This is a tricky one to sum up. We've certainly had a relaxing time here in a "did very little, sat by a beach" type of way, but I don't feel it has added to our cultural objectives, not that it needed to. We're calling it our respite from the travelling, a little haven of not thinking about what, where, how or when that has seemingly dominated many an evening and led to many a wifi hotspot search. There are certainly some drawbacks to the place though.
The first major drawback is the price. We're so fortunate to have Rin's cousin book the accommodation for us but there have been so many extras that it became difficult to justify the "relax" time. Alcohol is prohibitively expensive so we've basically not had any, relying on the bottle of Gin that we bought in town earlier in the week. Amusingly, the can of tonic from the hotel minibar comes in at over 50% of the price of a large bottle of Gilbert's. A beer Chang that in northern Thailand cost 25 baht, and in Bangkok would see you to 30 baht, and in downtown Patong Beach would stretch you to 60-80 baht, is inexplicably 130 baht at the bar in Le Meridien. That did not include the tax and service fee that elsewhere seems to slip by, but here could easily buy another Bangkok beer. A bottle of cheap red plonk, the sort of stuff you'd shed about 3-4 dollars for in the US, is an astronomical 50-60 dollars here despite it travelling several thousand miles less (Aussie plonk). That being said, the food is excellent, and the buffets have enough variety to satisfy even the most ardent foodie, but the cost is comparable to a high end US restaurant. Two won't eat without parting with nearly $100 per meal, and that won't include a drink, not even water.
Le Meridien also has a peculiar dress code. You can't go into the fitness room without gym shoes, you can't play squash without squash shoes, you can't play tennis without tennis shoes. rock climbing, yep, you've got it. Better have some rock climbing stickies. It's all vey frustrating, especially given our lightweight travelling meant we didn't carry a separate shoe collection.
Like the Dragon Pearl III trip in Halong Bay we were also stunned with the lack of water availability. The daily share this time had dropped 150mls, We were now expected to remain hydrated with only 600mls of water, the rehydration tarrif was $4 per little bottle. A larger bottle was $5, simply a rip off when you consider a bottle was $0.80 down the road. The trouble is, getting down the road was unthinkable due to crazy drunk drivers observing the already sparse road rules and the complete lack of pavement leading to a 1 mile taxi ride costing $15 return.
After all I've written you'd think I'd want to leave. However, the fact is that Rin has a social adaptation that means resort living is fun. I'll explain.
You see Rin is a dear soul, mindful of her hubby's small pocket openings and sticky pocket fabric. On the last night she placed me on the terrace overlooking the pool, the onset of sunset not far away, then locking me out, called down for room service. After she joined me, resplendent in light dress and face slappy, G&T's in hand, the whole place took on quite a different hue. Gone was the madness, the price, the running around from place to place. Through the veranda doors entered serentiy, tranquility, respite and love. For those who did not know, our Honeymoon was cut short due to the freak weather in Europe at the end of 2009, that, and the complete inability for the airports or anyone else for that matter to clear the snow. So this was a Honeymoon of sorts...no, it was the honeymoon. Before me was my beautiful wife, a handsome......drink, an amazing sunset across a stunning bay. And room service was on its way. What more could I desire.
I cannot say I would choose to return to Le Meridien, what Scottish Jew could, but it has it's highlights. The pool complex is out of this world, with freedom to "just keep swimming, just keep swimming"; a decent gym that once you've twisted the instructors arm to get into without the "appropriate" footwear actually has great equipment and allowed me to "erg" to my heart's content - actually it allowed me to erg until my feet bled (because I was not wearing appropriate footwear!). The beach was fab, excellent surf to play in (no surf boards oddly) and the sense of isolation from the Patong current of vendors allowed us to doze and enjoy each other's company, with or without MaiTai's.
The architecture of Le Meridien was also very pleasant, with attention to detail that befits a US style resort but enhances the "Thai" accents sufficiently to remind you where you are. Sure, the internet was slow, the beverages over priced, the "garden view" a refuse dump, the dress code a trifle trite and the clientele slightly sour and very over weight. But our "Le Meridien" was what we needed, when we needed it, and it will leave lasting memories of beach,
balcony,
romance
and swimming
that last and last.
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