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REVIEW: Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa | Merlin Beach

Families Magazine – Editor, Janine and her family stayed as guests at the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa in Merlin Beach in March 2019.

When looking for an awesome Thailand family friendly hotel look no further than the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa at Merlin Beach. We stayed at this secluded beach getaway so we could report back to Australian families. Hopefully it will help you make an informed decision about booking this Thailand hotel for your next overseas family holiday.

We loved the resort not just for their stunning rooms, pools and friendly and helpful staff, but for their point of difference. They are eco-friendly and have invested in environmentally conscious facilities and education resources for guests. We think this is one of the best hotels in Phuket and we think you will too.

Read on to check out our article that will list the reasons why we think this is family resort in Phuket, Thailand stands apart from other resorts in the area.

Where is the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa?

Located directly on peaceful Tri-Trang beach, minutes away from the busy Patong Beach and Phuket Old Town the hotel has its own in house coral reef perfect for snorkeling. The hotel also offers multiple daily shuttle buses for free to and from Patong.

Address: 99 Muen-Ngoen Road Tri-Trang Beach, Patong, Phuket 83150, Thailand

Tel: +66 76 335 300

How to get to Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach

In ‘normal’ traffic, it takes about 1 hour and 12 minutes from the airport to get to the hotel. If you are landing in the evening, it will be quicker. The taxi (or a Grab) will cost around 1, 100 Thai Bart (~ $50 Australian dollars). Or you can book a transfer via the hotel from 1, 650 Thai Bart. (~ $73 Australian dollars).

Why is this the best family hotel in Phuket?

Set amongst forested mountains and lush, tropical landscaped gardens, and located on a beautiful secluded stretch of Tri-Trang Beach, the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa in Merlin Beach boasts its own reef, butterfly sanctuary and stylish accommodation to suit all family sizes .It’s not only stylish and well appointed, it is a family friendly oasis that values conservation and the environment and is only a stones throw from all the exciting Phuket attractions including:

  • Phi Phi Island
  • James Bond Island
  • Khai Island
  • Weekend Market Tour
  • Phuket Town Tours
  • Chalong Temple
  • Prompthep Cape
  • Big Buddha
  • Jungceylon Shopping Centre
  • Central Festival Shopping Centre

Rooms to suit all types of families

Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach

The hotel had a massive refurbishment in 2018. As such, its luxurious rooms became more stylish and well appointed.

We stayed in a ‘Balcony Pool View’ room…. it was hard sipping my wine on the balcony with that view (jokes: it was actually really easy!) 😉

Marriott Phuket review

To find a room to suit your family make-up click here.

Facilities for families at the Marriott Resort & Spa

The hotel has thought of families when creating the spaces around the hotel from the swimming pools to the restaurants to the kids club, here’s what we loved….

Three swimming pools

The hotel has three beautifully-appointed swimming pools – one with a small water slide – you can see it in my photo below. The other pool is on the other side of the buildings pictured here and are linked with a shallow ‘swimming channel’ that the kids loved going in between multiple times!

Restaurants & bars

With four restaurants and four bars, you will be spoilt for choice during your stay.

D.O.C.G. is a signature Italian restaurant, purposefully conveys the Dolce Vita lifestyle in all its senses. Products are imported directly from Italy. The restaurant serves a unique selection of enticing Italian wines and fine cured meats from reputable Salumeria.

Merchant Kitchen features an open-kitchen concept and made-to-order cooking. Indoor or outdoor seating at the lagoon pool is available.

Beach Grill a casual grill restaurant, is located next to the family poolside and beachside seats. The restaurant offers pizzas, sandwiches, world-class burgers and catch of the day. Daily happy hour is also available.

Thai Pantry creates an authentic Thai experience with national favorites from all corners of the kingdom. Tantalize your senses with an exquisite balance of local flavors and culinary craftsmanship.

Phuket Coffee Co. is a beachside coffee house, vibrant, modern and chic. Freshly baked artisanal breads and pastries, freshly roasted coffee and other delectable deli items are available.

The Lounge captures the guests’ imagination as they arrive at the hotel, offering handcrafted food & beverage options throughout the day and into the early hours.

Pool Bar is the best spot in the resort to enjoy refreshing drinks and the lagoon pool at the same time. Our team of bartenders will ensure to create a delightful experience. We loved this ‘swim up’ bar! #justsayin’

Wellness is a poolside wellness retreat in a rustic, peaceful environment surrounded by lush tropical foliage and a very mature “Pong Pong” tree.

Snorkling at the house reef and education centre

Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach

The jewel in the crown of this amazing Phuket hotel is their Reef Education Centre.

Master 11 absolutely loved snorkeling on the reef during high tide and learning about the fish and living coral from the friendly and helpful staff at the education centre. This is one of the hotels stand out unique features and a beautiful way to get up close and personal with the wildlife right on the hotel’s beach.

The hotel has collaborated with the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN), and Sea Bees Diving to work together to conserve and restore the unique reef ecosystem in front of the hotel. The “house reef” is one of the healthiest nearshore coral reefs in Phuket, with high coral cover and diversity, which recruits a range of fish species and other reef-dependent organisms. We saw a wide range of fish during our snorkeling time on the beach.

Low tide is the perfect time for younger visitors to explore the reef through daily beach and tide pool discovery walks with onsite staff. The receding water leaves shallow pools with sea cucumbers, crabs, fish and Moray eels, which kids can identify using slates from the centre.

Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach

Find out more about the Marriott’s house reef click here.

*Note that the reef is only accessible from November to April.

Merlin Butterfly Sanctuary at the Phuket Marriott

The Merlin Butterfly Sanctuary is the resort’s second conservation effort and aims to reverse the declining native butterfly population.

The sanctuary is another conservation effort in collaboration with the International Union of the Conservation of Nature (IUCN) that aims to increase the native butterfly population and educate visitors on their life cycles and classifications.

We visited one morning to see that the sanctuary is filled with host plants for caterpillars and nectar plants for butterflies to feed on. Minimal netting allows the butterflies to come and go freely, and an enclosed area serves as a breeding space.

The sanctuary can be explored independently or by joining a daily guided tour (with the onsite staff, leaving from the kids club at set times!).

Find out more about the Marriott’s butterfly conservation efforts here.

Phuket Marriott’s Kids Club

And as if that wasn’t enough of an incentive to book a stay at this lovely, eco-friendly, family-friendly hotel there’s more. Of course, they have a kids club!! Tired parents can have a small break from the kids and perhaps enjoy the swim up bar or a meal in one of the restaurants … without interruption…. oh the bliss!!

The Kids’ Club is located on the ground floor in front of the family and kids’ pool. It is open from 8am – 11pm and they accept babies in nappies. They also offer babysitters that costs THB 300 per child (4 years and above).

Guests can email mhrs.hktmb.guest.relations@marriotthotels.com if they have any questions or special requests.

In conclusion

We thoroughly enjoyed our stay at the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa at Merlin Beach. From the moment you walk into the reception area you feel like you are ‘home’. The staff are exceptionally friendly and helpful and the hotel feels inviting and comfortable. It’s close to all the external attractions, it’s FULL of internal activities and it’s perfect for families looking for a stylish stay in Phuket.

We loved it and we think you will too. If you stay, let us know your thoughts in comments below.

Photo of author

Janine Mergler

Janine Mergler is a veteran Queensland teacher, graduating from QUT with a BEd majoring in Social Sciences. After many years in the classroom, Janine moved on to academia. She has proudly trained new generations of teachers in her role as a lecturer at Queensland University of Technology Faculty of Education. She has also worked in the Queensland Government as an education specialist, developing education resources and delivering community awareness programs to help families conserve water. Currently she is the owner and editor of Families Magazine, a publication specifically targeted at parents who value a quality education for children.  Janine leads a team of professionals who write about family lifestyle, early childhood, schools and education information and family-friendly events.

1 thought on “REVIEW: Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa | Merlin Beach”

  1. Thank you for this really helpful review. So far I have found it really hard geting clear information from the hotel websites about the extent of kids clubs.
    Can you make a comment on how structrued the kids club is at the Marriott Resort Merlin Beach? Is there a cost? Can you drop your kids and run?! or do they need parental / baby sitter supervision?
    Thank you!

    Reply

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