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While I was in Phuket, Patong Beach, on my last visit, May 2006, 2 friends of mine, couples, were in Patong beach for about a week at the same time as I.
I thought I would take a look at what 1800baht/night more than i was paying gets you.
1 couple from the UK & 1 from Australia + 2 kids. They were both staying at the Patong Merlin despite my trying to sell the virtues of the Sunhill to them. The couple with 2 kids where renting 2 rooms per night, one for them one for the kids so total 5600baht/night for them. The appartment suites at the Sunhill are large 2/3 room & very nice with excellent views, for a whole 1700baht/night low season.
Both were staying in rooms averaging 2800baht/night, I was staying in a room at 950baht/night. I had a larger more airy better maintained room, complete with kitchenette. The Patong Merlin rooms were shabby, smelt damp & didn't look well maintained. The room mini bar price was around 30% dearer than the Sunhill, a slightly better selection of drinks tho, but who drinks in any quantity from the room mini bar? ( the tourist horde !! ) The Sunhill provided complementry bottled water in the fridge, the Patong Merlin did not. My bed was also slightly bigger!! ( Bye the way, if you don't want the kitchenette, you can have a room without for about 780baht/night ) This is all low season rates at both hotels.
The bathrooms were virtually identical, except the Patong Merlin had a small shallow bath which you had to stand in to shower, like the Majestic Suites. However once again the Sunhill won, its bathroom was well maintained & looked in good condition, but no bath. The Patong Merlins bathroom looked shabby & well used. There were also a few extra trinkets in the bathroom condoments tray. Wow!!
I found the staff at the Patong Merlin a little jaded & not particually friendly, compared to the usual excellent Thai service & "happy smile" attitude. The staff at the Sunhill appear very happy & only too pleased to help you & nothing seems too much trouble for them. A credit to the hotel. Even the room maids at the Sunhill did not even flinch at my 1400-1500hrs revielle's, which must have been a nuisance too them, but not once did they disturb me. greeting with smiles & laughs at my ever changing companions. On my returns the room was always spic & span clean towels & CLEAN. My friends were constantly complaining about towels not being changed & indifference from the maids.
My biggest surprise came when we started having drinks in the Patong Merlin bars, where around 17% was added to each bill for government taxes & service charges!!. Hence my friends rarely left a tip. Probably why the staff are a little Jaded the hotel is pocketing there tips.No such deal at the Sunhill & all got there little tips.
Here is where the Patong Merlin scored, swimming pools, they are large, & fun for the kids, water falls, water jets etc. The swiming pool at the Sunhill is very small, but very private & appeared slighly cleaner than the Patong Merlins. Oh yes, I nearly forgot, & no tourist horde, what a result that is. Keep your big pools if they are full of the horde!! I found the privacy & quietness of the Sunhills very refreshing & relaxing & nice to loll around in with your companion, without the gawping masses & tourist horde, minding your business instead of there own.
Joiners fee at Patong Merlin was quoted over the reception counter to me as, 800baht/night, my joiners fee at the Sunhill 0baht/night.
So in summary if you like shabby small over priced rooms, jaded indifferent staff, 72hr overpriced laundry service, overpriced room mini bar, 17% added to your bar / restaurant bills, large cleanish swimming pools, the company of... tourist horde & gawping masses, joiners fee for your companions, nice large realestate, & large open space lobby, bars, public areas at nearly 3 times the price/room of the Sunhill, get yourself down to the Patong Merlin its a great place !! ( For the tourist horde & gawping masses )
Before you start I am not on commision! I just think the Sunhill is a great place & great price & its guest friendly. May the horde & gawpers stay where they are!!
http://www.sunhill-phuket.com/
I thought I would take a look at what 1800baht/night more than i was paying gets you.
1 couple from the UK & 1 from Australia + 2 kids. They were both staying at the Patong Merlin despite my trying to sell the virtues of the Sunhill to them. The couple with 2 kids where renting 2 rooms per night, one for them one for the kids so total 5600baht/night for them. The appartment suites at the Sunhill are large 2/3 room & very nice with excellent views, for a whole 1700baht/night low season.
Both were staying in rooms averaging 2800baht/night, I was staying in a room at 950baht/night. I had a larger more airy better maintained room, complete with kitchenette. The Patong Merlin rooms were shabby, smelt damp & didn't look well maintained. The room mini bar price was around 30% dearer than the Sunhill, a slightly better selection of drinks tho, but who drinks in any quantity from the room mini bar? ( the tourist horde !! ) The Sunhill provided complementry bottled water in the fridge, the Patong Merlin did not. My bed was also slightly bigger!! ( Bye the way, if you don't want the kitchenette, you can have a room without for about 780baht/night ) This is all low season rates at both hotels.
The bathrooms were virtually identical, except the Patong Merlin had a small shallow bath which you had to stand in to shower, like the Majestic Suites. However once again the Sunhill won, its bathroom was well maintained & looked in good condition, but no bath. The Patong Merlins bathroom looked shabby & well used. There were also a few extra trinkets in the bathroom condoments tray. Wow!!
I found the staff at the Patong Merlin a little jaded & not particually friendly, compared to the usual excellent Thai service & "happy smile" attitude. The staff at the Sunhill appear very happy & only too pleased to help you & nothing seems too much trouble for them. A credit to the hotel. Even the room maids at the Sunhill did not even flinch at my 1400-1500hrs revielle's, which must have been a nuisance too them, but not once did they disturb me. greeting with smiles & laughs at my ever changing companions. On my returns the room was always spic & span clean towels & CLEAN. My friends were constantly complaining about towels not being changed & indifference from the maids.
My biggest surprise came when we started having drinks in the Patong Merlin bars, where around 17% was added to each bill for government taxes & service charges!!. Hence my friends rarely left a tip. Probably why the staff are a little Jaded the hotel is pocketing there tips.No such deal at the Sunhill & all got there little tips.
Here is where the Patong Merlin scored, swimming pools, they are large, & fun for the kids, water falls, water jets etc. The swiming pool at the Sunhill is very small, but very private & appeared slighly cleaner than the Patong Merlins. Oh yes, I nearly forgot, & no tourist horde, what a result that is. Keep your big pools if they are full of the horde!! I found the privacy & quietness of the Sunhills very refreshing & relaxing & nice to loll around in with your companion, without the gawping masses & tourist horde, minding your business instead of there own.
Joiners fee at Patong Merlin was quoted over the reception counter to me as, 800baht/night, my joiners fee at the Sunhill 0baht/night.
So in summary if you like shabby small over priced rooms, jaded indifferent staff, 72hr overpriced laundry service, overpriced room mini bar, 17% added to your bar / restaurant bills, large cleanish swimming pools, the company of... tourist horde & gawping masses, joiners fee for your companions, nice large realestate, & large open space lobby, bars, public areas at nearly 3 times the price/room of the Sunhill, get yourself down to the Patong Merlin its a great place !! ( For the tourist horde & gawping masses )
Before you start I am not on commision! I just think the Sunhill is a great place & great price & its guest friendly. May the horde & gawpers stay where they are!!
http://www.sunhill-phuket.com/
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