Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

Accomodation: Phi Phi Viewpoint Resort in Krabi, Thailand

To make reservations: call (66 75) 622351 or visit www.phiphiviewpoint.com

Ko Phi Phi is known for its beautiful beaches and active nightlife. Eager to experience it for ourselves, we decided to spend two nights there to see what all the hype is about. We arrived at the island on a big boat from Phuket. One of the locals was friendly enough to point us in the direction of our hotel, the Phi Phi Viewpoint Resort. The resort was a little out of the way of the main drag of the town. It took about a 15 minute walk through town and up a few hills until we arrived at the resort. We were led to our room, which was a beautiful one room house with a big balcony that had a complete view of the island from its position on a hill.  They provided a refrigerator and bottled water. Be warned though, that there is no hot water for the showers here. Its location being out of the way from the main part of town was appealing, but we learned that night that the music from all the bars could be heard very clearly because the sound traveled easily up to our spot. The staff at the front desk were extremely friendly and helpful. They were always willing to give us recommendations of where to go that day or give us first aid treatment when our sandals had given us blisters from walking. We went in high season when the price was 2000 baht ($64 USD) per night, which is higher than at other times of the year.

Ko Phi Phi, Thailand

We found our way to a restaurant along the beach for lunch, and we were surprised when many of the restaurants had very few people in it. We later learned that many people seemed to emerge as the sun got lower in the sky. Many people in their twenties and thirties accumulate in the bars and it creates a culture where you can sit and drink and get to know people from other countries. There is no shortage of places to eat, many offering standard Thai dishes and Western fare. Restaurants to be avoided are the ones that sit near the open sewage systems. Later that afternoon we lay on the beach soaking in the sun as the clouds rolled in. It seems that almost every day it would rain for a short time, but then the weather would clear up. The temperature always remained pleasant, and the rain wasn't really a bother for us. We later got Thai massages at one of the many shops advertising them.

The next morning we woke up early and set out for a half day snorkeling trip, which cost 300 Baht ($10 USD). A long tail boat full of 8 or so people made several stops, the first of which was Monkey Island. A small beach not far from the main part of the island was full of monkeys seemingly there purely for the enjoyment of tourists like us. We had to be sure to take our bags out of the boat as a couple bold monkeys jumped in and stole one man's bottle of juice. The next stop was in Ko Phi Phi Le, a beautiful cove surrounded by jutting rock cliffs with crystal clear water. We dove in and swam around for a short time before getting back into the boat for our next stop. We stopped off in another cove and were given snorkel gear. The boat driver threw food into the water as colorful, tropical fish swarmed all around us. The rest of the trip was spent at the famous beach where the movie The Beach was filmed. I would highly recommend taking a day trip like this one.

            The rest of the day we spent exploring the island. We took a short walk across the island through a short stretch of jungle to Long Beach. To get some rest, we stopped off in some sports bars and watched soccer over a cold beer. Here we struck up conversations with foreigners from Australia and Europe. That night we had dinner and relaxed with a glass of wine on the beach. An average meal cost about 150 Baht  and cocktails were about 100 Baht. The next morning we took a ferry boat from Ko Phi Phi to the mainland to our next stop, Railay. All in all, I am very glad we saw Ko Phi Phi, but two nights was more than enough to see the whole thing. While we definitely enjoyed our stay, this destination is best suited for someone who is more interested in the bar scene instead of relaxing and soaking in the beauty of Thailand.

Check out my photos of Thailand under My Photos.