Paradise Pearl Bungalows

Right beside the beach, our bungalow had lovely views and we could hear the waves just a few steps away. It was calm and relaxing, almost like a little piece of paradise. The bungalow itself was very nice, spotless, and really comfortable. We had a wonderful stay on Long Beach, Phi Phi, and would gladly return. I'd recommend it to anyone visiting Phi Phi.

The bungalows have loads of character, and the staff were kind, helpful, and attentive. Paradise Pearl really does feel special, like a little paradise on earth. If you're thinking about staying here, don't hesitate, just book. It's the best place to stay on Long Beach, which I think is the best part of Phi Phi Island. You can mostly ignore the negative comments you might come across.

The main drawback is that visitors from Tonsai start filling the beach around 1 pm. Go early if you want a quieter stretch of sand. At night, getting to Tonsai by the path probably means walking in the dark, so a boat is more practical. It costs about 150 baht, and your feet and legs will get wet. Skip anything delicate like a frilly dress, since it'll end up sandy and soaked. Getting into the boats can be awkward if you're not used to slippery steps or ladders. Longtail boats come and go often as taxis and for trips, and their noise bothers some guests. It didn't bother me, and I slept well, but I saw others getting annoyed. Even with those things, I had a lovely few days. When we left, the manager came out to say goodbye, and I got a lump in my throat and cried a little. My mum died this year, and travelling around Thailand on my own has helped me feel better about the world. I get upset easily, and leaving Paradise Pearl was hard. Thank you to everyone at the bungalows for such a lovely stay. The place is right at the end of the beach, with easy access to the path towards Viking Resort and Tonsai village. You can also swim or snorkel around the rocks by Viking Resort. I saw lots of fish, including some huge, brightly coloured parrot and clown fish. The beach has clear water, tropical fish, soft white sand, and quiet evenings. There's a beachfront restaurant with decent Western and Thai food, plus a little shop selling food, soft drinks, alcohol, and other things. The rooms are spacious and Thai-style, with dark, cool interiors and wood furniture. The beds are big, very soft, and comfortable, and I slept well. Staff were generally lovely and helped with everything, including luggage and getting onto boats. There are plenty of trips from the shore, including snorkeling, and kayaks too. You have to leave a deposit for a kayak. I saw a guest arguing about it, but please don't be rude to staff: kayaks are expensive, and if you leave one on a beach or another boat damages it, losing the deposit is fair. Housekeeping was fast and very good. I moved rooms easily, and each one was ready early, clean, and comfortable. The sliding doors and locks could use a few small adjustments.

We came for an affordable beach stay and weren't disappointed. The bungalow was about a minute from the beach, which has been our favourite place to swim in Thailand so far. We stayed two nights and enjoyed ourselves. Walking into town was fine, and we took a longtail back at night for 150pp. The room and bed felt a little dated, and the WiFi was patchy. We weren't very impressed by the hotel's food or breakfast, and there aren't many other restaurant choices on Long Beach.