Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa

Huge but dated hotel, however for its value and with your expectation as basic malaysian hotel, it is great for weekend or casual outing. I stayed there for 4 times. First, Rooms, they are huge with beautiful two story for single rooms and single story for 2/3 bedroom apartments. All are not carpeted, expected of beach hotels. Expect basic services and you have to find your own enjoyment. Second, the hotel has several amenities, pool, water slide, kids water park, restaurants, beach bar, water sport outlet, grocery shop, and several other function rooms and karaoke etc. I found beach bar is cool to enjoy especially in the evening and night. Third, the beach, water is just so so, but the seafloor is shallow and can walk to very far at low tide. Jet ski and banana boat etc are a little expensive for its guests profile so not many people enjoy it most of the time. The hotel of this size should have people queuing for turn but it is not. Fourth, the negatives, the hotel is huge and rooms are far away from beach, it is not a relaxing trip to and from rooms. They have buggies driving around, but still not a good feeling of not within easily reachable to amenities. After swimming you have to carry seawater and sand with wet clothes all the way to far flung rooms on tiring legs. Same story for breakfast and dinner times.

We booked a one-bedroom apartment for 3D2N. Except the waterpark and room, the overall experience was great. The resort is a great place for a short getaway. We took our 2 kids there and literally stayed there for 3 days without a need to go out. The food (buffet breakfast, lunch and dinner) are great although they are a bit pricey. We like the buffet breakfast a lot, plenty of selections, tasty and good quality. We went to the Seaview Restaurant and their rojak is our favourite. The resort is well-equipped with swimming pools, playgrounds, gym, waterpark and next to beach. However, major maintenance is definitely required. I am quite impressed by their 2 swimming pools, the water is quite clean. However I am not impressed by their waterpark. The water is quite muddy and the playground on the waterpark is rather old. I like the interior design of the apartment but it has been worn out. We had a ground floor apartment and it feels like a university accommodation than a resort. I think both rooms and the waterpark need major improvements.

Stayed for 2D1N at 2 bedrooms apartment. It provides microwave and kettle. You can bring comforter for kids if you stay at studio rooms. Hotel guests entitled for free entrance to waterpark. The breakfast was nice and abundant & the washroom at the breakfast place was very cozy. Overall was excellent. But the price for activities were quite pricey (eg ; banana boat). The beach is not suitable to swim. Drive away to Batu Layar (about 2km) from the place.

I stayed at this resort for 2 nights to participate in a local triathlon race. The resort was the host venue. Participation was not high, with only an approx. 500 triathletes. However, the resort was full with families as it was a weekend. I took the ferry from Singapore to Tanjung Belungkor. A 30 mins boat ride. However, the infrastructure of the ferry terminal in Singapore is appalling. The maintenance of the building is utterly poor. The ferry itself, well, it looks really old too and whether the certification of seaworthiness is current, one do not know. The ride was smooth but did have second thoughts on the crews abilities as they were not a friendly bunch of people and they simply don't care about your luggage and bikes. It was a total opposite at Tanjung Belungkor Ferry Terminal. Much better infrastructure, pleasant staff and government officials of Immigration and Customs. A staff from the resort met me and handled all my luggage and bike with confidence. It took 40 mins approx. to reach the resort by the resort's shuttle bus. The lobby, hmmmmnn, seems to look like a hospital waiting area with so many rows of chairs. Check in was a breeze as I guess being a registered participant for the race have it's privileges. Guests have a choice to either take the buggy to your room or walk. I chose the latter. My room was a loft suite of sort. It was spacious and clean but quite dated furniture. Air-condition in the living room could not be switch off or adjust to a higher temperature. It was simply blasting. It took 2 days for the maintenance guy to resolved it. The bedroom air-con was just blowing air and it makes sleeping on the loft quite warm. Though WIFI is provided and complimentary, it is non-existent in the rooms. I have checked with the other participants. Though some could get it but weak. Best place is at the lobby to be connected. Don't expect much on the TV too. Best thing about the whole room is the fridge and microwave oven provided. There is a retail/grocery shop on the premises of the resort. Go get your fridge stock up! The resort is large with numerous pools and a small water park(?). Beach is lovely but watch the currents. There are quite a number of food outlets. Nothing to shout about on the food quality. It fills the stomach but dig a deep hole in your pocket too. Staff are friendly but sometimes a wee bit disorganized when there is a crowd at the restaurants. Overall, if you ask me whether I would return to this resort again, I won't. It's because the resort is rundown, too pricey for their F&B and too many families with screaming kids! There are much better resorts down the road from where Lotus Beach Resort is situated.

Resort is big; many accommodation blocks. Furthest block is about 15-20 mins walk to main lobby. Got a buggy service from main lobby to send you to your block but do not see empty buggy patrolling the resort to transport guests to the main lobby. Resort is crowded; rooms are full. Lots of parked cars lining the blocks. Mass market type of resort. Do not expect good service from the staff. Resort is old and seriously in need of upgrading - rooms, furnishing, everywhere. Taps in the room unable to turn off tight. Dripping water throughout. Got a 1 bedroom loft room. Spacious with 1 bathroom on the first floor and another bathroom with shower and bathtub on the second floor. TV images are grainy. 2 aircon units but only 1 working remote control. Holes on sides of bedsheet. Room is not very clean. Stains, rust and hair can be seen. Buffet breakfast is a big non-aircon dining hall beside the beach; behind the main lobby. Food is average. Nothing spectacular. Beach seems to be artificially made higher from the sea level. Not a gradual decline to the sea. Beach is littered is driftwood and other debris. Not cleaned up. Water park and swimming pool at one sector of the resort. Stay around this sector if do not wish to walk too far from the other blocks. Got a water slide and a children water play area. Limited F&B choices in the resort. In-room dining is expensive and pathetic. Food quantity is small and served in takeaway containers. Not those proper dinnerware where the staff will setup in your room. Overall, the resort is in typical Malaysia chalet style standards. Look at other resorts is you are looking for a pampering and enjoyable stay.