‘Ko Phi Phi is changing, there has been a drop in the backpacker population and an increase in the suitcase brigade, ’ Hood said. ‘Backpackers can’t afford to stay here anymore.’
It’s true. Although Ko Phi Phi retains a mellow backpacker vibe, cheap bungalows are few and far between, and those that exist seem overpriced for the cramped, dark and dank environs you get. The outlook is only slightly less dismal in the midrange and top-end bracket – expect to pay nearly double what you would on the mainland, for half the amenities and swankness. Why is Phi Phi so expensive these days?
For two reasons, Hood says. First, electricity is hugely expensive on Phi Phi because the island is not supplied with electricity from the mainland and has to rely on generators. Ferry and long-tail boat prices are also increasing – rates are tied to the price of petrol, so if petrol prices drop drastically in the next two years, expect prices to go down (we wish!).
On the plus side, Phi Phi is building sounder structures these days (probably another reason prices are going up). Instead of fly-by-night bungalows, Western style buildings, constructed to withstand a tsunami, are going up. Designs include open-air staircases people can use to climb onto the roof in a hurry.
And even though Ko Phi Phi will seem expensive compared to the rest of Thailand, if you compare it to other gorgeous islands around the planet, we think you’ll discover this paradise actually comes pretty damn cheap.
