KimJapan's Thailand Trip Report
Jan 12th, 2006, 07:53 PM
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Yes, I think you'd better book in advance. It is usually full. Don't book through an agent, either. I've heard that sometimes people get put into a tour with another company without their knowledge until they actually get to the dock and find that they aren't on the John Gray boat. Book directly. Just call them, Ling I think is her name, in the reservations office, is great. Got the number, too...076- 254-505 or 076 254 506 or 076 254 507. They confirm your pickup time from your hotel by fax to your hotel the day before your trip.
Jan 13th, 2006, 01:17 AM
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Hi Kim,
We spoke about the Merlin before our trips...and now I know why I couldn't find you at the Merlin! I thought you were Japanese, and for some reason got the impression that you had a son. Now I know exactly who you are...Teaghan was the star of the New Year's Eve games!
Anyway, we had the opposite impression of the Merlin. We absolutely loved it! We had a great experience with the staff.
As for Julitaxi, we had the same problem. I booked them for a morning in Bangkok and they never showed up. We tried to their cell and nobody answered.
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and Teaghan was okay!
Michelle
We spoke about the Merlin before our trips...and now I know why I couldn't find you at the Merlin! I thought you were Japanese, and for some reason got the impression that you had a son. Now I know exactly who you are...Teaghan was the star of the New Year's Eve games!
Anyway, we had the opposite impression of the Merlin. We absolutely loved it! We had a great experience with the staff.
As for Julitaxi, we had the same problem. I booked them for a morning in Bangkok and they never showed up. We tried to their cell and nobody answered.
Anyway, I'm glad you enjoyed your trip and Teaghan was okay!
Michelle
Jan 13th, 2006, 02:20 AM
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Yes, Teaghan loved the New Year's games. And another person thought we were Japanese too. Maybe we are turning Japanese?!
I'm really glad you liked the Merlin...especially after I recommended it. I really think that my impression of the Merlin has been colored by a 5 minute interaction with the front desk clerk when I first inquired about getting to see a doctor. And, we usually stay in much smaller places with a much more personal feel. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Merlin...room was very nice, plenty big enough, clean and tastefully decorated. The pools were beautiful, just as we had expected. The beach was a highlight. After having had a look around some of the other places around Khao Lak, I think the Merlin was certainly the best choice for the money in terms of location and facilities.
I didn't include about this bit before, but it took us 45 minutes to check out because they just couldn't get the bill right. We had been given discounts for food and spa, and they were only applied on some of the charges, not all of them...which was noticed when I reviewed the bill just before paying. Though they could see exactly what I was talking about, they just couldn't manage to adjust the bill without calling in 2 more people to help, then it took 2 more tries to actually get it close to right, at which time I gave up and just paid. The general manager was very, very nice and very responsive, though unavailable at the time we checked out.
There is one more little thing about the check out that really bugs me...When we got to Phuket airport, one hour later, we reallized we had left a plastic bag on the sofa in the lobby with our swimsuits in it...by the time we had actually paid we had begun to worry about being on time for our flight and really rushed out of there without paying enough attention, our mistake. We called, but they said they had never seen it, checked housekeeping, no...transport desk, no. We had the concierge from the Conrad call for us from Bangkok, and he told us that they had thrown it out as garbage. My feeling is that if guests had checked out recently, like an hour ago, and there were only 20 rooms occupied at the time anyway (that's how many rooms were on the breakfast list that day, I asked out of curiousity), a bag found in the lobby right after a guest's departure with swim suits in it should be held onto for at least a little while, and should be familiar to at least one person an hour later. We all had another swimsuit to use, but it is just that little detail that annoys me. We've left things behind in hotels before and in every other case have gotten them back without any trouble at all.
Julietaxi...yeah, I liked the idea of prebooking our airport transfer, and her price was good, but...turns out we found it just as easy to get a car from the limo counter, and the price was the same. If the line outside is short, I'd get a meter taxi, but it was always long, and I'm not patient
I'm really glad you liked the Merlin...especially after I recommended it. I really think that my impression of the Merlin has been colored by a 5 minute interaction with the front desk clerk when I first inquired about getting to see a doctor. And, we usually stay in much smaller places with a much more personal feel. There was absolutely nothing wrong with the Merlin...room was very nice, plenty big enough, clean and tastefully decorated. The pools were beautiful, just as we had expected. The beach was a highlight. After having had a look around some of the other places around Khao Lak, I think the Merlin was certainly the best choice for the money in terms of location and facilities.
I didn't include about this bit before, but it took us 45 minutes to check out because they just couldn't get the bill right. We had been given discounts for food and spa, and they were only applied on some of the charges, not all of them...which was noticed when I reviewed the bill just before paying. Though they could see exactly what I was talking about, they just couldn't manage to adjust the bill without calling in 2 more people to help, then it took 2 more tries to actually get it close to right, at which time I gave up and just paid. The general manager was very, very nice and very responsive, though unavailable at the time we checked out.
There is one more little thing about the check out that really bugs me...When we got to Phuket airport, one hour later, we reallized we had left a plastic bag on the sofa in the lobby with our swimsuits in it...by the time we had actually paid we had begun to worry about being on time for our flight and really rushed out of there without paying enough attention, our mistake. We called, but they said they had never seen it, checked housekeeping, no...transport desk, no. We had the concierge from the Conrad call for us from Bangkok, and he told us that they had thrown it out as garbage. My feeling is that if guests had checked out recently, like an hour ago, and there were only 20 rooms occupied at the time anyway (that's how many rooms were on the breakfast list that day, I asked out of curiousity), a bag found in the lobby right after a guest's departure with swim suits in it should be held onto for at least a little while, and should be familiar to at least one person an hour later. We all had another swimsuit to use, but it is just that little detail that annoys me. We've left things behind in hotels before and in every other case have gotten them back without any trouble at all.
Julietaxi...yeah, I liked the idea of prebooking our airport transfer, and her price was good, but...turns out we found it just as easy to get a car from the limo counter, and the price was the same. If the line outside is short, I'd get a meter taxi, but it was always long, and I'm not patient
Jan 13th, 2006, 03:15 AM
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Kim, Thanks for sharing your interesting family story. As for Julie Taxi -- had hoped to use her to go to Prasart Museum in BKK, but now I think I'll have to make alternative arrangements. She sounds very unreliable and I don't want to take the chance.
Jan 14th, 2006, 11:57 AM
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Kim, great report as always! Poor Teaghan! So scary when such a healthy kid gets sick and so sick. When we went to the elephant camp we saw people in the water with the elephants and I noted the dung (lots of it) in the water. I am certain that is what made T sick. Thank God for antibiotics. When Sarah (then age 2.5) got chicken pox in Chiang Mai the hotel was more than helpful and it makes a difference. I would never return to a hotel that was not to a sick kid. In CM they called a Thai doctor who came promptly (it was not a holiday). He diagnosed and treated plus found she had ear infection. He came back that evening and the next day. The charge was much, much more but we were delighted that she was being treated. I know how stressful it must have been for you going from doctor to clinic to hospital.
Glad the rest of your trip was grand. Look at www.brunsberg.com to see our trip to Brazil. If Brazil was not so far from Japan you would love it. Now they are talking about Victoria Falls for the holiday week in Feb. May not happen, but good idea. We, too, have India at the top of our list. Look at the current India reports here. FYI...your name fooled me also.
Glad the rest of your trip was grand. Look at www.brunsberg.com to see our trip to Brazil. If Brazil was not so far from Japan you would love it. Now they are talking about Victoria Falls for the holiday week in Feb. May not happen, but good idea. We, too, have India at the top of our list. Look at the current India reports here. FYI...your name fooled me also.
Feb 16th, 2006, 04:54 AM
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Thank you so much for the informative review!
We had pretty much decided on the Merlin, based on size, price, etc and we are now booking for next Christmas/New Year. There is a group of 16 of us (3 families) so we hope it will be as good as youmade it sound.
One question - what sort of prices were the restaurants in the Merlin? Is it worth eating in at all? Also, would like to know about their spa...?
Thanks once again.
Gary
We had pretty much decided on the Merlin, based on size, price, etc and we are now booking for next Christmas/New Year. There is a group of 16 of us (3 families) so we hope it will be as good as youmade it sound.
One question - what sort of prices were the restaurants in the Merlin? Is it worth eating in at all? Also, would like to know about their spa...?
Thanks once again.
Gary
Feb 16th, 2006, 01:05 PM
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The restaurant prices at the Merlin were about double/triple the prices in town. The food was fine...not great, but fine. We ate diinner there a couple of times and as breakfast was included in the rate we had daily breakfast.
The spa was not cheap, but the service was fine. We were given a 20% discount for spa, so that helped. I only had massage, both Thai and maybe Swedish (with oil)...they were not outstanding massages, but certainly relaxing enough and very convenient.
The spa was not cheap, but the service was fine. We were given a 20% discount for spa, so that helped. I only had massage, both Thai and maybe Swedish (with oil)...they were not outstanding massages, but certainly relaxing enough and very convenient.
Feb 18th, 2006, 12:07 AM
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I liked Khao Lak very much. Even the Merlin was fine, but we are just small hotel kind of people I think, and the Merlin is a big hotel kind of place with a few staff with attitude we didn't care for.
The beach in front of the Merlin and to the south was lovely...stunning even, and completely empty of people and development.
The beach at the main town area Bang Niang I think it's called, is just as picturesque, but there is a lot of construction (not so bad considering what happened last year) but also, what looks to be sewer pipes draining directly into the sea (and smells just like it).
The area north by the Sarojin and Le Meridien beach is lovely and clean.
Never been to Phuket, so I can't compare to the beaches there, sorry.
The beach in front of the Merlin and to the south was lovely...stunning even, and completely empty of people and development.
The beach at the main town area Bang Niang I think it's called, is just as picturesque, but there is a lot of construction (not so bad considering what happened last year) but also, what looks to be sewer pipes draining directly into the sea (and smells just like it).
The area north by the Sarojin and Le Meridien beach is lovely and clean.
Never been to Phuket, so I can't compare to the beaches there, sorry.
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