Patong Merlin Hotel

we booked this hotel as we had been told by friends how good it was, We were very lucky to be upgraded to pool access rooms, they are fantastic, we only paid around $300 extra about a 50% discount for six nights. The rooms are brand new and having pool access was great as we had two other couples with us, so we could just swim up to each others rooms, amazing.

Old hotell. Small rooms with a smell of fungus. Wery noisy in the morning. Even the claning-staff were screaming in the corridors. Old- fasioned internet- system. Slow, and expensive. Nice pools.good shower, big new towels. But far to expensive.

We stayed for 5 days and had an enjoyable time. Family hotel where the kids were welcome. Good atmosphere around the pool even if there were too many smokers .... All up however, we were disappointed with the weather in Phuket in the Low Season (should be even more discounted) as it rained at least once everyday, sometimes all day. At this hotel there wasn't a lot to do and rooms were a little dingy on rainy days....The 'Taxi' mafia should be better regulated as prices for trips and activities outside the hotel are off the scale compared to the rest of Thailand. Too many touts selling junk they bought at a quarter of the price in Bangkok. You cannot relax at the beach - you are in the way of the myriads of people trying to do business there... If the jet skiis, parasail rope, hair braiders, masseurs or general touts don't get you, then the customary pack of stray dogs certainly will. The smart traveller would avoid Phuket and definately avoid Patong. If you simply have to go there however and want to lounge by the pool (and you can predict the weather) then this isn't a bad hotel.