Khaolak Merlin Resort — a beachfront garden resort made for families in Khao Lak
Khao Lak is a far quieter coast than Phuket or Krabi — made for travellers who want to escape the crowds and actually fall asleep to the waves. Khaolak Merlin Resort is a large 4-star resort on about 190m of Khao Lak beach, set in more than 15 acres of tropical gardens. Its real draw is the four pools, with a waterslide and a separate kids' pool, which make it a firm favourite with families. From approx. THB 2,500/night. Scored 8.9 from 1,036 Booking.com reviews.
Khaolak Merlin Resort has been open since 2003 and had a major renovation in 2020. It's a large resort of around 200 rooms, spread across more than 15 acres of tropical gardens on the southern stretch of Khao Lak beach in Lam Kaen. The thing guests mention most is how lush and shaded the gardens are — tall trees throughout, so much so that many say it feels like staying in the middle of a jungle, waking up to birdsong instead of traffic.
There's a wide spread of room types, starting with the Superior at 37 sqm and the Deluxe at 44 sqm, both with wood furniture and a balcony onto the gardens. Step up and you get the Pool Access rooms you can walk straight into the pool from your terrace (Garden Pool Access at 39 sqm, Waterfall Pool Access at 46 sqm). For bigger families there's the One Bedroom Pool Villa (131 sqm) and the Two Bedroom Pool Villa (168 sqm) with a private pool. Most guests praise how clean the rooms are and how spacious they feel for the price.
"We came with two kids — they spent the whole day on the waterslide and wouldn't get out, while we sipped coffee in the shade. For a family trip to Khao Lak this place just works."
The heart of the place is its four pools, with a waterslide and a separate kids' pool — the main reason families with young children pick it. Beyond that there's a private beach of around 190m, a spa, a tennis court, a gym, and two restaurants: Tropical Garden serves all day, including the breakfast buffet, while Veranda focuses on seafood and grills in the evening. Because the grounds are so large, the resort never feels crowded despite the number of rooms.
The honest trade-offs are around dining choice and some service points. A fair number of reviews note that food options inside the resort are limited and the beachfront restaurant isn't as strong as it could be, and pool-bar service can be slow at busy times. Because it's a big resort on wide grounds, some rooms are a fair walk from the beach and lobby. The location is southern Khao Lak, about 50 minutes from Phuket Airport (HKT) — peaceful, but with few restaurants and shops outside the resort.
In short, Khaolak Merlin Resort is best for families and anyone after a beachfront resort in leafy gardens at an affordable price, rather than a small design-led boutique. Rates start from approx. THB 2,500/night for a Superior in low season, rising to THB 6,000–8,000+ for Pool Access rooms and Pool Villas in high season. It scores 8.9 from 1,036 Booking.com reviews and 4.5 on TripAdvisor (ranked #11 of 85 hotels in Khao Lak) — numbers that reflect a long, steady popularity.
A tip from reading the reviews: if you're travelling with kids, ask for a room near the waterslide pool or in the Pool Access cluster — it's far more convenient. If you want to be close to the sea, request a beach-side zone when you book. In high season (November–April), book at least a month ahead and lock in a free-cancellation rate first.
Summary from Booking & Agoda
- ✓ Lush, spacious tropical gardens with a quiet, jungle-like feel
- ✓ Several pools with a waterslide and a kids' pool — great for families
- ✓ On a long stretch of Khao Lak beach, easy to walk to the sea
- ✓ Good value for a 4-star beachfront resort
- ! Limited dining choice inside the resort; the beach restaurant isn't a standout
- ! Pool-bar service can be slow at busy times
- ! Large resort — some rooms are a fair walk from the beach and lobby
- ✓ Clean rooms with wood furniture and a balcony onto the gardens
- ✓ Spacious grounds that never feel crowded despite the room count
- ✓ Staff look after guests well — good for families with kids
- ✓ Quiet location, genuinely restful
- ! Few restaurants and shops outside the resort — you need a car
- ! About 50 minutes from Phuket Airport — arrange a transfer
- ! Some room views don't match expectations — check when you book
- 💡If you want a small, design-led boutique with high privacy — this is a large family resort that gets lively around the pools → consider Casa de la Flora or The Sarojin in this roundup instead.
- 💡If you plan to eat every meal at the resort — restaurant choice is limited and the beach restaurant isn't a standout → plan to eat out in Khao Lak sometimes, or rent a car.
- 💡If you're travelling with young kids and want convenience — the grounds are wide and some rooms are far from the pools and beach → request a room near the waterslide pool or the Pool Access cluster when you book.