SAii Phi Phi Island Village — a 5-star resort on Phi Phi's quiet-side private beach
If the Phi Phi in your head is beach parties along Tonsai and Loh Dalum, and you want the exact opposite — SAii Phi Phi Island Village is your answer. This 5-star luxury resort sits on a roughly 800m private beach at Loh Bagao Bay, on the northeast side of Koh Phi Phi Don, reachable by boat only. Thai-style bungalows are scattered through a coconut grove, with Hillside Pool Villas that have private pools on the slope, 2 large pools, a spa and a PADI dive centre. From approx. ฿6,000/night. It scores 8.6 from thousands of real reviews — a fit for anyone willing to pay for quiet and a private stretch of sea.
What sets SAii Phi Phi Island Village apart from most places to stay on Phi Phi is its location on Loh Bagao Bay, on the northeast side of Koh Phi Phi Don. It's on the opposite side of the island from Tonsai village and Loh Dalum Bay — the party zone of bars, drinks and bucket fires that runs until dawn. What you get in exchange is a roughly 800m stretch of private sand that stays quiet and is mainly reserved for hotel guests — and this is the number-one reason thousands of reviews choose it, even though it costs several times more than a guesthouse in the village.
You need to understand the logistics before you book, because Phi Phi has no roads for cars and this resort is reachable by boat only. The popular route is a ferry from Phuket or Krabi to Tonsai Pier, then a resort boat or longtail around to the Loh Bagao side. The other option is a speedboat straight from Phuket, about 45-60 minutes. It's best to arrange the pickup and drop-off boat times with the resort in advance, because it's a scheduled service rather than something you can call on demand — this is the heart of staying on an island, and it takes planning.
There are around 201 units in total, split between roughly 189 Thai-style bungalows and suites scattered through the beachside coconut grove, and 12 Hillside Pool Villas on the slope with private pools and sea views. They start with the garden-view Deluxe Garden Bungalow, step up to Deluxe Premium and Deluxe Sea View that look straight out to the sea, and go all the way up to the Pool Villas for anyone who wants maximum privacy. Most reviews praise the bungalows as spacious, clean and genuinely island-resort in feel — not a standard hotel block.
"You open the bungalow door in the morning to a coconut grove and a quiet sea, with no party noise at all — a few steps and you're on the private beach. This is the other side of Phi Phi that a lot of people don't know exists."
The pools and water activities are a real highlight. There are 2 large swimming pools, a spa whose therapists reviews praise, and on-site there's also a 5-star PADI dive centre with a Marine Discovery Centre that has baby sharks, clownfish breeding and coral-reef conservation — good for families and sea lovers alike. From the resort you can take a boat out to dive, snorkel the reefs, or reach Maya Bay on Koh Phi Phi Leh in about 45 minutes, the highlight almost everyone who comes to Phi Phi wants to see.
Breakfast is another thing reviews mention positively — a varied, tasty buffet. On site there are as many as 5 restaurants and 3 bars, covering Thai, seafood and international. But to be straight with you, food and drink prices are fairly high by Thai standards, which is normal for an island resort where everything has to be brought in by boat. A number of reviews mention some upset stomachs, so it's worth being reasonably careful.
Service is the point reviews agree on most. Staff who are attentive, warm and remember guests is a phrase that recurs across Booking, Agoda and TripAdvisor. For a remote island resort that leans heavily on its team, having good staff makes a real difference to the experience — especially when it comes to sorting out boats, tours or meals.
Things to know before booking, without dancing around them. First, getting in and out of the resort is expensive and on a schedule — a shared shuttle boat is around 300 baht, or a private charter around 1,300 baht per trip every time you want to head out, plus the not-cheap ferry and transport on the mainland side, and in the monsoon the sea can get rough. Second, at low tide the beach gets shallow with exposed rocks, so at certain hours swimming off the beach isn't convenient and you'll want to watch the tide table.
"The service really is excellent, all the staff are lovely, and the private beach is beautiful — but you have to accept that every time you want to visit somewhere else you pay for a boat, and food in the resort is pricey. Budget carefully."
The third thing to be aware of is that some of the structures are starting to show their age. Reviews mention older buggies, the pool cleanliness at times, and mosquitoes in the Hillside Villa zone next to the wooded slope — some people feel these small points don't fully match a 5-star price. If you stay in the hillside villa zone, bring mosquito repellent to be on the safe side, and note the slope has a fair bit of up-and-down walking; anyone who has trouble walking should choose a beachside bungalow instead.
In short, SAii Phi Phi Island Village suits anyone who wants to experience Phi Phi in a calm, luxurious version with a private beach, willing to pay for privacy and good service. If you can accept the boat fares in and out that take planning, the high price of food on the island and some ageing structures — this delivers a Phi Phi experience that's a world away from the party village. But if you're here for the nightlife, want to walk to the bars and market, or you're on a limited budget, choose a place to stay on the Tonsai/Loh Dalum side instead.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ An 800m private beach on the quiet side, away from Phi Phi's party zone
- ✓ Spacious, clean Thai-style bungalows in a coconut grove, with a genuine island feel
- ✓ Attentive, warm staff — service is the standout reviews agree on
- ✓ PADI dive centre, spa, 2 large pools and a varied, tasty breakfast
- ! Boat fares in and out are expensive and on a schedule, every time you head out
- ! At low tide the beach is shallow with exposed rocks, awkward for swimming off the beach at times
- ! Food and drink prices on the island are fairly high
- ✓ A quiet location with a beautiful private beach, ideal for escaping the crowds
- ✓ Spacious bungalows and pool villas offering plenty of privacy
- ✓ Excellent service, attentive and caring staff
- ✓ Full range of water activities — diving, spa and boats to Maya Bay
- ! Reachable by boat only, with high fares to get in and out
- ! Some structures are starting to show their age, with mosquitoes in the hillside villa zone
- ! Food prices in the resort are high by Thai standards
- 💡If you're coming to Phi Phi for the nightlife and want to walk to bars/the market — this is on the quiet side, and heading anywhere means a boat every time → a place to stay on the Tonsai/Loh Dalum side will be more convenient.
- 💡If your budget is limited — room rates, boat fares and food on the island add up to more than you'd think → a guesthouse in the village or a place on the Krabi-Ao Nang side will be far cheaper.
- 💡If you expect flawless, top-to-bottom 5-star polish — some structures are ageing, with old buggies and mosquitoes in the hillside villa zone → if you want brand-new, consider a recently renovated luxury resort instead.