Phi Phi Banyan Villa

The room was small, with outdated facilities and very dim lighting! Breakfast was also incredibly basic! However, it did have solid wood flooring, which gave it a nice Thai feel. We booked this before Chinese New Year, and it cost over 800 per night. Honestly, during off-peak times, I'd say it's only worth about 200. The location is, of course, very close to the pier, which is convenient for diving!

The room was a bit old and dimly lit, but it was interesting to hear the frogs croaking outside at night. My kids absolutely loved the many cats around the hotel. The Chinese-style decorations on the exterior were beautiful and definitely worth a shout-out!

On the 25th, I was checking out at 10:30 AM. I had trouble understanding the English spoken by one of the two receptionists, an older woman who seemed to be in a higher position. She then looked me up and down, shook her head, and said something in Thai to her colleague, mentioning 'Japanese' and some other words. I do resemble a Japanese person. Although I didn't understand the exact words, it felt like she was being dismissive and insulting me because I couldn't understand her English. This ****** encounter with the older receptionist on the last day of my vacation has left a bad taste in my mouth, and even a day later, I'm still upset. Not everyone in the world speaks fluent English, and not speaking English doesn't give you the right to disrespect me. Conversely, imagine if you were on vacation in another country, spending your precious time and money, and were disrespected because of your accent or pronunciation. Would your vacation still be enjoyable? If you're not fluent in English, I definitely do not recommend this place. There are plenty of other accommodations available.

Centrally located, yet quiet, so the music from Phi Phi's nightlife isn't a problem. The entire property is surrounded by lush greenery. Check-out is at 11 AM, but if your boat or ferry leaves later, you can leave your bags at reception.

The hotel isn't the newest, but it's got endless charm and fits the island perfectly. The location is great, and it's not as noisy in the evenings as it is in the village center.