Merlin beach hotel - Patong/Phuket 4*

The last hotel we've stayed during our trip in Thailand was the 4* hotel Merlin beach Patong. 

We have been booked into this hotel on a last-minute base, as there were renevations going on in the Nap hotel (which we originally booked).

But we were really pleazed with this hotel, as it had a good location towards the city centre of Patong.

What I did not know, was that Patong is the most famous neighbourhood to go out. So it has been a good choise to stay here instead of Phuket.

When we first arrived, we were very impressed about all what was happening in the city centre of Patong. There are thousands of tourists, music, lights, cars, tuk-tuk's. Really totally opposite of where we came from (Krabi). 

But lucally when you arrive in this hotel/resort, it's very quiet and you dont hear anything from the noise of the city.

The disadvantage of this hotel is the fact there is no private beach and the beach is across a busy street. 

So you should only chose this resort if you're really looking for a hotel close to the 'going-out' area of Patong.

As I said before, Patong is really busy and definitely not a location to stay for a sun/ beach holiday. But more to enjoy the advantages of a living city with lots of restaurants/local restaurants/bars/...

And as you will now, sex tourism is here quiet important. Bangla Road is THE most popular street full of strip bars. A must see in Patong! 

Rooms:

We've been accomodated in the newest part of the building (deluxe room) with a view on one of the 4 Pools in this resort.

The rooms are clean and spacious.

You do have rooms with double beds, but we did not specifically asked for this.

Bathroom:

The bathroom is spacious and has an open feeling as there is glass with a view on the big mirror in the hall of the room. Lucally there is a possibility to blind these windows.

There is a bath with a view over the room and a rain shower. Soap, shampoo, bath foam and body lotion(with lemon - against the musquito's) is provided. 

There is a big wardrobe including free safe, slippers & bathrobe in the bathroom.

Pools + resort in general:

The domain is spacious being in the city centre (next to the hard rock café - to give you an idea on the map).

The garden is very green and beautiful. 

The 4 pools do have a pool bar each with service @ the pool including possibility to eat snacks. Prices for drinks are very affordable being in a hotel: 60BHT for softdrinks and only 80BHT for a fresh coconot. You really have to try one!

Breakfast:

The breakfast is broad, except for the breadchoise. This was very limited to me (only 1 kind + toastbroad). But for the rest you can really find a large offer. Also fresh eggs with bacon are provided by 2 cooks. There is even an automatic pancakes machine! 

Also fresh fruit and juices are provided.

General score of this 4* hotel/resort in a deluxe room: 8/10 

This because of the calmed you can find here in this busy city.

Excursion - James Bond Island/rock

We've booked the excursion in the city centre of Ao Nang (@the corner of the beach going towards the Ibis styles hotel) for 1150BHT per person including:

- pick up from the hotel

- transfer by mini van (1h30) to the pier

- transfer with longtail boat with a capacity of 25 persons towards the James Bond island.

- stop-over to go canoeing (20 min.) along the rocks & in the mangroves with a Thai who's rowing for you. (Really a great experience, but of course there are 50 canoes over there)

- visit to the James bond island

- lunch at a restaurant in the floating moslim city (I think there was 200 persons eating and food is very basic including water)

- visit of the declining budha (by car) and monkey cave (we were lucky to see the monkeys, as this is not always the case when they're over fed by the tons of other tourists passing by). 

- transfer back to the hotel (around 5pm back in the hotel)

Ibis styles Ao Nang (Krabi) 3*

This 3* hotel is a low budget hotel with several facilities like a swiming pool, massage service (only 300bht/ hour!),...

We've chosin the Ibis styles hotel in Ao Nang as a friend of mine recommandeer to pas by during our trip in Thailand and an overnight stay was adviced due to the distance from Khao Lac (2h30 drive - 2800BHT) - i do mention prices as there is no clear price policy for taxi's in Thailand & at least you have an idea and do not pay more.

We were very lucky to stay the night, as the environment is incredibly beautiful! 

HINT: we took a long tail boat for 8 persons at the beach (end of the street on the left handside you'll find a ticket office) for only 200BHT pp for a return ticket to the 'Railay beach'. This is one of the white sand beaches and really worth visiting if you want to enjoy the sun in a great environment! (Boats are going on and off every few minuten). 

This is way beter than the beach on Ao Nang along the road.

The Ibis styles hotel is brand new (opened 2014) and they have very clean and modern rooms. For the prices we've paid, we were very satisfied with the room. Lucally we had a room with a nieuw over the pool and the beautiful rocks! (Really worth asking for)

The bathroom is small but practical and has a hair dryer, tissues, soap & shampoo. 

So i would give a score of 9/10 on the rooms when it comes to facilities & cleanliness for a 3* hotel and this prices. BUT: as soon as the neighbours arrived, horror began. We could really hear them talking in their room as they were right next to you. So their is no isolation at all. Also doors in the hallway & people talking to each other woke us up. We could even hear the neighbours snorring all night long... So we did not sleep at all and this is priority nr 1 for a hotelroom.

So for this reason I give the rooms a 5/10!

Breakfast:

Breakfast is served from 6 to 10 am and is broad for a 3* hotel. There is even an 'egg station' were a cook prepares your omelette or scrambled egg.

There was 2 choices of bread with 3 kinds of jams and honey. Also toast and croissants. 

Fresh fruit, yoghurt and dried fruit.

3 kind of juices and water are available.

There is also the possibility to have lunch on the terrace near the pool.

Pool:

The pool is very clean surrounded by brand new sunbeds & sunscreens. Complimentary towels are provided in the room. 

The pool seems to be small for the amour of rooms, but I think most of the people don't stay in the hotel and book this hotel as a central point to go for an excursion. 

General advantages:

- there is a shuttle service provided to the beach every hour (limited to 8 pers - pre-registration is obliged)

- clean and modern rooms

- pool with massage facilities

Generaal disadvantages:

- hotel is not located in the centre nor close to the beach, but still on walking distance (10 min.)

- the walls are paper thin and no privacy is provided.

- the concierge is overcharging for all facilities he's offering! So you must even bargain with him...

HINT: do never accept prices as they're published, not even in hotels. There is always a higher price mentioned to give you the idea they will give you an extra reduction. But even then you can bargain. (e.g. We booked the James bond excursion incl canoeing for 1150BHT pp incl. hotelpick-up insteek of 1650BHT)

General score for this 3* hotel: 6/10 (because of the paper thin walls which causes a real disadvantage)

Visiting kao sok national parc

One of the must see's in Thailand is definitely the jungle. There are some options to do so, but the closest to khao lak is kao sok national parc.

We've booked this excursion with the same agencies in kao lak town and again had a good service.

We paid 1400BHT per person including:

- pick up from the hotel 

- transfer during the whole day to several attractions

- visit of a local market (20 min.)

- visit of the monkey cava (20 min.)

- visit of a waterfall (20 min.)

- canoe or bamboe trip on the river (60 min.)

- lunch at destination of the river trip.

- elephant tracking (40 min.)

This 1 day trip in the national parc is really a great experience. Although do not suspect to much, as i did from this 'jungle'. It is amazingly beautiful though, but i was really thinking of a jungle where the animale are everywhere, but unfortunately this was not the case. 

I'll comment the trip step by step:

1. The local market is nice to see when you're never seen one. But the small of the meat is terrible and it does not stimulate your appetite when you see the flies on it (meat is not covered nor cold).

But it's Nice to see all the different types of fruit and vegetables.

2. Unfortunately there was a lack of water for the waterfall, so this was not really worth visiting and they should not include this in the program in summer.

3. The monkey cave is not really a cave, but still nice to be that close with the monkeys. But if i can be critica's, i did not really have the impression they lived in the wild. Although they where not tightened, but it was really next to a big road and not in the woods at all.

4. We took the bamboe option to go on the river. This has the same start & end point (which was not the case with the canoes, so i'd recommand to take the canoe, as this is a longer trip along the river throug the forest).

It is a very nice experience, but a bit short. After 500m we stopped to go into the wood and the guy created a fire to make the most original coffee ever in a bamboo. We really enjoyed this (although i don't like coffee at all, but as he did such an effort, it was really tastefull)! Afterwards we could even keep our bamboo bekers. So in the end we where happy to have this unique experience, which is not included on the canoe trip.

So you'll have to chose between the longer trip in the canoe, or the shorter trip with great experience on the bamboo 😃. 

5. The lunch was served on the same location as we've started our bamboo trip. There are also several lodges for those people who book a 2 or 3-day trip in kao sok.

HINT: I'd recommand not to take one of these lodges, as they where really next to the road and if i would book such an experience, I'd really want to be in the middle of the jungle where you have the idee the sivilisation is far away. Which was not at all the case here.

We received 3 different small dishes and a papaya as desert. Tante was really good. Also drinks (water, cola or beer) are included.

5. The highlight of this excursion was definitely the elephant tracking. I know a lot of people will protest on this, but it is such a great experience and these elephants where really in a very healthy condition. They made the elephants wet before departure and they did not hit them hard during the ride throug the water (there was only little as it did not rain for days). We had one of the younger elephants (15 years) and he was very enthousiastic and well trained.

We could sit on the head and he danced when the people song. Even when we dropped our bottle of water, he was learned to pick it up and give it back.

Really such a great and unforgetable experience. 

In the end you can buy them bananas for 100BHT (for 3 baskets) and feed them.

Of course this is a must do to thank them and also a pleasure to see. 

As i said before, I can really recommand this trip. But keep in mind this is a touristic excursion and you don't really see the wildlive of the jungle. But still worth doing this, as we can't find it in Europe 😃.

Khao Lac Laguna resort 4*

This 4* resort is situated on a 10 min walk from a small village 'kukak pronounced'.

It's a medium large resort which is perfectly situated at one of the most beautiful beaches in the world (this where Khao Lak is famous for). 

We've booked a villa on the beach in bed & breakfast formula.

HINT: You can also stay in halfboard & all inclusive (supplement of 650 & 1250BHT per person/night to pay on the spot).

But I'd recommand you (as we've been adviced) to go out and enjoy one of the many restaurants. This way you enjoy the real local food & there are several clean & good restaurants with a wide range of food.

The villa  is very spacious and of course has an amazing view. 

The only remark i have to make is the fact there are sunbeds in front of the house. (Which is of course not in the discription of the brochures). But in the evening it's just amazing to be directly at the beach. 

What we've experienced last night is that the waves can be very loud 😃. But i hope the sea is going to calm down so we will have a peaceful night. (As I said, I will be honest on this blog and tell you also the negative points)

But I was very happy to be far away from the pound that was full of frogs. You can imagine the sound in the evening 😀..

Hint: Do not forget your protection against the mosquito. As you're very close to the woods (in fact you're surrounded by them). 

Room facilities:

- Beds are king size (180cm

- Large TV in the middle of the room (disadvantage: you can not see the sea from the bed)

- separate living room with coach/chairs.

- minibar (only included for all inclusive guests)

- complimentary water (2 bottles per day)

- safe (free of charge)

- wardrobes are rather small for a resort.

- docking station (Philips) for iPhone 5/6.

Bathroom facilities:

The villa's do have a bath with a view over the beach/sea and shower.

The shower is spacious and is a normal shower with a good water pressure.

There are several amenities like shampoo, soap, shaving kit,...

The hairdryer is not very strong and can not be used in the bathroom (as it has a different charger. But there is an extra mirror in the bedroom with light for make-up and to dry your hear.

There is electricity in the bathroom to shave. so this is not an issue, except for the fact there is not that much light in the evening. So you better do this during the day 😀.

The breakfast:

Breakfast is served in the oriental restaurant. There is a buffet which is of course incompatable with the Hilton buffet, but broad enough.

They serve

- fresh cut fruits

- 2 kind of broad + toast

- sunny side up eggs, noodles, bacon, sausages (eggs can be baked on demand too)

- jams/nutella (the real one 😃)

- donuts/ brioche 

- 2 kind of yoghurt

- wafles & pancakes

- orange/pineapple juice (water with extract)

General advantages of this resort:

- 5 min walk from a small village with lots of restaurants (half board is definitely no need here)

- spacious rooms (although the villa's - I can't judge the standard rooms) with a good airconditioning (individual)

- comfortable sunbeds with matras, pillow & lay-over on a beautiful beach.

More then enough seats, which avoids to reserve a bed.

- when you have a villa, you're really close to the beach with an extraordinary view.

- real coca-cola & other alcohols are served + wide range of smoothies

- good massages for reasonable prices (600BHT for 50 min) @ the pool or inside.

HINT: go for a walk along the beach, several massage facilities are offered for half the price.

General disadvantages:

- the pool was not clean enough (water had a green shine)

- no real shower facilities on the left side of the beach (except the tab to wash your feet)

- drinks do have european prices (80BHT for a coca cola) & there is no waiter on the beach (but they bring the drinks if you pas your command @ the bar)

Additioneel information:

A soft drink costs 80 baht, but there is happy hour (all drinks half the price) from 4pm till 5pm on a selection of drinks & cocktails. 

General score for a 4* hotel in B&B: 7,5/10

Visiting the Similan islands (excursion)

You can visit the Similan islands on a daily base by speed boat. 

I can definitely advice you to book this excursion locally via andaman sea son. This excursion costs us 1650BHT per person and includes:

- pick up @ hotel

- small breakfast @ the pier before departure (I'd recommand not to eat that shortly before departure, as the boat trip is very wild

- trip by speedboat to the Similan islands (new boat)

- masks for snorkling

- visit of 4 different islands (2 times going on the beach/ 2 times snorkling for 30 min.)

- lunchbuffet served on the 2nd island (Similan) - which is good quality for such an excursion

- drinks included on the boat (water, orange juice & coke (local one)

- cookies & fresh fruit is also served every time you get back on the boat.

You can book this excursion also via the hotel, but they'll charge you double the prices. And I can guarantee you the good quality as we've experienced ourselfs.

This trip is undiscribably beautiful. First we went snorkling close to one of the smallest islands and immediately swom next to a huge turtle. This was such a great experience. Of course there are plenty of beautiful fishes in all colors & shapes. (Here you're not allowed to go to the beach to not disturb the wildlive)

After this we went to a beach which you only saw in the movies: white sand, rocks & forest everywhere. There we had lunch and enjoyed the sun.

Transfer Bangkok - Phuket

Today we're flying to Phuket to stay in the Khao Lac Laguna resort (1h from the Phuket airport). 

The taxi from Bangkok to the airport costs 500BHT and takes normally about 45 min ( please be aware of the traffic jams in Bangkok - it took us already 30 min. @ 9am to be at 300m from the hotel..., but once on the highway it goes quicker).

We're flying with Nokair. This domestic low cost company offers you flights to several destinations in Thailand for less then 4000BHT.

Don Mueang airport!:

Please don't make the same mistake as we did and tell the taxi driver to go to the Don Mueang airport. We just asked him to go to the airport and apparently there are 2 airports... And he brought us to the internationaal one... As the Don Mueang airport is 40min. away from the international one, it really makes a huge difference. Thanks to the very fast taxi driver and the flexibility of Nokair we were just in time to catch the plane.

But it was a real adventure to do so. So I prefer not too. (Now I know why I do always plan to be in the airport 2h in advance 😃)

Nokair:

Nokair even offers you a free snack and water during the flight. Xtra food & drinks are also provided during the flight. A can of coca cola costs you only 50BHT.

The staff is very friendly and the aircraft seems pretty new. Of course there is not that much space on the airplane, but that's why it's low cost and it takes you only 1h15 to get from Bangkok to Phuket. 

The view just before landing was incredibly beautiful!

Once arrived in Phuket we took a taxi to Khao Lac. This costs us 2000BHT, but into my opinion they've charged us to much. (We booked a taxi in the airport and i regret we did not just walk out and call a taxi). 

I have been told they have to drive with the meter by law and this costs you less. But of course no taxi does... But even then it would have been cheaper. But it may help you to reduce costs wagenveer you're here.

Khao Lak is only 1h drive from Phuket airport.