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Welcome our new Resident Biologist at Khaolak Merlin Resort
02 January 2024
Happy New Year! Nothing better than a new addition to our wonderful staff at Khaolak Merlin to celebrate this 2024: a very warm welcome to the lovely Khun Nattacha Khanthasimachalerm, who was appointed Resident Biologist last month. With the increased focus on sustainability and a variety of projects we are working on to supplement our commitment to our rainforest retreat, its natural environment and the local community, Khun Nattacha (or Khem, as she is familiarly known) will take our projects to the next level. She is now leading the birdwatching tour in the mornings and the nightwalk too: the family of slow loris we happily host are the true stars of Khaolak Merlin who get all the attention. Soon we will do treasured trees walk to take the guests around our oldest and most unique trees, which we are developing thanks to our partnership with Love Wildlife and Big Trees foundations. Khem’s bubbly personality has been a hit since she started with lots of positive feedback to our management: guests genuinely stop by her biologist’s corner (near Veranda, the beachfront restaurant) to hang out and discuss with her about the bird pictures they have taken around the resort. We never realised how many passionate birders come to stay with us!
Apart from the international recognition we have been priding ourselves for years thanks to the Travelife Gold certificate, we have also recently received Silver Award in the Low Carbon and Sustainability Tourism category at the 14th Thailand Tourism Awards 2023 as well as the 5-star Award for TAT Sustainable Tourism Goals.
Join us in welcoming Khun Khem to our Khaolak Merlin family and come to meet her when you visit the resort next!
#travelife #khaolak #khaolakmerlin #sustainability #lovewildlife #birdwatching #thailandtravel
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A new concept of premium resort awaits you on Chiew Larn Lake, Khao Sok National Park
18 December 2023
We are thrilled to share some fantastic news on our latest opening on Chiew Larn Lake, Khao Sok National Park: the sister property to the well established 500 Rai Floating Resort is due to open its doors on 1st July 2024.
With a total 26 rooms, the resort will be called “360° Issara” and will represent a new era for the discerning traveller wishing to travel to the Suratthani province.
The name ‘Issara’ means freedom and it perfectly embodies the idea of freedom, flexibility, and feeling unrestrained. This concept is at the heart of our resort’s vision, where our aim is to offer services that revolve around rooms, breakfast, and various amenities, all focused on giving guests the freedom to choose and the flexibility they desire. For example, with Happy 24 you can check in and out at the same time, giving you more flexibility, and with our All-day Breakfast, breakfast times are extended so you can enjoy it in complete relaxation either in the morning or whenever you prefer. Its gorgeous location is unique on Chiew Larn Lake: everywhere you turn your eyes, a picture-perfect backdrop of lush green mountains and limestone cliff will leave you in awe. Literally 360 degrees views!”.
The new property will offer Studios, Villas as well as Family Villas, all with private facilities, an outdoor terrace overlooking the lake and kayaks for personal use.
The construction of the individual floating villas has already started in the Suratthani province under the supervision of a team of architects which will incorporate sustainable materials for zero-impact architecture, harmonizing with the serene lake surroundings. The project employs a modern contemporary style using alternative materials combining real wood for a seamless design.
As per 500 Rai Floating Resort, the community is at the heart of the hotel values: 70% of our staff are local resident
and we also support local suppliers, contributing to the local economy and thus reducing emissions.
Wishing you all a Merry Christmas and a great start to a bright 2024!
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The floating experience on Khao Sok gets even better at 500 Rai Floating Resort
06 September 2023
Experience, experience, experience: paradisiac beaches, cosmopolitan cities and heritage sites aren’t just enough any longer for the discerning customer who travels to Thailand in search of soft adventure and connections with the locals. Khao Sok is still a hidden treasure for many and at 500 Rai Floating Resort we strive for excellence and use our creativity to offer new and exciting activities for our guests to create memories which last a lifetime. Our clients are staying with us longer than ever and, for those ones who want to extend their stay, we try to fill their days with something new every year: apart from our tailormade jungle excursions and water safaris, resort activities such as palm leaf weaving, animal folding, bag painting and drawing have been added to the ever so popular cooking and cocktail making classes. We are also planning to have more yoga and Thai language classes in the near future as well as offering overnight stays in the historic district of Suratthani to truly connect with the local community. Our food choice is also improving: sourcing locally means we can focus more on local dishes but traditional western options are now part of our menu as well as exquisite desserts. Connect to reconnect is our motto and 500 Rai never ceases to amaze.
For all latest offers, click here
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Beach clubs and seafront restaurants - a vibrant new image for Diamond Cliff, Patong's iconic hotel
24 July 2023
Diamond Cliff Resort and Spa, Phuket’s iconic resort, doesn’t stop surprising its guests. The spruce up of its rooms and facilities inspires a sense of relaxation and well being, perfect for escaping from the hustle and bustle of nearby Patong. Its beachfront luxury experience has also been taken to a new level with the reopening of SeaSalt Lounge &Grill, where open air and romantic candlelit dining experiences are perfectly complimented by ocean breezes and the relaxed atmoshpere. But it wasn’t enough: the launch earlier this year of the coolest beach club in Phuket, FUGA represents true innovation: the fresh and fragrant tapas-style Mediterranean cuisine of chef Nicolas Cantrel is in itself a new entry for Phuket’s culinary scene, but it is at the end of the day that the atmosphere turns festive in our beachfront bar with live music and champagne, making it an ideal place to start or end your evening. Feet in the sand, head in the stars, Patong is in the limelight again.
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Kan Sak Thong reopens with a brand new look for the ultimate dining experience in Koh Samui
29 June 2023
Great news – our restaurant Kan Sak Thong at Melati Beach Resort and Spa, Koh Samui has just reopened with a revamped look. Our signature dining venue has been given a freshen up and reopened on 27th June with a new lounge area as well as a revisited menu. Located adjacent to the resort’s enchanting waterfall, Kan Sak Thong remains one of the top rated romantic dining venues in Koh Samui and, with full house since reopening, we are delighted to see its charm and great food have been missed by many. Indulge in the finest authentic Thai cuisine and Thai French fusion dishes from our international team of chefs. plus some interesting choices from ‘Mother’s Kitchen.’ While savoring your meal, your guests can also enjoy regular entertainment that enhances your dining experience.
The completion of this project has helped us redefine our concept of luxury, which combines warm and individual hospitality with contemporary Thai design offering a home away from home ambience.
You can find the new images on https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1fnprNYzy7HvkW6gsDrSVXlESB3LGjkMh?usp=sharing (please remove the old ones from your library).
Come visit us soon at Melati Beach Resort and Spa as our rooms have also been redecorated, private pools retiled and the lobby brightened up.
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Melati Beach Resort and Spa, Koh Samui is certified SHA Plus and achieves Gold at the Green Hotel Awards
14 July 2021
With Samui due to reopen on 15th July under the Samui Plus program, we are delighted that Melati Beach Resort and Spa has been certified SHA Plus by the Amazing Thailand Safety and Health Administration. It is a great honour to secure this award and are ready to welcome fully vaccinated international visitors. 100% of our staff are fully vaccinated too and we have strict health and safety and hygiene measures in place. To top this up, we have also received the “Green Hotel Award” (at Gold level for excellence) from the Department of Environmental Quality Promotion. This established award encourages excellence among hotels worldwide to achieve the highest standards in environmental sustainability. We are extremely proud of our achievements and both awards – together we are one to protect the quality of our environment and the safety of our guests.
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Khaolak Merlin voted 7th most romantic Thai hotel by Tripadvisor
15 June 2021
Khaolak Merlin Resort wins accolades at the 2021 Tripadvisor Travelers’ Choice Best of the Best Award, ranking 7th in the Top 25 Hotels for Romance in Thailand, based on traveler reviews.
The award winners rank among the top 1% of listings on Tripadvisor.
This peaceful gateway keeps on achieving top awards thanks to its tranquil setting on a lush beachfront and its strong eco ethos and dedication to preserve its biodiversity.
We thank you for all your great reviews and continued support. We are really looking forward to welcoming you back soon!
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Your safety is our utmost concern - all Salt hotels have been SHA certified by the Thai Tourism Authority
19 May 2021
Summer travel is still a big question mark, so why not thinking about beating the winter blues with an escape to a faraway beach? Thailand beach resorts of Phuket, Khao Lak and Koh Samui will most likely reopen to foreign tourists without the need to quarantine upon arrival by October 2021. Patong Merlin, Khaolak Merlin, Chaweng Regent and Melati Beach Resort are all SHA certified (Amazing Thailand Safety & Health Administration) thanks to their commitment to guests welfare and experience by enhancing hygiene standards and putting into place the strict protocols required by the government. You will feel absolutely safe during your hotel stay and we will make sure you feel pampered, relax and bring back home unforgettable memories of Thailand
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With Thailand soon to reopen, Khaolak Merlin is ready to show off its new face and ethos...
17 March 2021
With the inoculation campaign storming ahead and vaccine passports soon to be launched, Thailand is getting ready to reopen its doors to vaccinated tourists without the need of quarantine. It might be 1st October or even earlier but what is clear is that Khaolak Merlin will again welcome its European guests with a new ethos. We have been hard at work with local NGOs in coming up with new initiatives to make our resort a sustainable and eco-friendly place. For our efforts, we are Gold Certified with Travelife and recently received the prize for Best Hotel from Responsible Thailand award in December 2020. In our partnership with Love Wildlife Foundation, we focused on Slow Loris conservation and wildlife education/activities for hotel guests. For our partnership with Big Trees Project, we focused on cataloguing the trees in the hotel, tracking their carbon credit and also take care of the ancient trees with the help of professional arborists.
But not only: the Garden Restaurant has been dramatically refurbished to enhance its naturally jungly look, for those ever relaxing breakfasts only Khaolak Merlin can afford! Khao Lak Merlin is ready for its new chapter,aren’t we all?
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Chaweng Regent Beach Resort, Koh Samui's prime beachfront hotel gets a new look for the summer
1 March 2021
With the UK government announcing that international travel might kickstart as early as 17th May and the Thai government hinting that vaccinated travellers will be welcome to the Land of Smiles soon, there is no better place to explore than Koh Samui for your next adventure abroad. Chaweng Regent Beach Resort has enjoyed some quality time to refresh its looks, and its Regency Pool has never looked so attractive. Come stay in a Deluxe Regency rooms to enjoy easy access to the pool and a large balcony or terrace for those lazy days in the balmy weather of Thailand’s palmfringed hotspot. The vibrant colours of the frangipani trees surrounding the pool area are enhanced by the white tiles and chic new sun lounges, giving it a chilled and refined feel. Not much longer to go now, time to spruce up that summer wardrobe and head back to Thailand!
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Khaolak Merlin wins "Responsible Thailand Award" in the Hotel category
21 January 2021
Khaolak Merlin was the proud winner in the Hotel category at the recent Responsible Thailand Awards, in its 12th year running by Wanderlust Travel Media on behalf of the Tourism Authority of Thailand (TAT) London.
A year after receiving the “Travelife Gold Award” in 2019, one of the highest recognition in sustainability, the caring approach to the natural environment and local community has secured Khaolak Merlin the prestigious prize at the virtual ceremony held on 8th December.
Judges comments were: “From their work with the Love Wildlife Foundation and their development of a water project, this is clearly a hotel with an eco-agenda which lifts it above other properties. And their slow loris project tops their list of achievements. A combination of uncomprosing green standards in the resort, with support for the local environment and wildlife, has made this a winning entry!” .
Khaolak Merlin’s journey started 15 years ago when the rainforest eco-resort was built and the management have always done their best to preserve the natural environment they were blessed with.
The resort is now virtually plastic free and is happy to share all the information about their sustainability programme on the website.
Have a look at the sustainability video where Khun Chanon Wongsatayanont, Director explains the hotel’s ethos.
For any PR and further information, please contact us
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