Just got back from almost two weeks in patong staying at the Patong Merlin. The hotel was fantastic, and i didn't expect it to be so good. The buffett dinners are fantastic aswell as the breakfast. The pools are second to none, and the staff we so helpful and the were fantastic.

SHOPPING
I thought that the best shopping was directly behing the patong merlin at the Patong o top markets. I was never crowded and there were plenty of bargains.
priced are as follows;
t-shirts 150 baht
tank tops 100 baht
DVDs 80 baht
handbags 300-800 baht (depending on quality)
watches 450-800 baht (depending on quality)

RESTURANTS
One of the best resturants that we found, and a place where we spent a lot of time was at Shakers steakhouse, which is directly behind the patong merlin. Great, cheap food with the average meal never being over 350 baht.
Savouy Seafood was fantastic. The food, service and the whole package was A++++. For me the best resturant by a mile, Try the tiger prawns.
Franco Roma was a suprisingly nice place at the northern end of patong beach. The place can get noisy but the food is good and reasonably priced. Try the chicken breast stuffed with shrimp.

TOURS
We booked all our tour from a lovely lady who has a tour desk at the main entrance to the patong o top markets. She was so helpful and gave us childrens prices on most of the tours, which were a lot cheaoer than the prices people were paying at their resorts. Prices that we paid are as follows;
Phi Phi by speedboat 1300 baht pp
White water rafting/ATV/Elephant trek 1300 baht pp
John Grey starlight phang nga bay 2900 baht pp
Fantasea show with buffett 1300 baht pp

All of these tours are a must do for first timmers to Phuket. The john Grey tour was sensational, and the man himself made an appearance. Words cannot describe how good this was. The phi phi by speedboats was also exceptional. The snorkelling is great as hundreds of fish litterally eat out of your hands.

We also spent a few days at the beach getting massages, playing cricket and soccer, and went jet ski riding, which was fantastic. Also went to a cobra show, with was amazing also.

WEATHER
The whole time we were there it rained on 3 out of 11 days. Two of those days it rained for about 30 mins to 1 hour, while the other day it rained on and off thoughout the day. That day we spent white water rafting, and it therefore made the rapids more fun. I was expecting bad weather but this was never the case.

This was the most enjoyable trip I have ever been on, and having been to Bali before, i have to say the Phuket is 10 times better than bali. I will be going back soon.

Cheers,
Flippa

Hi Flippa,

Thanks for the great report!

We are coming to Patong Merlin on 31st of October and looking forward to it. I have one little question; how busy was it at the Merlin? Was it fully booked?

We certainly visit Patong o top markets and of course the Savour Seafood restaurant.

Bye,

Miranda & Paul
The Netherlands

Hi Miranda and Paul,

The Patong Merlin was never over crowded and it was never empty. It was probably at around 65% full, and considering that not all of the rooms have been fully fixed from the tsunami yet, thats pretty good. The was only a dozen or so rooms still to be finished, but don't worry as there is no sign of damage anywhere.
When you go, make sure you use a tuk tuk driver called Poung. He is situated directly at the front of the hotel, if front of the seven eleven. He is so helpful and friendly. When he saw us walk out of the hotel, he would litterally stand in the middle of the road and stop traffic so that we could cross the street.

Cheers,
Flippa

Hi Flippa,
What's the situation with the beach side entrance to the Patong Merlin ie restaurant and sunset bar. I arrive at hotel on Thursday and on a previous trip the sunset bar was a favorite spot before dinner.
Jeff

Great report Flippa, thanks, one quick question, were was the cobra show ? havn't seen this mentioned before ,
Cheers , Ray.

Thanks, that was great. our first time to Phuket in two weeks time after late destination change from Bali. Were wondering what tours to go on and prices in Phuket. Will follow your lead. Thanks again

HI Jeff.

The leelawadee resturant is up and running and rotates three themed buffets. The buffets are seafood and bbq, thai, and international. We tried the first two and they were fantastic. Cant remember how much it was, but I think it was around $10 Australian per person.

Im not sure what the sunset bar looked like before, but it is just a patio with some chairs there. Unfortunately the seaside garden resturant is not there any more, and is just an empty cement block, which is a bit of an eye sore, but if you did'nt know that it wasn't there before, you wouldn't know that it has been demolished.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Sorry, I forgot to log on before.

Hi Ray, the cobra show was near chalong bar, which is on the southern end of phuket island. Our tuk tuk driven took us on a tour of the island and we just stopped in there. It was magnificent and i have some good photos if you want to see. I also had a photo while holding a python.

Cheers,
Flippa

Hi annon,

if you go on the Phi Phi by speedboat, make sure you go with a company that goes to Khai Nok Island. I recommend the Andaman Ranger, as you have 2 free hours to relax at this island aswell as all the Phi Phi islands. Khai Nok island is one of the most beautiful islands ive been to, and it only takes 10 minutes to walk the whole way around it.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Hi Flippa,
Great trip report, did you go to Phuket Town for any shopping and also to Central Festival Shopping Complex.
Any interesting places to see on your Island Tour?
Cheers,
Stewie.

Hi Flippa,

Thanks for your JBR (just back report). I was wanting to know how do I find the Patong o Top markets? We will be staying at the Holiday inn. Could you please give me directions I can't wait to go! Thanks

Cheers

Nati

Thanks Flippa, I would love to see the photos
my email is rayw1@iinet.net.au

O-Top market is immediatly behind the holiday inn, right opposite Soi Holiday Inn which is the street to the south side/edge of the Holiday Inn.

Hi Nati,
as Alex said its directly behind the Holiday Inn, so you cant miss it. Theres nothing in any of the other markets that you can't find there, and as I said the lady (I forgot her name) working at the tour desk about 30 metres north of the main entrance is very helpful, and gives excellent prices for your tours.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Hi Stewie,

I did go to the Central Festival Shopping Complex, but was a little dissapointed. Its OK if you want to buy riggy didge stuff, but I preferred the markets in Patong personally.

Our Tuk Tuk driver took us to all of the beaches on the west coast, and also to some good view points of beaches and islands, which were great for photos. We went to a cobra show near Chalong bay which I highly recommend.We also went to a few temples and phuket town for a bit, but we were on limited time, so we didnt do a whole lot. Most taxis/tuk tuks charge around 800 baht, but because we became good friend with our tuk tuk driver, and because we had already given him a lot of business before, he charged us even less for the whole day. We ended up given him 1000 baht anyway, shouted him to lunch and bought him some lottery tickets, because his service was second to none. He even took the next day off because he made so much money, which is very rare.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Hi Flippa, Thanks for report. My hubby & I are staying at Patong Merlin in Jan for 1st time so it's been really helpful. About the Rafting/ATV/Elephant Trek. I was thinking of doing this trip. Can you give me more info. How long was the rafting and how experienced did you have to be for the ATV? Do you think this would be the best way to do the rafting trip rather than the other rafting trips that include the elephant safari.
Lozza

Hi Lozza,

We did our tour with Island Safari. It included a 90 minute drive to the rapids, about a 40 minute journey down the rapids, 45 minutes riding elephants through a forest, a 20 minute elephant show, lunch, and only about 10 minutes worth of ATV riding. The ATV was very tame (didnt even wear helmets!!!!), and you don't have to be experienced at all to go rafting, as you have 2 guides in your raft with you. There were quite a few young teenagers doing it also. The rafting didn't seem dangerous at all, and no rafts ever got over turned. It was so much fun that we recommended it to some people that we met while in Phuket. A few days later we saw them again, and the had been rafting. They told us that a number of rafts got overturned (including theirs), and an Australian girl actually drowned. I didnt think that this was possible, especially when the rapids were very fast when we went as it was raining heavily all morning, but I guess there is always a risk when you go white water rafting.

I hope this hasn't put you off, as it would be wrong for me to not tell you, but I enjoyed the rafting a lot, and there are a number of people that go on these tours.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Thanks for that, I've been rafting in Bali and it was fairly tame but a great way to see the countryside and a fun day out so am looking forward to the same thing in Phuket. I've asked about rafting in Jan in a previous forum and I don't think it should be too dangerous. Did you have to pay extra for the ATV? Also on previous post someone said Phi Phi was still a mess so I was reconsidering doing that tour but you have reassured me that it sounds like a good day. Did your trip there include the monkey beach? or am I thinking of a different direction.
Lozza

Hi Lozza,

The atv was included, we did the 2 in 1 tour, which you can check out on the web site that I gave you.
The tour to Phi Phi was fantastic, and because most of the island is so high above sea level, only the resorts got destroyed, however you dont see a lot of the damage. Ourtour included maya bay, monkey bay, viking cave, phi ley cave, snorkling at reefs, lunch on phi phi don island (this was the only part that really got damaged that we saw), and Khai Nok island which is a must.

The advertised price was 2800 baht, but we got it for 1600.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Hi Ray, There isa Cobra farm accross from the Green Man pub which i must say has a great ginger beer shandy. Also you must try the Panang beef at the Kata Minta its the best. regards Maureen

Thanks Alex,

Have pasted info into my holiday notes.

Cheers

Nati

Hi Flippa,


Thanks you for your info. So I should not miss the markets if I walk out of the hotel at the street exit.

Thank you once again

Cheers

Nati

The main entrance Rat-u-tit side, turn right and it's about 100m (you should see it Ok)

Hi Nati,

Yes as Alex said again, its directly across rat-u-thit road, but the main entrance is about 100 metres south. They have just opened a new currency exchange at the main entrance, which is convenient.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Thanks Maureen, we planned to have a look at the Green man last time but never got round to it , will make sure this time Panang beef..ok will give that one a try, sounds like your having a ball over there , but how did you manage to get a chest cold when it's so hot
cheers, ray.

Hi Flippa

How long is the whole phi phi tour from pickup to depositing you at the hotel? And how long is the journey to phi phi by speed boat?

Thanks! I'm heading to phuket, first time end oct, getting very excited

Hi Cindy,
First of all you get picked up at 9 and its about a 30 minute ride by van to the marina, then about a 50 minute speed boat ride to the first stop in Phi Phi. This can be longer though if the sea is rough. You will get on and off the speed boat and different destinations, but will also view some pretty amazing things from inside the boat, so make sure you get a good spot on the boat. Some of the boats have an open air compartment out the front that only fits around 4 people. If your quick enough make sure you get this spot. Lunch is around 12-1, and usually on phi phi don island, which is where most of the destruction occurred, but a lot of the repairs have already been done (the destruction is visable though). After lunch you are on and off the speed boats again, but most tours allow 2 hours or so free time on and island near phi phi. We went with the Andaman Ranger tour company, and we spent 2 hours relaxing and snorkelling at Khai Nok island, which is a paradise. The fish actually eat out of your hand. After that you return to the marina around 3-4, then have another 30 minute van ride back to your hotel.

Enjoy your trip, and if you want to see photos just let me know.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Thanks Flippa, I'll pm my email address, pics would be nice if they're not too big.

Hi Cindy,
just wondering if the photos worked.

Cheers,
Flippa.

Thanks flippa for the pics, the water looks so clear!

Hi Flippa

Glad to see you had a great time at the Patong Merlin. We cannot wait to go back next year (geez that sounds so far away...) Did you meet Sak at all? He is one of the hotel drivers near reception, great guy he would have a chat to me every morning whilst we were having breakfast as I would get a coffee than go sit near the fish ponds and have a smoke(bad habit). Now I cant wait to go.

Roger

Hi ROger,

No I didnt meet him, but the tuk tuk drivers out the front of the 711 are great. We would buy them all a beer at night time and have a chat with them. Met a lot of other frienly people at the hotel that were great fun, and even played a few table tennis matches against them. The people are just one of the things that makes Phuket such a good holiday destination.

Cheers,
Flippa.