Should travellers stay on Phi Phi or just visit?
Stay on Phi Phi when you actively want its scenery, boat access and social energy after the day-trippers leave. Visit briefly or choose another base when quiet mornings, easy space and low-key evenings matter more.
Full answer
Phi Phi has the kind of scenery that explains the crowds, but the famous version also brings day boats, nightlife, narrow lanes, tour schedules and prices shaped by demand.
Staying makes sense when you want the island after the day-trippers leave, enjoy social energy or are using it as part of a deliberate Andaman route. A shorter visit makes more sense when the beach ideal is quiet mornings, easy meals and room to breathe.
Do not allocate several nights simply because the name feels compulsory. Treat Phi Phi as a specific style of island travel rather than the default answer to Thailand's beach question.
Stay nearby in Krabi, Phuket or another Andaman base and visit selectively when logistics matter most. Choose Koh Lanta or a quieter island when slower evenings and a less compressed beach stay are the priority.