December 11 – 19, 2019
It was a hot, hot, hot day when we arrived to Koh Phi Phi (Tonsai Pier). We had 2 hours to kill between our arrival and the next time we had a boat scheduled to take us to our accommodations on the opposite side from where we were. I spent most of those 2 hours on the phone with Google Fi trying to fix our issue with the international data roaming. This main part of the Phi Phi island was extremely busy and the town seemed overrun by tourists. The first impression was that the water seemed extremely clear but that the overall vibe was just too overwhelming. However, our accommodations were on the other side of this very small island where not much was happening and it required a 25-minute long boat ride to it. Our place was called Koh Phi Phi Relax Beach Resort and we highly recommend it to all our friends and family.
However, when we just go to this resort, I was seriously questioning if we made the right choice getting accommodations so remote that we could only get to it by a long boat ride that cost $20 for our family in one direction. That means that we would need to spend $40 every time we wanted to go to town to get something. Also, the resort itself didn’t have much to offer – simple small huts with no hot water and no AC, only clean shelter and mosquito nets. Every meal had to be eaten at one restaurant. Even drinking water was not available except for purchase. I wondered if we were going to have enough ‘to do’ while there and if kids would be really bored. Would we get on each other’s nerves in no time???
Oh boy, was I wrong!!!!
This turned out to be the absolute most relaxing part of our trip so far.
We learned a lot about ourselves. We can actually be together, just the 5 of us, in a place where the only thing you can do is sit/swim/relax. We did not get on each other’s nerves. We met a few new friends that we hope to see again sometime in the future.
This small resort was owned by a local family and was staffed mostly with brothers/sisters/cousins. They all loved Nina and were extremely sweet to him. They quickly learned our names, they catered to every need we expressed, they kept the place sparkly clean. It was really heavenly. Phi Phi will stay in our memories as the most heavenly place on earth we have ever visited.
While there, we met new friends: Siv from Norway, Sabine from Holland, Faith and Monsef from UK and Belgium, Irma and Frank and their twins from South Africa/Holland. We truly hope to cross paths will all these people again in the future.
Sabine told us incredible stories of her experience on Koh Phi Phi during the most devastating Tsunami back in 2004. It was an incredible educational session not possible to get from any classroom.
We hiked up to the top of the island on a hot day. Petra has done it twice – once with Pedja and once with Maksim and me.
She and Nina picked up a traveler’s stomach bug that earned her a visit to a hospital. At first, it was suspected that she had an appendicitis attack because her pain was located mostly on the right side of her stomach but thankfully, it turned out to be just a stomach bug that we already had antibiotics for from the US. All was well 4 days later. Hospital room (3 hours), doctor’s exam, a few blood tests = $113.
The best part of our time on Koh Phi Phi was the choice of our accommodations.
We were extremely lucky (or intuitive) to select this place for 8 days of pure relaxation and bliss. All the staff made us feel welcome, almost as we were part of the family. Their extreme kindness and interest in Nina were sweet to witness.
We highly recommend Phi Phi Relax Beach Resort!
Refresh Journey 