U Rip Resort

The pool was the reason I picked this hotel after seeing it from outside, and it ended up being the biggest letdown. The water was very warm and smelled strongly of chlorine. Tiles were missing or broken, the inside steps felt unsafe, some chairs were torn, and parts of the synthetic carpet were ripped. It looks nice from outside, but don't get too close. The hotel seems neglected: burned grass, untrimmed trees and bushes, and a property that looks uncared for over a long time. The room lighting was poor, especially in the bathroom, where I couldn't see well enough to shave. Water pressure was barely enough for a normal shower, and the AC was weak. The bed was acceptable. It's hard to understand how management is comfortable selling rooms in this condition. I only booked one night as a trial, and I'm leaving for somewhere else. It also seems this hotel and the Phi Phi Andaman Beach Resort next door are the same place under the same management, just with different names. Staff were polite and helpful: someone met us at the pier when our ferry arrived and helped carry our luggage on the roughly 15-minute walk to the hotel. Reception was friendly too, though that's fairly standard service around here. Breakfast was adequate, with enough variety for a basic meal, but there was no proper coffee machine and the bread was disappointing. The baguette was dry. The dining area has a lovely sea view, which I enjoyed more than the food.

We paid over £650 for two nights in a two-bedroom villa with a private pool, but it had been given to someone else. We were told we could stay there for just one night, then move to a “superior” room that wasn't superior at all. They showed us two different rooms. One was better, so we asked for two like that, but they said we could only have one and insisted both rooms were the same, even though one had a sofa, kitchen, and separate bedroom while the other had only a bedroom. We were offered an £84 refund for one night, which didn't feel right given what we'd paid. We felt we should have received at least a night's stay back as compensation. The woman we booked through wasn't too bad about communicating, but the situation left us gutted. Reception staff laughed about it, and the customer service was poor. From start to finish it felt like a scam. We had no contact from the owner, even after messaging the day before for arrival details. Think twice before booking.

The area is quieter, about a 15-minute walk from the pier, and the beach is only a few steps away. Breakfast was a simple spread with a live egg station. Our new room was clean and well kept, with a nice balcony, and the resort has a lovely pool. It was a peaceful, wonderful stay. I'd recommend it.

A really charming place, with lovely pools and a great view from the restaurant. It's cozy and quiet, tucked into a jungle beach setting. Stay at least three nights if you can, and relax among nature, cats, birds, and other animals. The evenings around the hotel and beaches are lovely, and the dance parties with fire shows and friendly local Thais are so much fun.