A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Airlie Beach vs. Koh Phi Phi for Resorts, Scuba Diving & Snorkeling, Beaches, and Hiking

Should you visit Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Airlie Beach

Airlie Beach is a slow-paced, idyllic, and paradise town. Many visitors also come because of it's amazing beauty. Visitors also love the food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Koh Phi Phi

Koh Phi Phi is a dramatic, stunning, and beautiful island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for food, scuba diving and snorkeling, and beaches.

Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Koh Phi Phi. Although Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi are popular destinations, Koh Phi Phi has more sights and attractions for tourists. Koh Phi Phi is very popular for its nightlife, while Airlie Beach attracts visitors for its hiking and shopping. Koh Phi Phi is more touristy than Airlie Beach and is popular for its stunningly beautiful beaches, world-class snorkeling and diving, and wild booze cruises. It is also well known for Koh Phi Phi Leh and Maya Bay. Airlie Beach is famous for its tours and transportation that visit the Great Barrier Reef and the Whitsunday Islands.

How is Airlie Beach different from Koh Phi Phi?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Koh Phi Phi and Airlie Beach. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Neither Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi offer quality museums and landmarks.

Airlie Beach offers a few options for museum-goers. Oceanfront beauty is what this town is all about, so you won't find much is the form of museums and manmade landmarks.

If you're looking to pass the time, head to a museum or historic sight in Koh Phi Phi. It's an island paradise with world class beaches and stunning natural beauty, but if you're looking for museums, temples, and culture, then you'll likely want to head farther north to Northern Thailand.

Is the Food Better in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Both Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi offer nice local cuisine and restaurants.

Airlie Beach offers number of good local restaurants to choose from. There's a good selection of restaurants in town that offer everything from freshly caught local seafood to fine dining or casual. Try to pick a place with a view.

Koh Phi Phi has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Most dishes feature seafood, and you'll find the highest concentration of restaurants around Tonsai Village. There are also restaurants dotting the way to Long Beach. Many restaurants offer outdoor seating, or a combination of an indoor/outdoor setting. Tropical fruit is also abundant on the island and adds to that tropical paradise atmosphere.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Nightlife?

Koh Phi Phi is a well-known place for nightlife. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

Koh Phi Phi offers plenty to do in the evening. Despite its smaller size, there is still a party vibe and tons of nightlife on the island. Backpackers have long flocked to this island, building on the reputation it earned from movies like "The Beach." Booze cruises and all night beach parties are the norm here, so it won't be hard to find a party that lasts until sunrise.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Airlie Beach. The town has a number of nightlife venues that include DJ hosted parties, beachfront cocktail lounges, and mellow local bars.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Resorts?

There are amazing resorts to choose from in both Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi.

Vacationers flock to Airlie Beach for its luxury resorts. There's everything from posh resorts and luxury hotels to family-friendly campgrounds. There are also hostels that cater to the budget crowd.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Koh Phi Phi is a great choice. Despite it's popularity with backpackers and small size, this island also has some of Thailand's most luxurious resorts. Head to Long Beach or Laem Tong to appreciate the quieter side of the island.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

You'll find amazing places where you can go scuba diving or snorkeling in Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Airlie Beach. You can't snorkel right off the shore because the water is murky and mucky, but there are excursions that will take you to the Great Barrier Reef. There are many day cruises that will take you out on the reef to several sights where you may see beautiful coral, sea turtles, or even reef sharks.

The clear water and abundant marine life make Koh Phi Phi a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. The dramatic limestone cliffs and colorful coral make this a top scuba diving and snorkeling destination in Thailand. There are countless vendors who offer scuba diving or snorkeling trips from the island. You might even see sharks, sea turtles, or seahorses during your trip. Head to the reef at dusk for the best chance of seeing black tip reef sharks.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Beaches?

Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi both offer amazing beaches.

Airlie Beach offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. Near town there are world class beaches that range from secluded and idyllic to those lined with luxury resorts. For an escape, head to Hideaway Bay or Dingo Beach. If you don't want to leave town, there's also Airlie Beach, which is right off the Main Street. You likely won't want to swim here, but you can enjoy a picnic. Whatever beach you chose, do confirm that there's a stinger net.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Koh Phi Phi. This island has some of the most dramatic beauty in Thailand and the beaches will not disappoint. Although it's usually referred to as an island, Koh Phi Phi is actually a small archipelago with Koh Phi Phi Don being the only inhabited island. Nearby Koh Phi Phi Leh is famous as the filming place of the movie "The Beach" (which you'll hear playing at hotels around the island every night). The beaches are beautiful with white sand and clear water. It truly is a tropical paradise.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Hiking?

Airlie Beach is renowned for hiking. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for the nearby hiking options.

People visit Airlie Beach specifically for its hiking, as the natural beauty is well-known. You'll find many incredible hiking trails in the area. Conway National Park is a great place to hike through the rainforest and Conway State Forest is another nice spot.

Koh Phi Phi is a popular spot for hiking. With its dramatic cliffs, this area has beautiful, but challenging hikes that take you to stunning viewpoints. The dramatic photos that you see of the islands often require a hike, but the reward at the end is well worth it.

Is the Shopping Better in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Airlie Beach is a popular place for its shopping opportunities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its shopping areas.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Airlie Beach. Head to the town's main street for your typical souvenir shops and holiday stores.

Koh Phi Phi has some shopping areas for those that seek them out. Shopping is limited on the island but you'll find a few souvenir shops with trinkets that you can purchase. Because it's an island, you can expect prices to be high.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Families?

Airlie Beach is great for its kid-friendly activities. However, Koh Phi Phi is not a good destination for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Airlie Beach is very family-friendly. Kids will enjoy playing in the Airlie Beach Lagoon, visiting the markets, or hanging out at the local beaches or playgrounds. If you're hoping to swim in the ocean, be very aware of the season and the conditions.

Koh Phi Phi is not the most family-friendly destination. This island is on the smaller side and it has a remote tropical island atmosphere. The best side of the island for families is the north end where you'll find the quietest and most beautiful beaches. It's best to avoid the area around Tonsai which has the highest concentration of backpackers and day trippers.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Couples?

Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi both amazing destinations for a couple.

Airlie Beach is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. Couples often use this as a gateway to the stunning Whitsunday Islands. The dining scene is good and there are countless outdoor activities that you can enjoy together. There are also many different resorts in the area.

Koh Phi Phi makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. Stunning beaches, dramatic landscapes, excellent snorkeling and scuba diving, and a remote tropical atmosphere make this is a great place for couples and honeymooners. Head to the quieter north side of the island where you'll find the better resorts and less backpackers, as well as the best beaches.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Koh Phi Phi is very popular for backpackers. Also, Airlie Beach is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Koh Phi Phi is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Most people visit this island as a day trip, but for those who linger, they'll be rewarded with dramatic landscapes and beautiful beaches. Most backpackers hang out around Tonsai where things are the cheapest, but the quality can also be very poor.

Many backpackers visit Airlie Beach. If you're hoping to visit the Whitsunday Islands, then is a good place to base yourself as a backpacker. It has a decent selection of hostels and there are a number of restaurants and other dining options.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi offer nice public transit options.

Airlie Beach has a few public transit options. There's a public bus that runs from Proserpine to Shute Harbour. The main bus station is near the city center and the main beach.

Koh Phi Phi has some public transit options. There are water taxis and private boats that you can hire.

Is Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi a more walkable city?

Airlie Beach is great for its high level of walkability. Also, Koh Phi Phi is not as popular, but is still a nice island for its ease of walking around.

Airlie Beach is a very walkable town. The town itself is walkable, but the surrounding area is hilly and requires a car.

Koh Phi Phi is a somewhat walkable town. You can't walk all of the way around the island because of the cliffs, but you can walk from Tonsai to Long Beach.

For even more information, also check out Is Airlie Beach Worth Visiting? and Is Koh Phi Phi Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Koh Phi Phi or Airlie Beach?

How long in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Airlie Beach than in Koh Phi Phi. Usually, 4-7 days is a good amount of time for Airlie Beach, and 2-3 days is enough time in Koh Phi Phi.

Families should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Koh Phi Phi. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Airlie Beach, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Airlie Beach than Koh Phi Phi. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Airlie Beach that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Koh Phi Phi than Airlie Beach if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Koh Phi Phi.

One day in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the laid back town of Airlie Beach. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In Koh Phi Phi, many people enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling that this rustic island offers. Many travelers plan to spend time hiking while in the area. The length of your ideal trip is an individual decision. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the paradise destination of Airlie Beach. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. This town offers something for everyone. Since there is so much to do in the area, a weekend is probably not enough for all of it.

Koh Phi Phi is a fun place to experience. People often spend their time relaxing at one of the resorts. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. It will give you the chance to have new experiences. So, a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

Five days in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors enjoy the scuba diving and snorkeling and shopping when visiting the idyllic town of Airlie Beach. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. Many people spend five days here.If you enjoy all that's offered here, then five days is just the right amount of time to spend here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

You'll find nightlife and food around the remote destination of Koh Phi Phi. Hikers are also drawn to this area. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days.

A week in Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the destination of Airlie Beach. Anyone can find something fun to do here. This is a popular place to visit for one week. Travelers enjoy the resorts in the area as well. In one week, you should have a good grasp of this town.

Koh Phi Phi is a popular place to visit. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Airlie Beach is more expensive. And not only is Koh Phi Phi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Airlie Beach is in Pacific and Koh Phi Phi is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Koh Phi Phi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Phi Phi and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Airlie Beach would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Airlie Beach than you might in Koh Phi Phi.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Airlie Beach Expensive? and Is Koh Phi Phi Expensive?.

When is the best time to visit Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi?

Airlie Beach has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Koh Phi Phi experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi in the Summer?

The summer brings many poeple to Airlie Beach as well as Koh Phi Phi. The beaches, snorkeling, the hiking, and the family-friendly experiences are the main draw to Airlie Beach this time of year. The warm climate attracts visitors to Koh Phi Phi throughout the year.

In the summer, Airlie Beach is around the same temperature as Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the summer temperatures in Airlie Beach in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 28°C (82°F)in July.

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Airlie Beach this time of the year. In the summer, Airlie Beach often gets more sunshine than Koh Phi Phiin July. Airlie Beach gets 285 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 206 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Koh Phi Phi. Airlie Beach receives a lot of rain in the summer. Airlie Beach usually gets more rain in January than Koh Phi Phiin July. Airlie Beach gets 331 mm (13 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 mm (11.3 in) of rain this time of the year.

Should I visit Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi in the Autumn?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Airlie Beach are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. Many travelers come to Airlie Beach for the hiking trails, the shopping scene, and the natural beauty of the area. Plenty of visitors come to Koh Phi Phi because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.

In April, Airlie Beach is generally cooler than Koh Phi Phiin October. Daily temperatures in Airlie Beach average around 23°C (73°F), and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Airlie Beach. Airlie Beach usually receives more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during autumn. Airlie Beach gets 207 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 181 hours of full sun in the autumn.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Koh Phi Phi. It's quite rainy in Airlie Beach. In April, Airlie Beach usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phiin October. Airlie Beach gets 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 304 mm (12 in) of rain each month for the autumn. The dry season in Koh Phi Phi is December to March. The rainy season in Koh Phi Phi is May to November.

Should I visit Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi in the Winter?

Both Koh Phi Phi and Airlie Beach during the winter are popular places to visit. Many visitors come to Airlie Beach in the winter for the shopping scene and the cuisine. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Koh Phi Phi year-round.

Airlie Beach is much colder than Koh Phi Phi in the winter. The daily temperature in Airlie Beach averages around 16°C (62°F) in July, and Koh Phi Phi fluctuates around 28°C (82°F)in January.

In Koh Phi Phi, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Airlie Beach. In the winter, Airlie Beach often gets less sunshine than Koh Phi Phiin January. Airlie Beach gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Koh Phi Phi receives 287 hours of full sun.

Airlie Beach usually gets more rain in July than Koh Phi Phiin January. Airlie Beach gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 31 mm (1.2 in) of rain this time of the year. December to March is the dry season in Koh Phi Phi.

Should I visit Airlie Beach or Koh Phi Phi in the Spring?

The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Airlie Beach and Koh Phi Phi. Most visitors come to Airlie Beach for the beaches and the natural beauty during these months. Koh Phi Phi attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In the spring, Airlie Beach is cooler than Koh Phi Phi. Typically, the spring temperatures in Airlie Beach in October average around 23°C (73°F), and Koh Phi Phi averages at about 29°C (84°F)in April.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Koh Phi Phi this time of the year. In Airlie Beach, it's very sunny this time of the year. Airlie Beach usually receives more sunshine than Koh Phi Phi during spring. Airlie Beach gets 298 hours of sunny skies, while Koh Phi Phi receives 249 hours of full sun in the spring.

Koh Phi Phi receives a lot of rain in the spring. In October, Airlie Beach usually receives less rain than Koh Phi Phiin April. Airlie Beach gets 48 mm (1.9 in) of rain, while Koh Phi Phi receives 120 mm (4.7 in) of rain each month for the spring. Also, May to November is the rainy season in Koh Phi Phi.

Typical Weather for Koh Phi Phi and Airlie Beach