Khao Lak Merlin Resort

Khaolak Merlin Resort is in a beautiful, quiet village with lovely local restaurants, shops and a waterfall nearby. Sadly, the resort itself felt like a very scenic self-service experiment. The response to my feedback clearly shows that they don't care approach to NOT take accountability and proves the observations and interaction experienced are spot on. Deflect is their speciality and unfortunately by responding in such a way does not make it professional. First, a small public-service announcement: don’t be dazzled by the five-star label on Booking.com or the dramatic “70% off” discount. At those prices, it still felt less like a bargain and more like paying premium rates for a resort that has misplaced both its upkeep and its hospitality. The discount may be 70%, but expectations should probably be discounted by about the same amount. Before arriving, we contacted the hotel to ask—only if available—about a possible upgrade for a special trip. Their response was warm and welcoming. On arrival at 10 pm, however, the welcome drinks and towels were placed on a table and abandoned with us. It set the tone nicely: welcome, now please manage yourselves. Check-in was another highlight. Most of our details were wrong, including nationality and place of residence. The staff blamed Booking.com, as though verifying a guest’s basic information was beyond the hotel’s jurisdiction. The check-in staff also debated our upgrade among themselves before telling us that children cannot stay in ground-floor pool rooms due to hotel policy. Fair enough—except nobody acknowledged the actual 8-year-old standing next to us. The policy became even more amusing when we realised there were no lifeguards, no pool attendants, and seemingly no one monitoring safety. Children were diving, crashing into each other on the rusted slide, and enjoying complete freedom. Safety policy: very strong in theory, mysteriously absent in practice. Our room was near what sounded like generators or laundry facilities, smelled of damp and mould, and had twin beds narrow enough to make turning over a sporting event. The landscaping felt uncared for, the recycled-water pond smelled unpleasantly like sewage, and trolleys appeared permanently parked outside rooms—perhaps they were also waiting for assistance. Over five days, we did not receive a single greeting from staff. Breakfast involved staff silently watching tables, clearing plates, and chatting among themselves. An egg-white omelette became a diplomatic negotiation. Asking whether Earl Grey tea was available resulted in a nod, a long pause, and finally: “No.” Housekeeping brought towels but did not empty our overflowing bin. When we mentioned the room smell, we were told to speak to reception—because the room apparently came with its own customer-service scavenger hunt. On the second-last day, I spoke to the front-desk manager about these issues. Her response was a nod and, “Thank you for the feedback, it helps us a lot.” A very polished way of saying absolutely nothing. The location has enormous potential and the nearby village is genuinely lovely. But do not come expecting hospitality, pool service, proactive staff, or anyone asking whether you want food or a drink. Come prepared to be a solo explorer in beautiful surroundings—with a hotel room attached. Low season should be when a hotel shines. Here, it felt more like everyone was on holiday at once.

We booked through Tui and had a very short transfer through Abu Dhabi with no issues We arrived late at night and accessed our rooms. Food was available until 11pm so we had dinner. We had a shared swim up pool which we shared with a family member it was lovely. The hotel has everything you need I cannot fault any of it. The surroundings were beautiful and the hotel group is eco and environmentally friendly with a focus on wildlife. We got to see many different animals Breakfast was a buffet and included everything you would expect. Lunch and dinner were al a carte with a fixed menu with some lovely Thai dishes. The staff were so friendly and helpful. Was a truly relaxing welcoming stay. The hotel has its own taxi office and just a short walk outside will take you to a small shopping area with a true Thai authentic feel. We went on a few excursions via Tui. Some were worth it especially the Muay Thai. We took a tuk tuk to the night market and went in to the tsunami museum. I recommend if you take on an excursion do your research especially around the ethics of elephant care. All in all a great week perfect for adults. It is monsoon season but don’t let that put you off it did not rain alot and when it did it reduced the humidity. It is very hot even in rainy season.

A hidden paradise resort surrounded by lush jungle, towering trees, waterfalls, and the peaceful sounds of nature. The room was beautiful and exactly as advertised on the booking platforms, with refreshing pool access that made the stay even more relaxing. What impressed me most was the resort’s strong commitment to sustainability and environmental conservation. During my stay, I discovered many initiatives that encourage guests to appreciate and understand the value of nature, including water management, wildlife conservation, and tree maintenance. The resort also turns its natural surroundings into meaningful guest experiences, such as bird watching and informative books about the biodiversity and wildlife found within the resort. A truly peaceful place to slow down, reconnect with nature, and learn how hospitality and sustainability can exist beautifully together. All the best, Kasemsak K.

The Resort was exactly how we thought it would be. Very much jungle effect on the beach. The rooms were very clean and tidy and they looked like tree houses. The noises at night from the wild life was certainly an eye opener. The staff were so respectful and accommodating. Very friendly people. Excellent value for money and most certainly would recommend this resort. The whole place had a rustic feel about it. The only negative for me was it is very steep and hilly and can be very slippery when it rains and no hand rails but other than that fantastic resort. Food was exceptional and we went all inclusive but personally I would go bed and breakfast next time as we ate out a lot and food and drinks are so cheap in Thailand. The food and drinks at the resort were fantastic though.

I previously wrote a review last year on our 1st vist to the Merlin resort and I feel it’s only fair I leave another one. As promised we returned as we fell in love with this place on our 1st vist and was eager to return asap So we did and spent another 15 days at this absolutely stunning resort and it didn’t disappoint. We relaxed from day 1 and what really hit home was the staff recognised us from last years vist and again the they were all amazing and not just a credit to the hotel but a credit to the people of Thailand. We don’t just consider this hotel as a place to stay we consider it our second home. We have been home 24 hours and are already planning to come back asap and can never see us spending another holiday anywhere else but here When done again Merlin