In Reply to: phuket hotel posted by yanchepgirl on Thursday, 20. July 2006 at 11:19 Bali Time:
One is Patong Merlin which is in Patong... it gets a reasonably good report from the Aussie's and a great favourite of theirs.
The other is Merlin Beach Resort about a 5-10 min tut tut out of Patong and too far to walk and it's up and down the hills. We have stayed at the Merlin Beach Report and it's a fabulous resort (but the price is eeking up these days now it's well established) First we stayed in a deluxe room then we upgraded to a direct pool access which was nice, however, as nice as it was I was perfectly happy with the first room (but as I'd made a song and dance about upgrading, when they came back at me with a room I felt obliged to go LoL) The only down side for me was that I felt Merlin Beach was a little too far out. They do have a shuttle which doubles as a staff personal carrier but it's only at certain times of the day... and usually packed. There is no problem getting a tut tut back to the hotel. Check out the Bali and Thailand travel forum and Phuket . com they have lots of reports on Merlin Beach.
Have to agree with Carlos about the Busakorn Wing of the Holiday Inn in Patong. It's my favourite hotel and we are going back in October for our third visit... all this from a person who never ever returns to the same hotel twice :-)
Cheers Geri