This is a trip about escape, about getting as far away from everyday life as possible and just being. The Merlin Resort is set in such vibrant surroundings, whether you are seeking the thriving town of Patong, right on your doorstep, or the thick adventure-filled jungles…..right on your doorstep! The resort itself is a massive highlight of this trip. Such phenomenal design, not just in the comfort of your living space, but of the resort as a whole. Five pools may sound like overkill, but each has its own feel and function, from the tranquil waterfall pool to chilling on the island of the tropical pool. The fantastic spa is where traditional Thai massages and treatments are elevated into world-class relaxation techniques, ready to untie those knots!

While you could easily spend all of your time in the resort, we don’t want our customers coming all the way to Thailand and not experiencing some of the culture. On this trip, we have arranged a couple of outstanding excursions to allow you to meet some locals and learn some new skills. On the first trip, you are going to meet some of the retired locals, feed them and hear their fascinating stories. Not appealing? How about we tell you that these locals are elephants, rescued from working life and enjoying the luxury of Phuket Elephant Sanctuary? You will feed the elephants, get to know them and check out how they live naturally in their 30 acre sanctuary. This is one of the most ethical elephant experiences in the world! 

We also want you to take a little of Thailand home with you and what better way than to compliment your gastronomic flair in a home cooking class. You will be taken out to the first (and still the best) cookery school in Phuket. Your incredibly friendly chef, will guide you through cooking four traditional main dishes and one sumptuous dessert, showing you the best produce to use and the little details that make a good dish great. Then, once you are all done, you will sit down together to feast upon your home-cooked meals.

This trip is all about relaxation and we want to set the tone from the moment you touch down. As you head through arrivals, you will be met by your personal driver, who will grab your luggage and take you on the beautiful journey through Phuket to Patong. You will be taken right up to the Merlin Resort, in the southwestern corner of this heavenly island, where you will be met with welcome drinks to start your eight days in style. Your excursions will come and collect you from the hotel and once the trip has finished, you will be driven back to meet your onward flight.

Get lost in the extensive tropical gardens, sample a different pool experience every day, and dine under the stars in one of the heavenly restaurants. Merlin Patong has everything you need for a secluded stay on the paradise island of Phuket.  

• Free Wi-Fi
• Large rooms leading out to the gardens or pool
• Private ensuites with bath, rain shower and hairdryer
• Air Conditioning
• Complimentary bottled water
• 24-hour room service
• Onsite Spa & Wellness Centre
• 5 incredible swimming pools
• 6 bars, restaurants and cafes conveniently located onsite

Exclusions

• Return flights
• Visas
• Optional activities/tours, personal expenses/transfers not mentioned
• Travel Insurance
• Tips & gratuities

Age restrictions

• This stay is not restricted by age.

Occupancy

• The minimum number for this trip to operate is two people
• Double or twin share basis

Passport & visa requirements

• All visitors require a passport with a minimum validity of 6 months beyond your return travel date is required for all passengers (including children and infants)
• Visitors may require a visa to enter
• It is the visitor's responsibility to ensure they are holding the correct and current visa for the countries they are visiting
• If the visitor is a non-Australian passport holder, a valid re-entry visa may be required.
• Important: Please start arranging your visa at least 6-8 weeks prior to departure to account for any delays due to consulate operating hours and processing times

Travel Insurance

• We recommend you purchase travel insurance as soon as possible after purchasing this package

Health & vaccination

• As border restrictions for countries begin to ease, being fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will maximise the number of locations you can visit. So whilst you are not legally required to be vaccinated, and it’s also not a requirement to travel with us, it will limit some of the countries that you can visit and may make it harder to travel for the next 12-18 months.
• We highly recommend our travellers to look at the current travel restrictions of their destination, speak with a medical professional at least 30 days before departure or get in touch with our team for travel advice.
• Health care such as a doctor’s surgery, dentist and optometrists may not always be accessible on this tour
• It is advised that you ensure you have adequate health insurance cover as part of your travel insurance

Porterage

• Porterage will not always be available throughout this trip, if/when it is available a tip is recommended.

Tipping

• Tipping and gratuities are not included in the package and are at your own discretion

Fitness requirements

• Travellers should have a good level of physical fitness and mobility. They must be able to negotiate uneven surfaces and in some cases climb stairs

Dietary requirements

• Any dietary requirements must be received by DealsAway at least 30 days prior to your scheduled departure date. Failure to provide these details by this date may result in an inability to cater for your requirements
• In most cases DealsAway can cater for special dietary requirements but please note that on occasion, this may not be possible due to location, lack of availability of ingredients, and other extenuating circumstances. It is always advised to carry supplies with you

Transfers

• Return airport transfers are included on this trip

Documentation

• Any applicable pre-trip or tour documentation will be emailed to you prior to travelling. Should you have any queries regarding this please feel free to contact us directly via email at support@dealsaway.com 

DealsAway savings

• The value and comparative savings have been determined based on published rack rates and the value of inclusions. Please be advised that rack rates may not be reflective of actual rates being charged, dependent on the timing and manner of your booking and therefore are only indicative of the level of saving

Itinerary amendments & changes

• Occasionally our itineraries are updated prior to departure to incorporate improvements stemming from past travellers’ feedback as well as updates from our ground operators. Please note that while we operate successful tours in this region throughout the year, some changes may be necessary due to inclement weather, public holidays, common seasonal changes to timetables and transport routes, and unforeseen circumstances. This can happen with little notice so please be prepared for modifications to the route. The order and timing of included activities may also vary from time to time

Availability

• All DealsAway trips are available on a request-only basis and are subject to availability. Once booked you should receive a payment confirmation and receipt via email, followed by a booking confirmation normally within 72hrs of making a booking, sometimes this can take a little longer subject to supplier delay
• If you have not received your confirmation within 5 business days of payment confirmation please contact us immediately by email at support@dealsaway.com 
• In the event that your trip is unavailable on the dates you have chosen, we will contact you by telephone to advise the next available dates

Surcharges

• Any prices quoted exclude specific costs/measures which may be introduced at a later stage as a result of Government changes due to COVID-19 health and safety restrictions. DealsAway will inform its guests of these changes as soon as possible, these additional charges will be passed on by DealsAway to the guest

AMENDMENTS & CHANGES

Name change or corrections

• Name corrections may incur a fee
• Name changes are not permitted
• After bookings are fully paid, any amendment has to be requested in writing and incurs $69 fee per person from our supplier, plus any additional costs and administrative expenses incurred in arranging the amendment

Date changes

• Date changes are not permitted

Refunds

• Please refer to our booking conditions for all information on refunds