Picture this — warm sun, soft sand, waves rolling in, and you taking a sip of your cocktail by the beach. Ah, paradise! Welcome to Desaru Coast, a dream destination to satisfy your wanderlust for the beach. A home to four pristine accommodations to suit every traveller’s needs, this beach getaway should be the top of your bucket list!

Let’s talk about Anantara Desaru.

ABOUT

So.. if you haven’t heard of Anantara, what rock have you been living under? Anantara Desaru welcomed their first guest(s) back in December 2019. That’s right, just before the whole Rona fiasco.
This paradisal getaway destination overlooking South China Sea promises a tropical adventure to its travellers. A perfect balance between land and sea nestled in lush tropical gardens on golden Malaysian shores — am I tempting you yet?

Housing a total of 108 rooms, villas and Residences — this luxurious resort offers the perfect beach getaway for everyone! Located about 1 hour drive away from Senai International Airport in Johor, hence best to travel by car to Desaru Coast and enjoy the scenic drive!

FACILITIES & SERVICES
This luxurious 5-star resort offers various service and facilities such as :
– Air-conditioning and fan
– Complimentary High-speed wifi
– Smart LCD TV
– Sea-view & Lagoon-view rooms
– En-suite bathroom with separate shower and tub
– Complete (luxury) bathroom amenities
– Sofa bed in every room
– Private balcony and seating
– Nespresso machine in every room
– Iron & ironing board
– Hair-dryer
– Safety deposit box
– Robe & slippers
– Room dining service
– Room cleaning & turndown service
– Lagoon Pool
– Infinity Pool (with beachfront!!)
– Private plunge pool for each Villa & Residence
– 4 F&B Outlets
– Spa
– Meeting conference room
– Fitness club
– Library
– Seasonal Watersports
– Luncur Ombak Teens Club
– Layang Layang Kids Club
– and many more! You can read about them here.

Upon arrival, the staff at the resort would be ready, waiting to welcome you with a refreshment, while you check-in at the beautiful grand lobby overlooking the resort.
As we move towards the Endemic phase, you are required to sign health declaration forms
to ensure the safety of every guests staying in-house. They then will escort you to your room, villa or residences.

Everything you need is at the tip of your fingers. Room dining menu — scan the given barcode and pick up the phone.

ACCOMMODATIONS
Unlike most hotels, there really isn’t a bad room at Anantara Desaru. Every room is either sea/lagoon facing, except for the Villas and Residences.

Let’s talk about the rooms first.

Each room is beautifully decorated with traditional wood-furnishing, and artwork that emphasises South East Asian identity. Choose between King or Twin bed, additionally you’ll find an ample seating space at the balcony overlooking the resort.

Step into the luxurious bathroom and you’ll find robes, slippers and the comfiest towels to complete your holiday gear! Did I mention a tub and a separate (rain) shower? Anantara has got your back when it comes to balancing comfort and luxury.

As for the pool villas..

The private villa is a two-storey haven overlooking the lagoon. Choose between one-bedroom or two-bedroom villa, both offers a dip into the private plunge pool(s).
Each villa is furnished with King bedroom upstairs and the two bedroom villa would have an additional twin bedroom on the ground floor. You can opt to have breakfast in your private outdoor gazebo, host BBQ on the deck and sunbathe by the plunge pool — the world is your oyster!

Saving the best for last, Anantara Residences

The ultimate indulgence, complete with butler service and beachfront pool. Each Residence comes with either three-bedrooms or four-bedrooms, making it the perfect stay for a large group or families. All amenities are complete (even with kitchenettes), just like home away from home!
Keep in mind that the Residences are generally, err on the more expensive side. But if you have the budget for it, the direct access to the beach from your private deck and having a personal butler taking care of life’s essential while you get your tan on, is worth the splurge.

DINING
If the price per night for lodging is an indicator of anything, it’s that Desaru Coast is not a cheap destination to visit. In fact, food and drink at any resort you visit will be costly. Generally speaking, you can expect to pay RM 150 per person for dinner at one of the on-site restaurants. Don’t forget to enjoy the mocktails which are to die for!

Now that you know of how much to expect per meal, here are the 4 on-site restaurants at Anantara Desaru :

– Tumeric
An all day dining experience featuring Malaysian and Thai specialties.

– Sea.Fire.Salt
Ultra chic steakhouse featuring prime cuts and seafood grill on the beachfront.

– Infinity Bar
A great place to enjoy tropical cocktail/mocktail by the beach and the infinity pool.

– Observatory Bar
The best place to enjoy 360-degree view of the resort with a refreshing cocktail/mocktail.

Although it may not be much, but ordering in-room dining service could save you some money. Besides, you could be enjoying your meal with the beautiful panoramic view of the resort on your balcony — who wouldn’t enjoy that?

ACTIVITIES

Most people flock to Desaru to relax in paradise. However you’ll find a ton of activities to enjoy for all ages.

Spicespoons
Immerse yourself in the world of culinary where you get to learn and cook your own Malay/Thai lunch under the guidance of a master chef.

Guided Nature Walk
Walk through the green areas and the beach with Wahyu, the in-house naturalist where you get to learn and appreciate Mother Nature and the wildlife around the resort.

Layang Layang Kids Club
Fun daily activities designed for the young travellers like pizza making, t-shirt painting, indoor & outdoor games and many more!

Luncur Ombak Teens Club
Keep the young adults entertained with an array of activities including video games, pinball machines, table tennis and more.

Library
Catch up on your reading or enjoy board game activities with your family.

And if you’re ready to relax but don’t want to fall off your fitness routine, check out their fitness club, infinity/lagoon pool or their watersports centre.

Find more activities here.

SPA

Whatever you choose to do during your stay at Anantara Desaru, do not leave without spending a day at the spa! Feeling jet-lagged? In need of a revival after a long day in the water? No problem! Retreat to a relaxing massage or treat yourself to a 24-carat gold facial — pure bliss!

HYGIENE/CLEANLINESS
Good hygiene is vital for guests to feel rested and reassured. My sinuses are happy to report that no dusts were detected throughout our stay. The resort is very well kept and disinfected to meet or exceed the regulatory requirements and the recommendations of the government or health regulatory bodies. You’ll find no rubbish around the premise, even on the beach areas.

OVERALL

I had to pinch myself several times during my stay at Anantara Desaru. Between the top-notch service and alluring landscape, I found myself asking “is this real life?” quite a number of times. Yes, the trip can be pricey but it’s worth every cent if it means being able to disconnect and enjoy stress-free life for a couple days.

Book your stay with Anantara Desaru where their luxurious 5-star service would only enhance your experience at Desaru Coast!

Anantara Desaru – website
Anantara Desaru – instagram
Agoda Anantara Desaru
Booking Anantara Desaru
Tripadvisor Anantara Desaru