Marlin Hotel

Poom at reception really helped us when we lost a bag at the airport. He speaks good English and kept at it until the bag was returned, which made a huge difference. We had a very pleasant stay at the Marlin Hotel in Surat Thani. Our three rooms each had two roomy, comfortable beds, good air conditioning, and an excellent bathroom. The hotel was clean and well kept, and the value for money was outstanding. I'd happily recommend it to anyone visiting Surat Thani.

Our previous stay at the marlin hotel hadn't been too bad, so it's unfortunate things went this way. This time there were bugs all over the room, and mosquitoes bit us through the night. The bathroom had a used towel, a used toothbrush hanging over the shower railing, and no soap for washing our hands. The bedding was stained with blood. At checkout the next morning, they accused us of taking a key card and nearly kept our whole deposit. The woman at the counter was extremely disrespectful and showed no regard for hospitality. We had to persist before they returned our own deposit, even though we had done nothing wrong. To be fair, the last experience was better, but that last evening topped it all. I can now confidently say you should stay away.

The room was amazing, and the location was okay, with shopping malls nearby but not much else. Service was a different story. One woman at reception was lovely and very helpful. When I checked out, though, a male receptionist refused to order a taxi, saying they didn't have a phone, even as their phone rang right in front of me. His English was limited too. Extremely disappointing.

The bed was so comfortable, and the shower was lovely. The toilets feel like they're from the future, they heat, wash, and dry you while you're sitting there. At 17 euro a night, it's excellent value. Just don't get your washing done here, the prices are feckin mad.