The mythic view of Koh Phi Phi Leh opened right before our very eyes as I parted the floor to ceiling glass window dividing the balcony of our bungalow. Our lodging sat along the slopes of Koh Phi Phi Don and faces Tonsai Bay where Thailand’s infamous secret island lay—well, if you’re basing your reality on a piece of map given to a young and scrawny Leonardo DiCaprio sometime in the year 2000, that is.

ARRIVING AT KOH PHI PHI IN KRABI

We arrived at Koh Phi Phi Don at noontime. And it was the worst time to dock on the island. The sweltering tropical heat was something of a norm in Thailand, the problem lies really in transportation. From the pier, where hordes of tourists were disembarking at the same time as we were, the only way to go to our resort was by foot. Okay, not only to our resort, but to every other place you need to on the island. There is absolutely no public land transportation.

THE ONLY SET OF WHEELS YOU’D FIND IN KOH PHI PHI

HAD A BOWL OF NOODLES FIRST BEFORE HIKING TO OUR RESORT

And so we walked, hauling our heavy backpacks with us, gawking at the endless stalls hawking strange food and colorful tourist souvenirs along its narrow streets, our shirt drenched with sweat as we ask locals for directions to our resort, the Bayview Resort Phi Phi.

To the far end of the island, that was the answer we got. Grunting, we walked some more and sweated a whole lot more.

BAYVIEW RESORT PHI PHI AT LAST

After more minutes than the ten-minute walking time that was advised, we finally arrived at the resort. Check in was at an open-aired lobby right by the beach, but our bungalow was located several meters high on the hill overlooking the waters of Koh Phi Phi. I was looking at the path leading to our lodging and told C that she can’t make me hike to our place no matter what.

TYPICAL BUNGALOWS AT THE BAYVIEW PHI PHI RESORT

Good thing they have a shuttle service—albeit with drivers as grumpy as I was—that delivered us to our room, Gran Turismo-style. Easy up, buddy, we still have a month left of backpacking, falling into a cliff isn’t part of our plan, lol.

AMAZING VIEW FROM OUR VERANDA

Dropping our bags at our spacious room’s foyer, we quickly stretched over our bed and set the water heater boiling. After a few, we were having our midday coffee fix right at the balcony, watching Thai wooden long-tail boats race with sleek modern speedboats above the azure water of Tonsai Bay, blue sky and craggy karsts as background. It cannot be more perfect.

That was until we actually sipped our coffee and retched. Saltwater!

CLEAN AND SPACIOUS ROOM

Apparently, the whole of Koh Phi Phi uses treated water for their waterlines! Our bad for not heeding the warnings on their tap. So, backtracking, we reheated our water again, this time using the complimentary bottled water in the room—which can be ordered free of charge in unlimited quantities, by the way—and restarted our balcony scene.

Perfection, at last.

LOVE THE THAI-INSPIRED DIVIDER BETWEEN THE TOILET AND THE SHOWER AREA

Our Superior Villa Room [CHECK ROOM RATES & AVAILABILITY] was huge. Set with a queen-sized bed, it also has a working table, a flastscreen cable-TV, mini-bar, and an en suite toilet and bath. The design is a bit dated, but I really didn’t mind. With a view of the famous The Beach island from our balcony, who would, really?

WILL WALK FOR THE VIEW

Bayview Resort Phi Phi sprawls along the hilly parts of the island, going from your room to the beach below, or even the restaurant can be a problem, but you can always call for shuttles. Us, we almost always just walk down, enjoying the view as we go along.

THE AL FRESCO BREAKFAST RESTAURANT

BREAKFAST BUFFET WON’T WIN AWARDS, BUT IT’S GOOD ENOUGH

During the mornings, right after having the complimentary breakfast buffet at their restaurant, we’d usually head over to the resort’s Laem Hin Beach, a protected mini-cove which is just a few minutes away from our room. The beach is quite intimate, with only a few scantily-clad tourists lounging around its fine creamy sand and swimming along its turquoise waters.

THAI LONG-TAIL BOATS DOCKED AT THE BEACH

HIGH TIDE AT LAEM HIN BEACH

There is a longer stretch of beach near the resort aptly called the Long Beach, but we failed to get to it when we tried to hike there one morning, having been distracted by a sign leading to Koh Phi Phi’s View Point.

SUNSET AT THE ROCKY PART OF THE BEACH

During the course of our stay at Bayview Resort Phi Phi, we finally found that our resort wasn’t really that too far away from most everything on the island; the restaurants, the tattoo shops, the souvenir stalls, heck, even the 7-Eleven. Well, sans our backpack, that is. On our way out, we took the in-house complimentary water taxi. I know, we should’ve read up before going. Oh well.

~ OUR STAY AT KOH PHI PHI WAS SPONSORED BY THE BAYVIEW RESORT PHI PHI. VIEWS & OPINIONS, ALL MINE.

Bayview Resort Phi Phi
Address: 69 Moo 7, Laem Hin Beach, Phi Phi Island, Ao-Nang, Krabi, Thailand
Contact Number: +66 75-601-127 to 31 | +66 (0)81 892 7510 | +66 (0)80 690 9534
Email: bayview@ksc.th.com
GPS Coordinates Map: 7.735270, 98.779797

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