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Region: Southern Thailand> Province: Krabi> Location: Ko Phi Phi
Ao Toh Ko Bungalows
Top spot
Ao Toh Ko, Ko Phi Phi
Krabi Province
Tel: (081) 731 9470, (081) 537 0528, (084) 087 7502, (081) 269 0011
Contact via email form
Description
This exceptional little secluded spot is a great hideaway from the rest of the island and has a collection of 32 well-designed, basic bungalows. The friendly owner is very approachable, and there's a chilled Canadian employee named Scott who helps smooth things over. Almost every room here is different, varying from wood to bamboo to cement construction. Some of the bungalows have particularly good views over the beach and out to sea and while they are very no-frills offerings, they are comfortable and all have reasonably sized balconies -- check out our favourite huts, named 'The Beach' and 'The View'. The snorkelling here is simply outstanding. There is also a small restaurant on site, which gets rave reviews from Travelfish users, as does La Buena Suerte, their hillside bar with great views of the water. We suggest you call them before arriving on Ko Phi Phi to check bungalow availability. Highly recommended by bundles of Travelfish readers, and it's not hard to see why. Note that in the past, there's been repeated comments of reservations not being honoured, so keep that in mind, though Ao Toh Ko have contacted us to say this is no longer taking place.
Total rooms: 32
Family room
600 THB (low season)
1,500 THB (high season)
Upto 1,800B
Bungalow fan private b'room
500 THB (low season)
700 THB (high season)
Deluxe bungalow
1,200 THB (low season)
2,000 THB (high season)
Fan-cooled
Added to Travelfish on: 20th June, 2004
Last visited or updated on: 31st January, 2008
Guest feedback
Not as good as expected - 
By Sinandrea ( total comments: 5 
) Stayed here 2/2008
We chose this place because of the recommendations on Travelfish but we were a bit disappointed on our arrival. There is actually only a small stripe of white sand beach which you is shared by many people. The food in the restaurant was not bad but nothing special. Our bungalow was quite pricy (1000B/night)but this didn't protect us from all kinds of animals. We even had rats during night time. In addition, the mosquito net had so many holes that our whole body was covered with mosquito bites. We intended to stay for a least one weak but left after only two nights…
Cleanliness | Facilities | Location | Romance | Rooms | Service | Value | Vibe |
Everything About it Was Great - 
By rliss84 ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 12/2007
Definitely one of the highlights of our trip. A much more relax, enjoyable experience than the typical Ko Phi Phi vacation. This resort is quite isolated from the main tourist strip... you need to take a boat out to it. But it is definitely worth it for the atmosphere. Chill guests, really chill staff, and surprisingly good food. Cabins were rustic, but all you need. The closest thing to a resort with a backpacker vibe, and somewhat backpacker prices. Would definitely recommend this place. Despite what other people have said below... we had no problem with our reservation even though it was the peak season, and the beach is beautiful (actually much nicer than the current condition of the beach at the main town).
Peace on Ko Phi Phi exists! - 
By ask03 ( total comments: 5 ) Stayed here 2/2008
If your looking to escape the beach party scene and relax, Ao Toh Ko is a great choice. The bungalows themselves are somewhat basic, but the friendly atmosphere among follow travellers and fairly good (and not overly expensive) restaurant are pluses. The beach itself is quite rocky and not the best for swimming (with loads of urchins), but this makes for a great snorkeling location. You can also rent a kayak and row to nearby Rantee beach for more marine life and a bit more sandy beaches suitable for swimming. Ao Toh Ko is laid back and a great place to relax on the beach and catch up on some reading. The staff is pretty friendly, though the laid back serving style can sometimes seem a bit abrupt. Overall, Ao Toh Ko provides a great place to escape and find some peace on the sometimes overcrowded Ko Phi Phi Don. Worth a visit!
Unbelievable location - 
By bethmitchell ( total comments: 16 ) Stayed here 1/2008
We stayed here for 6 nights and would have stayed longer if we could have. The location is unbelievable. We especially liked snorkeling right off the beach. The resort itself was nice but nothing special - not a good place to go if you're looking for a luxury vacation, but great if you want somewhere laid-back and quiet. The food was better than you'd expect at a beach resort like this, though not entirely consistent. The staff was friendly, including Scott, who is not Canadian.
Private Phi Phi - 
By farangutan ( total comments: 1 ) Stayed here 12/2005
This place is located on a private beach, only accessible by longtail boat or a hike over the island. The owner, Porn, is a gem. She is kind hearted, friendly, and very hospitable. Porn really made our stay special. The snorkeling right off the beach is wonderful. Watch out for the small white fish--they are territorial and bite. They don't bite hard, just a nip, and are more comical than dangerous. Also there are small flying lizards in the trees. One flew directly over my head as I was eating on the beach. I ordered a coconut shake and Porn's husband went out to a tree and knocked a coconut down. Minutes later, I had my shake. Fresh! Excellent food, beautiful location, and Porn is so lovely! Tours are available on Ton Sai beach to snorkel with sharks which is great fun!
Great Place but Expanding -
By ElisabethGliesche ( total comments: 6 ) Stayed here 9/2007
We stayed here for a week and had a memorable time. The bungalows might not be the nicest (at least the cheap one) but the location made up for it. Best snorkelling ever (directly off the beach), daily dolphins coming by etc. You should be OK with geckos in your bed and a rat eating your soap though (it looked quite healthy otherwise ;-).
toh ko email -
By dreaminfijian ( total comments: 5 ) Stayed here 1/2008
Somebody has stolen our email password and we've set up a new account. You can now write to us at aotohko@yahoo.com. Thanks! -Ben
Top hospitality - nice beach -
By tezza ( total comments: 21 ) Stayed here 8/2007
Pon and family's hospitality, the secluded east coast location and the excellent and cheap food are the things which will see me return. The bungalows are sturdy, clean, with comfy beds but otherwise nothing special apart from the views. I was a bit disappointed in the amount of rubbish lying around, and the passing longtail noise can be a bit of a pain at times, but no worse than half the other beach bungalows I've stayed in. One feature light sleepers may take into account -- the roofs of most of the bungalows are metal and during wet season a lot of fruit crashes down from overhanging trees. Pon told me this is not a big deal in dry season and I have stayed in a lot of similarly roofed places and never struck it. Regardless, Lady Tezza, a notoriously fussy sleeper, is in love with the place. During wet season this side of the island is sheltered from the prevailing wind so the beach can be a pretty serene place to spend time. Not the family was putting in an air-con bungalow when I visited
What an amazing place! -
By seedycor ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 8/2007
This place was one of the highlights of my trip. We intended to stay for two nights but ended up staying for a week. The snorkelling, beach, food and hospitality were fantastic and it is a wonderful place to chill out and relax. Beware of the cold showers (I actually got used to them), and variety of living creatures (but they have the right to be there, I'm sure they were there first!) I'll definitely go back to stay if I ever return to Thailand!
Lived it loved it -
By alebanane ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 4/2007
I stayed seven nights in April. Perfect for me as I just wanted to relax.
Good food friendly staff nice scenery. I arrived walking over the view-point. Took about an hour with a full pack, without 45 minutes. And Ben take care, next time I will arrive with wife and child(found out when I got home)
Cheers Peter of Sweden
Beware-reservations not honoured here - 
By flash ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 2/2007
All I can say is they did not honour our reservation, which means terrible service as far as I am concerned. We had called a few days ahead to reserve and were told yes that we could have a bungalow. They took down my name and so forth, so we went ahead and booked our boat tickets. I then decided to call them on the morning we were supposed to go over to re-confirm since my current guesthouse mentioned that I should. Good thing I called, when I spoke to the management they said they did not have a bungalow available and maybe we could come the next day instead because their current guests decided to stay longer. They did not care that we had already booked boat tickets and that in high season other places are booked solid. I have to say this put a damper on our plans and I seriously cannot recommend this place to anyone, you are better off looking elsewhere if you want a reservation.
Basic, but fun... -
By gbosworth ( total comments: 5 ) Stayed here 12/2006
We decided to upgrade to the new 1000 Baht a night bunglaows. These were still pretty basic and if you are needing luxury, best give this resort a miss. The beach, however is awesome and Pon the owner will make you feel really welcome. The food is cheap and there are some great trips. If you are looking for a cheap and fun place to stop on Phi Phi, then this is perfect.
Great!! Great! Great!! -
By janellbartlett ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 11/2006
This place is great. We couldn't have asked for better. Ben was great, Pon is great, food is great, the bar is great, the prices are great, the other guests are great. We stayed for four days as the first ever quests of the new VIP suite. If I recommend anything, the best is renting a long tail boat for a four hour ride around Phi Phi Ley (ask Pon about it). You are the only people that aren't in a huge overcrowded touristy speed boat honking at you to hurry up. You have as much time on any of the beaches that you like. (But be careful about the monkeys on monkey beach--they bite and I still have the scar). If you have the chance: snorkel everyday, spend every night at the bar meeting everyone else, and eat every meal at the restaurant.
However there are some cons to the place. There's no electricity during the day, no hot water, lots of bugs, toilets that don't really flush, and no air conditioning. If you need any of those things this isn't the place for you...and you wouldn't fit in anyway. :) You need lots of bug spray and I don’t recommend the hike to town.
Other than that, if you want a cute (cheap) place with a real backpacker feel and nice people this is the place. Thanks Ben and Pon...Jeremey says 'hi'...I hope to see you again soon.
Lovely -
By riki_nt ( total comments: 9 ) Stayed here 11/2006
This is a great place to stay. It is a lovely secluded beach on the east side of the island (near Hat Rantee)and the snorkelling is simply outstanding. We saw almost as much snorkelling here as diving on other parts of the island. The food was also great and the owner very friendly. There are some things to be aware of though. The facilities are very basic. Bathroom had jungle toilets, very little light, no hot water and no sink. For those who enjoy their creature comforts, this is not the place for you. There are no services nearby (including internet) and to get to the main town is 100baht each way per person (pretty sure no charge for arrival and departure though). Still, we had a lovely time and would recommend it for anyone who doesn't mind roughing it.
All in the Family -
By AMLMAL ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 8/2006
So the really great thing about this place is not the beach, nor is it the wonderful food. It is the wonderful little family of travellers that forms under Pon's watchful eye. Hellow Mr. Steve -- hope your Christmas lights gig goes well.
Anne
I've Got a Secret -
By willsmiff ( total comments: 4 ) Stayed here 7/2006
It's this place... on this island. Unbelievable. We planned on going to Ko Phi Phi for just a night or two, ended up staying for six. Everything below is true. Best place to chill out on the planet. And food is sensational - how about some fish or lobster 30 minutes out of the water, and the recipe made from scratch for every order...
Paradise -
By bendyclaire ( total comments: 15 ) Stayed here 4/2006
Very lovely and very chilled. These are the only bungalows on the beach - and what a beach it is, with lovely snorkelling and clear blue sea, and a lovely view from each and every bungalow. Also, the food is great, and as others have said, Ben and Pon are lovely.
Very Beautiful -
By mollyandjason ( total comments: 14 ) Stayed here 2/2006
This is a great place to stay. All the goods things everyone has said we completely second. Just be aware that a reservation doesn't necessarily mean you have a spot reserved. True to southern Thai style this means first come first served. If someone decides that they don't want to leave when they said they would the owners will not kick them out because it wouldn't be nice. This can lead to a lot of confusion or frustration for those with a western mind-set. We were initially unable to get a bungalow when we showed up at Ton Sai Bay and had to stay the night in the crazy party zone. Once we got out to the resort we had to make due with a bungalow more expensive than we planned on. This was happening quite a bit to people while we were there. Basically all the hype they are receiving on Travelfish is making them more busy than they can handle so be patient and make sure that you have a backup plan if you can't get what you want. They owners, though, are soooo incredibly nice! In the long run it is worth trying to stay here.
A wonderful, relaxing place -
By jaynec31 ( total comments: 3 ) Stayed here 1/2006
Ao To Koh is a wonderful, relaxing place to go away from the hustle and bustle of Ton Sai. The owners are lovely and will go out of their way for you but please be aware that at the moment, the accommodation is extremely basic. Some of the huts have squat toilets and some have no doors between the toilet and bedroom, just a curtain. We had sea view huts, and the view was amazing, but the waves are extremely noisy at night so take ear plugs. Also, if you're not very good with bugs, don't go! There were lots of crawly things and flying things in our hut as the walls don't meet the ceiling, to let the air in I presume - thankfully they provide a mozzie net so at least they couldn't get at us at night. They are building new huts though apparently so it might change very soon. If you can cope with basic accommodation then you will have a fantastic time. They will pick you up in Ton Sai if you let them know you're there and will organise boat trips and other things for you. I had the best meal during our Thailand trip there. Make sure you take a torch as the paths get pretty dark at night, and also, try to walk up to the lookout point - it's a bit of a tough climb if you're unfit but the view is amazing. Great place to go for a few days with lovely people and tranquil setting. I have loads of photos if anyone's interested. jaych23@hotmail.com
Great find! -
By jen120978 ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 1/2006
My husband and I stayed here for four days in Jan 2006. The food was amazing and was a great value. The bungalows were very basic, but it was all you need for a nice get away. In 2006 they will be opening newer (nicer) bungalows here. Ask for them when you book. If you let them know what ferry you will arrive on someone will meet you at the pier and arrange transport to the bungalows for you. Bring sun block and bug spray! Have fun!!
Great place !! Lovely family -
By floxie ( total comments: 2 ) Stayed here 3/2005
The place is unique, private beach, nice basic bungalows, and a restaurant with great homemade food. The owner, Pon, is so friendly, her kids are so cute and nice, they make u feel home... Its a really quiet place if you want to take a rest seating by the beach, or snorkelling. You can also rent their longtail to go to other places. The tsunami struck the restaurant only, which is now ok. So everything work normal. You can call her before arriving and she will pick you up at Ton Sai pier. She did with her 3 kids in her longtail boat! that was really nice. It is totally recommended. It is away from the villa, which is pretty damaged but its been cleaned up.
Great location -
By laura82 ( total comments: 7 ) Stayed here 10/2004
A great place to get away from the crowds on Ton Sai village and a very friendly owner. Some of the cheaper bungalows have gaps in the walls, but all beds have mozzie nets.
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