Phuket...Marriot on a shoestring.

[Nawty]

In Phuket we stayed at the Marriot vacation club north of the airport.

A friend has one of these time share villa deals here and he invited me to take part in the presentation. The resort sent me invitation emails and what the deal was all about.

Now being timeshare I had conjured up all the horror stories, like being pestered day in and day out while there, the hard sell for hours at some presentation, sales staff following you around the hotel all day, by the pool, sitting down with you at breakfast….you get the picture.

The deal was, 3 nights for free, absolutely no charge and all you were obliged to do was sit through a 90 minute sales spiel.

The accommodation offered was a seaview 2 bedroom villa.

Well, we decided to give it a go as we were traveling back from Malaysia anyway and easy to stop in Pooket on the return leg.

I would have to say that the deal was very good, absolutely no pressure, the presentation went for 70 minutes by a pregnant girl who I think actually wanted to get it over and done with quick smart and then not another word about it the whole trip. All I had to do was call on the morning of departure and tell her ….’thanks but no thanks’….

The resort was nice, it is new, so not established yet, but the beach is great, pool is great and the other older section of the main marriot resort is basically next door and you can use all of those facilities and they are great, the pools are great, restaurants great and the style of the hotel is really nice.

I would say I was impressed by the beach up there, but it is at least 45 minutes away from anywhere, so not so convenient if you want to be hanging around the touristy traps every night.

There were 2 guys staying here, young arab/lebo looking guys and they had 3 girls with them. These girls were the typical bg slagdogs and they did not look happy to be staying there. I think this was the case of 3 girls knowing when they are somewhere they do not belong…..I mean they were ugly, seriously and they looked like they had the shits the whole time there.

Anyways, here be some piccies……

Here is the resort by night and day…



This is the pond between the reception and restaurants at the main Marriot complex, looking out to a storm coming in over the ocean…



I tried fooling around with my new camera, trying to get on of those mystical wave shots where the spray is coming off of the waves and the rest of it is blurred etc….best I could do I am afraid….



This was the entrance from the beach of the new Amantara…..second one it was raining when I took this pic and the dots I figured must be the rain itself….



A one eyed monster in my bed….huge comfy beds….



The living area after we have made a mess, photo does not do villa justice as to the left is a huge bedroom with balcony and huge bathroom with double sized bath. Behind is a kitchen, laundry and second bedroom….



The beach out front of the Marriot….



This babe had a hot hot arse, she was spotted in the pool…..





The restaurant……



My daughter doing her star fish impression. She learnt this only 15 minutes prior and was a natural, cannot swim properly yet, but can lay on her back and simply float for as long as she decides to lay still…..

[kingwilly]

These girls were the typical bg slagdogs and they did not look happy to be staying there. I think this was the case of 3 girls knowing when they are somewhere they do not belong…..I mean they were ugly, seriously and they looked like they had the shits the whole time there.

go on, pics please.

[Tinker2]

My niece is staying there from Christmas to New Year's Eve for US$39 a night. Incredible bargain.

[MeMock]

That room looks perfect for my family. $39 a night tinker? Booked through where do you know?
Great thread - 3 nights free? bargain!

[Tinker2]

^Booked through some travel agent in Korea where my niece teaches English. We'll see in a few weeks if it's actually true....

[killerbees]

Check on Last Minute Hotels by Latestays as well. I haven't seen the Marriott (JW Marriott, correct?) on there but they've got loads of discounts on hotels in Phuket. I've actually never booked through them but a couple of friends have and were happy with what they got.

[Travelmate]

been to the Marriot many moons ago for dinner only. Nice place. But as you said Nawty, miles from anywhere.

[MeMock]

Very cute daughter you have.

[Nawty]

Thanks...she is super cute....god help me as she gets older. I am trying to teach her now to promise to take care of me forever and ever.

I have to near force myself to yell at her when she does shit wrong. Then when she comes running to me and says mummy smacked her with big teary eyes......oh my.

[DrivingForce]

but can lay on her back and simply float for as long as she decides to lay still…..

well that's nearly as important as swimming, it's the first thing they should learn as that way they'll never drown.. My oldest is finally just now learning how to swim he's finally calmed down about trusting and learning but my youngest is being a real pain about it..

he's usually the brave and adventurous one but he is having some real issues with it at this point..

[Johnny Longprong]

Thanks Nawty. Nice shot of the kiddies daring the waves.

[mrgolf]

Great photo of your daughter doing the starfish in the pool

[Camel Toe]

Indeed good-lookin children. Yo, Nawty, what's wrong wit yo eyes?

[k1klass]

Nice pics Nawty, any pics of the 3 ugly girls?

[Nawty]

he's usually the brave and adventurous one but he is having some real issues with it at this point..

How old ?? my son was in the water from before he could crawl and loved it, when he could stand and walk he was jumping in the water doing bombs with me catching him.

Daughter loved it also, but was longer to coach to swim on her own. Try sitting him on a step and just getting him to launch himself a couple of feet to you. Do it all day until he thinks nothing of it, then extend the distance, thats how I taught my daughter.

I taught them both to swim, firstly was to jump in the water and turn around and get to the edge by themselves...this was to simulate falling in water somewhere and helping themselves to get out if nobody around.

Great photo of your daughter doing the starfish in the pool

Yes, she surprised me, she does not just float like normal people, arse sags or feet legs eventually sink a bit, she floats with head, arms, stomach, legs and toes all out of the water effortlessly for any period as long as she does not get water over her nose she can stay there for 10/15 minutes.

Indeed good-lookin children. Yo, Nawty, what's wrong wit yo eyes?

What eyes ??

Nice pics Nawty, any pics of the 3 ugly girls?

No, unfortunately not...

[Butterfly]

not a bad deal, how was the restaurant and breakfast ?

if the food is good, it might be worth it to stay away from everything,

Phuket is a shithole anyway, so anything to get away from the usual tourist place is actually a blessing

[Nawty]

Spot on, phuket is a shit hole and the beach at Marriot is very nice.

Restaurants are very good....at the proper Marriot next door they have a great bakery.

We never had breakfast there as the villa had kitchen and all so we did out own thing. But presume it would be very good....of course Marriot pricing.

Another plus is that next door they were building a boutique type shopping complex, so will have more stuff in there and not miles and miles away....but it is not a huge mall or such, nice and small and convenient for the area.

[Phuketrichard]

I spent 22 years in Phuket and it is ANYTHING BUT a shithole. One of the most amazing places in the world. Where did u stay ONLY patong then i can agree but the rest of the island....
Am currently in Cambodia but will retun to phuket next year.
I have been all over asia and not found a place that has what Phuket does. Truly something for everyone

would love to hear where you think is nice>>

[Nawty]

For the press it receives as a 'world class' destination....'pristine' beaches and environment.....it is a joke, a shithole in that context.

Certainly not world class and certainly the pristine disappeared decades ago....before your 22 year time there.

Would I go to Phuket for a holiday again ?? Nope.....would I go to Krabi....yep...is Krabi pristine....nope, but it is at least nice.

I have been/lived to beaches in various areas where the word 'pristine' is exactly what it means and certainly populated destinations that are far more visitor friendly and cleaner than Phuket is and ever will be.

But hey, each to their ownh, if you like shit holes, go for it....someone has to live in one.

[Butterfly]

I have been all over asia and not found a place that has what Phuket does.

you should try the Maldives, maybe that would change your mind

[Nawty]

Some nice photos on your website by the way

[Phuketrichard]

thanks about the photos
and yes have been to the Maldives, Tahatii, Fuji, Bahamas, Jamacia, Caymans, Aruba etc etc and most areas in between and still i find Phuket nice. Granted it is not world class nor pristine but Phuket has something to offer for everyone (unlike Krabi, whoich although has great physical beauty sucks as a place to hang out). Ko Lanta is much better than Krabi.

If u get out of the toursits area, ( Patong, Karon, Kata) you will find Phuket is a great place to be and live. Great food, beaches ( Kamala, Nah Harn, Na Yang) nightlife, schools, hospitals, International airport, affordable and also some shopping if your heart desires.

Shit hole?? maybe by ur standards then one mans poison is another 's delight