Mits10

The all inclusive package details...

HHQX888

Any member have actual stay @ this hotel ?

verstein

Hi,
Been there for about 90 days the last two years to escape Bangkok. What do youwant to know?

Alan

HHQX888

too old information for me, two and half years I was there too.

Fims

I just stayed a few days ago. As Ambassador got nice proactive upgrade to the villa (saw in the app already a few days before). Spacious, with private pool and just steps away from the beach.
Free watersports 1hr per day (kayak or paddleboard) or 1hr of beach bicyles.
Breakfast was decent with enough choices and quality.

I liked LM Khao Lak more than JW, where I was for a night as well. JW has new GM (I was told) and operations looked messy, also less generous with upgrades. While 2 suite categories were available, they initially tried to just give 1-cat upgrade to the pool access room. After some negotiations got a suite. JW's plus could be a bit better quality of sand at the beach, but if you have a status, LM upgrade potential is better.

AggressiveAsian

My experience is totally different, as Ambassador I always got a corner room at LM but always receive a duplex/executive suite at JW. Food+service at LM is definitely a class below JW as well, at JW they remember my drinks at breakfast and at beach happy hour. Though the price is about 1,000 baht cheaper at LM

HHQX888

We are here from 21.FEB and later I will put my opinion about our stay, agree with @AggressiveAsian about upgrades, they don't care about your status you can recive as Platinum up to villa or as Ambassador only to corner 'Studio' room. We have upgrade from base room only one level up, and becouse my wife have problem with sun we want change room to side where morning at balcony we will have shade, when I ask front desk about change room to different one and maybe upgrade to studio room I have answer ' We can do it exceptionally for you Mr.HHQX .... ' viliila and suites was available at moment when I ask for all next week.

I made a reservation on 22.JAN it was prepayd rate and yesterday I find letter from hotel that they have problem with payment from my CC for our second week and they want that I give them again my card to pay for our stay.

margarita girl

I’m confused. You’ve been at the hotel for 8 days and you’re asking about other members’ stays? Are you trying to compare your stay to other people’s? Is so, why didn’t you explain this in your first post?

HHQX888

@ margarita girl : yes, you have right. I want see different opinion then ours, but not targeted feedback by our feedback.

henkybaby

Hi. Been to both. JW twice and LM once in the last 2 months. Some perspective is needed. JW doesn’t have that many ‘suites’ and the ones they do have would really only benefit families. The terraces nor the view are really any better. Pool room is the upgrade for most.

LM is new and shiny but here also they only have 4 villas (I believe) so first come first serve. We are not that rare as status holders. Also, given the low low prices at both resorts, some people actually book the villas / suites. I know, right?

So you can get off your high horse. Things will improve dramatically if you snag a villa at LM but not as much at the JW. Unless it’s an entitlement issue of course.

JW is miles ahead when it comes to F&B. No comparison at all, even though all Marriott properties in Phuket have very similar menus. LM is chaotic. JW is big and doesn’t really have a ‘pool scene’ if you care about that. You go to the pool to swim not to lounge around it. There are some chairs around the adult pool but no service and a bit isolated.

Both beaches are very good. Much better than most in Phuket, where they are often steep, soft and unwalkable. I have no preference.

JW is definitely better but maybe not for families with kids.

Also remember that we come out of COVID so the staff are rusty, the interns are not back yet and the last 2 years they have focused on the domestic market.

When I picked a hotel to go back to it was the JW even when it was 2,5x more expensive.

Pro tip ; look at their instagram and Facebook feeds, because that’s where the great deals are.

Currently in the JW in Phuket because I love the pool scene but if you care about rooms, F&B and long walks along the beach: JW Khao Lak is for you.

Hope this helped.

Fims

When LM and JW would have same price, I'd still go to LM due to better service. Yes, at JW you'd get some extra fruit choices at the breakfast (mango, jackfruit), but that is not big difference. LM has better pastries.

Actually there is another interesting property in the neighbourhood. Grand Mercure Khao Lak. We had dinner there one day and asked to show the rooms as well. The normal pool access rooms at Grand Mercure looked better than both JW and LM despite being a bit smaller in size. But it is brand new hotel, so facilities are new. And service at the beachside restaurant was attentive and great, also food was decent.

Pre pandemic I was also to Ramada Khao Lak, were as Wyndham Diamond got cool villa upgrade where you could see the beach right from the villa. I had a look at their website and their 6k cash price for villa these days seems reasonable for the product.

Regarding JW Phuket, I felt that REN next door was better last April at least. JW Phuket seemed in need a renovation and better TLC of the hotel grounds.

HHQX888

I can told you that at Accor Grand Mercure they have very hard beds, we was at Pool Room and Deluxe Suite.
Hotel is 6 monts after openning, actual prices simmilar to LM.
It is boutique hotel, but the building plot is terribly narrow and you can look easy to different room /no privacy/.
Looks better because I think from beginning they have good interior architect, we use this GM beach front restaurant for our dinner.

henkybaby

Mercure looked nice indeed but actual pool a bit more intimate. Might stay there soon.

LM service better than JW is surprising to hear. The LM is very friendly, don’t get me wrong, but much more chaotic and no fine dining at all. The main restaurant as well as breakfast feels and acts like a kantine. Italian is ok but the Italian at JW is better. I do like the beach restaurant at the LM better (look and feel).

Service is 10/10 for trying at both. It’s hard as both properties haven’t catered to large foreign crowds in a few years.

HHQX888

I agree 100%. Tour operator kantine.

TalkingPoint

Had a couple days to kill in phuket on my way from Sydney to Istanbul so decided to return to Khao Lak for a few nights. Usually prefer the JW but decided to come back here due to a good promotion they ran a couple months ago. Hotel occupancy is quite low, not helped by the fact that they're now listing 7500b/night on their website so they can qualify for Luxury Escapes. OTAs have continued listing the 2700b rate so you can pricematch down to 2025b. Jan Heim is away getting GM training and Julien from Surawongse is here as acting manager (and Trevor has been here more regularly and has temporarily moved some staff from Merlin over as well). They no longer upgrade elites to Villas or Suites, as it's Julien's understanding that elites are only entitled to a single category upgrade. He said the change is because Marriott asked hotels in April to be more consistent about not over-upgrading so they can deliver a consistent experience/expectations across the portfolio. Suites are now a 2000b up-charge and villas are 3500b. That's a new negative change and changes this from one of the most generous to one of the least.

While I agree it feels like a canteen, occupancy is so low it's a lot better now. The presentation at breakfast has actually improved, but food quality is down. The selection also now caters to a new demographic so no pork and mostly vegetarian dishes which has become common at lower end properties in Thailand since the pandemic. The service is well intentioned but nowhere comparable to JW, and English ability is poor. All of the restaurants have reopened and are operating regular hours.