All you need to know about the land of silk and smiles
Before the tsunami these once peaceful and lonely islands of Phi Phi set midway between Phuket and Krabi were becoming over visited and covered in litter. The tsunami changed that in a hurry. Much of the cheap basic bungalow accommodation on Phi Phi Don, the larger of the islands was destroyed. The beaches got a sudden deep cleansing and sadly, many people lost their lives. The daily arrival of thousands of trippers abruptly stopped and the islands returned to their former quieter days.
Now there has been incredible investment in the islands and today there are modern structures, streets and markets where once there were shacks and tracks. Many of the backpackers have to find alternative places to visit. The days of the cheap rooms here are gone and the improved infrastructure brings the more affluent enjoy the beauty of the islands.
The true beauty of the area remains on the nearby beaches and offshore islands which are a wonderland for serious SCUBA divers or perfect for the timid swimmer who can enjoy the undersea vistas with the aid of a mask and snorkel.
Phi Phi Ley, to the south is not inhabited, but attracts a lot of visitors. The island is all limestone cliffs, caves and small coves ideal for snorkeling.
Phi Phi Natural Resort
This is the most northerly resort on Phi Phi and is close to Cape Laem Thong. There is a small private beach for the resort but the longer
Holiday
This is an intimate boutique style complex of 80 beachfront bungalows all 24 square meters in size where its beautiful isolated location rather than luxury is the great appeal. The joy of staying here is that you can walk directly from your bungalow onto a powder-soft white beach. This was formerly the Phi Phi Palm Beach Travel Lodge. The bungalows, set amid 20 acres of tropical gardens, all have air-conditioning, private bathrooms with showers, polished wooden floors and a private terrace. Unles
s you come on an all-inclusive package, meals are extra but not expensive: Breakfast 290 Baht, lunch 325 Baht and dinner 520 Baht. High season room rates, excluding service and taxes start at 5,000 Baht a night. Low season rates start at 3,300 Baht. Windsurfers, canoes and snorkeling equipment are available at no charge. The resort received an award from the Architectural Society of Thailand for its unique design.
Activities available here include snorkeling, diving, canoeing, fishing and long-tail boat charters. The 24-hour front desk can help with transfer from either Phuket or Krabi by seaplane, speedboat or ferry.
Contact details:
Zeavola Resort 
This is a new luxury villa resort on the northern tip of Don Phi Phi and comprises 52 teakwood Thai-style villas all well equipped and air-conditioned.
The name Zeavola is taken from the Latin name of the exotic half flower tree, better known in
There is a choice of accommodation. There are 10 village suites, 35 garden suites, three beachfront suites and four pool villas. Facilities include IDD telephone, tea and coffee making facilities, in-room safe, satellite television, DVD and CD and player, hairdryer, and bathrobes. Dining options are the Baxil, for Thai cuisine and Tacada, which specializes in international dishes. Room service is available around the clock.
Amenities include an upmarket sap, outdoor swimming pool, a boutique offering local handcrafts as well as beach needs and a laundry service. The resort has a sports center and a diving center with a certified PADI dive master. Watch out for special spa promotions on the website. The big attraction is if you stay seven nights, you get a complimentary joint round trip land and speedboat transfer from
The Phi Phi Island Cabana Hotel
This long-time luxury resort is located on 18 tropical acres between
There is a wide choice of rooms. The deluxe rooms cost 6,000 Baht a night and the junior suites 15,000 Baht a night. Extra beds can be added to the rooms and suites for an additional charge of 800 Baht per night. The room pictured here is a deluxe triple. All the accommodations have a private balcony, are air-conditioned and have satellite television, hot water showers, IDD telephone, a hair dryer and coffee and tea making facilities.
Dining options include the Beachside Restaurant, which specialize in seafood dishes, the Maya Restaurant, with both Thai and international cuisine and the Runtee Coffee Shop, which is open from 10am until 10pm.
The 24-hour front desk has a full range of tours available and can assist with laundry needs and arrange for transfers from Phuket or Krabi. Contact details: 74/38 Poonpol Road, Muang,
Village Beach Resort and Spa
This resort has a little more luxury than most of the hotels shown on this page. The property has own 800-meter beach and its 80 Thai style villas set on stilts are well set out on 70 acres of land. The villas have 110 square meters of living space, a separate living room, a tub in its bathroom, television together with DVD and CD players, telephone with internet access outlet and a refrigerator. Watch out for special offers during low season when the resorts offers a two-night stay here for under 4,000 Baht with the option of upgrading to a better room for 1,000 Baht. The package includes the land transfer and some meals and discounts at its Wana spa. The resort offers restaurant delivery service to your villa from 6am to 1am. Tel: 07561 2915, fax 07561 2916.
