Practical information

Money and ATMs

There are plenty of ATMs in Tonsai village and around Loh Dalum, but none on the remote beaches. Thai banks charge foreign cards a fixed fee of about 220 to 250 THB per withdrawal, on top of your own bank's fees, so take out larger amounts. When an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and choose baht: the conversion rate is usually poor.

Cash is king on Phi Phi. Longtail boats, small restaurants, massage shops and bars expect cash. Hotels, dive centres and tour agencies usually take cards, often with a surcharge.

Internet and phone

Mobile coverage with 4G and 5G is good in Tonsai and around Loh Dalum, and weaker on remote beaches and on the boat to Phi Phi Leh. Tourist SIM cards and eSIMs from AIS and TrueMove H are sold at Phuket and Krabi airports and in shops in Tonsai. Nearly every hotel, café and restaurant has Wi-Fi.

Electricity and water

Thailand uses 220 V at 50 Hz. Most sockets accept both flat two-pin (type A) and round two-pin (type C) plugs; a universal adapter is useful.

Do not drink tap water. Bottled water is sold everywhere, and refill stations around the village let you fill your own bottle for a few baht. Fresh water is precious on the island, so take short showers.

Health

Tonsai has a small public hospital and private clinics that treat minor injuries, coral cuts, ear infections and stomach bugs, plus several pharmacies. Serious cases are transferred by boat to Krabi or Phuket, which takes time, so travel insurance with medical evacuation is essential, especially if you dive.

• Sun: the tropical sun is strong even on cloudy days. Use reef-safe sunscreen and a hat.
• Mosquitoes: dengue fever occurs in southern Thailand, mainly in the rainy season. Use repellent at dawn and dusk.
• Jellyfish: stinging jellyfish occasionally appear, mostly in the wet season. Some beaches have vinegar stations; ask locally before swimming.
• Coral cuts: clean them well; they get infected easily in the heat.

Emergency numbers

Etiquette and dress code

Phi Phi's permanent community is largely Muslim, and the village has a mosque. Swimwear is for the beach: put on a shirt and shorts when you walk through the village, and dress more modestly near the mosque. Topless sunbathing is not accepted in Thailand.

Respect the Thai royal family and religious images, take your shoes off when entering homes and some shops, and keep calm in disagreements: shouting is seen as losing face.

Rubbish and plastic

Everything on Phi Phi has to be shipped in and most waste has to be shipped out. The 20 THB island fee helps pay for that. Bring a refillable bottle, refuse plastic straws and bags, and never leave anything on the beach. See National park rules & fees.