We are the family of 4 (29 years old me, 34 year old hubby, 5 year old and 1 year old daughters).
We arrived to Holiday Inn Phi Phi island on 17 September and stayed for 7 nights (I truly wish we stayed less… We are currently in Sheraton Krabi and OMG what a difference) Our experience with the hotel left us with mixed feelings - on one hand, the location and the absolutely stunning private beach, and on the other hand very outdated, small, sad-looking "king" beach front bungalow for 7,500 baht per night.
Location
Holiday inn is isolated from the main Phi Phi port and is only reachable by long tail boat. There is nothing around it, so if you seek bars, dancing, waking street and 7/11 this is not a right place for you.
For those you look for peace and quiet, family oriented hotel – holiday inn is a good pick.
There are several other resorts and restaurants situated along the beach next to Holiday Inn, offering alternative dining experience.
Facilities
“King” beach front bungalow room 101. The room looked very outdated and worn-out:
The bed with very strange and rather uncomfortable mattress (you kind of roll down from it if you are too close to the edge)
dirty lamps on each the side (full of visible mold)
scratched furniture
The security safe is not big enough to fit a laptop in it
no nets on the windows, so although you are basically on the beach, you have to turn on air condition 24/7. Speaking of air condition – it was very very very loud.
air condition control on the wall of the closet corridor (if you are cold/hot at night, you have to stand up and walk to the remote control to change the temperature)
dorm-like bathroom with sad-looking, moldy shower, scratched mirror and no ventilation
Baby cot provided was very very unclean
A touch of modernization – LCD TV and DVD player. The terrace is actually quite nice with two chairs and a little table, great for sitting outside in the early mornings or evenings (just make sure to use mosquito repellent). Our particular bungalow didn’t have a side “bench” on the porch, while most of others did. For guests with kids, that creates a certain discomfort because you have to drag chairs out from the inside in order to sit on the terrace with the kids.
There is a laundry rack (if weather permits, you can dry your wet clothes there) out on the porch.
The fitness center is so-so and needs to revise the opening hours.
Kids club looks renovated and spacy but during the low season and due to lack of children, there are no activities and caregivers don’t really do much. I left my 5 year old in the kids club with a female caregiver, only came to find that she is gone and the substitute is a towel guy from the pool. That was extremely inappropriate and disappointing (I couldn’t leave my kid there again without worrying). There is no system of signing the name of the child, the name of the parent, where can the parent be found, can the child come out from the club by her/himself etc.
There are two swimming pools. One next to reception and kids club (outdated with rather sharp tiles on the edge of the pool). It is impossible to catch someone to take your order if you decide to eat by the pool.
Both swimming pools are kids friendly (have shallow water to play at).
The main restaurant next to pool number 1 is surrounded by a stinky odor from the contaminated pond below it. The only time we ate there was the first evening when we just didn’t know better.
Western food in the resort is ok, thai food needs some serious improvements. Prices are high. If you want to eat well, go to the second restaurant called Sawasdee, they have amazing thai food. At least you get good food for the money you pay and no stinky odor.
Fruit shakes were not blended well – the restaurant should by new blenders!
I was also served frozen margarita in the wine glass with a straw… hmmmmmm…
Now, the second pool, located in the renovated “coral bungalows” area is an infinity pool and is much better then pool 1. The sunbeds are new, the mattresses are nicer, the overall atmosphere is better. The restaurant next to the infinity pool has a great view and also serves breakfast. After our first breakfast in the main stinky restaurant, this place was like a breathe of fresh air. There is less choice in the breakfast buffet, but the service is better, it is more intimate and there is no crazy smell or hundreds of flies all around you.
The coral beach bungalows seem to have much nicer décor and are in the renovated area of the hotel next to the infinity pool.
Beach
Beach is the only thing that saves this place… really… Gorgeous white sand, crystal clear water, chairs and swings. Very relaxing. Loved it.
Service
Overall service was satisfactory and friendly, except for couple of strange accidents:
Room service forgot to add tea and coffee bags in the room in the morning. When I called about it, I was told (and I quote):” tea and coffee are included in breakfast”! I had to explain that I might want to drink tea later in the evening…
When I realized that my laptop doesn’t fit into the safety box, I brought it to the front desk (you can store your “larger” belongings there. The lady at the front desk said: “Usually it is ok to leave your laptop in the room”. Hmmmm… Yeah, maybe, but not when my work depends on that laptop!
As mentioned before, pool service needs to improve. No one walks around to check if you wish to make an order. No one cleans dirty plates or bottles. People with glass bottles are allowed to sit by the pool and in the pool (this should not allowed and drinks must be served in plastic glasses).
Internet Wifi is not for free. You can buy either an hour or 24 hours (with the option of login in and out). There are two computers at the lobby with free internet, but they are always occupied. For those who need internet for more than facebook checking, buying hourly wifi is the only option.
Breakfast
Breakfast was good with decent choices. No extra charge for latte or other types of coffee.
Summary
I have been to countless hotels in Thailand starting from 3 stars and up. I would hardly give holiday inn phiphi 3 stars. There is a lot of room for improvement and most importantly renovation. I saw some bungalows were going to renovation during our stay so I assume that in high season there might be less complaints about the rooms.