The Westin Desaru Coast Resort

My mum and I had a lovely time at the resort when we came a couple of months ago for her birthday. We played ping pong in the games room, enjoyed breakfast, rode bicycles around the grounds, and liked the beach too. The staff were helpful and friendly. Special thanks to Shi Kin(?) for helping us at check-in and again on our second day. The rooms were in good shape, though a bit dated. I also couldn't figure out how to use the whirlpool jacuzzi(?). Westin management, your team is great. I hope you put the resources into keeping the resort maintained.

The breakfast buffet had loads to choose from, from Nasi Lemak to Eggs Benedict. I especially liked the teh tarik, thosai, rendang, and omelette station. The shuttle makes getting to the waterpark easy since it's the next stop from the Westin. On the return, walking may be quicker: after the waterpark the bus loops around before coming back, taking about 45 minutes. There are also shuttles to other resorts. The resort has plenty to do, with a lagoon pool, infinity pool, private beach, bike rentals, gym, sauna, and games room. We enjoyed cooling off in the pools and watching the sunrise from the beach. The room was spacious, with a sea-facing balcony and separate toilet, shower, and bath areas. I appreciated the pillow menu and lavender sleep well balm. The staff really made the holiday memorable. They welcomed us with drinks and popcorn, helped with our luggage, accommodated a slightly early check-in and late check-out, and explained the amenities. A fantastic stay at Desaru, and I'd definitely return if I'm back there.

The breakfast selection was good, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout. I had some concerns about the bathroom, though. There was a drain in the shower but I couldn't find one near the bathtub, so water collected on the floor and had to be pushed toward the drain by hand. That left it slippery and potentially unsafe. The drinking water seemed to come through pipes in the toilet area, even though filtered water was provided. It may be safe, but the setup gave me mixed feelings about hygiene. Maybe it's part of the environmental concept now. It was a very good hotel stay overall; better drainage and clearer reassurance about the water supply would improve it.

We stayed from 28-31May for our anniversary. The mattress was too soft for us, and flipping it didn't help. We hadn't asked for anything since it was peak season, so it was a lovely surprise when mindy from the front desk called and offered us a different room with a newer mattress. That was top-notch service. The room looked a little old, but was well maintained. The toilet wasn't mouldy and there was no musty smell. It still had the usual amenities too, unlike other MB hotels where the eco "plan" means you have to buy single-use items like a toothbrush. Service from the food and drink teams stood out as well. Sri from kedidi, mucid from prego, and ezri from seasonal taste all looked after us at mealtimes. At mix lounge, we wanted a gula melaka dessert from seasonal taste while listening to live music. Ezri happily brought it over. Karin's visible leadership seems to help Westin Desaru shine. We saw her checking the grounds in the morning and at busy prego in the evening, making sure service and food ran smoothly. She even came to our door with the mixologist and bar trolley to deliver evening cocktails for marriot bonvoy members. We got to talk with her, and it's easy to see how the resort does so well under her leadership. Westin desaru is one of the rare resorts that honours elite members. At many others, I just get a welcome bonus and drink and that's it. We're already planning another trip back.