Was looking forward to the opening of this but at those prices I'll be thinking again. Also I have just read that this was the resort that (allegedly) was responsible for the felling of 8 beachfront trees that were said to be 100 years old. This then triggered a blockade by local residents, but as usual the big developer got away with it. Yet again we see the environmental issues overlooked for the sake of someone making a lot of money. Such a shame, I would like to have gone, but not now.

At those prices? No, thank you.

Blimey, that's quite expensive! Ditto Jeff above.

I think it's nice with a new activity attraction on the island. Especially during summer season I think these water parks will come in handy! Good Luck!

Are these season ticket prices? That's like over 30 pounds sterling! Just for 1 day! Hang on.... plus tax! Good luck!

I see the same old crap – 2 different prices.

I might give it a go if they payed me 2,000 baht. I come here because of the ocean, not because of some tourist trap.

Amazing Thailand - Amazing Value? At these prices a family of 4 residents would need over 6,000 baht just for entrance fees. Add to that the cost of getting to Mai Khao and back home, plus maybe car park charges, meals, drinks, etc, and it becomes an extremely expensive day out.

Like Lazy Jeff says, I would have liked to have gone, but not at these ridiculous prices. This is more expensive than a visit to Disney World in Hong Kong which has probably 20 times more attractions.

Yes, I agree with Lazy Jeff. First thing, it's expensive. Second thing is, WHY is everything priced more for foreigners than Thais? What's up with that? Also, the price for a foreign kid is the same as a Thai kid, so it's only the adults who pay more. Is that really fair?

My family and I will not be going.

I agree with you and am looking forward to going with the family TODAY. As foreign residents the story makes it clear we'll be paying the same price as Thais. But if that was not the case, we would not go.

i won't be going to this water park, as it only has a few slides and the PRICE. Wow, 1,500 baht. In Spain or Europe, their water parks have lots and lots more slides, and great fun all day for just 750 baht with free transport from your hotel.

I can't see a lot of people going to this water park due to price. Please, what's this, I have to ask: "All rates are subject to a 10% service charge and 7% value added tax." Iis this to be added to the price as well? Phuket is becoming too expensive now.

A foreigner with a Thai wife and two children will have to pay 6,350 baht, and a non-Thai family of four will have to pay 6,700 baht for a day in this water park. I doubt it will be a success.

I will not take my family there even if I could afford to do it every week. It just doesn’t make sense when living here. Also listening to the kids who probably would like to go there every week. No, I don’t think so.

The water park itself is a great thing for Phuket, no doubt, but with the prices it’s a scare-off for potential tourists considering coming here. Nowadays, tourists are not idiot travelers and are often looking quite a lot on the Internet to see what's available before deciding.

Nice idea, bad pricing! It is not going to happen with those prices except for the elite! For a family of 4, it just won't do! Sad, as the concept would work if they priced in right! The above comments about pricing are right on!

Why do they charge more for their hotel GUESTS than for people NOT staying at the hotel? This seems to make no sense.

I think the price is reasonable for what you get. I will go once because my kids are not going to let me sleep if I don't. After that, it will depend on how much fun we had.

Ha ha ha ha..... What a joke! Who would want to go there for so few options and for so much money. I can take my family down to the beach, rent beach lounges, boogie boards and kayaks and play in the ocean, buy all of our food and drinks and still not spend the amount for ONE adult ticket to this place.

Hmmm, being charged more because of nationality (skin color?) and knowing that we'll spend the day being cut in front of in the que = count me, as well as my family and visiting friends, out. We'd sooner get our teeth drilled at the dentist; it's less painful.

Siam Park Bangkok has much bigger slides. Adult = 200 baht. Fantasia Lagoon Bangkok, looks great fun: Adult = 80 baht.

I'm going to Bangkok at the end of the month for a couple of weeks, so I will go to these water parks and have much more fun, and at a lower price.

I live within walking distance of this water park. As with the majority of the above writers, I can waste my baht on better returns. Air mattress, high tide, medium waves; "0" baht.

Especially when traveling with kids. Checking out activities for the kids and looking at the total and Phuket is not a cheap destination anymore. Rip off transport system, hotels getting more pricey, entertainment venues like Phuket Fantasy, Simon Cabaret, then comes island trips, big game fishing, etc, and families are looking to spend 10,000 baht a day here.

Then there are far better places to go than this island. Phuket might think it is something special, but maybe only for the rich or big spenders. Phuket also has to deal with its crime rate before it gets totally out of control.

What did they fill the water park with? Perrier water?

what a JOKE with the prices. I don't think those prices will be around for too long. Anyway, most people go to Phuket for the beaches.

Bust within in a year! Let's hope the one at Kathu gets the entry price right when (or if) it opens.

10% Service charge? You pay that in some restaurants but I avoid them as I want to decide on a tip by myself. But in an attraction park? Unheard of. 1,795 baht + 10% charge is 1,974.50 baht. Add in the 7% tax and you've got an entrance fee of 2,113 baht per person. No way!

What a rip off. Do these people live in the real world? Plus service charge? I definitely won't be going.

Anyone know what's happened to the small one at the entrance to Laguna? They only charge foreigners 100 baht, but it always seems to be closed.

Can't afford it? Try the Butterfly Farm. The price is right and they've got stunning insects!

Yet more proof that Phuket is the biggest rip-off in Thailand.

"Introductory rates will apply for TOURISTS until April 30, 2010." And after that?

Well, nice to see the water park open. If security is good and the water clean, and if there are no jet-skis or taxis, I am there. There are no price limits on good family fun. My only concern is shade.

I hope it gets packed and has good support from residents!

I agree. Joke prices (like the tuk-tuks and other taxis). Better to go to the beach. It's free and very natural.

Could you imagine race-based pricing anywhere else in the world? If you did that in the UK the law would come down on you so hard it would be unbelievable, due to the anti-discrimination act. I think it's terrible that this kind of pricing is allowed to go on, especially when the pricing is already 3 times too high!

I have been waiting for this to open since I first heard about it. I planned to bring my son. But it is really disappointing that the prices are way too high. It is very exciting to have something like this in Phuket. It should be affordable. Well, good luck.

Looks like the Missus and the kids will have to settle for the Gold Coast! Now, if I can just do something about those beer prices!

How can we try to promote Phuket as a family destination when all the things for a family have gone up in price so much? I used to take farang friends to the national parks for free, but now it's suddenly 200 baht per person. Phuket Fantasea has also gone up so much that now when friends ask me for a recommendation for something to do I have no idea. Even the beach boys can give a family with a teenage girl a heartache. So, yes – the tourists just in their hotels and avoid the tuk-tuks.

I agree with Peter. These prices are out of reach. The Thais have to change their mentality to think that all tourists are so rich. The result of this kind of thinking is reinforced by another story in the Gazette today about many tourists arriving... but less spending.

What a laugh. 1,795 baht? Phuket is committing suicide. Every week there are another few reasons to go elsewhere. What was once a paradise that was great value for money has become a hugely overpriced, dangerous place run on greed. That's great if tourists are willing to pay the high prices. Phuket is like a second home after living here for a few years, but I'm no longer prepared to be ripped off.

Assuming this is freshwater, don't we periodically have a water supply problem on Phuket? How much water evaporates from this entertainment venue daily? Will it close down when the rest of the island needs water or is this more important? (All rhetorical questions.) This is also another example of the environment taking a back seat to profit. Enough already.

Wow, with two kids it is cheaper for us to fly to Singapore or KL for a day than go to a water park. How do they work out the prices?

Impossible. Do you fly with your own wings?

Sack the marketing team immediately. Pricing is the same as WetnWild, a top Gold Coast attraction but with taxes added. WNW has 6 extreme rides and several gentle facilities like this toy park.

Typical half-baked attempt in Phuket. I fear for this place in 3 years. Can you imagine the maintenance? It will be more of a ghost park than a water park. Why did they not engage the local population by having a free day for underprivileged kids, a launch price of 500 baht per person for 3 months, and then launch a residents' one year membership?

Their money will soon be parted.

So does that mean you feel that kids should not have an opportunity to play in a water park? Do you know of any significant cities in the world that DON'T have a water park?

Anyway, Phuket has never had a water supply problem. Nature takes care of that, in abundance. What the island does have from time to time is a water STORAGE problem (not enough capacity), but that has improved substantially over the past two years. And it would appear that the new water park will itself be in an excellent position to help should there ever again be a supply emergency.

"Phuket has never had a water SUPPLY problem"? Please tell that to the majority who live in small villages on the island and have to rely on garden wells or water lorries.

My word! I'm absolutely gutted by these prices.

Was very enthusiastic to see this park coming alive and was looking forward to the opening, overexcited like a little child (perhaps even more than our son Martin, 4yrs). But after seeing these "introduction rates", my former euphoria is reduced to a "hhhmmm..." (There was a disco song once: 'Things that make you go hhhmmm...').

Guess we will go once to check it out, but doubt that we will return often. I also doubt that the investment will pay off. A pity that valuable resources have been wasted this way. If the trees were left standing, and the venue perhaps only half the size, then maybe prices would be 50% less and everyone would have a happy smile on their face.

Its the Thai people who will suffer the most with these prices. Every Thai child would love to go to this place but the vast majority never will. The Thai people who keep Phuket going daily, working in shops, restaurants, hospitals and every other type of job, are working very long hours for pretty small salaries. Many of them have families and cannot afford to go to this place.

Why do people begrudge the Thais getting things a little cheaper than the rich (by comparison) tourists? If they were getting salaries equivalent to Westerners, then I would agree, but not as it is. It's a selfish attitude.

I've just looked up Waterbom Park in Bali. 16 rides set on 3.2 hectares. 992 baht for an adult, 560 baht for children. 3-day pass: 1,216 baht for adults, 640 for kids. Alternate holiday location anybody?

Ridiculous pricing schemes. Phuket is definitely becoming more and more expensive, but for what reason exactly? Higher crime rates, double standard pricing, rude tuk-tuk drivers.... The list goes on. I was looking forward to taking my kids there, but with this pricing I don't think so.

I agree. Some good PR to enthuse locals, followed by reasonable pricing to lure tourists. 500 baht is about the upper limit, bearing in mind you will still have to buy food and drinks there. Adding VAT and a service charge shows that there is little sense of market there. The price will have to go down or the park will close down.

Guys, you got it all wrong. This is not for you and me; it's for the middle east tourist. Most European tourist will want to go to the beach anyway, and for residents it's way too expensive.

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