I am planning a trip to Phuket & Phi Phi Island. We enjoy watersports, snorkeling, beaches, hiking, sightseeing, and pampering (spas). Do you have any suggestions on how long to spend in the area, the must sees & dos. I am hoping this area is inexpensive to do all these activities. Since I will be coming from Bangkok, how is the best way to get there?

To get to Phuket from Bangkok, you fly on Thai Air. Many, many flights daily. It's a short hop of about an hour.<BR><BR>To get from Phuket to Phi Phi there are lots of ferries, not all created equal. Some large and comfy, others small basic tubs. Depending on where you are going on Phi Phi, some ferries will take you only to Tansai Bay (main town) while others make stops at various hotels around the island. If you are going to one of these other hotels it is a lot more convenient to get a ferry that stops there. Your hotel on Phi Phi can assist you with the ferry tickets and they will know the most convenient boat. I suggest letting them handle it.<BR><BR>Friends are about to stay next month at PP Island Village which sounds like it would be ideal for your interests. It looks great on the website and I know it is on its own private beach so it should be spectacular. Phi Phi is a little slice of paradise on earth, if you are on the right beach. Enjoy!!

Thanks for the information, PP Village looks great, please update me what your friends thought. Do you know how much they paid for their accomadations?

Thai Airways 12 x daily<BR>Phuket Air 1 x daily<BR>Bangkok Airways 4 x daily<BR><BR>Lots of boats as other poster said. You need to split your time as you are interested in a lot of activities. Plenty of budget accommodation on Phuket, so many people have discovered the idea of making up a couple of nice rooms and renting them out. Lots from around $8 with a/con. Try www.huahin.4t.com for cheap accommodations in Thailand.

Thanks Sarah for the tips. Do you have any suggestions on activities on a budget ie. snorkeling, elephant trekking, boating, spa treatments?

Phuket has so many activities. You will find brochures and travel magazines in your hotel. For quite an experience take the dinner cruise on Andaman Queen ( lit up like an old Mississippi steamer, good fun ). There is a place near Patong called 'Hideaway spa', it is very basic and rustic but you get a fabulous massage and lovely small stone spa pools, about a quarter of the price for hotel type spa/massage. They pick you up free in Patong, they advertise in all the local publications/mags.<BR>Siam Safari is one of the most well established operations for elephant rides ( and buffalo rides ) very organised. Various half day and full day snorkeling trips, they pick you up, boat, equipment, and return, full day usually includes a beach lunch. There are nature walks and similar, pearl farm trip(only if you are really interested). Have a manicure and pedicure on the beach, cheap, but stick to places like Hideaway for massage as their people are correctly trained.<BR>Great facials available in many beauty salons, for men also!! Some may term toursim on Phuket as 'commercial', I think a better word would be 'organised'. Wide array of trips and tours you will be stuck choosing which ones to miss. Phuket Simon Cabaret is a Vegas style show, Phuket Fantasea is expensive at $25 for the show but elephants on stage! Worth it.

I think PP Island Village is about $130/night for a double. So definitely on the pricey end for Phi Phi, but probably a bargain for what you get compared to US resorts. E.g., the resort has a spa and sits on its own isolated beach with no other hotels.<BR><BR>We have stayed twice at PP Coral, decent bungalow right on the beach for $50/night (breakfast included). But if our friends give it a good report, we'l probably try PP Island Village next time.

Thanks Sarah and Marilyn for the fabulous suggestions. What is the best means of transportation on Phuket and Phi Phi Island? I am looking for both economical and convenience.

Can't say for Phuket, but on Phi Phi one gets around via longtail boat. If you want to go into Tonsai Bay for shopping, or to another part of the island for snorkeling, transportation is by water.