Merlin Beach Resort Hotel

Stayed here for 3 nights through work, and what a place it is!! Nice quietly located but only 10 mins from the nightlife, rooms, pools, food, staff everthing is soo great and people so friendly. have taken a leaflet and will be coming back next year for longer. Cannot be faulted. Gyles.

When we arrived the front didn't look that exiting. But we got a warm welcome at the lobby. The room was beautiful. All rooms have a balcony with view of a pool. Pools are great! Beach is just there foor the show, so if you like the beach then better take another hotel. The service was great and the food was fine in all restaurants. The location was great to us because we do not like the fuss of Patong. We cann't say anything negative about the hotel. Only the fact that the shuttle service to Patong consists of a truck with covered seats in the back. You can take a taxi to Patong for 150 bath (there are lined up in front of the hotel) and to the airport. We have been in the hotel for almost two weeks and only the fact that we have seen most of Phuket now is withholding us from going again.

Already booked our next vacation in this gorgeous hotel, even when the weather was bad the hotel livened things up no end...lots to do lots of entertainment etc....oh and try the cookery classes!! Pools. rooms, food, location all first class and as already said booked again for April 2006! See you then Merlin Beach.....

Merlin Beach Resort has an amazing poolside area with two huge swimming pools connected via a swim-thru. one has a poolside bar the other a bar actually in the water. Friendly staff spent 3 months after the Tsunami assisting with restoration and, given the resort has water on two sides and was badly hit, it is hard to imagine now. The beachfront masseuse will show you some very graphic photos taken on Boxing Day if you are the curious type. The Day Spa is very good, don't miss the chance to totally pamper yourself without stretching the holiday budget. I enjoyed three hours of total papmpering for AU$125. Cooking classes, vegetable carving & Thai Language classes are fun, inexpensive and a great way to interact with fellow guests. Try the in house Thai Restaurant, a favourite of mine as a result of the excellent daily specials. Oh, there is also a kids club, gym, coffee shop, table tennis, pool tables, resort store, tailor, tour desk, happy hour daily and a live band nightly in the Lobby Bar. Patong is only minutes away by Tuk Tuk (local taxi app. AU$5) and a myriad of beachfront restaurants, try live lobster from the tank BBQ'd with Garlic Butter at Patong Seafoods AU$33.00(lunchtime is best - not so busy), Barter at the extensive markets, there is a bar at the end of every row so sit down when your shopping is done and order a cold one from the friendly locals. Party animals will find plenty to do in Patong that will keep them entertained well into the wee hours. The beach is not so great at Merlin Beach Resort so take a Tuk Tuk to Karon and/or Kata Beach (or Patong although it is a lot busier) for a dip in the warm crystal waters of the Andaman Sea, ride a jet ski, parasail, or pile your friends onto the Banana Boat for a few laughs. Barter on the beach from your Banana Chair or simply laze under a beach umbrella with an icy cold beer or fresh coconut juice. Do not miss lunch on the beach at Mom Tri's Boathouse, the seafood kebabs are wonderful. Another must is the day trip by speedboat to Phi Phi Island, see Monkey Beach, snorkel over the colorful reefs, find yourself surrounded by reef fish when the boat crew throw food overboard (take an underwater camera or buy a disposable one) and enjoy a sumptous local buffet lunch on the beach. Fantasea is an amazing blend of Thai culture and illusion and well worth booking as is the one of the Safari tours that will have you riding an elephant,a water buffalo cart, watching the archaic way rubber tapping is done in Phuket, how elephants are trained, how monkeys are trained to collect coconuts and an insight into Thai cooking and the herbs that are used. Bangkok is a very inexpensive add on to Phuket and sensational for shopping. Merlin Beach esort ... I will be back.

Merlin was associated with Magic, and this hotel certinaly is Magic! From the moment you arrive your treated exceptionally well, staff are very curteous and attend to all your needs. Food is scrumptious, and i ate here everynight of my 7 day stay, only wishi t had been longer As everyone mentions, the pools are fantastic, and the swim up bar is a god send in the heat...!! Overall a very impressive hotel and will certainly be going back again next year.

Stayed for 2 weeeks in October, rooms are lovely, pool is fantastic, and the staff are so polite and helpful. The hote is located in a quiet area, nicely tucked away from Patong. Beach is average, although it does get a little rocky at low tide. Food is excellent with a great range to choose from, and all reasonably priced throughout. Would certainly reccomend this hotel, for a first timer to the seasoned traveller to Phuket.

This hotel is nestled in a lovely cove minutes from the busy town of Patong. The hotel is immaculate in every area, and there is no evidence whatsoever of the terrible events from almost 12 months ago... The staff, rooms, food, and atmosphere are truly exceptional, along with the AMAZING pool(s) !!! The beach is average but like so many have said on here before, who needs the beach when you have magnificent pools like these... Myself and my wife along with the 2 kids had probably the best holiday in years at this hotel, can't wait to go back again next year!! 10/10 Well done Merlin beach.

The Merlin Beach Resort is first class. The food, the staff, the rooms, everything was fantastic. We ate at the Thai restaurant and the Bhuket Cafe and food from both was lovely (though my wasteband has expandad an inch or so because of this!). Food that wasn't on the breakfast menu is no one's business, the choice was massive and it was all good quality and fresh. The hotel is far enough away from the hustle and bustle of Patong Beach but near enough to soak up the nightlife there if you want it. It's a fixed rate in a taxi, don't use the hotel taxi though as it is more than the taxi just at the bottom of the hotel driveway. As other reviews have stated, the beach by the hotel is awful but who cares when the pools and the rest of the hotel are so nice? Would definately return to this hotel.

Only 10 minutes from Patong, this hotel is one of the best we have stayed in for a long time. The swimming pool is fantastic, and so are the staff, who are very very firendly and cannot do enough for you. We stayed for 2 weeks, and even when we had the odd rain shower we still had lots to do in this great hotel. Rooms are well equipped, and we had a fantastic sea view, along with a pool view too!! Food is great, and if there is nothing that suits your taste then hop on the shuttle bus to Patong, where there is food galore!! Overall a well equipped hotel, that we thoroughly enjoyed.

Enjoyed a fabulous 8 day break. Staff, services, rooms, meals, organisation and tours far exceeded expectations. Nothing was too much trouble, the staff went out of their way to make sure we had a great holiday. They knew the weather conditions and the best day for travel to off shore islands, were very well informed of all the tours they offered, were extremely helpful as far as good shopping areas and the meals and presentation in the resort were on a par with any international restaurant. The massages offered in the resort were an out of this world experience. Absolutely nothing could be faulted. Only wish the airline pilot lost his way on the return flight home and flew back to Phuket! A thoroughly enjoyable holiday - 8 days was not long enough, we will definately be back!