hi there.pretty sure on phuket over bali now.patong merlin being the winner. is sept or oct better weather as i love the sunny days by the pool.does anyone know the price for spirits in the hotel bar as i would like to figure out a budget for our 3 week holiday. we seem to accumulate quite a large bar tab from recent trips to bali..and singha or tiger beer????

In my experience both September and October months have equally unpredictable weather. That's just a feature of monsoon season here on Phuket Island. It's just you luck what percentage of sun, clouds and rain you have during you holiday period. For sure you will get all 3 types of weather.

Lucky you like the pool as for sure the sea will be quite rough on many days during September and October months.

No idea about price of beer at Patong Merlin. Suggest you go out the main road entrance and just opposite is Shakers bar & resturant. You'll save a lot of beer money. Suggest you try Chang beer. Cheapest in the minimakets (25 baht small bottle), but much the same price as Singa & Tiger in the bars.

Have been in both Sept & Oct and no problem with the weather.
Always stay at the Merlin in a pool view room { a must } you will love it.
Tiger beer for sure...Happy holiday's...Ronnie.

At the back of the Patong Merlin is a supermarket under Ocean Beach Beer is cheapest here or from the 7 /11 across the road in the front of the hotel. If you are a spirit drinker, bring your spirits in duty free. You are allowed a litre each. Coke / fanta Pepsi etc is 14 baht a can. Happy hour in the resort is buy one get one free cocktails 150 baht ++ . ++ means + 10% service charge + 7% VAT compunded to the price of the drink. Sunset bar on the beach is nett cocktails during happy hour but cost 100 baht each. Average cost of a beer is between 50 - 100 baht depends where you are drinking. Hope that helps.
Mike from Wellington