Marina Cottages/Resort -- Garden View Bungalows?

Hi all,

Marina Resort (formerly Marina Cottages) only has two Garden View Cottages availabe during our stay on Phuket. Can anyone tell me anything at all about these cottages? Size? Decor? Comfort? Value for money -- $109/night?

For what it%26#39;s worth, my husband and I will share our room with our 3 young kids (7,4 %26amp;1). We don%26#39;t need alot of space, but would need at least a king size bed or two full-sized bed. (The other cottage would be for my sister.)

I%26#39;ve read such great reviews of Marina on this forum and really want to stay there. Thoughts? Advice? We%26#39;re also looking into Baan Krating, but haven%26#39;t gotten a response.

Thanks in advance,

Temple

Marina Cottages/Resort -- Garden View Bungalows?

Hi Temple

It says on their web site the Garden view rooms are only 21sqms, which I don%26#39;t think is that big, not sure of the bedding configuration. Have you emailed them? They are very quick to reply to any questions.

Lee

Marina Cottages/Resort -- Garden View Bungalows?

Hi Sunsets4us,

We have been corresponding with Marina for a few days. They have been lovely! Very accomodating. I just wanted to get a better sense of the rooms available, as there are no interior pics on the website.

Thanks,

Temple

Hi Temple

We also considered the garden cottages but were concerned about the inside of the room as well. It%26#39;s hard to just imagine. I tried getting the sqm measurements (which at 21sqm roughly equates to just over 4x5m), then putting that into feet and trying to imagine where the furniture fits in. You could over estimate a little to 13.5ft x 17ft, remembering a queen size bed is 5 feet wide plus there%26#39;s bed side cabinets, a desk/bench, chair and does this include the bathroom in the measurements? With 2 beds even less room to move between. How big are the Baan Krating rooms?

Are you specifically looking for cottages and potential access to the beach?

Lee

Hi Lee,

Baan Krating rooms certainly look bigger, but I haven%26#39;t asked for measurements. Not that it would matter, since they haven%26#39;t responded to my emails...

Nevertheless, sawadee.com tells us that Baan Krating can accomodate us in two Deluxe Rooms. We%26#39;re worried that it is too isolated and romantic for our loud American family. Also, it seems that construction there continues, and we don%26#39;t know if it will be complete by our arrival. (If you search ';Baan Krating'; on this forum, you%26#39;ll find the relevant thread.)

And yes, we are looking for a bungalow resort. I know that Khao Lak, Samui, etc. are all better choices for this, but I%26#39;m dying to do the elephant rehad with Richard. This is NOT a good reason to choose Phuket, but I%26#39;m obsessed. I think my kids would love it, and I know that I would. IWhat can I say? I%26#39;ve always wanted to groom a gibbon.

In any case, Marina Resort emailed us a picture of the Garden Room. It is very pretty, but clearly a bit tight for our family of 5. They suggested that our two older kids share a room with my sister, which I found hilarious. What American hotelier would be so practical?

If you%26#39;re still looking, and would like me to email you the picture, let me know.

Warmly,

Temple

Hi Temple

I%26#39;m trying to think of places with bungalows/villas, I know Diamond Cottages in Karon has some although they are not sea view. Are you particular about where you want to stay? The Club Andaman%26#39;s cottages appealed to us. I%26#39;ll keep racking my brains, when are you going?

I know what you mean about being obsessed with the Elephant Rehab, I think I%26#39;m obsessed with elephants full stop. I got excited every time I found a hotel with elephant statues at the pool and feel disappointed that none of the hotels we%26#39;re staying at have them, not exactly the reason to book certain accommodation, I must say.

Lee

Hi Lee,

Correct me if I%26#39;m wrong, but I don%26#39;t think that Diamond Cottages are beach front, and that%26#39;s important to me, for better or worse. In answer to your question, I%26#39;m very particular about where we stay.

I think I looked at Club Andaman, and decided that it%26#39;s too big for us and maybe too expensive, though the cottages were pretty, as I recall. I%26#39;ll check again -- thanks for the tip.

My boys will be bit off-kilter during this trip, and I think a big hotel would throw them off even more. I%26#39;m hoping a bungalow will feel like our own little house -- which, sadly, isn%26#39;t much larger than 21 sq. meters.

Also, our third child, will be new to us. We%26#39;re adopting her in Bangkok on 1/10, and taking this trip in hopes of bonding a bit before we return to the aforementioned tiny house, in bitterly cold Maryland, USA. I%26#39;m pretty sure that she%26#39;ll cry alot and sleep poorly, so a hotel room would be stressful for all of us. In a cottage, she can cry as loudly as she needs to without anyone worrying about disturbing other guests.

As for the elephants, well...I adore them too. I don%26#39;t even want to ride them, I just want to go to the Rehab and feed them bananas. And pet them. Hopefully, my kids will too!

Thanks so much for racking your brains on our behalf. I really appreciate it.

Warmly,

Temple