Are you looking for a detailed, honest, and complete review of the massive SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort in Thailand? If so, then you’ve come to the right place. This post will tell you everything you need to know about staying at SAii Phi Phi Island Village and after you’ve read through you’ll have a better idea if it’s for you or not.
Does the resort really warrant its own post, you might be wondering. Well, SAii Phi Phi Island is no ordinary resort. The property is huge and operates sort of like a little city. They offer a lot of services to guests and staying there is not like staying at a normal hotel.
So let’s go over things you should know before booking a stay at SAii Phi Phi Village!
Note: this article contains affiliate links, which means that should you purchase something or get a quote through them I may make a small commission at no additional cost to you. This helps keep the site running with up to date information. I do not represent Booking.com. This is information only and not a recommendation to buy the product mentioned in this article.
SAii Phi Phi Village Resort – The Basics
Where is SAii Phi Phi Island Village?
SAii Phi Phi Island Village is on the island of Ko Phi Phi Don in the Andaman Sea. The Phi Phi Islands – consisting of Ko Phi Phi Don and Ko Phi Phi Le are widely considered the most beautiful islands in Thailand and draw visitors from around the world. They are southeast of Phuket and south of Krabi in southern Thailand.
Phi Phi Island Village is a tiny village on Ko Phi Phi Don. It’s at the northern part of the island and it’s not connected to Ton Sai by road. Ton Sai is the main town on Ko Phi Phi Don, where all the commercial boats and ferries depart from. Ton Sai is also home to nearly all the restaurants, bars, shops, and hotels on Ko Phi Phi Don. So Phi Phi Island Village, while on the same small island, feels like a world away, as it’s only reachable by boat or a significant hike from Ton Sai.
SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort is huge, and overshadows the little local village behind it. The village pretty much exists only for the resort. The staff live in the village and the village provides guests at the resort with alternative dining options. More on that later!
How to get to SAii Phi Phi Island Village
As you might have expected, there is only one way to get to SAii Phi Phi Island Village and that is by boat. There are multiple ways to get there by boat, but if you’re prone to sea sickness, the Phi Phi Islands might not be for you.
OPTION 1: Take the shared transfer to SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort
The vast majority of guests opt for the shared transfer option. SAii Phi Phi Village has its own speedboats and they operate two transfers per day from Phuket. The service offers shuttle pickup from your hotel anywhere in Phuket to the Royal Phuket Marina. Once at the Marina you’ll board SAii’s own speedboat to the resort in Phi Phi Island Village. There are two departures per day, one at 1:00 PM and another at 4:00 PM.
The boat ride takes about an hour and, while scenic, can be pretty choppy if it’s a windy or stormy day. It’s a small boat and you’ll be given a life jacket for the journey. As you pull up to the shore you get a lovely view of the resort and the surrounding natural beauty of Ko Phi Phi Don island. The staff handle your luggage so you don’t have to carry it on and off the boat yourself.
The private transfer service costs 2120 Thai Baht per person (as of 2024, rates subject to change), which is about $60 USD per person each way. So round trip for two people runs you about $240. Not cheap, especially when compared to most other things in Thailand. But at the same time, SAii Phi Phi Island Village is the priciest hotel in the Phi Phi Islands, and if this transfer service cost makes or breaks your trip you might want to think twice before booking it.
OPTION 2: Take the ferry or speed boat to Ton Sai then take a longtail boat transfer to Phi Phi Island Village
The cheaper, yet far more complicated option, is to get to SAii Phi Phi Island Village on your own. Ferries and speed boats leave at 8:30 AM and at 1:45 PM from the Rasada Pier in Phuket. You’ll have to take a taxi or find another way to the pier, then catch the boat (with no one to carry your bags for you).
The speed boat takes one hour and the ferry takes two hours. The speed boat is more expensive. Prices are always changing, but expect to pay 1000-1200 Baht for the public speed boat and even less for the ferry. The boat will drop you off at Ton Sai Pier in Ton Sai, the main town on Ko Phi Phi Don.
From Ton Sai, you’ll have to catch a longtail boat to Phi Phi Island Village. There are literally hundreds of them at the pier and along the beach and you just ask them to take you to SAii Phi Phi Island Village. They might charge you 200-300 Baht or so.
Overall, with the taxi, ferry, and longtail boat you might save a few hundred Baht going this route. So my strong recommendation is to take the transfer service offered by SAii!
What if I’m coming from Krabi?
If you’re coming from Krabi you don’t have the option to take the SAii speed boat. They do offer a private transfer service from Krabi, but it starts at 19,000 Thai Baht per group. From Krabi, you’ll need to take a ferry or speedboat to Ton Sai Pier and get the longtail boat from there, similar to what I described from Phuket above.
SAii Phi Phi Island Village prices
SAii Phi Phi Island Village is usually the priciest or one of the priciest resorts on Ko Phi Phi Don at any given time. Room rates are variable and always subject to change and seasonal fluctuations, but you can reasonably expect not to find rooms under about $175 USD, and that would often be in the low season.
The room rates are definitely on the high side for Thailand, but considering $175 won’t even get you a rundown Motel 6 in beach destinations on the east coast of the United States, it’s a steal to get such an amazing resort in this heavenly part of Thailand.
Staying at SAii Phi Phi Island Village is more than just the room price though. You are at a resort so you’ll likely be spending most of your discretionary spending there too. Here are some examples of some typical things you might spend your money on and what they cost (approximately) at the property.
- Domestic beer at the bar: 125 Baht
- Cocktail at the bar: 285 Baht
- Flip flops at the gift shop: 400 Baht
- 4-hour longtail boat tour: 2000-3000 Baht (not operated by the resort)
- Thai meal: 270+ Baht
- Western meal: 400+ Baht
- Babysitting service: 200-250 Baht per hour per child
There are, of course, other things you can spend your money on at the resort, but this should give you a good idea of the additional costs you’ll see. Cheap by western standards, but a little on the high side for Thailand.
Best time of year to visit the Phi Phi Islands
This part of Thailand is hot and humid all year round. The seasons are characterized by the high season and the low season, which corresponds to the amount of rain the islands get. The high season runs from November to April and features less rain and slightly lower humidity than the low season, which runs May through October.
The rainiest months are September and October and the hottest months are April and May. The temperature doesn’t vary much all year round, with an average daily high of 88 (31 C) in January and 91 (33 C) in May. The main difference is that January is a bit drier than May.
It’s humid all the time in the Phi Phi Islands, but as May begins and the rains become more frequent, that humidity can be downright oppressive. We visited in May and took 3-4 showers a day. There was no way around it. You break a sweat just walking outside.
The monsoons come in more towards the end of summer and into the fall. While tropical monsoons are a reality of life in Thailand, many people choose not to visit during the low, rainy season, as there is not a whole lot to do on the islands if you can’t go outside. It’s certainly cheaper to visit during the low season, though, as hotel rates are lower and it’s considerably less busy.
So in summary, the best time to visit the Phi Phi Islands is really the high season December to April if you don’t mind the higher prices. For cheaper accommodation prices and less people, the low season is what you want. Just be prepared for brutal humidity and the possibilities of having some of your activities rained out.
Size and layout of SAii Phi Phi Island Village
Let’s start by saying that SAii Phi Phi Island Village is a large resort, but it’s not as big as some others in Thailand. You can walk from one end to the other in 10 minutes or so. This is not a hotel, though.
The resort consists of 189 individual bungalows and 12 individual villas. The resort doesn’t have an elevator, and the only stairs you’ll need to climb up are the ones to your bungalow (unless you’re staying in a villa which has two stories).
The resort is situated along a marvelous cove beach with clear, turquoise water. At each end of the beach at either end there is a large pool, as well as a restaurant. Sort of in between, but closer to the north pool, you’ll find the reception area, gift shop, concierge, the cafe, and the Api Restaurant & Bar, which is where the buffet breakfast is located. North of the north pool you’ll find the fitness center, diving center, and activity center.
Everything else is essentially a maze of bungalows. The bungalows right on the beach are, naturally, the most expensive, while the bungalows furthest from the beach, near the village, are the least expensive. Bungalow size varies too, and we will get into that later when we discuss room types.
There’s a lone tennis court at the back of the resort at the edge of the local village. I love tennis, but playing in 90 degree weather with 90% humidity isn’t for me.
Speaking of the weather, there is not a whole lot of air conditioned public spaces in the report. Reception is outdoors. The restaurants are outdoors. Pretty much everything is outdoors. The gift shop is indoors, but has no AC. To cool off, you’ll need to go to your room.
Detailed Review of SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort
Alright, now that I’ve given you the rundown of how SAii Phi Phi Island Village is set up and how to get there and what to expect price wise, let’s get into my review. I stayed 5 nights at the resort in May of 2024 with my wife and a 4-month old baby, who became a local legend in the little village, simply known as “the baby.”
Check-in
The check-in process is one of the more challenging aspects of staying at SAii. Not that they do a bad job, but as we already explained almost everyone takes the resort’s speedboat from Phuket that only runs twice a day. So literally everyone arrives at the resort at either the first arrival or the second arrival. This makes it a bit hectic when checking in.
When you arrive the staff will lug your bags off the boat and keep them for you until you’re assigned a room. They’ll then take them to your room for you so you don’t have to walk with them. The reception staff will ask you to sit down in an open area with couches and offer you a non-alcoholic tropical drink.
They will ask for your passports and eventually you’ll be called to the desk to check in. Could be 2 minutes, could be 30 minutes. At least the waiting area is nice and has snacks (though hot).
Upon checking in you’ll arrange your transportation back to Phuket and the staff will happily answer any question you have about the resort. They’ll also encourage you to download their app on your phone. Yes, that’s right, they have their own app. And you really do want to download it. It will be linked to your room and you can chat with them, order room service, book tours, just about everything from the app.
When we wanted fresh towels (as I said, 3-4 showers per day) I would simply open the chat box and request new towels. It was very easy. Do not neglect to download the app!
After you’re checked in they will offer to drive you to your room on a golf cart. Take them up on this. Walking with even a backpack or carryon bag can be exhausting in that humidity. The staff will show you how the door works and how to turn the AC on and you’ll be on your own.
Overall, I thought check-in went as smoothly as possible given the constraints they have to work with. I wish it was quicker, but unless you take a private boat to the island I don’t see how that’s possible.
Rooms
The rooms at SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort are all individual private bungalows. There are quite a few different types, and I won’t go through them all in detail. Here they are listed from least expensive to most expensive.
Types of bungalows
- Deluxe Garden Bungalow: The standard room is a large bedroom with a very nice bathroom and a considerably large outdoor deck. There is no view from any of these rooms, you just see your neighbors and the tropical vegetation.
- Deluxe Premium Bungalow: Similar to the Deluxe Garden Bungalow but about 20% bigger.
- Deluxe Garden Villa: This is the room we went with. It’s similar to the Deluxe Garden Bungalow but it has a large walk-in closet and the bedroom is a bit larger, plus it has a sliding glass door. There is also no view from these.
- Deluxe Sea View Bungalow: Same as the Deluxe Garden Villa but with a view of the ocean.
- 2 Bedroom Family Bungalow: The family bungalow is two attached Deluxe Garden Bungalows, perfect for people traveling with kids.
- Beachfront Junior Suite: This is the largest of the bungalows and is located along the beam so you get an amazing view from your bedroom. There is plenty of room to stretch out in these bungalows, plus there is a massive balcony complete with lounge chairs and shaded areas.
- Hillside Pool Villa: This is a one-story, one bedroom villa at the edge of the mountain on the south side of the property. It features a private pool and a great view of the dense forests of the island.
- Ocean View Hillside Pool Villa: Same as the Hillside Pool Villa but with a direct sea view.
- 2 Bedroom Ocean View Hillside Pool Villa: a massive 150 square meter, 2 bedroom villa with a beautiful sea view and relaxing outdoor pool. For the true ballers.
My thoughts on the bungalows
Staying in your own detached building definitely has its advantages over staying at a hotel with noisy neighbors. Our room was clean, tidy, and spacious. We had no complaints other than some condensation from the AC would drip down to the floor. That AC unit was working hard when we were there. Most importantly, the feel and vibe of staying in a neighborhood of authentic Thai-style bungalows was incredible.
Staff and service
The staff at SAii Phi Phi Island Village is as you would expect at a 5-star resort in Thailand. They are incredibly attentive, friendly, and bend over backwards to ensure you have a wonderful vacation. You can ask them anything you want, and if they don’t know they will assist you in finding someone who knows the answer.
The service at the resort is also top notch. If you need something in your room, it will be there within a few minutes of you asking. Everyone has a smile on their face and they seem genuinely happy to be helping you. It’s common in Thailand, which depends so much on tourism and is very service-focused. Expect nothing but the best from SAii Phi Phi Island Village.
Breakfast
A buffet breakfast is included with your room at SAii Phi Phi Island Village. 5-star hotels and resorts in Thailand are known for elaborate breakfasts and SAii Phi Phi Island Village does not shy away from ensuring you are full enough to not want food for a while.
The breakfast is a mixture of Eastern and Western. The Eastern breakfast is similar to what you might think lunch and dinner would look like in the West. You’ll find rice, curries, noodles, dumplings, and other warm Southeast Asian meals. The Western breakfast is the typical things you’d consider breakfast food. You’ll find eggs, omelets, bacon, pancakes, pastries, as well as everything in a typical English Breakfast and oh so much more.
There is also a large display of yogurts, muesli, and cereals, as well as an entire room full of fresh fruit. They also make a mean bread pudding, which I never thought about eating at breakfast, but it was pretty damn satisfying. For drinks there is a big coffee section as well as various fresh fruit juices. The juices change each day.
The breakfast was pretty satisfying and it’s hard to find complaints. It wasn’t quite as elaborate as the spreads you’ll find at the 5-star hotels in Bangkok, but it was pretty damn good for a tiny island in the middle of the ocean. The main issue is that it’s not particularly large so you might have to wait for a table at peak times during the high season.
Restaurants and Bars
There are 4 restaurants/bars at SAii Phi Phi Island Village as well as a small coffee cafe. Here is a quick rundown:
Api Restaurant and Bar: Open daily 11 AM – 10 PM
This is the main restaurant for the resort. It’s centrally located and where you will find the buffet breakfast. It’s all outdoors, but covered, with a beach view. The menu is massive and you’ll find traditional Thai food as well as western options like pizza, steak, and burgers. We admittedly did not eat lunch or dinner here, so can only vouch for the food based on the breakfast, which was super good. Api has 4.1 out of 5 stars on Google.
Mr. Tomyam: Open daily 11 AM – 5 PM
Mr. Tomyam is the pool bar and restaurant at the south pool. It serves mostly pizza, burgers, and sandwiches, but offers some Thai curries as well. The bar list is similar to Api and the prices are identical. The coolest thing about Mr. Tomyam is that there is a small swim-up bar in the pool that they operate, which I absolutely loved.
The Beach House Grill & Chill: Open daily 6 PM – 11 PM
The Beach House is a dinner-only seafood restaurant that is more on the upscale side. I cannot say that I ate here, but it has 4.4 stars out of 5 on Google, and it does have more of an exclusive feel than the others. It’s right on the water and the tables feature either an ocean view or an estuary view.
Ruan Thai: Open Tue – Sun 6 PM to 10:30 PM
Ruan Thai is a slightly upscale Thai restaurant with an extensive menu of traditional Thai food. It’s a small restaurant and has a few indoor tables on top of the typical outdoor seating. It’s up on a hill west of the southern pool. Again, we didn’t eat here, as we preferred the local village for Thai food, but it has 4.1 stars out of 5 on Google.
PRO TIP: If you want to have dinner at Api, The Beach House, or Ruan Thai during the high season, you must make a reservation in advance.
Pools and public grounds
As mentioned before, the resort has two pools, one at the north and one at the south. The pool to the north is a bit quieter and doesn’t have a restaurant or bar, though you can order something at Api and they will take it to you at the pool. There is an infinity pool overlooking the beach and lounging areas with umbrellas if you’re looking to avoid the sun.
The southern pool features Mr. Tomyam restaurant and bar, which has a swim up bar in the pool. This was by far my favorite feature of the pools and even our 4-month old baby enjoyed sitting at the pool bar and talking to people. The southern pool is also better for children, as it has a kids pool and shallower water overall.
Both pools are really nice and well maintained. The water is lukewarm and very comfortable. There are outdoor showers for rinsing off if you’ve been at the beach first, as well as bathrooms at each pool.
The grounds of the resort are mainly just jungle vegetation and landscaping. It’s beautifully maintained and you can tell they put a lot of effort into making sure all their landscaping is in tip top shape. Paved walkways connect all the bungalows together and there are plenty of signs and maps so you can’t get too lost.
I really enjoyed the pools and thought the resort was beautiful and peaceful. If you’re looking for a relaxing beach vacation in Thailand, this is what you want. It’s not rowdy, there is nowhere to party. It’s just relaxation, peace, and tranquility at SAii Phi Phi Island Village.
The beach at SAii Phi Phi Island Village
The resort sits on one of the most beautiful beaches in the Phi Phi Islands. It’s a small beach, but the water is still, clear, and the perfect color. It’s far better than any beach on Phuket. The beach has lounge chairs and umbrellas that are free to use and you can order drinks at the Api bar and take them to the beach.
Now, the important thing to note here is that the beach is not quite as big as it looks when you look at Satellite imagery on Google. This is because the majority of the beach is actually cut off with a small retaining wall that is meant to protect the property against rising tides. So while you might think that the beach covers the entire length of the resort, it really doesn’t. The accessible beach is just at the north side of the resort near the northern pool.
You can still go into the water where the little retaining wall is, but it won’t be that picture-perfect scene you see in the photos on their website.
Lastly, beaches in this part of Thailand are highly dependent on the tides. The beach is most beautiful at high tide, when the clear water comes right up to the white sand. At low tide, however, the water recedes into the sea and you can literally walk out hundreds of meters into the sea.
Be sure to check tide times when you are there to try to time your beach visits to coincide with high tide. The tidal times vary greatly from day to day, so you can use this tide time website to check.
Fitness Center and Spa
The fitness center and the spa are not connected at SAii Phi Phi Island Village. The fitness center is small and basic, near the northern pool. It has some dumbbells and machines, as well as a couple treadmills, stationary bikes, and elliptical machines.
The biggest pitfall of the gym was that even though the air conditioning was on inside, the glazed window storefront of the building simply could not keep the room cool. It was cooler than being outdoors, but was still awfully hot and humid in the gym. The gym was really the only part of the resort I didn’t think was up to par with a 5-star accommodation.
On the other hand, the resort has a high end spa on the other side, near the southern pool. The Lèn Forest Spa offers all the typical massages and facials that you’d expect. I can’t say I went for any of these offers, however, as the massage price is about 5 times higher than you can get in the village. The spa sure looked beautiful though!
For more info on the spa, you can refer to their official spa brochure.
Transportation
There are two main things to discuss when it comes to transportation at SAii Phi Phi Island Village
Transportation to the resort
I previously described the process of how to get to the resort. I found it incredibly easy and convenient. The staff emailed me personally to book our tickets on the speedboat. Communication from the staff throughout the entire process was great and they even had a little lounge with non-alcoholic drinks at the harbor in Phuket.
Leaving the resort was similar. They managed the process extremely well and professionally. My only real complaint is that they got us to the harbor so early that we had too much time to kill. There are a few restaurants and cafes at the harbor, but they are overpriced and not authentic Thai food.
Transportation around the resort
The resort is pretty damn big. So they offer a golf cart shuttle service around the resort to all guests free of charge upon demand. In the brutal Thai summer heat this can be a godsend.
To request a shuttle simply message the resort on the app (see next section), order a shuttle pickup directly on the app, or call reception. All three ways will work. The golf cart will be there within minutes to take you wherever you want to go in the resort.
We didn’t use the shuttle much, but saw many people – especially elderly folks struggling with the heat – using it. We only used it when we needed to carry our bags to the reception, and it was very helpful in that case. It’s a very nice service to have when you stay there!
Resort smartphone app
When you check in at SAii Phi Phi Island Village you’ll be encouraged to download their smartphone app. The app is not required, but it is super useful and you should definitely get it. It’s linked to your room number when you install it on your phone so the resort knows what room you are in when you request things through the app.
The app has all sorts of information about the resort on it. You can use it to make spa reservations, order the shuttle service, reserve a babysitter for your kids, book a boat tour, the list goes on and on. Most importantly, you can use it to direct message reception instead of having to call them every time and hope someone answers. New beach towels, turndown service, just about anything can be requested through the chat function.
I found the app super useful and although I’ve never seen anything else like it anywhere in the world I hope it becomes more common at big resorts.
Excursions and Activities
SAii Phi Phi Island Village is pretty isolated. It’s not like you can just hop in a taxi and go somewhere. In fact, you won’t see a single car in Phi Phi Island Village. But never fear, you are not stuck at the resort the entire time (unless you want to be!). There are a few excursions to pique your interest in exploration.
Phi Phi Islands Longtail Boat Tour
By far the most popular thing to do in the Phi Phi Islands is a longtail boat tour around the islands. Longtail boats are traditional Thai transport and fishing boats that are long and thin with a small propellor at the end of a long rudder, as seen in the photo below.
These days, hundreds of them have been made into tourist boats for visitors to the islands. There are a few dozen longtail boats that park at the SAii Phi Phi Island Village beach. They are owned by the drivers and the drivers work for one of any number of tour agencies in the village.
The boat tours are typically private and cost varies depending on destination. For the typical 4-hour tour around the Phi Phi Islands the cost is about 2200-3000 baht, depending on who you book with.
You can book a tour directly through the SAii phone app, or at any of the tour stands in the village behind the resort. Your tour really depends on which driver you end up with, so it doesn’t really matter which agency you book through. They all offer the same thing.
So what is this tour? Well, it requires its own post and is beyond the scope of this resort review. But on the tour you’ll see some of the most magical places in SE Asia, including world famous Maya Bay, Pi Leh Bay, and Monkey Bay. You’ll be the envy of all your friends and you absolutely should do this tour when staying at the resort. Hell, do it twice!
For more information about the Phi Phi Islands boat tour check out the entire post I made dedicated to the topic here.
PRO TIP: start the tour as early as possible. The drivers can start by 7 AM. Day trippers from Phuket start arriving into Phi Phi around 10 AM, so to beat the crowds go early.
Other longtail boat tours
The typical 4-hour boat tour around the islands is not the only option. In fact, you can customize whatever tour you’d like. The tour agency will quote you a rate based on where you want to be taken.
Another popular destination is Bamboo Island, with its white sand beaches and turquoise water. Bida Nai Island is a bit further but great for snorkeling. Anything beyond this, however, is a bit too far for the longtail boats, which are not particularly fast.
If you want to go somewhere like James Bond Island, you’ll need to catch the speedboat to Phuket and go from there. I do not recommend that if you’re staying at the resort, though.
Transfers to Ton Sai
Ton Sai is the largest town in the Phi Phi Islands and is not connected by road to Phi Phi Island Village. You can get there by walking (see next section) or by boat. The resort runs longtail boats back and forth to Ton Sai three times per day.
The boat leaves the resort at 7:30 AM, 11:30 AM, and 1 PM and returns from Ton Sai at 10 AM, 12 PM, and 4 PM. The ride costs 300 Baht each way. If these times don’t suit you, you can always ask for a private ride or talk to one of the longtail boat drivers parked in the bay and see if they’re not busy.
Ton Sai has a lot more restaurants, bars, and shops. We spent an hour or so there on a day trip to Phi Phi on a different Thailand trip, but didn’t feel the need to go back this time. We enjoyed Phi Phi Island Village more!
Hike to Ton Sai
The other way to get to Ton Sai is to set out on a 7 km hike through the jungle. It’s mountainous and you’ll see monkeys, but do not underestimate this hike. This is not hiking in the Rockies or the Alps. This is hiking in 90 degree weather with 90% humidity. Your body will perspire at rates you didn’t even know were possible.
I did about the first kilometer of the hike and had to turn back. I was just doing it for exercise and I didn’t come prepared with enough water or, more importantly, extra shirts and towels. If you do choose to do the hike, just be prepared to stink by the time you get to town.
Diving Center
The resort features a small diving center that is dedicated to – you guessed it – scuba diving. They have a boat that takes divers to a spot about 15 miles off the coast that is supposed to be excellent for scuba diving.
Scuba diving is open to anyone over 8 years old. I did not do any scuba diving so I can’t offer my opinion on the diving center and their tours, but you can check out more info on scuba diving at SAii Phi Phi Island Village here.
Phi Phi Island Village
As you know by now there is a small local village behind the resort called Phi Phi Island Village. And when I say small, I mean small. It’s essentially two dirt roads with restaurants, bars, massage parlors, and shops, stretching maybe 100 meters total. There are a few other accommodation options in the village as well, but we won’t get into that.
Restaurants and Bars
There are about six restaurants and five bars in the village. I say “about” since that is subject to change at any time. The restaurants all serve essentially the same menu of Thai food with some western options.
The restaurants are all outdoors and you won’t find air conditioning anywhere. They have a myriad of fans to try to keep you cool. They sorta work.
We ate at four of the six restaurants between five dinners and four lunches. Over and over again we kept returning to Pad Thai Phi Phi Island Village. It’s one of the first restaurants you pass when you get into the village from the resort and it is hands down the best. Like, it’s not even close.
Pad Thai Restaurant cooks up the best curries I’ve had in 5 trips to Thailand, outside of maybe the masaman curry in Chiang Mai. And their portions are massive. For lunch we would just split a green curry and it was enough for the two of us. Their other meals are top notch as well. We recommended the restaurant to everyone we met at the resort and nobody was disappointed.
Of the five bars, two are pretty loud – though not with people, just the music – and one is super chill. There are no bar girls here in Phi Phi Island Village. If you don’t know what that is then you’d better read my guide to Nana Plaza in Bangkok before you visit Thailand. Basically, there is no prostitution. They are just normal bars for guests at the resort to gte their drink on.
The chill bar is CamelRock Bar Phi Phi, run by a German expat and her Thai partner. It’s the last little building before the village ends and they make great cocktails. Definitely worth a visit one night!
Massage Parlors
I counted 8 massage parlors in Phi Phi Island Village (again, exact number subject to change). They all look pretty similar and offer the same massage menu. A standard Thai massage goes for 300-400 baht, depending on which one you go to.
All are not created equal though. Only some have air conditioning. We didn’t even consider the ones without it. Getting a massage while dripping in sweat was not exactly my vision of relaxation.
Ask before going inside if there is AC. Or just go to the one directly north of Pad Thai Restaurant (the name escapes me and it’s not on Google). They have AC, it’s on the cheaper end, and they have excellent masseuses.
Shops
Every village has shops, right? There are a few convenience stores in the village (none that are air conditioned, ever bought melted chocolate?) and not much else. There are no gift shops or souvenir stores or anything like that.
The markets sell some touristy stuff, but it’s mostly food and drink. If you want to buy beer or wine for much cheaper than at the resort, then the shops are where you want to go.
Laundry service
I usually don’t do laundry on vacation, but here we didn’t really have a choice. If I was outside walking for more than 10 minutes at a time I’d sweat through my shirt. Needless to say, we need to do laundry and while the resort has a laundry service, it’s quite expensive and using it is unnecessary, as there are many places in the village that offer laundry service.
The laundry services are scattered everywhere around the village and are often just run by a local villager from their shop or restaurant or tour agency office. Prices are quoted per kilogram and it’s a fraction of the cost of doing laundry at the resort. If you are staying at SAii Phi Phi Island Village for 4+ days, make use of this service.
Just take your dirty clothes in a bag and they will give you a time to pick it up. Note that they don’t have dryers. The clothes are air dried so when they are ready depends on the weather. If it’s pouring rain they can’t put the clothes outside in the sun and it will take forever to dry. Have I mentioned yet how humid it is in Thailand?
Alternatives to SAii Phi Phi Island Village Resort
While I highly recommend staying at SAii, there are a few other options nearby if what I’ve shared here doesn’t sound like your cup of tea. These resorts, however, are even more isolated and don’t have the local village you can just walk to and have dinner, a massage, and get some laundry done. You’re really stuck at the resort with these places.
As I didn’t stay at any of these, I’m not gonna offer any information about them. Just note that with the exception of Zeovola, all of these have lower ratings on booking.com than SAii. Again, I highly recommend SAii, but if it’s out of your budget these are the other options in the area. They are listed from most luxurious to most basic.
- Zeavola Resort and Spa
- Phi Phi Holiday Resort
- Phi Phi Natural Resort
- Phi Phi Relax Beach Resort
- The Cove Phi Phi
SAii Phi Phi Island Village Review – Final Word
I think I’ve made it pretty clear that I loved my stay at SAii Phi Phi Island Village resort on Ko Phi Phi Don island in Thailand. The 5-star resort offers a nice mix of being secluded, but not too secluded. The property is beautiful, the staff is great, and the relaxation is top notch. Plus the little local village behind the resort is a great bonus that allows you to have life outside the resort. We will return one day to SAii Phi Phi Island Village!
