I know the Patong Merlin well, never stayed there but have had family members stay there over the years, so I went there daily to visit them and use the pools. I think it's a real nice resort, those pools are great and the location is good, right across from the beach, there's a 'farang-style' supermarket nextdoor, it's close to many good restaurants. But with renovations going on from dawn to dusk, I wouldn't like to be there for that.