Phi Phi Long Beach Resort & Villa

Consisting of clusters of orange, two-story buildings and villas, an outdoor pool, and restaurant, the star here of this resort is the stretch of gorgeous Long Beach where the hotel sits. Buildings feature peaked roofs traditional dragon ornaments, while the restaurant and buildings in the pool area have beachy thatched roofs. The restaurant is simple and open, with wooden pillars and lantern-like lights hanging from the ceiling. The dining area extends to a patio on the beach with lovely views of the water and surrounding limestone karst formations. Plenty of lounging happens in almost every corner of the resort, which peeks out from palm trees and tropical plants. This small resort is frequented primarily by couples and young groups of friends.

Situated on the southeastern tip of Ko Phi Phi, this property is tucked into the palm trees lining stunning Long Beach -- a white sand beach that's one of the best on Phi Phi. While guests can only walk into Tonsai, the island's main town, at low tide, there are plenty of resorts and hotels with restaurants and cafes in the immediate area. At high tide, Tonsai's shops, cafes and restaurants can only be accessed by boat, and trips can add up in terms of cost. Ferries to Phuket and Krabi leave from Tonsai, and both towns on the mainland have airports. Ferry trips to Krabi and Phuket take about two hours.

Rooms here are incredibly spacious, almost to the point that one doesn’t know what to do with all of the extra room. There are a variety of configurations to choose from, and we saw Superior Rooms and villas when we visited -- style varies a bit from one category to the next. The Superior Rooms feature mint green walls that are largely devoid of decoration. There's also minimal furniture, with light wood desks and tables pressed against the walls and a small wicker seating area near the window, making the room's size seem underused. Decorative paneled headboards stand over white-linened beds with brown silk bed runners and throw pillows. Villas are more stylish and feature wood-beam ceilings and some have gold-leaf artwork on the walls and more substantial black furniture. All rooms include air-conditioning, flat-screen TVs, minibars, safes, hair dryers, and electric kettles for tea and coffee. All rooms and villas have spacious bathrooms with a glass or tile rainfall showers and toiletries. Robes and slippers are available in each room. Some villas have large terraces with a few sun chairs and a plunge pool. Rooms are pleasant on the whole, but there is a bit of slap-dash quality about them, and some feel haphazardly put together, with sloppy paint jobs and grout work plus a bit of wear throughout. 

Let's be clear: This hotel's frontage on sparkling Long Beach is its best asset, and the turquoise waters are a truly spectacular sight. There is also a small outdoor pool and a restaurant that is open for breakfast, lunch, and dinner and serves affordable and tasty local and western fare. Breakfast is included in the room rate and there is a small bar with limited drink offerings. The hotel offers massage and laundry service upon request and also has a boat service to Tonsai, though there is a fee. Wi-Fi is free throughout the resort, but is extremely spotty.