Beejay Bakau Resort

A nice resort among the mangroves, with spacious rooms, a pleasant atmosphere, and reasonable rates. There are useful facilities, including a restaurant, souvenir shop, photo spot, and boardwalk through the mangrove forest. Good for learning about mangroves.

The mangroves and the view are so peaceful, and I'd come back for that. I stayed in the 3BR bungalow with family, a good choice: roomy bedrooms, a living room with smart TV and karaoke, plus a small pool and a big terrace. Staff were friendly and helpful enough. The food at the restaurant was okay, fairly priced, though it could be better. The EDM music didn't suit the natural setting. Maybe traditional instrumental music would fit more. The bungalows really need renovation and regular maintenance. The stairs weren't straight and looked unsafe, like they could fall at any time. It'd be a shame to let this nearly forgotten gem go without upkeep. Please visit and support it. 😂❤️

Edit, 2022 second visit: After the issues I mentioned last time, BJBR was much better. The AC was running when I arrived and cooled the room well, and everything was cleaner and more satisfying. I'm glad management made improvements, and I can't wait to return. 2022: I was really disappointed after having left a good review three years earlier. The hotel and restaurant needed cleaning, and the AC hadn't been cleaned since 2019, over three years before. Reception behavior also needs attention. At 6:00 in the morning they called to say breakfast ended at 9:00, not 10:00. It woke my baby boy and interrupted our holiday rest. Water pressure was sometimes poor: in the afternoon the shower only dripped and wasn't usable, but at night it was fine, perhaps because other rooms weren't using water. The restaurant badly needed cleaning too. I only saw two staff there, so maybe they couldn't keep up, but management still needs to act. I posted some photos of the restaurant. To be fair, the food was really good, and my wife loved the crabs with Padang sauce. We love this place and have been coming since BJBR began. I hope the resort improves soon. 2019: One of the best things was being able to fish right from the patio by the sea. We only caught little fish, but it was a great experience. The room was nice and might have needed a small upgrade. It had two AC units, one not working, and thick dust at the air intake of the other, though it was still okay. The bathroom was getting old and needed some attention. The food was delicious, especially the Crab with Padang sauce my wife enjoyed. There's also a nice theme park. I still thought it was a great vacation spot and planned to come back.

The mangroves and sea view were the main reason for my stay, and the morning walk among the mangroves was a lovely part of it. I booked a sea front room, a bit pricey on the weekend, but got a beautiful sunrise. I visited in early June, near the end of the rainy season, and the climate was pleasant. The stay was acceptable, though after two years of the CoVid-19 pandemic most facilities had mold. Repairs and maintenance need more attention. I hope management rethinks the pricing and improves the facilities. Adding more eco-educational elements would make visits richer.