Khaolak Merlin Resort

Our family loved our 4 nights at the Merlin Resort. The resort is set in a lush tropical forest and offers lovely rooms, several pools and a fabulous breakfast! Since our visit was in the rainy season, our weather was not perfect and the ocean was too rough for swimming. There are also big rocks along the beach so you may have to be cautious even with calmer seas. We were very pleased with the elephant trekking/bathing and James Bond Island excursions (and return transportation to the airport) booked through Mr. Moo down the beach to the right near Jo's Seafood and the lovely Peter Bar. The hotel restaurant is nice but we also enjoyed some of the places in the village a short walk away from the hotel. We also loved the cheap massages at the hotel and in the village!

Beautiful rooms, beautiful garden (it feels like being in a jungle) , amazing swimming pools and a long beach (the water is not great, but that's everywhere in Khao Lak). If you want a nice beach take a boat/snorkeling trip to the Similan Islands. It's a little far away from Khao Lak village, so it's perfect if you want to be quiet or enjoy some quality time with your family. For 200BHT/day you can rent a scooter anyway if you want to go back and forth to the village. Not so good if you are single and looking for party-time.

Khao Lak is where we are going, that is what we told everyone, and no one had ever heard of it. Why? we wondered? because it is the German place to go on holiday... That does not mean we didnt enjoy our time there, Merlin is about an hour away from the airport and an hour and a half away from Phuket Town if you plan your holiday for sitting on the beach and looking through a few souviner shops and maybe buying a tailored outfit then Khao lak is definately for you as there is not much else around but it is beautiful, there are elephants that you can ride (if you like that kind of thing) places to walk, and beaches to explore. Many trips are extremely expensive here such as trips to Phi Phi at 3000 Baht! - we decided to stick with the beach we had. The food at Merlin is boring, its ok if you want lunch after spending the day on a beach but the room service, bar and restaurant menu are exactly the same and the choice is limited. they were doing work to the hotel while we were there, they did the best to make sure this did not disrupt anything. my partner was stung by jelly fish - not the merlins fault of course - but be wary - also remember the sun is much much stronger than it feels. as I said earlier its a very German area, each morning the Thai staff greeting with Guttenmargen or however they spell good morning in Germany, and they all spoke very good German, their English is poor. although I cant complain too much - my Thai is not great either!

We went in February.This hotel i amazing! Very good location and service.You wont be wrong to choose Khao lak Merlin Resort.

At this price I was a bit dissapointed about the room as it did not have a view, and felt simple. However, the amenities were great, the bed good and the bathroom was super. The staff was polite and attentive and I could see a relax holiday in this resort just lying on the beds on the grass lane near the beach. With a location 2 km. from the center of khao Lak (over a mountain = 15 mins.) it is not central... but quiet. The buffet breakfast was a bit dissapointing - the highlight was that there was an "egg station"