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Marriott Phuket

J

jmdickie

TUG Member
Joined
Jan 3, 2011
Messages
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Location
BC
Can any one tell me if there is a big difference between the Marriott phuket beach club and Marriott phuket Mai Khao ?
I have a reservation at the Mai Khao but now the beach club has come up. I know that at the beach club you can use 2 resorts but besides that is there a reason to try to change reservation.
Reservation is for this Sat!!!!!
 
I would do a search. There are many threads.

I prefer Beach Club by far. Its on the beach. The pools are exceptional. Service is great both places and Mai Khao is newer.

But sunsets at the Blue Bar or poolside are wonderful. I feel very "confined" at Mai Khao. Almost like its a compound. Plus, you are at the FS Marriott. WE LOVE THE MARRIOTT CAFE BFAST BUFFET. But, its pricey :)

You will love your trip no matter what. ENJOY.

We were just there in June, but I envy you :D
 
If you switch to the Beach Club, there will be a "Menu" in your unit for in room BBQ. I highly recommend it. The menu is self explanatory. They set up in your Villa with a gas grill on the balcony.

They cook a wonderful multicourse meal. Talking and getting to know them adds to the experience. We have done it three times now. We wont go back without doing it.

If the menu is missing, call "at your service' and they will bring one. You do have to make a reservation as you would a restaurant and turn your dining selections in one day in advance.
 
So.... even if I have to pay another exchange rate should I change???? It is actually for my daughter who is arriving on Sat

Obviously, I know it is my call but just trying to get a feel for how much nicer the beach club is?
 
jmdickie said:
So.... even if I have to pay another exchange rate should I change???? It is actually for my daughter who is arriving on Sat

Obviously, I know it is my call but just trying to get a feel for how much nicer the beach club is?
Click to expand...

Are there any kids going? The kiddie pool area at the Beach Club and the kids activities are wonderful. They have a "trapeze school".

Its worth the money IMHO. I think it is far superior. I would have booked the other resort (if that was all available) with the intention to switch to the beach club if it opened up.

OH, I didn't mention the $15 one hour beach massages at the Beach Club.

Aside from the pools, almost everything else is available to you if youa re staying at the Mai Khao. But the tipping points for me are: The pools, being beach front, not having to "go home" from that beautiful place at the end of the day--you ARE home, not feeling confined.
 
jmdickie said:
So.... even if I have to pay another exchange rate should I change???? It is actually for my daughter who is arriving on Sat

Obviously, I know it is my call but just trying to get a feel for how much nicer the beach club is?
Click to expand...

We are currently in Phuket Beach Club for 2 weeks. The main difference is that guests staying at Phuket Beach Club are able to use all the facilities of the JW Marriott. Also the PBC units and the JW are much closer to the beach. At Mai Khao Beach Club you have the Anantara Hotel between you and the beach but they do run transport in golf buggies to the beach.

Whilst guests at Mai Khao can use all the restaurants at the JW and charge to their account they are not permitted to use the pools or other leisure facilities such as the fitness centre or tennis.

The units at Mai Khao are more contemporary in design and newer but PBC units are all being upgraded (flat screens new furnishings etc) but will still have a more traditional Thai feel to them.

Like others my personal choice is for Phuket Beach Club but Mai Kho Beach Club is still excellent. It has its own reception desk, concierge and facilities - pool, fitness centre and access to tennis at the Anantara. It is also closer to the small shopping mall than PBC.

All the hotels, and two TS resorts are located very close together and Marriott run a shuttle bus between all the locations. There are also golf buggies that will transport you between locations if requested.

If you have a reservation at Mai Khao I would stick with it as there is no certainty of getting a switch to Phuket Beach Club.
 
THanks everyone.
I think I will stick with it. My daughter and her friends are there for 3 months back packing so this is a nice treat no matter which resort they are at. I mean they will likely spend some time sleeping right on the beach so being at a resort off the beach for a week in a nice comfy bed will be just fine.
Appreciate your comments. If it was me going I would likely pay the extra exchange fee to move.
 
jmdickie said:
THanks everyone.
I think I will stick with it. My daughter and her friends are there for 3 months back packing so this is a nice treat no matter which resort they are at. I mean they will likely spend some time sleeping right on the beach so being at a resort off the beach for a week in a nice comfy bed will be just fine.
Appreciate your comments. If it was me going I would likely pay the extra exchange fee to move.
Click to expand...

After backpacking they will think they arrived in heaven. Sun shining today.:cheer: :cheer: :cheer:
 
have all the units at phuket beach club been upgraded ? if not when will they complete the reno , i will be there in Dec.
 
kfsong said:
have all the units at phuket beach club been upgraded ? if not when will they complete the reno , i will be there in Dec.
Click to expand...

Refurbishment of all units in Phase 1 and 2 is completed. That is units starting with a 1 or a 2 have been completed. Units starting with a 3 are under way now with workmen working in 3111 to 3143, units 3211 to 3443 to follow.

I was told by the GM last week that they expect to be complete by end October in time for peak season. However this is Thailand but they should all be complete by December. To be safe request a unit in 1 or 2 series units.

The refurbed units all have new flat screen TVs, new glass ceramic hobs, new sofa and arm chairs and all new decoration and new drapes. The essential Thai nature of the Phuket Beach Club units, that sets it apart from the more contemporary design of Mai Khao Beach Club, has been retained. The lighting has been upgraded to be brighter but use less power. Also complete redecorate throughout.

Generally I am impressed with the improvements although we are staying in an unrenovated unit since we asked to have a ground floor unit in the last 34 block nearest to the south pool and The Ginja Restaurant. This is still the Number One in MVCI resorts as far as we are concerned. All the staff we have encountered continue to offer the highest levels of customer service and friendliness. Thailand is not called the land of smiles without good reason.

Also the hotel is undergoing some renovation work in a block of rooms in the South Wing with further work on exterior painting going on.

Also the JW's Mandara Spa is closed for a major renovation but the nearby Hotel Spas at Sala and Renaissance will offer services also in room massage is available on request. The fitness centre and tennis are unaffected.

With it still being low season and also the rainy season the JW and PBC are fairly quiet which also shows at the pools and the beach is deserted - red flags flying as it is unsafe to swim in the sea at this time of year.

Other noticable updates - building work is underway opposite the JW Marriott where the farming land used to be - now Anantara vacation Club is building some new villas - hard to say what they will be like as they are still at a very early stage and I avoided getting snagged by the Anantara Timeshare Sales Touts in the Turtle Village shopping mall.
 
Yes, excellent update. Thank you MALC.

It seems Anantara is building on property that is not beach front. Rather a walk to the beach, similar to Marriott Mai Khao. It's too bad they could not have used the property directly north of the Anantara Hotel Villas where the land is directly on the ocean. On the current property/construction site, the Anantara units would have to be at least six stories to look above the Marriott Phuket Beach Club and have a view of the ocean. Even then, all of the lower floors would be garden view. With views ever increasing in importance to travelers, I am somewhat surprised at their property choice (Anantara). However, I'm sure the property will be laden with special features and ambience.

If someone else has more input, please relay.
 
Asia2000 said:
Yes, excellent update. Thank you MALC.

It seems Anantara is building on property that is not beach front. Rather a walk to the beach, similar to Marriott Mai Khao. It's too bad they could not have used the property directly north of the Anantara Hotel Villas where the land is directly on the ocean. On the current property/construction site, the Anantara units would have to be at least six stories to look above the Marriott Phuket Beach Club and have a view of the ocean. Even then, all of the lower floors would be garden view. With views ever increasing in importance to travelers, I am somewhat surprised at their property choice (Anantara). However, I'm sure the property will be laden with special features and ambience.

If someone else has more input, please relay.
Click to expand...

Judging by the size of the reinforced concrete pillars being thrown up this week I would say no more than 2 floors, if any higher I would want to see more substance to the construction. So my guess is no sea view just a view of the road and the coconut trees.

Even the PBC villas only have garden views mostly, only a very few have a view of the sea through the tree tops. But then I've never really understood the Fascination with having a sea view from the villa. We now prefer the ground floor units at PBC for the extra space outside on the terrace and easy access.

The land north of the Anantara is home to a private home with its own golf course and lakes. The road that runs down to the beach at that point forms the border of the Anantara resort and the other side is the border to the private home and garden.

I don't think at present that Minor Group and William Heinecke are able to buy out the owner but who knows often money can change someone's mind. When the economy turns around and tourism to Thailand picks up maybe the scene will change.

At present here in the Mai Khao resorts it is very very quiet. PBC is refurbing units and has 12 out of use at any one time. The JW is quiet with renovations going on in one block of a wing in the hotel and I was told the Anantara is virtually empty. On Saturday we took a walk along the beach towards the Anantara and their beachside pool had just 2 people in evidence. This was on one of the sunny days !!
 
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MALC9990 said:
Judging by the size of the reinforced concrete pillars being thrown up this week I would say no more than 2 floors, if any higher I would want to see more substance to the construction. So my guess is no sea view just a view of the road and the coconut trees.

Even the PBC villas only have garden views mostly, only a very few have a view of the sea through the tree tops. But then I've never really understood the Fascination with having a sea view from the villa. We now prefer the ground floor units at PBC for the extra space outside on the terrace and easy access.

The land north of the Anantara is home to a private home with its own golf course and lakes. The road that runs down to the beach at that point forms the border of the Anantara resort and the other side is the border to the private home and garden.

I don't think at present that Minor Group and William Heinecke are able to buy out the owner but who knows often money can change someone's mind. When the economy turns around and tourism to Thailand picks up maybe the scene will change.

At present here in the Mai Khao resorts it is very very quiet. PBC is refurbing units and has 12 out of use at any one time. The JW is quiet with renovations going on in one block of a wing in the hotel and I was told the Anantara is virtually empty. On Saturday we took a walk along the beach towards the Anantara and their beachside pool had just 2 people in evidence. This was on one of the sunny days !!
Click to expand...

I suspect that they will link the Anantara Timeshare property with the Anantara hotel and give facility priveledges. Possibly, they will change the road to go around the east end of the timeshare property and loop around?
 
Hi MALC9990

did you go for any latest sales presentation , wat's their selling price per point now , according to them more & more people buy in their points system due to the strong asia currency against US , is that correct ? wat's their club points overlay program , still needs to buy 15,000 points for 1 week conversion and 21K points for 2 weeks conversion ?
 
kfsong said:
Hi MALC9990

did you go for any latest sales presentation , wat's their selling price per point now , according to them more & more people buy in their points system due to the strong asia currency against US , is that correct ? wat's their club points overlay program , still needs to buy 15,000 points for 1 week conversion and 21K points for 2 weeks conversion ?
Click to expand...

No - not allowed a sales session this time - since it is still less than a year since my last presentation. I am only allowed one gift per 12 months and this is my third visit in less than 12 months and for me "No Gift no Presentation"

However we will be here again in Jan 2012 so I will do a presentation then to see what the deals are although I have too many TSs now and need NO MORE. Besides I am converted to resales - why pay Marriott Prices.

Not very happy with the overlay prgramme. I recently converted a 2012 PBC week to MVCIAP points to use at the SIN Marriott - now I find that there is no Club Connections location in Singapore in 2012 and so I cannot use my overlay points at the SIN Marriott in 2012. :mad: :mad: :mad:
 
Mr. Vker said:
If you switch to the Beach Club, there will be a "Menu" in your unit for in room BBQ. I highly recommend it. The menu is self explanatory. They set up in your Villa with a gas grill on the balcony.

They cook a wonderful multicourse meal. Talking and getting to know them adds to the experience. We have done it three times now. We wont go back without doing it.

If the menu is missing, call "at your service' and they will bring one. You do have to make a reservation as you would a restaurant and turn your dining selections in one day in advance.
Click to expand...

The in-room BBQ service also extends to Mai Khao Beach Club. We are at PBC now and last week friends staying at Mai Khao in a pool-villa (Ground floor) had a BBQ for 13 people. The service and food was amazing. Tables set for 13 by the small pool and everything was excellent.
 
MALC9990 said:
The in-room BBQ service also extends to Mai Khao Beach Club. We are at PBC now and last week friends staying at Mai Khao in a pool-villa (Ground floor) had a BBQ for 13 people. The service and food was amazing. Tables set for 13 by the small pool and everything was excellent.
Click to expand...

Nice. Thank you for the update!
 
PBC Unit Refurbishment

I have now had a short tour of the model unit at PBC showing the refurbished units.

Overall a nice refurb job but nothing structural. New flat screens and new sofa and chairs. Dining chairs re-upholstered. All wall repainted and woodwork cleaned up. Kitchen much the same but new glass ceramic jhob and new microwave. New curtains and rugs. Some new lighting but rataining the overall Thai style feel rather than the modern contemprary style in Mai Kaho Beach.

Overall I think reasonable use of the maintenance fund for refurbishemnts. Personnally would not put TVs in the bedrooms. Been here two weeks and the TVs in our units have not been on once. One can get a bit bored with BBC World News.

We are in a unit that has not been refurbed. All should be completed by end Oct but I think it will take a little longer.
 
Another update from Phuket

Yesterday signs were erected immediately opposite from the entrance to the JW Marriott and across the road from the Turtle Village shopping Mall. The signs announce the building by the Anantara Vacation Club of 70 1,2 & 3 bedroom appartments and 30 pool villas. This development will probably stretch all the way along the frontage of the JW Marriott and Phuket Beach Club. Fortunatly all the PBC units and the JW Hotel rooms face towards the ocean.

Building work is underway but only of what I would guess would be the model unit.

This resort will also front onto the entrance to the Anantara Hotel. However it will not have any ocean frontage since the JW Marriott and Phuket Beach Club occupy the space between the road and the sea.
 
TV

I think it is time to improve the TV channel selection. If you stay in a 'cheap' hotel in Thailand you can get many many more channels.
Whilst we don't go on holiday to watch TV, that option should be there.
Bill Bentley's offers a better selection of sports channels, but if you prefer to watch in the villa, you really are limited
MALC9990 said:
One can get a bit bored with BBC World News.
We are in a unit that has not been refurbed. All should be completed by end Oct but I think it will take a little longer.
Click to expand...
 
At Phuket Beach Club, what do you think about Anantara?

We are at PBC now, enjoying the weather and the property very much! Thanks so much for TUGger's advices, I was able to trade into PBC. After checking out MKB I do see why most people prefer the ocean-fronting and the more traditional style PBC.

We went through the Anantara presentation today as it was just too hard to pass on the free tour offer to Phi Phi Island. We've never heard of Anantara in the US, it appears to be more upscale than the Marriott Vacation Club, although most of the properties are in Asia.

Has anyone else gone through the Anantara presentation and open to sharing your thoughts on their timeshare program?

The sales presentation is always very persuasive, especially when they throw in a bunch of first time visit incentives....

sjnoble
 
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