Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, An Inner West Mum’s review

I Stayed 5 Nights at the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, with kids — Here’s What I Really Thought

Let’s be honest: travelling with kids is often less “holiday” and more “relocation with chores in a new time zone.” So, when we booked 5 nights at the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, I had my hopes cautiously high. Beachfront luxury with kid-friendly facilities? Count me in.

Here’s what went down — the bliss, the chaos, and whether it’s worth the trek from the Inner West!

🌴 First Impressions: Family-Ready Luxe

From the moment we stepped into the open-air lobby, sticky and sleep-deprived from an epic 18 hour (door-to-door) journey (two flights, one 3 hour stopover in Singapore, a 90 minute car ride to the resort) we were met with smiles, icy welcome drinks, and the kind of efficient check-in you pray for when your children are on the brink of a meltdown.

The grounds are lush, green and sprawling. Three pools, direct beach access, multiple restaurants and a kids’ club had us thinking: maybe we will get to relax.

🏝 The Location: Beautiful but slightly remote

Merlin Beach itself is postcard-perfect: clear water, soft sand, and coral reef just offshore for casual snorkelling. It feels private and safe — no jet skis buzzing past, no street hawkers every five steps.

BUT: it’s about 10–15 minutes from Patong, so if you’re hoping for nightly markets or easy wander-outs for breakfast or dinner, be prepared to jump in a taxi or shuttle (the hotel runs one, but it’s not free in the evening and only runs at scheduled times).

For families, that might be a plus — it’s peaceful, clean and self-contained. For others, it may feel a bit disconnected.

🛏 The Rooms: Spacious, Functional, Family-Approved 

We booked a single room with two double beds. The room was modern, clean and well air-conditioned (bless), with comfy beds and blackout curtains that helped trick our body clocks into adjusting (Sydney is 3 hours of Phuket).

The bathrooms were big enough for bath time battles, and the housekeeping staff were lovely. There’s a stocked mini fridge, but no microwave, which made warming leftovers slightly awkward.

🌟 Tip: Request a ground floor pool-access room if you want to avoid long walks with tired kids. We scored one and it made all the difference – our 9-year-old can swim independently so rather than pulling her out of the pool when we needed a break, we sat on our front porch reading and giving her the thumbs up every few minutes.

🍜 Food & Dining: Tasty but pricey

There are multiple restaurants on-site — from Thai to Italian to a buffet breakfast that could feed a rugby team.

The breakfast was a clear highlight: made-to-order eggs, tropical fresh fruit (think mangoes, pineapple, passionfruit and more), ever-changing Asian options, freshly steamed dim-sums, and a whole pancake station kept everyone happy. We often ate lunch by the pool (the prawn pad Thai was a standout), but dinner felt steep by Thailand standards.

✅ Pro: They cater really well to kids — high chairs, kids’ menus, and plenty of western options.

⛔ Con: It’s resort pricing, so expect to pay more than you would at a local restaurant in town.

👶🏼 Kids Club & Activities: Surprisingly Excellent

The Kids Club (for ages 4–12) is bright, clean and air-conditioned, with a rotating schedule of crafts, games, and movie nights. Our 9-year-old was hesitant at first but ended up begging to go back each day.

There’s also a daily schedule of family activities (see more on this below) — from Thai dancing to muay thai classes — and the poolside staff run the occasional water polo game or dance-off (not just for kids… we may have joined in).

Parents, take note: The kids club is FREE — and runs several hours a day. Yes, you read that right. There are paid add-ons but there are enough free activities to keep kids entertained for a whole day.

🎪 Activities Galore: Something for Everyone

The resort absolutely delivers on entertainment. Movies on the lawn were a family favourite (pack mozzie spray!), and the kids foam party in the family pool was pure chaos in the best way — my daughter was shrieking with laughter.

The butterfly sanctuary was an unexpected highlight. It’s small but beautifully maintained, and watching butterflies emerge from cocoons had the kids mesmerised. About 15 minutes of pure wonder that doesn’t cost extra.

There’s also yoga by the beach, cooking classes, beach volleyball, Thai dancing, and muay thai classes. We barely scratched the surface.

🌊 The Pools: Three Flavours of Chill

There’s a main lagoon-style pool with a swim-up bar (aka, paradise), a family pool with water slide (where we spent the most of our time), and a quiet adult pool near the spa complete with floating bean bags that could easily accommodate two. Something for everyone.

The family pool gets lively — think inflatable toys and Marco Polo — but never felt too chaotic. And there were always towels available (a small win, but a crucial one), not to mention lounge chairs.

Poolside service is friendly but slow — just be prepared to wait a little for that cocktail.

🏖 Merlin Beach: Quiet Perfection (With a Catch)

The 200-metre stretch of Merlin Beach is gorgeous — soft white sand, crystal-clear water, and blissfully peaceful. No jet skis buzzing past your ears, no aggressive vendors every five steps. The kids could actually play without us being on constant safety alert.

Here’s the thing though: the beach is surrounded by coral reefs, which makes for incredible snorkelling but also means the entry can be rocky and potentially painful.

Reef shoes are absolutely essential — but here’s the great part, the resort loans them for free! Sizes can be limited (especially for bigger feet), so I’d still recommend packing your own just in case.

Location reality check: It’s about 15 minutes from Patong, so if you want bustling markets and street food adventures, you’ll need to taxi it. For families craving peace and safety, this isolation is actually perfect. There shuttle bus is free and runs at set times during the day, in the evening there’s a fee but not more than what you’d pay

🚧 A Few Cons (Because No Place Is Perfect)

• Wi-Fi is patchy in some parts of the resort — especially around the beach area (this could be a good thing if you have a device addicted teen)
• Food and drinks are resort-priced (expensive by local standards), so budget accordingly or venture out for meals. There’s a convenience store that’s a short taxi ride away but no other stores within walking distance
• No microwave in the rooms (would’ve been a game-changer with younger kids)
• The 200m beach is exclusive to the resort but, as mentioned above, dotted with coral reefs, you’ll need water shoes to safely wade. The resort loans these out free of charge but bring your own as sizes can be patchy
• Mosquitoes are real — bring repellent, especially around dusk.

🏝️ The Verdict: Would I Go Back?

Absolutely.

For a stress-free family holiday where you don’t need to leave the resort to unwind, the Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, delivers. It’s clean, welcoming, and strikes a great balance between grown-up luxury and kid-friendly convenience.

It’s not for party-goers or culture-seekers — but if your dream involves cocktails by the pool while the kids live their best lives at the kids club? This might just be your family’s new go-to.

Editor’s note: This review is completely independent — it’s not sponsored, and the writer visited Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa, Merlin Beach, at her own expense. All opinions are genuine and based on personal experience.

About Author

Francesca Millena

Writer, foodie and ideas-sponge, Francesca grew up in the Inner West and loves writing about all things IW related from playgrounds and podcasts, restaurants and retail, bubble tea and basketball courts. Mum to an active child, she also knows a thing or two about keeping a little one entertained on a rainy day.

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