This was the second time I'd stayed at this resort (over a 12 month period). It was far better the second time around this year in 2025. I would recommend it for people who want the quiet and isolated part of Phi Phi which reflects the paradise island that it actually is. If you want the fire shows and loud bars of Tonsai bay, do not stay here, unless you want to pay for a return trip on the long tail boat late at night. It can be done, but it can be expensive too, and it will take around 30 mins to make the trip.
SAii village was better this time. At least this time, the pool bar was open, so you could purchase drinks in the pool, perch and relax. The internet was also much better than it was in 2024. The best thing about this resort is the beach; when the tide is in, it is clear, calm, glistening blue with a soft sandy bottom. Coconut trees and other tropical foliage line it. To swim in there at 8 am was dreamy in the hot sun. Underwater visibility was excellent. BUT it's also important to know that when the tide goes out, swimming becomes impossible and it leaves the sea bed exposed, so make sure you know when the tide is in. When I was there, the tide was always high in the morning and then it started to retreat at around lunch time. If you want to swim on a beach when the tide is out, hop on a small moped taxi sidecar and go to Laem-tong beach (or you can get a long tail boat which would take 5-10 mins). Laemtong beach is gorgeous and is lined with a small number of cute, quiet resorts, bars and eateries. It's still quiet and the sea is clear and blue, but there are places to eat and drink. There is a local village at the back of the SAii resort which boasts a number of lovely bars, eateries, dive and excursion shops, a pharmacy and massage shops. I recommend 'Camel Rock' bar and 'Buffalo Head' bar. I'd recommend Sunset bar for food and also the Pad Thai restaurant. The rooms at SAii are lovely, but they differ greatly. The beachfront huts are by far the most expensive with their outdoor waterfall showers, huge balconies and incredible access to the sea. There are less expensive huts behind them, some in the gardens, some by the pools and some closer to the beach. Very picturesque resort which has numerous nice places to eat (although a few guests told me not to bother with the on-site Thai restaurant as its overpriced with poor quality food). The pools are lovely and clean and almost on the beach front. Staff seem generally friendly and housekeeping is very very good indeed. I loved cocktails at dusk at Olive Oyls restaurant (right at the end of the beach). It is beautiful at dusk and the bats fly around in large numbers, dipping in and out to say hello to people. They are very cute. One last note: The beach at SAii resort is not private as many claim; there are no private beaches in Thailand apparently, but it is so isolated that you just don't get day visitors coming in groups. You may get the odd visitor by long tail boat, but that's all, so no need to worry about being flooded with tourists. It's 99.5% resort guests and if people do wander onto the beach, they are merely people looking for seclusion and peace. This end of Phi Phi is for people who want to be secluded and cocooned on quiet beaches. Its a great resort, although too expensive over the Christmas and New period for me. Rates are low in the European summer months, high in the winter months and very very high over Christmas and New Year. If you can't afford it over the winter, you will be able to stay in the summer low season months (May, June, July, Aug, Sept and Oct).
