Phi Phi Island Useful Tips and Tricks

Is there a hospital on Phi Phi Island? Where are the police? Where is the post office? How do I get internet access? Can you wash your clothes? All the answers to these very practical questions - and more - can be found in this section.

The small hospital on Phi Phi Don is located west of Ton Sai Bay, at the end of the beach (near the Beach Club, a 5 minute walk from the jetty). It's more of a small clinic than a real hospital; if you have a serious problem you'll have to go to Phuket Hospital.

The police station is located at the end of Ton Sai village, on the way to Long Beach.

Mobile phone coverage throughout Phi Phi Don. Free WiFi is also available everywhere.

The post office is located in the center of Ton Sai village.

Major international newspapers, books and magazines for sale in Tonsai Village.

Laundries are ubiquitous on the island, as travelers come here in droves. Almost every family and business offers this service. Prices start at 50 baht / kg. It's fun to see the clothes of tourists from all over the world hanging on pliers behind the houses.

Haggling is the rule in Thailand. But there are so many tourists on Phi Phi that many shops do not take the time to haggle and post prices that are impossible - or difficult - to lower. Gather your purchases in the same shop and negotiate a "wholesale" price.

Lots of clothes, jewelry, trinkets... pretty much the same tourist traps as in Phuket, Krabi or Bangkok. But beware, everything is imported, so you'll pay a little more for your souvenirs.

Keep in mind that the shells often come from the seabed of the Phi Phi National Marine Sanctuary and it is illegal to take them.

From 200 baht for half an hour, 300 baht for one hour. Special massages for feet, neck, back and face. Also pedicures, manicures, reflexology, aromatherapy. Many massage parlors in Ton Sai village.

Many daily excursions are organized in Phi Phi, especially from Phuket. Between 9 am and 3 pm hundreds of tourists flock here for the day. This is the ideal time to escape to the other uninhabited islands of the archipelago (e.g. Phi Phi Lee, Mosquito Island or Bamboo Island). But beware: the daily organized tours also stop at these popular spots, especially Maya Bay, which is literally saturated with tourists at the height of the day.

As you'll soon discover, the farther you travel from the center of the island toward Long Beach, the more affordable the prices.

To save money, go to the market. Fresh fruit in trays, fish or chicken kebabs and doughnuts cost between 15 and 30 baht.

In the early evening, every bar has its own happy hour, which usually changes every day of the week, with house cocktails, discounted beer and more. In some establishments, women are offered their first drink or pay half price for their drinks.

Find out more in the "Bars" and "Restaurants" sections.

There are several places where you can enjoy the sunset:

At Loh Dalam Bay, for example, at the Beach Bar. Loungers right on the beach, feet in the water, candles planted in the sand.

In Ton Sai Bay, for example at Carpe Diem Beach Bar & Restaurant, on the way to Long Beach. Cushions allow you to stretch out facing the mountains behind which the sun hides. A bucolic first shot of long tails at rest.

At Phi Phi ViewPoint, at the top of the island (follow the "Tsunami Evacuation Route"). The highest point of the island is not only the place to go in case of a tsunami warning, it also houses a small refreshment bar with a breathtaking view of Phi Phi Don and Phi Phi Lee in the distance.

For many people staying in remote hotels, Long Tail water taxis are the only way to get to the village, as all car traffic is strictly prohibited on the island. Beware, negotiations are likely to be difficult, if not impossible.

There's no great risk of theft or physical harm here. The Thais are as good as their word, although you can sometimes sense that they are getting a bit tired of the constant stream of tourists...

Don't forget that the majority of the island's population is Muslim. There is a beautiful mosque at the eastern end of Ton Sai village. Be respectful. Limit your alcohol consumption in the presence of locals and be careful what you wear. A fully clothed torso and a swimsuit top hidden behind a t-shirt are probably more appropriate... although few tourists seem to take this into account.

Above all, don't touch the large, centipede-like brown worms that roam the Viewpoint trails in large numbers. They are dangerous.

Car traffic is prohibited in the center of the village. Locals, but also a few tourists, ride their bikes... sometimes at dizzying speeds. To signal their presence, the cyclists ring their bells. Keep your eyes open and hug buildings. Be especially aware of hidden corners, where bicycles sometimes emerge at high speed.

For minor injuries, the small hospital is a 5-minute walk west of the pier (in the opposite direction of the village). But if you have a more serious problem, you'll need to go to the better equipped Phuket Hospital.

The police station is in Ton Sai village, at the eastern end, towards Long Beach.

All beaches on the island are equipped with loudspeakers to broadcast tsunami warnings. In case of a tsunami, follow the "Tsunami Evacuation Route" signs to the viewpoint, the highest point on the island, east of Ton Sai village. It's a 20 minute walk (and quite strenuous).

The tsunami destroyed almost all of the island's infrastructure (70%), except for a few large concrete buildings. New infrastructure is now more solid and generally designed to withstand another tsunami. When in doubt, opt for higher bungalows (in the Ao Lo Dalam district) and beware of small beachfront structures. The Cabana and Phi Phi Hotels, on Ton Sai Bay, are the most massive buildings on the island.