MELLOW TIME ON MERLIN BEACH

THERE’S SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE AT PHUKET MARRIOTT RESORT & SPA, MERLIN BEACH

While many resorts boast about having private beaches, i n reality, what they should be saying is “we’re really right next to the beach but we share it with our neighbouring hotels and possibly some random vendors too”. However, Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, can really back this claim up. And rightfully so too.

You see, the huge compound — and we mean HUGE (in Trump’s voice) — was formerly known as the Merlin Beach Resort and it sits adjacent to Tri Trang beach which itself is situated between two arms of lush hills, creating a truly private and secluded sandy stretch for guests. What makes it even more special than other beaches is its beautiful coral reef that awaits your exploration. But more on that later.

CHECKING IN

Merlin Beach Resort undertook a major aesthetic makeover during its transition into Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach. From the low-rise layout, you can tell the property has been around for years but all the guestrooms have now been given a new look for a more contemporary, lively and resort feel. There are eight accommodation options to choose from, with 414 guestrooms, ranging from deluxe, superior and premier to suite. We stayed in a Deluxe Garden Terrace and we must say that it packs all the comforts we need within its 43sqm. There are all the amenities you would expect from an upstanding hotel room but with a few extras for a bit more luxury. It makes up for its medium size with several mirror tricks so you won’t feel like you’re living in a shoe box. Moreover, you can enjoy some views of the beach lawn from your own balcony too.

COME ON IN, THE WATER’S FINE!

Water babies should be pleased to know that there are three big swimming pools available — a family pool with a kids’ pool and a water slide at Wing 1, a lagoon pool with a swimup bar between Wing 2 and 3 and a nam-tok pool with an artificial waterfall and two jacuzzis in Wing 4. Perhaps you should ask the hotel before booking about which wing your preferred room will be in so you’ll have easy access to all the facilities you prefer. And the good news is that all guests are welcome to take a dip in all swimming pools regardless of which wing they’re staying in. Should you want something special without breaking the bank, we suggest the Premier Pool Access where you can simply get into the pool right from your balcony.

Now to the bigger body of water — the ocean. While it may not be for serious swimming, there are cleared pock-

ets here and there in the shallow water where you can soak and wade through. When the tide is high enough, you can kayak, snorkel and even dive in the bay area. If you’re lucky, you’ll catch a glimpse of small fish too. Should you still want to burn more calories, there’s a fitness centre equipped with modern machines that you can use anytime during the day too.

FOOD FEST

The hotel offers quite the food fest, offering eight outlets, each of which have their own character too. If you want your brekkie with a bustling symphony and lagoon pool view, be my guest at the all-day dining Merchant Kitchen. But if you want your brekkie with a side of quiet, breeze and a beautiful beach view, then definitely opt for the Beach Grill we visited. While the venue offered a respectable variety of food, we were satisfied, but not impressed by the quality.

If you fancy a pre-dinner drink, may we suggest lounging on bean bags with a drink in hand as the sun is about to set. Then move on to D.O.C.G. or Thai Pantry for a proper dinner. The former serves fine Italian dishes with imported ingredients while the latter entices you with delicious Thai dishes (duh).

HAPPILY BUSY

While there is plenty to do already onsite at the hotel for adults and children, the hotel can arrange a tour to Chalong Bay Rum Distillery (B1,950 per person) with transportation and dinner provided. There, not only will you get to learn about the process of making rum out of sugar cane but you’ll also get to learn how to make yourself adult drinks in a few easy steps. Then you’ll be whisked back to the hotel for a dinner at Thai Pantry too. Want to live it up further? Then catch a shuttle service to Jungceylon mall in Patong.

We don’t have much to complain about the hotel really. One minor inconvenience is that its layout isn’t the most intuitive, meaning you may get lost while trying to go to the spa or heading to breakfast a couple of times. It’s like a “oh, I probably can go along this path and walk downstairs to get to the pool only to meet a dead end” kind of situation.

Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach is a very good option for pretty much anyone — families, snorkellers and divers. They even have facilities for business meetings and seminars too. The property currently offers various packages on its website, catering to families with kids, long-term vacationers, couples who want to learn to dive together or same-sex couples.

Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa is located on Muen-Ngoen Road, Tri-Trang Beach, Patong. For more info, go to goo. gl/5xBKtK and fb.com/phuketmarriottmerlinbeach.