Phuket Thailand - Booking tours to phi phi and other islands

Jamozz · #1 15-10-2007, 19:17

G'day all,

I am pretty much a 1st time traveller to phuket, i will be there in November with my mrs, and we want to do a bit of touring around the beautiful islands(phi phi, maya bay, etc).

I am staying in Patong, my question is, where is the best place to book tours to these places and how much should they cost, i am talking about day trips to these places?

I will be arriving in Patong hopefully by mid afternoon on a Friday, what time do these tour booking places stay open till.

Anyones advice will be massively appreciated.

Cheers.

Datsun · #2 15-10-2007, 23:18

You will find tour offices all over patong and they are open from about 9AM to 9PM or longer, and they pretty much offer the same thing. Can't recall the price for a daytrip to phiphi, maybe around 800-2000bath depending on if you take the ferry or one of the speedboats.
But if you go on these tours, expect LOTS of people at maya bay and the other stops on the tour. If you really want to enjoy phiphi, book a hotel at phiphi for a couple of nights and then at dawn hire a longtail taxiboat out to maya beach and other places around phiphi, before the tourist crowds get there.

Hope you will have a nice trip

dawsey · #3 16-10-2007, 00:12

Datsun is correct about the travel agents/tour operators. They are everywhere, and open late.

One tip I found useful, if you intend booking a couple of trips, use the same place to book, try to book the cheaper trip first, then go back immediately after and haggle some discount for your next trip.
I used the agent next to Subway on the Sainamyen/Sawatdirak crossroad, and got a Phi Phi island trip by speedboat reduced from 2800baht to 1400baht for six people.

Dupree00 · #4 16-10-2007, 02:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by Datsun

If you really want to enjoy phiphi, book a hotel at phiphi for a couple of nights and then at dawn hire a longtail taxiboat out to maya beach and other places around phiphi, before the tourist crowds get there.

Yes. The best way. When you get to PP you can also hire a Long Tail boat for a snorkeling tour of the islands. I did the sunset tour from 12 to sunset. Went to 4 different islands. Fantastic!

mars · #5 16-10-2007, 02:27

Like all good shopping in Thailand be prepared to haggle like Dawsey said.

If you enquire about a trip to Phi Phi the first thing is they will show you a leaflet and the price will be maybe around 1500 - 2000Baht and they will give you a special price of say 1200 Baht.

Look interested and talk about the trip and say you will come back later or offer say 900Baht Maybe they will give you it for 1000Baht.

Not saying these prices are correct but you get the idea.

If you go to Phi Phi go for the speedboat trip not the ferry, You will get picked up at the hotel and dropped off by minibus. The one I went on did Island hopping with stops for Snorkling.

Lucky7 · #6 16-10-2007, 03:45

Do not book online. They typically charge 50% more if you book online as opposed to when you arrive in LOS. Ask me how I know

Raval · #7 16-10-2007, 03:53

Hi.... as Datsun said, staying for a couple of nights on Phi Phi wil be more value than a daytrip. You can go and come back there with a cheap ferry from Phuket. But it may also be a good idea to book a hotel in advance in high saison (you can do that by phone or internet when you have arrived in Patong. You arrive friday afternoon......relax. Book the trip and hotel next day for sunday.

Cheers,

Raval

Jamozz · #8 16-10-2007, 06:00

Thanks for the replies.

Unfortunately i have already booked and paid for my accomodation in Patong, so staying overnite at pi phi is not an option.

Do you lot have any recommendations to escape the crowds, is it possible to leave Patong very early to go to nice quiet spots on phi phi?

Phi Phi is an island, everyone all cant go to the same beaches can they?

I just got this picture in my mind of the movie "the beach" and am expecting the beaches there to be just as awesome as in the movie.

LivinLOS · #9 16-10-2007, 07:35

Phi Phi there and back in a day is great if you take a private speedboat.. Its a bit of a slog surrounded by hordes of people if done in the ferry..

I would suggest getting a bike or car and going exploring to the less well known beaches is a far more fun and relaxing day.. By all means get away from the main places.

Then again I am a very anti crowds kind of person.. I like to go it alone where I go..

Lantern · #10 16-10-2007, 12:26

Unfortunately i have already booked and paid for my accomodation in Patong, so staying overnite at pi phi is not an option.

Jamozz, It really is worth staying on phi phi a couple of nights. So what if your Patong accomodation stays empty for a couple of nights. Hotel staff won't mind at all. I figure you will regret it if you don't do it.
All the best for the trip.

Lantern · #11 16-10-2007, 12:27

Oh and welcome to the board.

aussie45 · #12 16-10-2007, 13:10

I agree with Lantern, yes I know you have booked but you will have a very pleasurable stay after the day trippers have gone and before they arrive. Go by speedboat and if you sit at the front of the boat have a cushion or something soft for your as*