40s+ 1st timers confused on where to stay

Please help, this is our 1st trip O/S and have chosen Phuket. Trip advisor has become my bible and i consult it on a weekly basis, love the forum for info. Where is the best place to stay a little away from the crowds but shopping accessible, have been looking at Merlin Beach resort. We would like 4+ accomodation has anyone any other recommendations.

40s+ 1st timers confused on where to stay

-:- Message from TripAdvisor staff -:-

This post has been removed at the author's request. At this time, posts on the TripAdvisor forums cannot be edited, but the author of a post may request that it be removed. This allows the author to repost the message if desired.

To review the TripAdvisor Forums Posting Guidelines, please follow this link: http://www.tripadvisor.com/pages/forums_posting_guidelines.html

Removed on: 12:56 am, October 18, 2009



40s+ 1st timers confused on where to stay

Merlin Beach Resort is a nice hotel but you cannot really walk anywhere from there so you are up for a tuk-tuk every time you want to go anywhere.

I would be more inclined to pick Karon or Kata as a location with the ability to still access the shops at Patong or Phuket City.

Have to agree with Red Dwarf Karon or Kata. We stopped Kata Palms in 2008 with our 30yr old son and we all found it to be in a great position for beach,shopping,resturants. We only went into Patong twice once in the day and once at night that was enough for us. The Kata Beach or the Katathani in Kata Noi are both right on the beach. Katathani has a few resurants and shops right outside or a tuk tuk over hill into Kata there is a wide choice of both. Hope this helps Beryl

I too would consider Karon or Kata.

Karon is a bit more livelier.

hi we are staying at the southern fried rice, kata rd karon, phuket, its claen very friendly, a lot cheaper than a 4 star hotel but a great all rounder, and if you have not booked anything yet you may struggle to find decent acc! we use the money we save to spend on other goodies! hope you enjoy your holiday, we will be in phuket for two weeks around christmas and new year till we decide where to go next, steve and paula

I am a Duangjitt fan, but it%26#39;s not for everyone. I don%26#39;t like crowds, but do like beautiful, spacious grounds and gigantic pools. Maybe that%26#39;s just me, as Duangjitt doesn%26#39;t rate in these forums (does ok in the hotel reviews). I consider Duangjitt a 4* stay if you are in a suite.

Three caveats: only stay there if you plan to stay in one of the better rooms. People don%26#39;t seem to be too happy with the standard rooms (though they looked ';ok'; to me);

the breakfasts aren%26#39;t great. They are not bad, just not as good as other places we stayed at;

it%26#39;s not a place with a great poolside atmosphere(in low season anyway). I put this down to how spread out the pool is, and to a general lack of rowdy Australians in the vicinity. Not always a bad thing... If you need any advice on type of rooms or which room number, just ask.

Best advice I can give you is to split your stay. First timers, I%26#39;d suggest Kata Beach and Patong Beach. At Kata Beach, we enjoyed our stay in a deluxe room at Kata Beach resort.