Patong Merlin Hotel

From the street, the Patong Merlin Hotel looks squeezed in among shops and local businesses, including a 7-Eleven and a laundry. But once inside, the feeling is tropical and lush, with clay-and-cream-colored Thai-style buildings set amid flower gardens and swaying coconut palms. The lobby, with light-wood-paneled ceilings, bright white beams, massive woven lampshades, and seating and pillows in vivid lime green and yellow, looks bright and modern. Beige woven chairs and gentle recessed lighting balance out a breezy aesthetic. Buffet meals are served at the Coconut Coffee Shop, where red cushions and lamps set off the dark-wood furniture. The resort, with its four gracefully curved pools with landscaped islands, waterfalls, and palm-shaded decks, attracts mainly couples and families.

Patong Merlin Hotel is conveniently located in the bustling center of Patong, with lots of other resorts, restaurants, shops, and small businesses lining the streets. Guests can walk to Patong Beach in about 10 minutes, exiting from the back of the property. The clubs and bars of Bangla Night Plaza, as well as the shops and restaurants of Jungceylon, are a 15- to 20-minute walk, or a five-minute drive from the hotel. Traveling farther, guests can visit temples in Old Town Phuket, about a 30-minute drive. Phuket International Airport is a 50-minute drive. 

The Patong Merlin offers a range of rooms and suites, including some with direct pool access and balconies. Decor is fairly consistent across the room categories -- a soothing palette of grays and browns, light-wood paneling, slick tile floors, and colorful throw pillows and bed runners predominate the spaces. Superior Rooms (standard rooms) have air-conditioning, TV with satellite channels and movies, minibars, tea- and coffee-making facilities, safes, and free Wi-Fi; some bathrooms have shower/tub combos, while others have showers only. Non-smoking rooms and rooms with pool views are available. Deluxe Pool Access Rooms offer direct entry to a pool, but some guests complain that they lack privacy. Deluxe Rooms, which have rain showerheads and private balconies, might be a better bet. Suites, with separate living and sleeping areas, suitable for families and large groups, are available.

The resort is family-friendly, with two kids' pools and a kids' club offering arts-and-crafts, and games. Parents can unwind at the spa, which has a hot tub, a beauty salon, and hydrotherapy and massage treatments. The fitness center is bright with lots of windows and and an array of cardio- and weight-training equipment. A pleasant wood-paneled and book-lined Internet room offers several computer stations. The Coconut Coffee Shop serves Asian and vegetarian dishes, in addition to a full breakfast buffet (for a fee); Seaside Garden offers themed, daily buffet dinners; and Cafe del Mar, with a terrace and panoramic Patong Beach views, is the place for Italian coffee and other casual fare. The Lobby Lounge hosts nightly entertainment, and the open-air Sunset Bar is great for cocktails. Meeting rooms come equipped with audiovisual equipment, and space for up to 360 people. The hotel offers Thai cooking classes. Free Wi-Fi and parking are also available.