantly a younger crowd and generally speaking,for us, a little tatty. It is a lovely bay with great swimming and snorkelling.....but...well...it just feels 'rather used', if that makes sense.

We have not stayed at The Beach Resort, but have had an extensive tour throughout. Bit of a misnomer really because actually pretty much all of the accommodation is some way from the beach....and most of it is reached only after quite a climb.

Laem Tong is the area to head for in my opinion, but given a rough idea of your budget, also your age-group, and what you want to experience at Phi Phi, then maybe I can make further recommendations.

TravelingLs

Once again, fantastic information, Leigh! We really appreciate it! You are a wealth of knowledge on Phi Phi.

We are a couple in our late twenties/early thirties. We have both done the backpacker thing and though we have incredible memories, we would like a little more comfort in our accomodations.

As for the acommodations themselves, we would like something budget-friendly (around $150/night, a little more, a little less), but charming, clean and with friendly, helpful staff. The $20/night bungalows look like fun, but I'm not a huge fan of lizards and rats in the room. Not to suggest that's the norm, but from many reviews we've read, it's a possibility, and that doesn't sound like vacation to me.

As for the property, we would love a secluded, swimming beach that's far from day-trippers and the like. We are also not into the Club Med/Disney feel either. We want a true Thai experience.

And finally, we don't want to get stuck spending every meal at the expensive resort restaurant. Inexpensive, true Thai options are fantastic, especially if they're a short walk or tuk-tuk.

You were very helpful on our other posting, suggesting Phi Phi instead of Lanta and you highly recommended Holiday Inn. It is by far and away our #1, but unfortunately it is booked. It is a last-minute trip for us, but we are not giving up. We know we'll find something.

Hope these details help. Thanks again so much for all of your help! Many, many thanks!

filmwill

We're in our early 30s and did Phi Phi 2 years ago for our honeymoon. I can relate a lot to your description of you--cuz it sounds a lot like us

I think you'll find PPIV right up your alley. We were there for 5 days and, yes, eating there got old, but the place itself is just so unbelievably beautiful. You won't find beaches anywhere else in Thailand that can rival that side of Phi Phi (including PPIV, Zeavola and Holiday Inn.) Luckily, we found a few cool local places that were about 1/75th the price of the hotel (and FYI, the hotel isn't OVERpriced...just priced for standard non-Thailand type prices for any other beach resort you'd find.)

If you walk away from the hotel towards a bridge that brings you over to the other side of the island (Lana Bay) you'll find a few just awesome, swig' a few beers back, local cheap delicious Thai-type places. A mix of that and the hotel's restaurants should keep you guys happy campers.

Trust me, you won't be bored. PPIV is definitely isolated, but that's what you want--you don't want to be near the main village of Phi Phi...it's gross, overcrowded with souvenir stores and hordes of daytripping, gawking, sunburnt tourists. Just take in the peaceful quiet scenery, take a dip in their amazing pool or, do like us: nonstop snorkeling trips--we couldn't get enough. Being in the water is truly like dying and having gone to heaven there.

I'll leave this by saying: AVOID The Beach Resort. We had friends who stayed there and it's supposedly a total hellhole. It looks nasty from the outside, so I can only imagine how much worse it is inside.

Best of luck figuring our Phi Phi, guys...you'll never want to come home from there!

TravelingLs

Wow, filmwill! What great advice! Yes, it definitely seems as though we're after the same things you guys were when you were there last and it sounds like PPIV is the way to go. Now we just have to keep the fingers crossed that we can get in there

Thanks to both you and Leigh for tempering our fears that we'd be stuck at the same restaurant all week. A chill dive or two where we can throw a few beers back over some delicious Thai food sounds ideal!

We are so thrilled for this trip. If you think of any other noteworthy tips to share, please send them our way.

Thanks again so very much!

LeighTravelClub

Given this further info, then I agree with filmwill...go for Island Village.

Another advantage of this resort is that I believe, they lay on their own private speedboat transfer from Phuket, during high season. This can increase your time on the island considerably. Speedboat takes around 45 mins and the ferry up to 3 hours. And with only two ferrys each day, you can have a lot of hanging around, if your flight timings don't work out with the ferry.

Oh, and there is an easy walk to Laem Tong Bay these days....mostly using a nice path. It takes around 30mins at a leisurely pace. You''ll be advised to take a torch if you do this walk at night.

filmwill

Agreed. If you can afford it, DEFINITELY opt for the hotel's private transfer service. It'll save you a LOT of time (as opposed to taking the public ferry, which, let's face it, you won't want to do on your honeymoon.)

I know that PPIV has raised its' priced quite a bit since we were there, but, if you can make it work for your budget, it's worth it.

TravelingLs

Thanks for the tips, you two. We really appreciate your help! We just heard back from PPIV and their cheapest room is 19,000 baht/night. Insanity! We checked Sawadee.com and with the hotel's website. Would you be able to suggest an alternative booking site that may have better options? I realize this is a stretch, but worth a shot...

Thanks again for everything! We're way too excited about Phi Phi to give up now!

filmwill

Holy cr*p! They really raised their priced!!

I'd say you probably are not going to get a nominally better rate than on Sawadee.com

If it's out of your price range, have you considered looking at the Holiday Inn? I think you'll still find a majority of what you're looking for there.

TravelingLs

Yes, the price at PPIV is very high! They normally have basic rooms going for around 8,000 baht, but all that's left are the luxury bungalows, which are way out of our price range.

Holiday Inn was our first choice, but they're fully booked too

I am hopeful we'll land something on that side of Phi Phi. Wish us luck and thanks for all of the help!

LeighTravelClub

TavelingLs, please e'mail me and I will provide an e'mail address direct to the resort that may get you booked into Holiday Inn.

[email protected]

TravelingLs

Thank you SO much to all of you who have been so helpful in planning our trip.

Afraid the stars are not aligning for us when it comes to booking a place in Phi Phi. We can't seem to get in anywhere.

We had our hearts set on Holiday Inn (with PPIV as a close second), but it's looking grim. (Triple thanks to Leigh Travel Club for trying to help us at Holiday Inn. So wonderful of you!).

Any thoughts on Phi Phi Natural? Reviews are not that great...

LeighTravelClub

Phi Phi Natural will be fine. This is prime real estate on Phi Phi. The laid-back east coast....fabulous !
Located at the most northerly part of Phi Phi Don, there are great views of Laem Tong, Bamboo Island and Mosquito Island down the east side, and to the west, the view of Lana Bay, is stunning.

If Natural was my only option, then I wouldn't hesitate. But hey...it,s a real nice place....50 mtrs from Zeavola and say 200 mtrs from H.I.
It's at Laem Tong Bay.........the golden key to an idyllic stay at Phi Phi.

Expect you may have this info, but if not here is a link

http://www.leightravelclub.com/apps/links/