Originally Posted by ftrichard

Yay! I found a new Bonvoy hotel and can start a [Master Thread] for it.

Searching for one night in Patong - it's enough - at the start of April, I was intending booking the newish Four Points but then... what's this? A newly flagged Bonvoy hotel at the other end of Patong Beach which is THB2000 cheaper than the FP. Really, brand new opened. There's only one review on TripAdvisor from guests who stayed over Christmas and one review on the Marriott web site. Seems it's just opened in time for Christmas.

Investigation reveals this is the refurbished Patong Merlin Hotel and the two reviews do report refurbished rooms and common areas and new bedsheets etc. Google Streetview shows images of the refurbishment in progress at the front and the back and it seems to have been closed since around August for the building works to take place. The pics look fun with a nice curved waterslide that I will utilise in the morning before we move on to our main event which is five nights excellent all-inclusive at the Marriott Merlin Beach where we will eat and drink like pigs.

We're due to arrive mid-evening and by April I'm sure others will have already stayed here and can report what the breakfast is like and whether there's any significant elite benefits. I liked the FP when I stayed a year ago and they gave me some free drinks and extra points in lieu of a meaningful upgrade but its prices are trending higher for what it is so let's see how this new Courtyard rates in comparison.