Porting over from Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast to this hotel was really convenient as my husband and I simply hopped on the complimentary shuttle bus provided by the Desaru Coast management. Relatively newly built at the time of our visit, this hotel has a total of 116 rooms, villas and residences that come with an eye-popping price tag. As a result, we opted for a stay during the off-peak monsoon season. Paired with some Traveloka and Trip.com promo codes (including a won voucher) and Trip coins, we were soon on our way to check this hotel out!
- Inclusions:
- 3-night stay in Deluxe Sea View Room
- Breakfast
- Spent: SGD$365.76 + $438.74 in Trip coins
Check-in
We dropped by earlier after breakfast at Hard Rock Hotel to do a pre-registration and avoid the crowds during check-in later on. Fitria, one of the reception staff, ushered us to The Lounge to wait while she completed the process. Wow, the atmosphere here was so breezy and tranquil, with breathtaking views of the property and the sea beyond! Shortly after, she came to brief us on the facilities and complimentary activities we could sign up for. Just as we were about to board the shuttle bus back to Hard Rock Hotel to pack up, she informed that our room was ready (yay!).
Based on past reviews I’ve read, it seems that guests are usually welcomed by a staff hitting the huge gong at the entrance. Guests are then presented with welcome drinks and snacks. We didn’t experience any of that, probably due to the assumption that we were already guests since we had no bags with us when we alighted. I thought they would follow this welcome protocol once they realized we were checking in, but that didn’t happen either.
Tucked away in an inconspicuous corner is the Library, an air-conditioned indoor space which can be accessed via a door next to the reception counters. Some books and magazines lined the shelves, presumably for guests to borrow for their reading.
Room
Similar to our stay at Hard Rock Hotel, we were assigned a room on the highest floor (level 3) close to the lobby. Fortunately, it was much quieter this time but the downside was that our balcony was in full view of the customers at the Observatory Bar. With that said, the proximity to the lobby came in handy when we needed to collect our GrabFood meal deliveries. Ordering GrabFood was an excellent tip from fellow travel blogger, Lonely Travelog! It was much more affordable than dining at the restaurants here but we had to place our order before a certain time as many GrabFood stores close early (except maybe Domino’s pizza).
The room itself features beautiful dark wood panelling and furniture, exuding modern Bali resort vibes. The best part was the panoramic view of the sea from our balcony, gorgeous on a sunny day. Just be sure not to leave food items out there as monkeys might come along and take them.
The light-coloured, stone-tiled bathroom comes with a tub (plus a comfy back rest), a separate shower and double sinks. All the bath amenities smelled absolutely divine (especially the bath salts), making our room smell like a calming spa after every shower!
Turndown service is automatically provided but you can also request for it on the Anantara app. I found the bed slightly softer than I would’ve preferred but still sufficient for a good sleep, along with the firm pillow I asked for. Amidst the terrifying yet magnificient thunderstorms, which happened frequently during our stay, the bed was undeniably a cosy spot to snuggle in while watching nature’s very own lightning show.
Facilities
Free-to-use bicycles are provided for guests to conveniently traverse the expansive hotel grounds. There are even designated bicycle stations at all the key venues of interest for easy parking.
The hotel has two swimming pools. The larger one is the Lagoon Pool just outside Turmeric restaurant, with the Lagoon Pool Bar serving poolside refreshments next to it. This pool has some shallow segments for kids and a pavilion with day bed swings suspended over the water.
The smaller one is the Infinity Pool, located down by the beach and in front of the Infinity Bar. Guests can enjoy the sea views up close from this pool. As for the gym, it is a mid-sized one that seems adequately equipped for a basic workout.
Anantara Spa is nestled among lush greenery and situated next to the hotel drop-off point. Once we were past the unassuming rustic entrance, we were greeted by a lovely and inviting reception space. My husband wanted to make an appointment but sadly, the slots were completely full by the time we enquired. Book early to avoid disappointment!
For guests with kids or teens, there are a whole bunch of activities and amenities to keep them occupied at Layang Layang kids club and Luncur Ombak teens club. These clubs are located towards the left side of the property (when you position yourself facing the sea).
I was pleasantly surprised that the teens club is so well-equipped with an array of games like PS4, Nintendo Switch, electronic pinball machines, table tennis and foosball. These would definitely keep the adults entertained too. My husband and I played table tennis and had good fun sparring with each other both physically and verbally 😀
The hotel offers direct beach access and a watersports centre for guests to rent non-motorized sports equipment at a fee. This watersports centre is run by an external vendor called Dash Outdoors. Additionally, outdoor shower facilities and jars of water with scoops were readily available for guests to rinse off after coming back from the beach.
Once we were done exploring the property, I decided to park myself on a lounge chair at the Infinity Bar while my husband satisfied his sudden impulse to surf again. He rented a surfboard from the watersports centre for MYR39+ per hour. The waves looked humongous from where I was seated though and there weren’t any lifeguards on duty, so it was pretty much a swim-at-your-own-risk situation.
Anxious thoughts aside, I did enjoy the casual, laid-back ambience at the Infinity Bar. The menu here mainly comprises tapas and light bites. My order of chicken tacos with tomato salsa chilli and avocado (MYR55+) made for a light and fresh snack while relaxing in this brooding weather.
Next up, we had a dinner reservation at Sea.Fire.Salt, a beachfront restaurant with amazing chill vibes specializing in seafood and grill dishes. Saw and her team made us feel incredibly welcome and taken care of from the moment we arrived. Ushering us to the best seats in the house, which were at the edge of the deck facing the sea, she then proceeded to share her menu recommendations and promptly took our order.
She then brought us a complimentary tray of amuse-bouche (smoked duck with apricot jam) and an impressive assortment of bread. This consisted of pumpkin, onion and Italian bread, as well as breadsticks, accompanied by three types of butter (seaweed, hummus, charcoal), yum!
For drinks, I had a lemon squash (MYR25+) while my husband had an iced lemon tea (MYR25+). Both were zesty and refreshing since they shared the same lemon juice base mix. The drinks came with unusual semi-dissolvable straws though, compelling us to speed up our drinking before they completely wilted away.
We ordered the roasted spring chicken (MYR105+) and the halibut fillet (MYR125+) for our main course. The chicken was well-seasoned and juicy, packing a little bit of heat from the spices.
The halibut had a melt-in-your-mouth texture and was paired with light sauces that nicely complemented its delicate flavour. That dash of mildly spicy red sauce on the side helped cut through the predominantly creamy profile of this dish, simply delicious (:
Halfway through dinner, my husband did the most random, baffling thing. He spontaneously asked for a cup of English Breakfast tea (MYR15+), stating that he was preparing himself to do things that middle-aged people and beyond do (wait, what?). It’s times like these I wonder whether we’re actually from the same planet 😛
Rounding up our dinner, we indulged in a hot chocolate fondant dessert (MYR50+). Lamentably, it was the weakest dish that night as it was a sliver too sweet and the vanilla gelato had an unappealing artificial taste to it.
Having forgotten my slippers on the way out of the house for this trip (my brain was clearly not awake at 6.30am), I had to drop by Cempaka Gift Shop after dinner to see if they sold slippers. This small shop is located right next to the reception area and sells a range of beach wear and accessories, albeit at higher-than-usual prices. I was grateful that the slipper designs were decent so I bought myself a pair for MYR89+.
Breakfast is served every morning at Turmeric restaurant situated below the reception area. It is a classy and elegant space with indoor and outdoor seats that face the Lagoon Pool. Guests are treated to a wide variety of options on the buffet line, such as pastries (including hanging donuts that look utterly tempting), fruits, cereals, salads, and cold cuts, as well as western and asian dishes. There are live stations for freshly prepared eggs and noodles too.
In addition, they serve fresh juices and special healthy shots of the day, reminding me of the power juice shots that are a mainstay of most Kempinski hotel breakfasts. While perusing the spread, I chanced upon a cat that was meowing in spurts and seemed to be waiting for scraps, super cute ❤
Generally, the food was delectable and there were some variations in the dishes across the days. Even the eggs menu at the live station was on rotation. I highly recommend the tasty prata and curry with superbly tender chicken. My husband said he saw a guest frantically scooping two bowls full of this, it was that awesome.
The desserts and pastries were astonishingly good as well – the banana bread was soft and fragrant, the French toast was fluffy, the bread and butter pudding was moist and not too sweet. For drinks, definitely try the smooth and creamy teh tarik!
On top of the comprehensive facilities, the hotel offers a number of free-to-join leisure activities as well (do check with reception for the latest schedule and to book slots). One of them was the Desaru Beachlife & Tidepool Discovery involving a 90-minute walk along the beach to learn about the native creatures there.
This activity was initially scheduled to happen at 8.30am on Day 2 of our stay (so we actually got up extra early to have breakfast before this). However, when no one showed up, we checked with reception and they said that it had been postponed to 5pm. It was rather annoying that they didn’t take the initiative to let us know beforehand. Each slot only accommodates a maximum of six guests so it shouldn’t be that hard to make a few calls?
It didn’t matter eventually as the activity was flat-out cancelled for the day due to a light drizzle. Again, staff didn’t proactively inform us of this cancellation, we only found out when we called to confirm the activity. Unfazed and determined to “discover”, we asked the reception staff for the usual route the guides take so we could embark on our own trail. Other than the occasional plastic trash, we saw many white, almost translucent, crabs scuttling about. At low tide, this made for a pleasant walk as the sand was compact and sturdy.
Yet another case of poor communication occurred on Day 3, when my husband wanted to rent a bodyboard but found that there was no one manning the watersports centre. Upon checking with a few of the staff, they didn’t seem sure either and gave us differing reasons. One shared that the vendor wouldn’t be coming due to the bad weather while another said it was the vendor’s off-day. Frankly, it was very frustrating that no one could provide clarity on the situation as the vendor was, in their words, external. It just felt like a complete lack of ownership on the hotel’s part.
As a result, we decided to chill out at the Observatory Bar instead to calm our nerves. It turned out to be the best thing to happen to us that day as we got to meet Nelson, a chirpy and cheeky bartender who perked us up with his genuine, naturally jesting demeanour. Offering us refreshing hand-mixed calamansi and sour plum drinks on the house, we chatted candidly about our home countries and exchanged recommendations for travel destinations! He truly turned the mood around and for that, we were immensely appreciative ❤
Feeling peckish midway through our conversation with Nelson, we thought of ordering some fries (MYR28+), a coffee (MYR15+) and fresh coconut juice (MYR18+). Alas, the food menu here was quite limited (they didn’t have fries) but Nelson said he could help us key in the order and have it brought over from Turmeric restaurant instead. Truly a gem!
Another one of the complimentary leisure activities we signed up for was Birdwatching (4.30pm to 5.30pm), which we joined on Day 3 of our stay. Shakira was our guide who brought us to various spots around the property while pointing out and sharing about the birds we saw. She handed us binoculars so we could get a better look at the birds from afar.
According to her, there are over 90 species of birds recorded here in Desaru and during that time of year, we were more likely to see migratory birds. I’m not exactly thrilled about watching birds but I found it to be an interesting and informative experience (:
Right after that was the Nature Walk activity that took place from 6pm to 7pm (you can opt for the morning one that begins at 8am). Our guide was Ben (pronounced “Bern”) and she brought us to explore the botany found around the property.
Here are some facts she shared that I found intriguing:
– Button ginger can be used to control cholestrol (she plucked a few so we could have a taste)
– Beach spider lilies produce a gel-like substance in their trunks that is effective for jellyfish stings, plus their nectar is deadly to cats (yikes)
– You can roughly tell how hot the day was by the colour of fallen sea hibiscus flowers (the darker it is along the continuum of yellow, orange and maroon, the hotter that day was)
She also explained the hotel’s manual weather station that uses a coconut hanging from a chain as the means of “measurement” (click here to see the before shot with the coconut still present). I initially thought the last line was meant as a cute joke. I mean, how could the winds be that strong to blow a coconut off the metal chain? Well, having witnessed the forces of nature here from the safety of our room, coupled with Ben’s sharing about the typical intensity of such storms, I was then fully convinced it was possible.
Another fascinating story she told us was of the scaevola taccada, whose flowers have petals that all face downwards, perpetually making it look like half a flower. According to folk tales, these two “halves” represent two star-crossed lovers who were torn apart by a jealous and powerful person, never to reunite again.
Our last stop on this walk was at the edge of the hotel where the mangrove foliage and morning glory grew. Apparently, these plants help buffer the beachfront residences from the storm waves that can swell up to the banks just in front of the Infinity Pool (like it did the previous night).
Ben advised us to avoid visiting Desaru Coast in January and February as the winds blow the oil down from Indonesia, which makes the sea water greasy. On the other hand, the waters are usually clear between March and September. During the monsoon season, currents under the surface of the sea can be very strong so guests are encouraged not to venture out too far. Helpful tips indeed!
On the day of our departure, we had some time to kill after we checked out before the shuttle bus took us to the ferry terminal (our ferry was diverted due to unfavourable weather conditions). Naziha, another reception staff, kindly offered us the welcome (or rather, farewell) snacks and drinks while we waited. So thoughtful of her (: She also handed us a souvenir wooden frame with the photo they took of us on Day 1 during check-in.
Finally, as our shuttle bus passed the security post on the way out, I caught a glimpse of the guard there waving goodbye to us with a huge smile. What a heartwarming moment!
My overall rating of the experience: 4 out of 5 stars. Impeccable, luxurious rooms with stunning sea views, comprehensive facilities catering to diverse age groups, and a variety of dining options serving really decent fare. There wasn’t much of a mosquito issue as the winds were so strong then (the only time I was bitten was during the Birdwatching activity). Having a watersports centre and a range of free leisure activities is commendable too, but only if guests can actually access them. There was a sore lack of communication and staff initiative to inform guests when the external watersports vendor would be on-site and when there were activity changes or cancellations. Rather unacceptable, if you ask me. That aside, the hotel certainly picked the right guides for the activities. We could tell they were really passionate and proud of what they do. There was that sparkle in their eyes, like when Shakira rushed towards a bird she spotted and eagerly waved us over, or when Ben spoke about her personal experiences growing up with nature here in this land. Not forgetting Saw and her team from Sea.Fire.Salt and Nelson from Observatory Bar, who made our time with them feel exceedingly special ❤ This hotel is a strong contender should we decide to visit Desaru Coast again but hopefully those software issues would be resolved by then.
If this post helped you in some way and you’d like to buy me a coffee, I’d be incredibly grateful (:
Dania Experiences 