KOH PHI PHI
 

Have just come across a warning (on italian foreign ministry website) against travel to Koh Phi Phi as they say it is still badly damaged.

Having already booked 5 nights at Zeavola on Koh Phi Phi in early January at the end of my honeymoon would be grateful for any views on this (particularly by anyone who might have been to Koh Phi Phi recently)

Thanks

chap...i have just returned from koh phiphi...
and yes...it is still badly damaged....there is cleanup work everywhere...backpackers visiting the island are cleaning the ocean retreiving bricks and blocks and other things....there are huge piles of rubbish that are shipped off island....i had a local thai tell me the island looks like it did 20 years ago..

the tsunami wave went over the entire island...both bays converged on the isthymus destroying everything and everyone in its path.... there are many shops and hotels that have reopened in the ton sai area.


we stayed at koh phi phi island village...it was pretty much untouched...only minor damage...it was beautiful...
i dont know where Zeavola is located....
you should be fine...the diving and snorkeling at maya bay area was fantastic

Thank you DiveDiva your comments are promising and worrying at the same time...

Zeavola is on same side as Island Village just slightly further north.

the island is beautiful...and at the island village...its pure bliss...quiet..clean...you would never know of the destruction unless you go to ton sai...and i recommend you do..its interesting to see such a wonderful, concentrated effort to make their island beautiful again

no worries....go...and have fun...they need tourists to return

Divediva, someone was asking under the thread 'Thailand after tsuami' about diving, you have the latest on Phi Phi so maybe you could give them some info though we don't know what time of year they are traveling so don't know if it would be Phuket/Phi Phi etc or not.

I am pretty sure that Conde Nast Traveller (UK) did an article on Thailand recently and featured the Rayavadee in Krabi and Zeavola in Phi Phi - the article was positive about both. I will see if I can try to find the magazine.

Thank you BellaBel.

The UK Conde Nast Traveller magazine (www.cntraveller.co.uk) article is in the current edition. It does give a good write up about both hotels. In fact last month CNTraveller had a stay at Zeavola as the prize for their monthly competition. Guess it means they liked it!

divediva, do you mind sharing some detailed info on Phi Phi Island Village?

We are considering staying on Phi Phi for 3 nights in Feb. Our budget is between $60-100 but would prefer the lower end of the scale. We would even go higher for the perfect place.

Thanks!

check out www.phi-phi-budget.com

i saw both the bayview resort and chao koh phi phi lodge...they are both just outside of the main village ton sai...walking distance to restaurants, small pools, new landscaping.

the current rates are around 2568 bht for the bayview and 960 bht for the chao lodge. phi phi island resort and spa is still under $100 us so check it out. intown accomdations are basic bungalows, new everything from beds to landscaping... the island village resort is very upscale...and wonderful.
its a 20 minute boat ride from ton sai but you are on a secluded part of the island...and it is a huge property.

i am very glad we visited koh phi phi...
the people were so friendly and thankful that we were there (in october 2005), the island was clean, everyone was pitching in to bring up debris and materials from the bay...and there was lots of rebuilding in the central part of the island.

i would go back next year for a longer stay this time.

this is such an interesting thread (and looks like I'll be renting "The Beach" this wkend!)
I am in Phuket for 4 nites, but now considering 1 nite in Phi Phi. Or is it ok to just make a day trip out of it? How does it compare to other islands if one can only choose one? Is the boat ride a bumpy one..my bf is not good with boats! ;)

we took the ferry from phuket to phi phi island. it was airconditioned and pretty smooth (the weather was quite nice). many people make a day trip out of it...they ride the same ferry, daytrippers stay on the boat when it arrives at ton sai, then heads to maya bay where the beach was filmed.
afterward, you go to tonsai for lunch...walk around the shops...there is swimming , snorkeling and kayaks at the other bay across the isthymus before departing back to phuket.
i would spend the nite if you can...its a very interesting place...plenty of restaurants, music venues at nite and bungalow accomodations in ton sai.
i recommend you bf get the wrist bands (pressure point bands) to help with motion of the ocean issues...they work for most people..or try marezine, bonine or triptone...
all good products. dramamine is last choice.

it is so beautiful on phi phi...misty & foggy in the mountains, very lush green foliage, clear blue water with lots and lots of fish for snorkeling and diving.

wow..sounds wonderful! i was planning on phuket for 4 nights, and now am thinking 3 in phuket and 1 in phi phi. Is phi phi village the best place to stay?

phi phi island village is wonderful but i dont think one day is sufficient. you will regret only stayine one day...we were there 4 nites and i tried to extend but i could not...next time i will stay longer...
one nite stay in town...easier..more to do..
imho

diva--when you say one night in town, where do you mean? is phi phi village where you stayed? i just looked at the website..beautiful!

Phi Phi Village is not in town. I believe it's rather isolated.

ton sai is the only town...probably a few hundred people there...then there are resorts around different bays on the island.

phi phi island village is about a 20 minute boat ride from ton sai...and if you book to stay there..they will pick u up from the phuket airport or phuket hotel...its a mandatory charge , you travel by fast boat
directly to the resort bypassing ton sai.

if you take the ferry into phi phi...it lands at ton sai and there are many many touts with hotels and bungalows for rent. there seemed to be enough availability but we were not there in high season.

i was not impressed with phuket...maybe because i live on maui...it just wasnt what i expected...but i did really enjoy our time on phi phi...and the island village resort is every bit as nice as their website photos.

diva-when you say mandatory, are there no other options? say one takes a ferry to ton sai, can they not arrange transport from there? it sounds like it is a segregated visit from the rest of phi phi. Where did you stay in phuket?

I think diva meant that it's a mandatory fee that you pay for the transportation whether you use it or not, but I could be wrong...

if you stay at phi phi island village during high season...they will charge you for the fast boat to the resort....even if you take the ferry. at least thats what they said to me.

the resort is 20 minutes by boat (no cars on phi phi) from ton sai.

we stayed at the old phuket hotel...james a recommendation. it was ok...ok pool, ok room ok restaurant in karon beach area. kinda off the main tourist area..quiet, clean but not much happening there. in fact it was too quiet...

it was quiet on phi phi but much more inviting for us...i just didnt like phuket much...
so i am not the one to ask about phuket

I am traveling with two 17 year olds to Phuket and then on to Ton Sai does anyone know how it takes to get there and if the ride is bumpy?