If it's peace and relaxation you are wanting and empty beaches, shops without the crush, restaurants with seats and cheaper than usual prices for rooms then this could be you with your feet up on Phi Phi right now. Even though embassys are posting warning notices right now about Thailand - here on Phi Phi it's all about calmness - sometimes it pays to be on a small island in the middle of an ocean.

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Early last night it rained just a little but no-one rushed for cover - ther refreshing coolness of 15 mins of light rain was the perfect antidote to the blazing sun and heat of the day.
Phi Phi right now is unusually quiet - i guess because of all thats going on in the rest of the world, with volcanic and monetary crisises coupled with the political unstability in Bangkok, but smaller numbers certainly don't mean boring nights. The parties in the bars and the gatherings on the beach (until the dawn) are just more intimate; travellers and locals sharing stories and jamming with bongos, didgeridoo and guitars. The banter in several languages at once and the sheer fun of freestyle rapping. Hard to go home and sleep on nights like these.
So if you are travelling with an instrument or if you have a story to tell, come here now!

Be prepared when you arrive on Phi Phi you now need to pay a 20 Baht tax at the pier. This is to help with rubbish clearance and mitigate the costs to locals for the impact of so many tourists visiting the island. It's a small ammount but with so many visitors it's a step to help keep Phi Phi as the beautiful paradise island everyone loves.
We definitely need more bins, more ashtrays - but tourists can help by being conscious of where they leave rubbish.
Waste managment is actually quite a logistical problem in Phi Phi - the rubbish is collected at night and shipped off the island. Recycling of Plastic, cans and cardboard is largely done by locals - but sadly glass is currently too expensive to transport off the island to make it cost effective to recycle. So drinking canned beer rather than bottled beer is actually helping the island.
One of the biggest problems tourists can help with is keeping the beaches clean - especially not leaving cigarette butts in the sand. The other thing is the sheer quantity of plastic thats used - so don't take the bags if you can carry what you buy without.

There was a tsunami warning at 6am on Phi Phi 07/04/2010 owing to the 7.7 earthquake off the coast of Sumatra. Happlily, the warning was recinded a few hours later. This was the second such warning in 2 weeks and it does highlight the need for a better warning system as many people on the Island didn't know about the warnings or their validity until the next day.

Around the time of the full moon every month - many of the backpackers and party goers head for Koh Phangan for the full moon parties, leaving Phi Phi relatively empty.
Making it the perfect time to visit Phi Phi for those who prefer a more peaceful relaxing time, and to get the beach to themselves.
So if you want to avoid the hustle and bustle, talk to the locals or see the surrounding islands when they are less busy, then why not come to Phi Phi during the full moon period.

Yes the rumours are true - the music in Phi Phi bars now stops at 1am over the whole island. So no need to rush from the bar you are in to find another or try to persuade the DJ to play on - its the same everywhere - 1am music curfew.
Stopping the music at 1am on a popular party island might seem like going against the grain - but the bars still stay open til the small hours, its just the vibe that changes. Giving time for kicking back, relaxing, enjoying good conversation with other travellers/tourists while still being able to hear the soothing sound of the tropical Andaman sea in the background.
So get your dancing in early and save the conversation and chillin till after 1am!
To see a list of bars on Phi Phi visit Love Phi Phi Directory - Bars page

On the 13th April the whole of Thailand celebrates Songkran - the Thai New Year. The celebrations take the form of a massive country-wide water fight. People take to the streets with water butts, hoses, buckets, water pistols or anything that can be used to soak passers by. A sight to be seen but no way to escape being soaked through several times whether you participate or not.
Aside from the informal celebrations, this year is Phi Phi's second official Songkran Festival, held near Cabana resort (left of the ferry pier). There will be Thai beauty and singing contests, a Grand Parade and of course water games! Kick off is around 4pm.
So whether you go to the bigger cities for the bigger celebrations or come to Phi Phi for something a little more local - be prepared to get a proper soaking.

Hot n sunny but there's still plenty of room here and space to relax on the white sandy beaches and catch some rays. Over the full moon period Phi Phi is less busy with backpackers - so the restaurants and bars are more chilled and relaxed - no queues or waiting for a table in your favourite restaurant.
The bars are still closing the music everywhere on the island at 1am - although they do stay open for drinks - so good for everyone! Time for more chilled conversation, meeting new people and listening to the sounds of the Andaman sea.

Coming up soon - Songkran on Phi Phi - 13th April - more soon on this here...