Private Transfer to Phi Phi Island
 

We spent 10 days at the Holiday Inn on Phi Phi last June/July, it wasn't long enough!. We are planning to go back for two weeks at a similar time next year but don't want to use the ferry this time if we can avoid it.

This is the only transfer that I have been able to find www.phi-phi.com/ferry, half way down the page, I just wanted to know if they are reliable or does any have other recommendations? Many thanks.

Shouldn't Holiday Inn be able to arrange this for you? When we stayed at Phi Phi Island Village they arranged private transfers for us. I would ask the hotel first and foremost--they'll definitely provide you with the most reputable options.

Yes they do have a link on their site but the charge is quite a lot more than the one I found - I guess they have to get their cut. Just wondering what other options we had.

Just topping this to see if anyone has any ideas? Leighttravel club, where are you?

Hi Maudie, at work right now, will respond over the week-end.

Great thanks Leigh, I shall await your response.

Hi Maudie, We have not used the company in your link but I do know that they have been around for several years. We have made arrangements independently in the past, but these days, we just do it through H.I.

Cost is around 12,000baht for full transfer. For some reason it varies up and down a little.

Now it's a lot of money I know, but..........here is why we use this method.

When we come out of arrivals at Phuket airport, there is a driver waiting to meet us. We are immediately whisked off to the pier in a nice air-con car. Upon arrival at the pier, there is a speedboat waiting for us, and we head off straight to Phi Phi. The speedboat takes us right to the beach in front of Holiday Inn, (our usual Phi Phi hotel), and the whole thing takes less than 90 minutes. The same process in reverse for the return journey.

So for example if your flight arrives at Phuket at say 09.30 (which is often our arrival time), and you use the ferry to get to H.I., you will arrive at the resort around 16.00, 16.30.

If you use the method I've just described, you will arrive at around 11.00 !!!

Effectively gaining an extra day.

The sea-plane service, (which is not currently operating), was very much restricted by weather conditions and equally limiting......a timetable.

There is now a helicopter service operated by a company called Skydance but this will also be restricted by a timetable. Skydance have only two aircraft running several routes. The main point for me about the speedboat method is that it is a PRIVATE transfer. It's your boat for that period of time waiting only for you. We've done this many times......it works like clockwork.

There is also, I believe, a hydrofoil service which has just to started but at the moment, I don't have any first hand accounts of it. But at 1800baht per person and taking only 45minutes, this could be another good option.
http://www.phukethydrofoil.com/rates.htm

I will concede however, that the helicopter, just like the seaplane was, will be by far, the most memorable. But very expensive.

We're counting down the weeks to our next visit, in early February........just can't wait !!

Hi Leigh,

Thank you so much for getting back to me. After our holiday last June we declared we would NEVER take the ferry again. Our flight arrived at 9.30am as well, then we sat around the pier in the heat until the ferry left (nearly an hour late). Having left Perth at midnight, we were pretty shattered by the time we arrived at the HI. And the ferry was pretty old and awful.

So our thoughts mirror yours, we love the idea of coming out of the airport and know we will be on your way immediately.

The hydrofoil sounds interesting but then we still have to get to the pier, sounds like the the arrangements made through the HI may be the best way to go. We are two couples so the cost is a bit easier on the pocket and we are prepared to wear it for the extra time we get to spend in the hammock!

The new part of the hotel down the beach is coming along, be interesting to see if anyone is in there when you go. February isn't all that far away but June 2010 is for us! We would all go back tomorrow in a heart beat. Young John at Jasmin's was getting ready to add some new dishes to the menu so you might have something new to try. We so enjoyed the company of the people that worked there, they made our holiday all that much more special. Hope they are still around when we go back.

Hope your holiday is extra special too, how long are you going for?

Well Leigh thanks again, we appreciate you taking the time to reply and we will be thinking of you in February!

Best wishes
Maudie

Hi Maudie,

I am making the same trip in October and am currently looking into a private speed boat service. Can you tell me which one you used on your trip and if you liked it? We are currently leaning towards staying at Phi Phi Village Resort... ooh, and this is for our honeymoon so we'll so excited!

Thanks for all your help and anyone elses!

Anne

Sorry, only just saw this post!
We stayed at the Holiday Inn and used the boat transfer arranged through the hotel. They have there own boat so I can't really help you with other operators. Your hotel should be able to organise one for you.
Private transfer pro's - direct pick up from the airport and on the boat in no time which meant for us no wasted time lingering around the ferry terminal. We were at the beach swimming by midday - last time it was after 5pm before we hit the beach. Also didn't have to leave the resort until 11am which meant a lazy breakfast and swim. All depends on your flight times of course.
Con's - it was pretty expensive even shared with another couple. But it's your honeymoon so that could make all the difference. Also we had VERY strong swells both ways which made for pretty uncomfortable trips.

But all in all it was far better than the ferry though. Hope you have a great honeymoon - Phi Phi is just lovely and if you can manage a longtail to Laem Tong Beach (which is where the Holiday Inn is) then have a meal at Jasmin's.
And congratulations on your impending marriage.