Tri Trang Beach: Also Known as Merlin Beach

By Paula Parker

Tri Trang Beach is situated in a nice, quiet bay directly in front of the five-star Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa, Merlin Beach.

Tri Trang is another of the four beautiful and secluded beaches hidden in the headland just to the south of Patong, on the west coast of Phuket.

There seems to be a lot of confusion about what this beach is actually called. I read somewhere recently that it is also referred to as "Merlin Beach" or "Merlin Snorkel Beach". 

Years ago, it was definitely called Tri Trang Beach, and I can only guess that they changed the name due to the resort being formally known as the Merlin Beach Resort.

The other beach that people sometimes get confused about is the north-facing Tri Tra Beach, which faces into Patong Bay.

The Phuket Marriott Beach Resort dominates the entire southern-facing Tri Trang Beach, which many people think is a private beach for guests staying at the resort. 

However, the beach isn't private, and the resort doesn't make any attempt to stop people from entering the beach via a little road located on the left-hand side of the resort.

Tri Trang is not a great swimming beach on low tide, as there are too many rocks in the shallow waters.

The best time to visit Tri Trang, as with all the other beaches in this headland, is when the tide is high. On high tide, Tri Trang Beach is perfect and one of the best spots in Phuket to go snorkelling.

The water is clear, and there is plenty of coral and colourful fish in the waters.

Guests who stay at the Merlin Beach Resort and visitors to the beach are able to enjoy snorkelling at high tide; however, on low tide, many of the resort's guests often prefer to visit either Tri Tra or Paradise Beach or swim within the resort's beautiful swimming pools.

Along the left-hand side of the resort are some open-air massage huts, a perfect spot where you can lie back and enjoy a relaxing beach massage.

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Phuket Marriott Resort & Spa 

The beachfront location of the Phuket Marriott Resort and Spa at Tri Trang Beach is ideal for those seeking a family beach vacation or for couples in search of a secluded getaway, within easy reach of  Patong for shopping and nightlife. 

Not only will you be able to enjoy all the facilities that the resort provides, but you will also have direct access to the beach.

Read More about the Merlin Beach Resort

Tri Trang Beach and the Merlin Beach Resort is a well known and a popular location for romantic beach weddings in Phuket.

Apart from the restaurants within the grounds of the resort there is also a restaurant located overlooking Tri Trang Beach. The restaurant is called the "Little Tiger Restaurant", the views from the restaurant are stunning.

To get to the Little Tiger restaurant you will need to go up the set of stairs on the left hand side of the beach.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner, and is a much cheaper option for meals then eating at the restaurants within the resort and is a beautiful spot for a romantic sunset dinner.

Tri Trang is close to one of Phuket's best-kept-secret beaches, that being Freedom Beach.

The only way you can gain access to Freedom Beach is by longtail boat, which is about a ten-minute boat ride from Tri Trang, costing around 300 baht.

Take the road at the Southern end of Patong across the bridge and follow this road until you get to the Merlin Beach Resort, which is on the left-hand side of the road.

If you're not a guest at the resort, just alongside the resort you will see a dirt road where you can park and walk down to the beach.

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