Khaolak Merlin Resort

This is a nice hotel, the grounds are lovely and the staff are great, its not super fancy and it is quiet but it was exactly what we wanted - except for the weather which is not the hotels fault. We had a superior double room and we asked for ground floor. We had a lovely large room with a balcony looking over one of the quiet pools in a quadrangle which was only used by guests staying around that pool and then mainly late PM. There is lots of lush vegetation but due to the low key but effective mosquito controls we did not get bitten although we did take care and the hotel even provides insect repellent spray in the bathroom. Really perfect - only one bedside table but that was sorted as soon as I asked at reception. The hair dryer is slow but it does work unless you style hair then maybe take your own. The hotel is on a slope so even a ground floor room involves some walking down steps or slopes - often there are both. If you have very limited mobility I would not suggest here without checking with them first. The room was spotless and the maid very efficient. The quirky step down into bath which had an over shower worked well no wet floors. The grounds and the way the pools are arranged and the jungle feel make this hotel really special and different. There are night nature walks, and signs up showing different species of flora and fauna. A highlight was seeing a very large Monitor lizard, although we missed his swim in the main pool! We went AI and we found the food good and the choice good - you don't go hungry in fact we ate too much. Lunch at the beach was great as was the al la cart evening meal. The evening buffet at the Veranda was just as nice - both had a choice of European or Thai food, we enjoyed trying Thai food although we realise it had been slightly reduced in heat for European taste. We had no food issues at all. Eating out locally was also possible and very affordable. Drinks were also more than acceptable for AI, the wine was very drinkable and you could find a cocktail to your taste. Nice soft drink a can of Lemon soda. Lots of Sun beds and you could find sun or shade the sea was warm and the pools refreshing. The only rub for me was having booked last few days of November into early December we had really dull weather hardly any days of blue sky and quite a lot of rain. This was due to a storm elsewhere in the region. However I know it rained the same 2 week last year. It was very warm and humid but you still got a tan. It was just such a shame. I would not risk Thailand at that time of year again. It made the holiday a little subdued. The staff are all amazing, friendly and remember your orders, always smiling. I can't single anyone out really as they were all fab. However I do have to mention Ammy in the main bar - she is absolutely amazing - gliding round - but fast and smart. Taking orders, remembering what you had- asking if you want another drink. When she was on she could run the whole floor on her own and no one waited, I have literally never seen any one like her at work. Entertainment was very low key but we were not expecting much - there is no animation team. One of the evening singer/ guitarists on a couple of nights a week was particularly good. My only point to note is make sure that your room has 2 pairs of flip flops an 2 bathrobes. We only had one bathrobe, but as my husband had his own we did not ask for another one. On leaving they check the rooms and asked us to pay for the missing bathrobe. We explained we never had it and had to fill in a form saying why we would not pay. It was a shame to leave the hotel feeling they thought we had taken something. The receptionist reassured us but it left a slightly sour taste on what had been a very nice stay. Someone else had a similar thing with flip flops. Finally we don't smoke but we did notice that as Vapes are not allowed in more people were smoking, many of them would vape at home. Smoking is restricted but people do smoke at the beach bar and although there are smoke free rooms the area we were staying was not so some people smoked on balconies. I liked our room and position and some of the no smoking rooms were not so nicely situated so we were happy but it might be nice to have a no smoking policy in all rooms and balconies. My only other suggestion is that as so many of the local shops are very mass tourism, the hotel boutique could be more open and stock more. What they had was better quality but it was very limited a missed opportunity to show off some better Thai offerings. Read less

I found this hotel just OK, the room was a lovely size, comfy bed,but the room was to dark and damp,the maid cleaned everyday and left us water and pool towels, it has a hairdryer,robes,TV.Balcony had a nice view into the rainforest. Food wise Breakfast was awful cold buffet or eggs were either underdone or overdone, stuck to having toast most times, lunch was served to your table and everything was delicious, Dinner was either the buffet which I found terrible everything was either Luke warm or cold, so we stuck to table service which again was delicious, lots to choose from. For 2 days of my holiday I had a terrible upset stomach which I had to go to the chemist for tablets because it was that bad. We only ever ate in the hotel. Also I found round the swimming pool with the pool bar it had a smell of sewage, beach was lovely, beach bar closes at 8pm would have been nice to sit at the beach bar after dinner, the only other bar that was open was really quiet, out of our week there they did 2 days of entertainment, a fire show, and a thai dance show,the Staff at the merlin were fantastic,our trip is a multi centre so we did 1 week all_inclusive at the merlin I'm sorry but I wouldn't stay again. Read less

Superb hotel in a magical environment. I can’t praise this hotel and it’s wonderful staff more. From arrival to departure we had a fantastic holiday and the best service too. On arrival instead of standing up at reception to book us in they sat us on comfy seats, brought us a welcome drink and let us fill in the details. Nice touch! We booked the hotel because of its traditional Thai architecture and the all inclusive food package was predominantly Thai food which we love. Our room was on the top floor overlooking a beautiful pool and magnificent trees. Literally you feel like you’re in the middle of the rain forest. The room itself was very comfortable and spacious too and was kept spotlessly clean during our stay. The entrance to the hotel is spectacular and filled with charming details and animal statues. As you walk around the hotel public areas you can come across lizards, squirrels, unusual birds and other wildlife all of which adds to the magic. The hotel grounds are spacious with 4 magnificent pools, one having a swim up bar. The Garden Restaurant is beautifully laid out with very nice tables and chairs with views down to the sea. We ate there for breakfast and the choice and quality of the food outstanding. No problem getting service as you are greeted as you come in and immediately served with coffee or tea, unlike many other hotels who are slow on this detail. Down near the magnificent beach is the Veranda restaurant where we had lunch and very often in the evening too. We had evening meals at the Garden restaurant when it was a la carte. If fact very unusually for all inclusive all our lunch and evening meals were served a la carte. The Thai food was amazing and we couldn’t praise the kitchen staff more. In two weeks all the meals were of the same high quality. We went out one night to a Michelin recommended restaurant in Khao Lak and honestly the Merlin hotel food matched that quality. The service staff in the Veranda were always quick to serve and very attentive. We became fond of one of the trainee waitresses TanM who we always laughed and joked with. The Garden Bar is open until midnight although last drinks around 11pm I think. We have to say the superstar in the Garden Bar was Emmy, who maintained an unbelievably high service level throughout our stay. She’s attentive, remembers your drinks and is kind too. Whilst we highlight Emmy and TanM quite honestly we could highlight many more as all the staff were courteous and always smiling. The only thing where improvement could be made is to have more and varied evening entertainment especially as the hotel attracts more all inclusive guests in the future. We had a wonderful stay at the Merlin and we also asked them to quote for our next holiday in Thailand in 2026 Read less

I recently spent 10 days at Merlin Resort, and while I really wanted to love it, my overall experience left me with mixed feelings. There’s no denying the resort has great potential and shines in some areas, but unfortunately, there were also notable disappointments. The Positives: - Rooms: The rooms were pleasant, fairly modern, and comfortable with lots of storage space. The bed was excellent, and the bathrooms were spacious with both a shower and a bathtub. The minibar was stocked regularly, though only with soft drinks, and the addition of WiFi and a TV made the stay convenient. - Nature Setting: The hotel is beautifully situated in a natural environment, offering a peaceful atmosphere. It’s close to the beach and within walking distance of a few restaurants (3-4 options nearby). - Small Details: They made an effort to make my birthday special with a cake and decorations in my room—a thoughtful and much-appreciated touch. Neutral: - The lazy river type pools shown on TripAdvisor and website are limited to certain rooms. Not the impression they give when booking. However, there are two other pools accessible to all guests, which were nice and provided a good spot to relax. Lots of sun loungers and space for those wanting to soak up some sun. - Extremely Quiet: Everything around the resort closes quite early, by 11 PM at the latest, an issue for those who like late nights. - Gym facilities are adequate if that's your thing. Treadmills, ellipticals and weights. Tennis court available too. The Negatives: - Location: While the proximity to the beach was great, the resort is relatively far from any lively areas like Bang Niang Market. Taxis cost a minimum of 300 baht (~€8) each way, and this added up quickly. - Service Issues: This was the most significant letdown. Despite staying on an all-inclusive package, the service felt unwelcoming and rushed. - Staff asked for my room number when ordering more than 2 or 3 drinks, creating an uncomfortable feeling of being monitored. - At the bar, we noticed a distinct difference in treatment. Staff would regularly ask guests paying for drinks if they wanted refills, but they bypassed those of us on the all-inclusive package entirely. This created a clear divide and made us feel like second-class guests. - On one occasion, I was refused service at 10:30 PM in a restaurant that was supposed to close at 11. I was redirected to another that closed at 12, only to be told they’d stopped serving too. After escalating the issue to reception, they eventually agreed to serve us, but the experience was frustrating. - False Advertising of Opening Hours: One of the most disappointing aspects was that everything closed much earlier than advertised. The website and the welcome package promised services and facilities operating until later hours (e.g., restaurants open until 11 or 12), but in reality, most things wound down far earlier. This discrepancy was misleading and frustrating, especially as we had planned our evenings around the advertised times. Conclusion; Merlin Resort is a lovely hotel in many ways, with comfortable rooms and a serene setting, However, the lack of consistent service, the feeling of being unwelcome at times —particularly as an all-inclusive guest — and the misleading advertised hours detracted from what could have been an excellent stay. With a few adjustments this resort could easily live up to its 4-star rating. For now, it’s good, but not quite the exceptional experience it has the potential to be. Read less

We enjoyed our holiday here at The Merlin. Our room was a good size and kept immaculately clean. The grounds are beautiful and well maintained. The staff are very friendly and helpful. We opted for B&B and we are glad we did as there were plenty of restaurants close-by. There was a good choice at breakfast and the food was of high quality. The only gripe we had was the odd loose paving stone and the grassed area was quite uneven and overgrown in some places creating a trip hazard. I happened to go over on my ankle a few days before we returned home which required a visit to the local Medical Centre. Luckily, no broken bones, but badly damaged ligaments resulting in difficulty getting around the resort and requiring special assistance at the airport on our return journey. Hence, 4 rating rather than 5. This is a beautiful resort and we would not hesitate to recommend it and would definitely consider returning in the future. Read less