Cancun

Cancun in Mexico was always portrayed as the party place in paradise. Often glamorized as a crazy and wild from the American Spring break movies. Anyway that wild period is in March & April so I decided to visit Cancun in August. One of the main reasons I chose this month is because it is whale shark season from May till September. To swim with them was a special phenomenon that one must experience in their lifetime.

Knowing nothing much about Cancun, Chichen Itza, and the Maya Riviera (Playa del Carmen, Xcaret, Tulum), I just packed my bag and flew out there to see what the fuss is all about the Yucutan Peninsula.

ARRIVAL
The arrival options here are from Europe requires that stopover in USA/South America before catching the next flight to Aeropuerto Internacional de Cancun. Alternatively you can fly into Merida which is further west and then drive east to Cancun. My plan involved a trip to New York (JFK) and Cancun (CUN) from there. Aero Mexico was perfect with its modern Boeing fleet featuring the newer seat configurations and entertainment system including chargeable ports for all seats.

International Airport:
The arrival at the airport is smooth but once you clear customs, the hustlers pop up trying to sell you hotels and tours. At this point you don’t even know what you really want so ignore them and keep walking. The objective here is to exist the airport and get a taxi, shared shuttle or private pickup to get you to your hotel. (Pre arranging a private pickup is wise here)

The ride to the Cancun tourist zone is about 30-45 minutes depending on traffic and method of transportation as shared transport will have lots of stopovers.

While this option has not been officially done by me, I can tell you from the road experience from Cancun to Chichen Itza (Approximately 200km) the roads are in great condition so driving here is not an issue.

By Road:
While this option has not been officially done by me, I can tell you from the road experience from Cancun to Chichen Itza (Approximately 200km) the roads are in great condition so driving here is not an issue.

Tanning sessions in the beautiful settings at Sun Palace

The beautiful but milky ocean

ACCOMMODATION

Main tourist Strip:
Boulevard Kukulcan holds almost all of the main hotels in Cancun. Including the famous Cancun bar Coco Bongo. The area is always busy especially on the roads but once you settle into you hotel it is very relaxed and the beach is amazing. There are many all-inclusive hotels and this is the way to go. Also look into adult only hotels if you looking for that children free experience.

I selected Sun Palace and I would definitely recommend it. The beach, pools, and service was fantastic but what did it for me was the food. The seafood, meat and Mexican specialty food stations will guarantee a quick insertion into Mexican cuisine. For me this was 3 nights of Heaven and we could have called it a reality TV show called “The Biggest Gainer”.

Outside the Tourist zone:
There are several options outside the hotel zone heading north or south. If you want some more Island vibes then head to the Island Isla Muljeres. Thirty minutes by ferry from Puerto Juárez Federal Dock, it is the perfect getaway from the mainland. You can read more about Isla Muljeres here.

THINGS TO DO:
Daytime excursions are recommended if Cancun is your only stop for your holiday. Day trips to Tulum, Isla Muljeres, Conzumel, Coba, Chichen Itza, and Valladolid is an option but it is far wiser to actually go to these places and stay there to experience it better. There are many theme/adventure parks as well to get some thrill & entertainment during the day. However these parks are closer to Playa del Carmen.

Daytime:
I could go all touristy here and throw in a lot of activities that was recommended to be done here by the tourist brochure, but if you at an all-inclusive hotel for a couple of nights, just eat, drink and relax at the beach & pool. Get some exercise done with some swimming, Yoga, walking or running on the beach. Most of the hotels come with good gyms for some weight training as well.

For those who are considering snorkelling of the beach, this is not that kind of beach. The water is milky and beautiful but it is not clear with strong waves and currents that create a lot of sand in the water reducing visibility. The Ocean currents are strong so be careful and check with the lifeguards.

Nightime:
There are several bars around the place but Coco Bongo is the place to go at night to experience the Mexican style Vegas performance. The all you can drink and high on life performance is part of the trip. Cooking classes are a great option as well to fill in the evening.

View from Sun Palace balcony

One of the many combinations for breakfast

WILDLIFE:
There is not much to worry about here. There are a whole lot of mammals, birds, reptiles, amphibians, insects, and fishes in the Yucutan Peninsula but Cancun has the least. Maybe take the insect repellent.

COSTS:
Out of all the locations in the Yucutan Peninsula, Cancun would be the most expensive. This is the main Tourist hub and prices can be steeper than neighbouring towns. However it is not expensive at all if we comparing it to New York or London for hotel costs, dining out, groceries and shopping.

Always use the ATM inside the banks or hotels or malls. Also make sure they are not charging a stupid service fee. In one instance I saw $50 US dollars service fee for an ATM found in Playa del Carmen’s main tourist avenue. So the trick is to bring with you a $1000-2000 US dollars and keep that safe & secure. Try to deal in Peso’s where possible especially markets, taxis, and restaurants.

CONCLUSION:
Cancun is the tourist hub where you will start of your Yucutan peninsula or end up at some point in your journey. It is designed for tourists who want the Mexican experience without giving up the comforts of home. So there are a lot of international restaurant chains, and shopping malls. A vast contrast in appearance when compared to Valladolid or Tulum. So a lovely place to settle into your trip and enjoy 2-4 nights before moving on.

Ko Lanta

Ko Lanta is several Islands that makes up one of the 8 districts in the Krabi Province. It has two large islands Ko lanta Noi (Small Lanta Island) and Ko Lanta Yai (Big lanta Island). The big island is where all the action goes down and often is referred to as Ko Lanta. It is 30km long and 6km wide.

It has 9 main beaches from North to South along the sunset coast, lots of stunning scenery, lots of small islands and reefs close by underwater adventures, and has lots of forest to offer you some wildlife viewing.

This is not a party island and is quieter than Ko Phi Phi and Phuket. It is a relaxing place and attracts an older crowd, and families with young children, and a lot of divers. It is a charted holiday hotspot so expect crowds if you are in a hotel partnered with a tour company.

Cost wise it is a cheaper location in comparison to others and offers a lot more of activities both night and day. The restaurants are fantastic and the cooking class amazing. So a 2-3 day stay will get you around the Island and experience Ko Lanta properly. A week if you there for diving. The beaches are not the greatest and there is a lot of pollution on the beach. A pleasant quite stay with great seafood, drinks, activities and shopping would sum up Ko Lanta. Do not forget to try the Blue Crab in Red Curry.

Here are my top 10 tips for Ko Lanta:

1. Arrival options into Ko Lanta:
This is an Island with no airport so the closest airport options are Krabi, Trang or Phuket. Use the hotel you are staying with to arrange transport or use a taxi service like Taxi Krabi. There are basically 3 options available here all involving a boat arriving to Saladan Pier(North Ko Lanta):

Krabi International Airport Transfer:Take an airport transfer where a minivan picks you up and takes you to a ferry that transports you over. The options can be via regular ferry or Express speedboat from the ferry.

Ferry or Speedboat: You can catch a speedboat from Southern Islands like Ko Ngai to Ko lanta. Options are also available from Ao Nang, Railay, Ko Phi Phi, and Trang. They have ferries as well but this are large and crowded, so if you have the option take the speedboat.

By Car: There is no roads connecting the Island to mainland but they have car ferries operating in between. It take 15-20 minutes to cross to the Island.

2. What to expect at the Arrival port? :
Arrival town is at Ban Saladan which is the northern point of the Ko Lanta. Once you exit the Saladan pier you will probably first pay a ฿10 exit fee to some officers who are collecting money for the cleanup of Ko Phi Phi. Handing out paper receipts after payment which kind of defeats the purpose since this becomes the new litter for Ko Lanta.

Once they payment is done you will run into a crowd of tour brokers, taxi/tuktuk drivers, someone who wants to sell you something,and you may even find someone who claims to be lost family. So be open to all possibilities here ;) The prices from the port for a taxi to your location( if hotel pick up services is not provided) is fair.

3. What to expect in Ban Saldan? :
Ban Saladan is the main town and tourist center on the Island. There are a lot of Swedish expats on the Island operating businesses or simply working there. You can find them at Dive centers around the Island. There is even a cool Swedish Restaurant & Bar in Ban Saladan close to the pier. The Town is quite relaxed and one of the best for hassle free shopping.

4. Accommodation options:
The north and west side of the Island is where all the hotels and beaches are. Important thing to note before booking any accommodation is the hotel affiliations. As mentioned earlier Ko Lanta has lots of Swedish expats meaning there are a lot of Swedish tourists visiting the Island. This unfortunately means a lot of charter flights with operators such as Startour, Ving, Apollo, Solia etc. So try to book a hotel not affiliated with any of these tour groups to have more privacy and a better hotel crowd.

Unfortunately my hotel selection was based on bad information resulting in a hotel in the above category. It was a smaller hotel than the others at Khlong Dao beach area, so crowded in the 50-80 people range rather than 200-500. I sneaked into several other hotels in the area to check it out and they all were super crowded with charted holiday tourists. It was a blessing in disguise as it meant my 3 days were spent exploring the Island.

5. Daytime Activities:
Being a larger island the options are greater for Snorkelling, Diving, PADI courses, Trekking, Kayaking the east side of Ko lanta where there is rich mangrove forests and caves, also Ko Talabaeng has nice limestone cliffs northeast of Ko Lanta worth exploring by Kayak or Long tail boat, Fishing trips organized for half day or full day will reel you in a tuna, sailfish, red snapper, marlin or other exotic fishes, Long tail boat tours of the east side, rent a boat, go on an Island hopping trip, Lanta Muay thai gym for some lessons, Mai Kaew Cave exploration, Snake or monkey shows, visit old Lanta or south sea gypsies village.

6. Evening Activities:
Nothing Much happens on the Island at night so it is more of a relaxed vibe. Try Night time fishing, Kick Boxing events, Shopping in Ban Saldan, massages, cooking classes, Dinner and Drinks.

7. Serenity Spa and Massage:
Once of my hangouts for massages on this trip since hotel spas were booked out. This place offers quality massages and is cheaper compared to hotels. You can read more about them here: Serenity Spa and Massage.

8. Roi Thai Cooking School:
Best entertainment on the Island, as Chef Roi entertains and teaches the Thai Culinary Secrets. You can read more about this on my Cooking Class review.

9. Wildlife overview:
Mosquitoes are your main worry here but trekking into the forest may reveal some interesting creatures. There are many snake shows and monkey shows if you want to see something in a controlled environment. Also the Elephant trekking is offered here but I refuse to go to this and support the industry where the elephants are chained down and treated badly. I have not tried the animal parks as well above due to me not supporting any places where animals are kept in captivity.

10. Cost Overview on the Island:
Food is relatively cheap and Lunch & Dinner will cost ฿100-300 a day. Water is quite cheap with big bottles 1.5 litres trading at ฿15. Beer is about ฿30 and cocktails can range from ฿80 to ฿150.
Accommodation price ranges from ฿800 to ฿23000 per night. Average price for a decent 4 star place with breakfast is about ฿5000- ฿8000.
Supermarkets, Art Galleries, Tourist souvenir stores, Electronic shops, and street markets are all over Ban Saladan. Grocery shops and markets available in Old Lanta. Ko Lanta is great for shopping on your holiday.
There is one Hospital in the middle of the Island close to old Lanta. There are dentists in Ban Saldan and at the hospital. ATM’s are easy to find in Ban Saladan.

My dislike for Charter Holidays as noted in point 2 Above: For those who are wondering why I don’t like Charter holidays here is some background. I have done 2 Charter holidays in my life and the yes it is cheap and if planned properly it can work out to be okay. Charter 1 was to Antalya, Turkey and charter 2 to Hurgada, Egypt: From the crowded plane with first time noisy travelers to the tour bus pickup it feels like animals being moved from one location to another. Then the pack gets separated at different hotels but each hotel already has more charted travelers checked in. So the pools are crowded, and meal times are like a zoo. Most of these packages offer all inclusive deals including alcohol, which means the zoo has drunken animals running around all day. Luckily on my second charter I chose a different hotel that was less popular which resulted in less crowd at the expense of some comforts of a normal resort. So to sum it up a charted holiday means crowds and not the best experience at a hotel.

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Krabi town & Klang Island

Krabi is a town on the west coast of Southern Thailand. It is the capital of Krabi Province and Krabi District. The 8 districts include Ko Lanta Island as a district and also Mueang Krabi district which holds Ao nang and Railay bay. So to sum it up it is a huge province with some areas more popular than others.

Tourism is the main source of income here.

Unfortunately I did not have time to cover all the districts on this trip. Explored 3 and drove through an additional two. My trip to Krabi covers my short stay in Krabi town and my stay at Klang Island which is near the mouth of the Krabi River. Additional posts cover Railay, Ko Lanta, and Ko Phi Phi.

Travel tips for this District:

** Arrival to Krabi Town

There are 3 options here:

Krabi International Airport (KBV): Ideally located not very far from Krabi town or the surrounding districts. This serves as a convenient entry point.

Krabi boat piers:  Klong Jilad is the new pier 4km from Krabi town.  Chao Fah pier or Phi Phi pier is the old ones in the center of the town. Ferries run daily from Ko Phi Phi, Ko Jum, Ko lanta, and ko Yao Noi. There is also a Pier called Krabi Thalen 27km west of Krabi town where they have frequent speedboats. Buy your tickets at the pier to get a good price.

By Road: The roads here are good and easy to travel on. There is a bus service to Krabi town but do yourself a favor and take a private taxi. I did a taxi from Phuket to Krabi for ฿2500 and it took 2 hours through some gorgeous scenery.

**Krabi Town Expectations

This is a small town and much calmer than Phuket. The town is next to Krabi River and there are hotels and restaurants scattered all around. One of the few chilled out places for a Thailand town. 

Arriving there at 1pm there was some traffic but not much pedestrians about. Most of the tourist population use this location as a transit point to go to the other Islands in or simply transfer to Ao Nang or Railay further to the west. The highways around the area are very modern due to all the transportation needs in and out of town.

**Locations for accommodation

There are few hotels in krabi town ranging from backpackers to some 4 star hotels. There is one popular hotel called Maritime Park Resort & Spa, this is over booked most of the times and contains a lot of large travelling groups. So try to avoid this place or double check your booking status before arrival.

Most visitors staying in the Krabi Mainland head west to Ao Nang where all the fantastic hotels and resorts are located. The more adventurous get in long tail boats and head to Railay.

My situation here was different, arrived at the Maritime Park resort to discover they have overbooked so relocation meant a new adventure. The relocation option was to an Eco Village Resort on Klang Island, just south of Krabi town.

 The hotel staff drove us to Tara pier, located along Krabi River in Krabi Town. The local long tail boat then another 5 minutes cruising across Krabi River to Klang Island’s pier.  Then we jumped on a motorbike tuktuk and drove through the village across the island. A fun ride about 7 km through the narrowest of roads if we can call it that. Finally we arrived at the secluded peaceful Islanda Village Resort.

The Krabi Adventures: From Krabi town to Tara Pier, to Klang Island. The Drive to the resort. Boat out to Railay bay

**Islanda Village resort

Most of my travel friends don’t really like Krabi town after spending few too many days there so a relocation here was a sign from the travel gods looking after me. This was a hidden paradise. You have quite surroundings, luxury comfortable villas, a big swimming pool with Jacuzzi, good restaurant, and a manager who goes by the name Mr. Big. There is not that great of a beach or night life on this island but it is designed for relaxing & recharging. The only way to travel on the island is by tuk tuk or bicycle. Only way on and off the island is by boat or helicopter.

The Beachfront Villa and Pool	Arrival by boat and transfer by tuk tuk
Relaxing in the pool and Sunset view	Hotel Manager: Mr. Big

**Wildlife

While most people fought the mosquitoes and played with the cats at the resort, I found myself trying to convince more than save a cat from a snake. Both animals were safe from the drama that unfolded. So there are snakes on the island if you are lucky to see one.

Snake

Cat versus Snake

**Things to do on Klang Island

Daytime: I was here to relax and they have a big pool overlooking the beach to do that. You also have the option to borrow a bicycle and go check out the island. There was also a bathtub on the deck to watch the sunset. Limited activities so more of a “my time” place.

 Nighttime: Dinner and drinks followed by interaction with other guests. If you get bored you go look for snakes or other wildlife.

** Costs on the Island
Food is relatively cheap and will cost ฿200-300 a day at the resort. Water is quite cheap with big bottles 1.5 litres trading at ฿20. Beer is about ฿50 and cocktails can range from ฿100 to ฿150.

Accommodation price was ฿5000per night with breakfast for the Ocean Beachfront Bungalow. Other Bungalows start from ฿3000.
No Grocery stores here so buy you goodies in Krabi town.  No Medical centers or ATM’s either. I did mention it was a secluded Island with one awesome resort and a village.

** Conclusion

If you looking to stay in Krabi you can choose a hotel in Krabi town but options are quite limited if you looking for luxury. As an alternative for a night or two try this resort on Klang Island. It is quiet and peaceful. Getting away from the crowds helps in Thailand. On check out we took a 30 minute boat ride across to Railay.

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Ko Phi Phi Don
Railay Beach 
Ko Lanta

Railay Beach

Railay Bay is located in the Mueang Krabi District, which is one of the eight districts in the Krabi region. It is only accessible by boat which makes it quite exclusive. Its neighboring Tonsai bay (North) is also only accessible by boat. The roads in this region only lead to Ao Nang Beach and town so both Railay Bay and Tonsai Bay have no connected roads. Railay bay is one of those spots I could stay for several weeks as it has lots to offer and at the same time have a relaxing vibe to the whole place.

It is a great place where you can easily spent a week to a month. There are many activities during the day and night to keep one occupied. There is strong WIFI at most hotels and some bars, massage houses, and shops. There are ATM’s on the island, 2 as I recall. Railay East has one at the convenience store next to Viewpoint Resort, and the other at Railay West’s "Walking Street". There are no ATM's at Tonsai Bay.

There are no Hospitals or medical clinics at Railay. There is a pharmacy on Railay east. All medical issues require a trip to Krabi by boat. This is one of the most spectacular beach destinations and worthy of a visit. I will definitely go back.

Here are my top 10 tips for Railay Bay :

1. Arrival to the Island:
This is the part that is really important. There is a west side to the Island and then the East side. Arrival on both sides are affected by the tide times. High tide is at approximately 1.41am and 1.34pm, Low tide is at 7.58 pm and 7.58am. The low tide depth gets down to 0.17 meters and high tide gets up to 2 meters. Current tide information can be found here.

2. Railay Bay East:
This is the glamorous side of the bay with the beautiful long beach and awesome views. During low tide the ocean is still deep enough for the Long tail transfer boats to come in and drop you off at the beach. So the west side is good for both tides. Once you arrive on the west or east side, you will need to walk to the hotel and if this requires going to the other side of the island, the middle concrete path takes 10 minutes to get to the other side.

3. Railway bay West:
This is the glamorous side of the bay with the beautiful long beach and awesome views. During low tide the ocean is still deep enough for the Long tail transfer boats to come in and drop you off at the beach. So the west side is good for both tides. Once you arrive on the west or east side, you will need to walk to the hotel and if this requires going to the other side of the island, the middle concrete path takes 10 minutes to get to the other side.

Arriving on the East of Railay bay

East of Railay bay at low tide

Railay Bay West

Railay bay West

4. Accommodation options:
There are lots of great hotels, apartments or backpackers in Railay. I personally recommend Railay Princess Resort & Spa. This place is located on the East side but has two lovely pools and great facilities. The walk to the beach on the other side is 10 minutes and here you can find the sister resort to this hotel called Railay Bay Resort & Spa. If you planning a honeymoon and need to hit the ball out of the park then try Rayavadee on the Bay. It is near Phra Nang Beach south of Railay beach.

Princess Resort Multiple Pools

Sister hotel: Bay Resort Beach Front

5. Wildlife:
The area around here is covered in dense jungle. So expect a lot of animal noises and activity. Monkeys are the most popular animals here and they are not shy. Leave you balcony sliding doors closed or you will have visitors. We saw a monkey going room to room and picking the nuts from the mini bar. They are also quite the pickpockets on the beach. Mosquitoes are the next most popular thing you will see here apart from monkeys. Also be careful when walking on the paths further north of Railay bay as there are centipedes in the area. You do not want to be bitten by one of these. It won’t kill you but it will cause a lot of pain.

Monkeys up to no good stealing from the Minibar

Evening Sunset after excursion trip

6. Daytime Activities:
This place is rock climbing central. A lot of the guests come here exclusively for some great climbing with spectacular views from the top. There are many stores with gear rental and they also have beginners course for those that want to get into it. A much better experience than being stuck in an indoor climbing facility. The beach of the west side is fantastic so you can spend the whole day there tanning and swimming. Kayaking is also an option around the bay and to Phra nang (cave beach). Trekking to the viewpoints to catch the sunset or views is another physical option. Throw in some diving, and fishing to sum up the range if activities available.

7. Evening Activities:
When the sun goes down the options of activity range from dinner at any of the beach restaurants on the west side followed by a long walk on the beach. They have a street called “Walking street” on the west side with some restaurants and shops which is worthy of visits. However if you looking for something different then head to the east side. The evening means high tide and the water is right up to the edge of the concrete path on the bay. There are lots of restaurants and bars on this side of the bay. Rooftop bars with the Rastafarian setup are popular, so try Joy Beach bar or Skunk Bar. The music on this sound of the bay is great along with the night market style setup of shops. There are also lots of massage places open till late. On Friday night’s Lucky restaurant & Last bar is the place to go to see some kickboxing and fire shows.

8. Excursions from the Island:
Never book anything online in Thailand for excursions as it is unreliable and overpriced. Always book in person at a dive store or tourist/tour operators stands. The east side of the Island has many operators that offer you a good price. There are several excursions from the Island that takes you on an Island hopping tour, snorkeling, dinner and a fire show. The locations are: Phra Nang Cave, Tup Island, Chicken Island, Poda Island, and some reefs around the area. This trip should cost about ฿800 at a tour operator but some hotels will have this from ฿1200 to ฿1800. There are also longer excursions headed to Phi Phi islands or Hong Island. Alternatively sailing on yachts with private dinner/lunch is an option.

Also to note here the fire show we saw on our 4 Island trip was good but you can see that the performers failed to read the section on fire safety precautions. There was an incident where one of them failed to secure the fire wick on his stick. This resulted in the wick getting dislodged into the air and into a projectile motion towards the audience. Just my luck when I saw this coming right at me. Luckily the calm ninja techniques worked and I moved in the last moment to see it land 30cm away from me. All part of the adventure I guess.

9. Selection of boat:
Speedboats: If this is an option take it and pay the extra Bhats(฿). Speedboats are becoming popular these days and are very reliable, safe and comfortable.

Long tail boat: At first heading out there in a wooden boat seems risky but the handlers are experienced sea gypsies or locals at most locations. They know the oceans are the islands and do a fantastic job. Can get a little rough if the ocean is choppy but the small numbers on board make for a private experience.

Big Boats: These look great in the brochure but when you get close to it and see the rust on the boat you begin to worry. The boat is old and usually over crowded. Things seem to be in place but this doesn't mean it is working or attached properly. The boat I went on tilted a good 45-60 degrees at times when stationary. When you struggle to get to the other side of the boat to bring the boat to balance you are in for a rough ride.

Poda Island

Evening Fire show on the excursion trip

10. Costs on the Island:
Food is relatively cheap and will cost ฿200-400 a day. Water is quite cheap with big bottles 1.5 liters trading at ฿20. Beer is about ฿50 and cocktails can range from ฿100 to ฿300. Accommodation prices vary from backpackers to hotels. Hotels are roughly ฿5000 per night with breakfast. Groceries at stores are cheap and not overpriced like other locations (Ko Ngai, Ko Phi Phi). Shopping for souvenirs and clothing is not bad as there are quite a few shops on both sides.

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Ko Phi Phi Don Island Travel tips

The most popular island on the Southern Thailand tourist radar. Situated in the middle of all the locations, east of Phuket, south of Krabi, and west of Lanta, this island welcomes a lot of traffic. I chose this as my last location to visit on the Island hopping tour as research indicated this place will be noisy. However my 2 nights here were fantastic but perhaps that is because I stayed away from the chaos that makes up Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay.

Here are some useful tips when staying on this beautiful island:

**Arrival to Tonsai bay

This is the main port on the island and the ferry pier is busy. We have your large ferries on the west of the pier and a small drop zone for private speedboats or long tail transfer boats on the east of the pier. This place is very crowded with travelers trying to exit and enter via one main pier.

Large Ferries: You can arrive via the large ferries from the neighboring islands but expect large crowds on the boats. A lot of day trippers use these to arrive early in the morning and then catch another ride to Ko Phi Phi Le Island to visit Maya bay where the movie “The beach” was filmed.

Private Speedboats: The recommended way to travel in all of South Thailand. Smaller crowds and faster journey time.

If you are staying at hotels on the other end, staff from the hotel greet you at the pier and place you in a long tail boat to transfer to your selected resort.

Comparison of both the options

Transfer via Long tail Boat

**Locations for Accommodation

There are many options around Tonsai Bay and Loh Dalum Bay. It is looking great and getting away from the European winter I would be happy to settle there and just use some good ear plugs when it comes to sleeping.

Ao Ling: Northwest of Loh Dalam bay is the hidden cove of Ao Ling (Moneky Bay). Home to a colony of not so shy monkeys. Popular spot for tourists who come for picnic and photo shoots with the monkeys.

Long Beach: At the Southern point of the island had a beautiful beach and some nice hotels. We went past this area by long tail boat and it was very nice so next time I might try this location.

Rantee Bay and Pak Nam: We also traveled past these two bays and they were okay. Pak Nam stood out the prettier bay if compared.

Loh Bagao Bay: When we were travelling past this bay, the jaw dropped and we all went wow. The magnificent sight of a white sand beach with lovely turquoise water filling the bay was breath taking. Secretly hoping that this is where our hotel is because we have seen some good beaches on the way here but this was the spot.

Then slowly the boat started heading into the bay and that smile on the face was locked in. We stayed here at Outrigger Phi Phi Island . There is another hotel next to this place called Villa 360 which looks great but does not have the beach front. The beach front belongs to Outrigger. Once we checked in here it was hard to leave.

Laem Tong Beach and Hin Poo bay: Due to the Outrigger hotel being so good I did not leave to explore any further so this means another trip to this island. They do have the Twin Palms and Holiday Inn at Laem Tong beach with good reviews so worth exploring.  

**Things to do on the Island

The best choice is chilling in the pools and on the beach or take a long swimming/snorkeling sessions in the beautiful waters of the bay. Alternatively PADI courses and scuba diving is very popular here.

There is also some hiking options to a view point near Loh Bagao in the north or Tonsai Bay view point to the west. Further to the west is the Wang Long Cave. Kayaking to the caves or around the bay is an ideal option.

Daily view that is hard to escape

** Excursions from the Island

The main excursion from the Island here is to Phi Phi le. There are hundreds of boats lined up to go to Ao Maya (Maya bay) every day. Each resort has its own speedboat to take you at a fixed time. At Tonsai bay there are many operators who offer the same trip for a fraction of the price. However the main objective here is to get to the island as early as possible and pay the extra bhats to persuade the driver to depart at 7am or earlier. After 9am Maya bay fills up with tourists and remains that way till sunset.

There is also the option of Bamboo Island heading north. Thirty minutes by long tail boat to this white sand island with lovely turquoise water.

Another island up north next to Bamboo Island is Koh Yung (Mosquito Island) which has good colorful coral reefs.

There is a diving/snoreklling site called Koh Hin Klang which is 2km in front of Laem Tong Beach. It is 90 meters long and 60 meters wide and one of the best places to dive and snorkel.

**Wildlife
Mainly mosquitoes but there was the odd harmless cockroach flying in the air. Relatively calm at the resorts with bugs since they have pest control but expect to see some wilder creatures on hikes. 

**Costs on the Island

Compared to the other islands this is the most expensive island. Due to the large amounts of tourists and demand for products, a greedy markup is placed on everything. Outrigger hotel is expensive but worth it. The best breakfast we have had on all the Islands. The seafood buffet dinner at this hotel was fantastic.

Food at the hotel will cost ฿400-1000 a day. Water is quite cheap with big bottles 1.5 litres trading at ฿50. Beer is about ฿80 and cocktails can range from ฿150 to ฿400.

Accommodation prices vary from backpackers to hotels. Hotels are roughly ฿7000per night with breakfast.

**Conclusion

This is a beautiful island and a good place to chill for several days. A popular option is to stay here while visiting Phi Phi Le. There are large crowds so expectation of being alone on the beach is not possible. 

However the east side of the island is more relaxed and quiet. Take the speedboat in and out of the Island. Travel to Maya bay super early. Bring your snack supplies as shops are limited and over priced.

Try the Outrigger hotel as the service and hotel is amazing. 

Outrigger Phi Phi Hotel: Only place I arrived with dry feet thanks to the small pier

South Thailand Island Guide
Boat options for Island Transfers

Phuket Tips
Phuket Map
South Thailand 13 Useful tips
Railay Beach 
Krabi 
Ko Lanta

Comparison of the two ocean transportation options in South Thailand:

SPEEDBOAT

Expect some drama but nothing crazy on the speedboats in comparison to the large ferries. Our speedboat ride "Bundhaya Speedboats" from Ko Ngai was delayed by an hour, it was supposed to travel to Koh Lanta to drop the passengers who were headed further to Phi Phi or Phuket on another speedboat.

Due to the delay of an hour some people waiting at Lanta went bananas and forced the driver to take the boat out to the ocean. So instead of waiting at the port now they waited on the water for a good 20 minutes.

The Thai staff bowing down to the clients’ pressure meant now when our boat met them mid ocean, it will become the new passenger transfer point.

Not the ideal place to do a transfer but this is how things are done in the Islands.

FERRY

I only took 2 large ferries and I can tell you that the ride from Phi Phi to Phuket was the most horrific messed up boat trip I have done to date. Due to timing issues I had to take a ferry instead of the speedboat. Expectations for the ferry environment are:

1. The first time travelers who have no knowledge of what sea sickness is.

2. Groups of day trippers who may die of loneliness if they get separated from their groups for more than 5 minutes

3. Overcrowded ferry travelling slowly.

To avoid the chaos inside the ferry I went to sit outside at the back of the boat. It was a great seat with fresh air, great views of the Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Le islands behind me.

The first hour was fantastic but after that the worse thing imaginable happened. Someone from the top deck puked and some of that shit landed on my shorts with a few spots on the singlet. (Could have been worse and all over the head and face) Anyway I had to strip down and use a tea towel as a wrap around on the waist to cover the family jewels while washing the clothes in the bathroom. The bathroom is large and clean with a powerful hose pipe, so ideal setup for cleaning.

However I did get some raised eyebrows from passengers who saw my sexy tea towel wrap around. Luckily the damage was limited and washed off with ease. That was the last time I will ever take a large ferry.

Conclusion: Take the speedboat! :) Bundhaya Speedboats

South Thailand Island Guide

Phuket Tips
Phuket Map
South Thailand 13 Useful tips
Ko Phi Phi Don
Railay Beach
Krabi