Why Choose Koh Phi Phi

1. How safe is it?
There are virtually no reports of pretty crime on Koh Phi Phi

2. How clean is it?
The inhabitants of the island go out of their way to keep the island clean and tidy. The major hotels have taken responsiblity for keeping the beaches in front of their properties clean. Members of the hotel staff are assigned to clean the beaches and pick up any rubbish. There is a great sense of concern for the environment on Kho Phi Phi.

3. Is the water clean?
Not only is the water a delightful turquoise colour its also crystal clear. It's ideal and safe for swimming, snorkeling and diving.

4. Are you hassled by hawkers?
Very few beach vendors. There are several touts out to sell the various waterborne adventures.

5. How is it most likely to appeal to?
It's mainly a destination for the young, fit and virile. Play in the water during the day and the bars and discos at night.

6. Which side of the island does the sunrise and set?
Having returned from a great day in the water by mid afternoon around 4 pm is good time to slowly make the climb to the viewpoint to cathch the sunset around 6pm. The view of Ton Sai and Loda Lum bay is spectacular but if you wait until sunset to take the photographs the light isn't good enough. Aim to be up on top of the hill by 5 pm, taking memorable photos and relax watching a spectacular sunset.

7. Who really should avoind it?
The village as it can best be describe behind the main street on Phi Phi Don has no transportation. At best concrete or brick walk ways the rest of the time simply sand. It's just not practical for a guest with severe walking difficulties or reliant on a wheelchair.

8. What cant you buy in the island and should bring with you?
Most basic consumber items are available from shops around the island. A can of soda water that would cost 13 baht in a main land 7-eleven will cost 18 baht in the same store on Phi Phi and 20 baht in most of the other small shops. But then consider how much more handling the product has had before it reaches you on the island. A copy of Bangkok Post which will be at least two or three days old has been marked up 100% with a Phi Phi sales price of 40 baht. But how many people will bother to read a newspaper on a paradise island, for those that do be prepared to pay for the luxury.

9. What is there to do
Daytime Dive, snorkel or go kayaking depending, which takes your fancy.
Nighttime-hang out in the bars and discos.

Getting to Koh Phi Phi

Q. Where do the ferries leave?
A. They depart from Rosada Harbour in Phuket or from Krabi harbour

Q. How do I get to the Ferry Pier?
A. If you are staying in Phuket or Krabi already arrangement can be made for you to be collected at your hotel. If you are flying in we will meet you at the airport and transfer you to the ferry pier.

Q. Is it easy to get onto the ferry and what happens about my baggage?
A. There is a small gangway from the quayside to the boat. You have to carry your baggage, so it's best to limit it to essentials and what you can conveniently carry. Its recommended that you use baggage that's easy to carry and avoid bulky suitcases.

Q. How long does it take to get to Phi Phi Island by boat?
A. Subject to the weather it should take an hour and a half.

Q. Will I be met on arrival and shown to my hotel?
A. Having disembarked from the ferry, which at busy times can involve climbing over up to three boats to reach the pier, a porter from the hotel can be identified by the hotel card he is displaying. He will put your baggage into a caged trolley and escort you to the reception desk. Similar assistance will be given on departure.

The Beaches

Don't let the map fool you into thinking that Phi Phi Don is an island similar to Phuket - it's not. 90% of the island is rugged mountainous jungle. There are no roads linking the beaches. Beach hopping can only bedone by water taxi with the fare ranging from 40 baht Ton Sai to Long Beach, rising to 300 baht each way if you would like to go up to Laem TongBeach.
Here is a guide as to what each of the beaches has to offer.

• Ton Sai Bay - The beach where all the ferryboats arrive into Phi Phi Don. It's the hub of the larger island and the major tourist center. It offers a wide variety of accommodation from simple rooms at 200 baht a night up to resort hotels
  
• Loh Dalam Bay - The beach on the other side of the cross bar of the "H" shape of the island.
  
• Long Beach - a popular destination for back packers looking for cheap bungalow accommodation.
  
• Run Tee Bay - a few simple bungalows again more popular with backpackers or those looking for a beach experience on a budget. It's a popular beach for a quiet day, relaxing, sunbathing and swimming.
  
• Phak-Nam Bay - another beach with no accommodations but a nice quiet place to go for the day by water taxi.
  
• Labagao Bay - Phi Phi Island Village a pleasant beach resort away from mainstream tourism with quality accommodation available from 2,000 baht.
  
• Laem Tong Beach - the most northerly tip of Phi Phi Don, quiet and exclusive home to the Holiday Inn Phi Phi Island.

What to do on Koh Phi Phi

The main attraction of the destination is its warm crystal clear water. Most daytime activities involve being on or in the water. 80% of visitors come to the island to dive.

Scuba Diving
Anyone can learn the basic of scuba diving in a couple of hours. For thecomplete beginner there is a 2 hours course entitled Discover Scuba Diving. A PADI certified Dive Master will familiarize you with all the
equipment that you will be using, how to fit the mask correct; use of the mouth piece and the importance of equalizing the air pressure in you ears. This is simple to do; it just involves pinching your nose and exhaling. Much as you would do on an aircraft if you had discomfort from the cabin
pressure.

With the theory behind you, its time to get into the water. With so many functions to co-ordinate it can be overwhelming to go too fast too soon. A certified PADI instructor will already be in the water to catch you and will be holding your oxygen bottle the whole time that you are in the water. There role is to be there to help you enjoy the experience and to be of assistance when required. To start you will be swimming on the surface of the water to get used to the mask and fin. When you feel
comfortable the instructor will take you in pairs to a depth of between two and four metres. Do remember to keep equalizing as you go deep or you will experience some pain in your ears! The cost of this introduction is about 1,600 baht.

"It was an unforgettable experience," said Mr. John Wu a honeymooner from Korea, making his first ever dive with his bride of just three days, "a wonderful experience to be in touch with nature, swimming with the fish". Though he did admit that his ears were hurting a little.

If you have now got the diving bug you can go onto complete the PADI Open Water Divers certificate. This is a four-day course spending the morning of the first two days practicing theory on the beach and last two days will be spent diving around Phi Phi Island. The cost is around 10,000 baht
but once you have your certificate, its valid worldwide and allow you to dive without an instructor. Its valid for life but if you haven't made a dive in the previous seven months its best to do a refresher course.

Phi Phi Island has its own Thai-tannic. On the 4th May 1997 an 85-meter long and 25-meter wide car ferry sank and lies at 3 metres. The perfect wreck for the experienced diver to explore.

Snorkeling
It is possibly an easier way to swim with the fish than scuba diving. It involves far less equipment and somebody that can swim can snorkel. Simply a matter of floating on the water. The mask allows you to see the fish and coral and the snorkel your air supply. The options are limitless, cave snorkeling on Phi Phi Lee or going a Shark watch. Its not as dangerous as it may sound, the variety found in the waters around Phi Phi only eat plankton and are more likely to be more scared of humans than we are of them.

Kayaking
A leisurely way to explore the island is by kayak, a moulded plastic canoe that's takes two people. The currents around the island are gentle so quiet easy to paddle to the adjacent beach. Rental is about 150 baht an hour.

Big Game Fishing
Boats are available of varying sizes for half or whole day charters with all the equipment and bait provide. If you are a good or lucky fisherman there is even the chance to recover some of the cost of the day. At one boat office I read " If you catch a fish you can either have it cooked at your hotel, or we will sell it for you in the market, splitting the proceeds with the skipper."

Jet Skies
With so many visitors in the water diving jet skies would prove too dangerous. Therefore they are banded from the islands and surrounding water. The same was supposed to be true of banana boats but I did see one being towed in the water off Ton Sai Bay.

Communication

1. Telephone - There is no telephone cable between Phi Phi and the mainland. Connection, which is generally good, is by satellite. Most of the time there is mobile connection in the Ton Sai area, but more variable on other parts of the island.

2. Postage - There is a post office in the middle of the village. Unless visitors are staying a fairly long period of time, it's most likely better to mail postcards on return to the mainland.

3. Internet - There is almost an oversupply of Internet shops in Ton Sai Bay and the village behind. The average rate is 2 baht a minute but what does vary is minimum connection time. With so much competition it's something that will be hard to enforce. If someone tries to pressurize you just move to the next shop. Connection is by satellite therefore download time will be slower during peak times.

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Banking

1. ATM machines
Siam Commercial Bank are the first to install an ATM dispenser on Koh Phi Phi, a much needed service which is currently dispensing 2 million baths a day!.


2. Foreign Exchange Booths
Siam Commercial Banks can be found on the main street, Krung Thai Bank has an exchange booth in the middle of the village.

Entertainment

Restaurants
With the village there is a good selection of low cost restaurants offering Thai, Italian, French, Scandinavian, Muslim and Mexican dishes.

Those that caught my eye were

French

Le Grande Bleu - a French/Thai restaurant with a teak interior, deck furniture and the overall feel of a pleasant dinning experience. They offer a three-course menu with choice of some eight starters, main courses and deserts for 350 baht. I opted for Chicken Grande Bleu that sounded very tasty on the menu, spicy with a hint of Tabasco, more a suggestion than a fact. What was served was just a little more than a chicken stew. Not outstanding but more than adequate for an evening meal at 130 baht.
Wine is available by the glass at 120 baht and a small bottle of Singha beer 60 baht.

Italian

Ciao Bella at Phi Phi Island Resort. An attractive beachfront Italian restaurant.

Pluto Il Geltato - Good coffee can be hard to find. But when I can find somewhere that serves Illy Coffee its worth a mention - Espresso 60 baht, Latte or Cappuccino 80 baht. Not the best cup of coffee I have ever had, chilled whipped cream when floated on hot coffee disintegrates but its still better than instant!

Phi Phi Bakery now 3 branches around the village. Fair selection of baguettes and pizza

Scandinavian

H. C. Anderson - not only Scandinavian but also Mexican.

Pubs

J.J. Bar - the closest that I could find to an English Pub.

Jordan's Irish Pub - They advertise that they sell Guinness, which they do, not on draft in the can at 100 baht. For the purest it is a stretch of the imagination to describe a brash loud disco as an Irish Pub but after a few drink many might not notice.

Viking

Apache

Tin Tin

Reggae Pub - with a Thai boxing ring for wanna be Farang Muay Thai boxers to see if they can make the grade.

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