Marriott Resort and Spa Merlin Beach – Phuket Paradise

I have had so many questions on where we stayed in Phuket recently and I have no hesitation in recommending the Marriott Resort and Spa Merlin Beach

They have all the bases covered for an active holiday, regardless of weather conditions.

Just how Marriott has managed to keep the personal touch in such large grounds is a mystery, yet also a welcome surprise.

Located on a secluded stretch of Tri-Tang Beach it’s close to the excitement of Patong close by, but the serene surroundings make it seem a world away.

Take advantage of the Phuket weather and relax by one of the three outdoor pools, while the kids  enjoy some time at the kids club with an all day activity program available from 8am to 8pm.

I can’t speak highly enough of all the staff, they were all fantastic and so very welcoming, the whole resort is just so beautifully set out and clean.

Of course you get all the little extras that 5 star offers like slippers and bathrobes and the cute towel animals on your bed every day but the main thing is being able to walk straight into the pool from your room. It is such a nice touch to wake up, open the curtains and step into the pool for an early swim before heading over to a huge breakfast at one of the two buffets available.

The private beach was right on our doorstep and if that’s not enough beach for you the hotel has a free bus that leaves 4 times a day that can drop you down to Patong for some local shopping and lots and lots of food plus more beach!

Below are a couple of real highlights that you can do with out even leaving the hotel.

Indulge At The Thai Pantry

Dinning at the Thai Pantry at the Marriott Resort and Spa Merlin Beach is a must do! You must order the chicken and pork satay, papaya salad and vegetable rolls topped off with some fresh mango juice. Good value for top class cooking in an elegant restaurant, service was so friendly and professional we ate here on the first night staying at the hotel and knew straight away that another visit would be needed before we left.

Learn To Cook

While in Phuket, there is no better place to learn to cook world-renowned Thai food, what an awesome experience it was to learn to cook three dishes, all of which were simple to make, and exploded with taste.

The Marriott Resort and Spa Merlin Beach classes provide a fascinating insight into Thai life, beliefs and culture through learning about its food, cooking and culinary myths, we learnt about the exotic herbs and spices used in everyday dishes.
Classes are part demonstration, part hands-on and are held in the Pantry restaurant at the Marriott Resort and Spa Merlin Beach a couple of times a week. We had a blast, the staff were amazing teachers and very patient with me (someone with pretty lousy cooking skills) but the best bit is getting to eat the lavish feast you have prepared at the end.

Visit The Butterflies

It is always fascinating to learn how nature works her magic turning the caterpillars into beautiful butterflies. If you want to see lots of butterflies, this is the place to come. There are also a large numbers of insects and other creepy crawlies and educational displays. We had an enjoyable hour getting hands on and learning from our guide Katy. Located in the heart of the Marriott Merlin Beach it’s available for in-house guests and made for a great educational experience for us and the kids.

It’s a great resort that I highly recommend for families with children, the best thing is the kids are asking when we’re going back and I’m ready to go anytime.

 

 

*This post was written in collaboration with Marriott but, as always, opinions are honest and my own.

 

 



Amazing Thailand – Our top 6 to do while in Phuket

Phuket guarantees an unfading vacation memory for parents and children, being one of the most family-friendly destinations with a wealth of attractions and activities for all ages to enjoy. This joins the wonderfully friendly people and culture which are present for the parents.

With so much to see and do in Phuket and so many great Thailand Deals available right now its the perfect time to take the family.

 

Here are just a few of the things that we got up too.

 

1. Visit A Temple

 

Wats – or Buddhist temples – are among the most important symbols of Thailand, partly because the majority of Thais are Buddhist and partly because they are so beautiful. In Phuket alone, there are 29 Buddhist temples spread around the island. They have been extending a warm welcome to visitors for over a century, locals come to pray and westerners come to learn something about Buddhism. The temples are open from seven in the morning till five in the afternoon and are a great way to get a feel for the country and mix with the locals. I would suggest visiting Wat Chalong, it’s the biggest and most important temple said to shelter relics from Budda plus it’s surrounded by local markets complete with roaming chickens, dogs and cats so there is something interesting for everyone to see at every turn.

2. Get Up Close With Some Monkeys

 

We just took a drive to see if we could find some local monkeys – The best place to start is “Monkey Hill” (real name is Khao To Sae) on the north side of Phuket Town – it’s the hill with the aerials / radio masts on top, easy to spot from much of the south of the island, being around 270m above sea level. There are lots of monkeys here, mostly they are found near the top of the hill. Local people come up to feed them, it’s not really a tourist attraction but we had a great time wandering around and checking out the monkey’s but I do suggest you don’t try and feed them yourself they did get quite aggressive with Piper when they found out she didn’t have any food for them, if you have small children I suggest even observing them from inside the safety of your own car.

Rang Hill

Also on the north side of Phuket Town, Rang Hill is quite popular as a viewpoint, we found a great place to eat with the locals and got some fresh air and exercise. We found monkeys a-plenty playing in the trees which was great to watch while we dined, again worth the visit and an experience we will never forget.

3. Check Out The Magnificent Beaches

 

Few islands can boast such an abundance of sandy beaches and clear waters as Phuket. The winding coastal roads along the west coast of this 540-square-km island offer stunning views and easy access to some of the world’s finest beaches.

Whether you want to sample the frenetic pace of Patong or find solitude on a remote stretch of sand in the north, Phuket’s beaches have it all for the sun seeker. Remember the sunscreen and bring bottled water for a fun day in the sun.

4. Visit The Protected Turtle Sanctuary

 

The Mai Khao Marine Turtle Foundation is actually part of the wider JW Marriott Resort in Phuket and sits on Mai Khao Beach. The foundation was started in order to protect the nesting turtles in the area as well as to promote clean seas and beaches on the island.

The foundation is located within the grounds of the JW Marriott Resort in Phuket, but you do not have to be a guest of the hotel in order to visit. There are information sessions held daily here from Monday to Friday at 11:00 to 12:00. At one of the sessions, you will be able to learn all about how the foundation started as well as hear the story of the turtle population in Phuket. The emphasis here is on educating the public on how to sustain the delicate ecosystems that the turtles live in and promote their protection. There is also a feeding session where you will get the chance to see some of the resident turtles who live at the foundation and who have disabilities which mean that they would not thrive in the wild. The sessions are free to hotel guests and the general public, although donations are appreciated and all proceeds go towards to wellbeing of the turtles.

5. Learn To Cook

 

While in Phuket, there is no better place to learn to cook world-renowned Thai food, what an awesome experience it was to learn to cook three dishes, all of which were simple to make, and exploded with taste.

The classes provide a fascinating insight into Thai life, beliefs and culture through learning about its food, cooking and culinary myths, we learnt about the exotic herbs and spices used in everyday dishes. Classes are part demonstration, part hands-on and are held all over Thailand in many different hotel and restaurants. We had a blast, the staff were amazing teachers and very patient with me (someone with pretty lousy cooking skills) but the best bit is getting to eat the lavish feast you have prepared at the end.

6. Visit The Day Spa

 

A visit to a Day Spa is a must while in Thailand it’s the perfect place in which to unwind. You will find them everywhere throughout Phuket set away from the crowds, the luxurious treatments they offer in a serene space give guests a sense of calm, tranquillity and rejuvenation. Enjoy a post flight pick me up or treat yourself to a signature treatment, you will find it all and I can class myself as an expert as I was sure to do my research on this one having three Thai massages in 7 days stay.

 

Have you been to Thailand? Or are ready to book? Book a Tour

We would love you to share your experiences with our readers, so please leave a comment below and share with other.

Any questions on our trip just let us know and we will be happy to help you out.

Love Kerry and Miss Piper xoxo