My husband and I were really looking forward to staying at our "Boutique" accomodation in Koh Phi Phi, in the Krabi province. We travel often, and as a general rule, we prefer to stay at smaller, locally-operated resorts or villas. Arayaburi was far from what we expected.
We checked in late- 2:45pm and were shown to a room which we needed to be driven to-- it was so far away from the reception and restaurant. On foot, the room itself was a good 15 min hike up a winding and very steep concrete pathed footpath. the road to the room passed sewer tanks and the stench made us gag.
the room itself was 3 star at best. the door was the flimsy plywood-type which was rotting. the room was not yet cleaned, despite our late arrival. Dirty sheets on the bed, used towels on the floor and soiled toilet paper in the bin! (In Thailand you can't throw used toilet paper in the toilet bowls). Our "Ocean View Boutique villa" (as advertised) was in actual fact a "Run-down room on stilts wedged into concrete with a glimpse of the sea between the trees."
Arayaburi is in the same compound as the cheaper "Bay View resort" accomodation. What I later found out was that the Bay View rooms were cheaper, but essentially the same inside. so for $50US more a night you get the same room. We were paying $US200+ per night in peak season. Bay View guests use the same (tiny) pool as Arayaburi guests, we shared the same restaurant and all facilties.Tthe only difference being that the Arayaburi rooms were a lot futher from reception. I guess this was to give the sense of exclusivity.
Our visit was during peak season. despite this fact, Bay View and Arayaburi were understaffed. On our final day I called the reception to request our luggage to be picked up because we didn't fancy carrying to very heavy backpacks and 3 pieces of hand luggage up and down the steep concrete path. 25 min later a porter still hadn't arrived. I went down to Reception to see what was going on and i was quickly dismissed with a wave of the hand and an abrupt "We don't have people. Wait!"
In the end my husband and I decided we had had enough of Arayaburi and lugged 30kg of luggage down to reception ourselves as we had a boat to catch.
there are many resorts and hotels in Krabi, do yourself a favour don't waste your money at Arayaburi.

I will try to be objective about the Bay View - Arayaburi Resort on Phi Phi Island, Thailand.
I know for myself I would not stay here again, but for those who are still considering it, here are my pros and cons:

We stayed in the Grand Sea View room for $120 US a night for
4 nights

Pros:
1) the VIEW
2)Big room with a nice patio
3) little frig. with beer and sodas(not free)
4)Good AC
5) nice bed and sheets
6) free long boat taxi service to and from pier (only at arrival and departure)
7) golf cart to take your luggage up the hills to your room
8) small private beach
9) free breakfast with a view
10) friendly staff
11) kayaks for rent, I believe 150Baht an hour
12) safe in room

Cons:
1) view not worth the hike you have to take to your room,
even if you are in shape, it will become very annoying!!!!
2) no real privacy, the rooms are very close to each other
3) salt water shower, it leaves a film on your skin, I got a rash on my face from it
4) maid service, twice only left us one clean towel, and when I called for more, never brought them to us
5) the private beach would be a lot nicer if they had a bar or waiter to offer drinks and it could be a lot cleaner
6) they only have one golf cart and it was never there to take you to your room
7) no room service offered
8) internet 50Baht for 20 min.
9) only one pool for both resorts Bay View and Arayaburi Resort are basically the same hotel, but you pay more at Arayaburi Resort, for a newer room and to walk up 2 more hills
10) breakfast is over at 10am
11) about 25min walk to town, 15 min just form your room up and down large hills, 5 min walk on beach, 5 min walk on path
don't bring nice shoes, only flip flops

If you want to stay close to town I would suggest just by looks and location, Phi Phi Villa Resort.
Not in town and on a budget and love to snorkel, The Relax Beach Resort, on a higher budget not in town, Phi Phi Island Village.

Some info. on pricing:

We used the long boats to snorkel, 1000Baht for 3 hours 1200Baht if you want to go around the Island. If you go to Phi Phi Ley there is a 200Baht per person charged if you want to go on the Island(the bay where the movie "The Beach" was filmed). Dives where about 3000 to 6000Baht. Ferry form Phuket to Phi Phi 1000Baht round trip took about 2.5 hours. The Ferry leaves at 8:30 am and 2:00pm, the pier is about 15min form Phuket town, I believe it was called the Rassada Pier.

Hope this has been helpful and enjoy your trip.

~ Bree

We just returned from 4 nights here. We were in room 210, a 10 min hike from the beach which is a killer in stinking hot heat. Our room had no view, the screen in the bathroom had holes in it and was patched with toilet paper.
The staff here are pathetic and just not interested if you have a complaint. Breakfast was pretty bad, we ate it once and the rest of the time we went elsewhere.
The pool was hot, not refreshing at all. There was no pool bar service. We called reception and said how do we get towels and drinks. The response was walk down to reception for a towel and go to your mini bar for a drink! No easy task as this is about a 20 min round trip!
We avoided this place as much as possible as it was so depressing. The beach is dirty with plastic bottles and rubbish everywhere. I wouldn't stay here again if it was free. Time to lift your game Arayaburi just not good enough.

I stayed in the Arayaburi Hotel the second last week in September for 4 nights. We were met at the pier by two of the staff who brought our luggage in a hand cart and boy did they have a hard job, it was uphilll alot of the way and then the last little section is on the sand, I think there had been a little bridge there before but it looks as if the tSunami did away with it. The hotel reception area is lovely and spacious and a member of staff arrived out with a lovely refreshing fruit juice drink which was very welcome. There is a european guy on check in and contrary to what other posts said, is very helpful and nice, he's abit shy really I think and his English is not great but it's very good nevertheless. Our bungalow was gorgeous, it was a double one however and we could hear any conversations in the other one beside us so try to get a single one if youcan, I asked to be changed to a single one and we were accommodated the next day which was nice. The guys down at reception arrange for a golf buggy to collect you any time and they will bring you back at night too. There is a little umbrella out the front of the hotel with long boat rides to be bought, we got one for 3 hours all around the island just to ourselves and it was only 1200 baht, he brought us all over and we went snorkelling a couple of times, well worth it. The breakfast was nice enough plenty of it, I'd have liked the food to be covered but that was the only fault I had, the staff are so friendly and helpful, you would not get that type of friendliness and attention in alot of european hotels. I was not feeling well one morning and they offered to get a tray of food sent up to me. The shower is fine, I didn't notice any salty taste off it and we showered regularly with no problems. It is a lovely place to stay and not expensive, the staff are all very nice and helpful and I would highly recommend it to any one.