Forest City Marina Hotel

The pool was the main letdown: the larger one looked oddly yellow and cloudy, and there were only a few loungers along one side. I can’t imagine that being enough when it’s busy. Also, the nearby “waterpark” is a separate ticketed venue, and I never saw it operating. The hotel’s tandem-bike routes were blocked, leaving very few places to ride. The hotel itself was quiet and peaceful, with lovely rooms and decor. It was fairly clean, and both the cleaning and service staff were prompt and professional. The rooms had the expected upscale touches, including toiletries, robes, and slippers, and were surprisingly well maintained for Malaysia. The beach was convenient and fairly clean.

The noise made the room impossible to use for work or rest. I booked a month, which was stupid, and now I’m renting an office elsewhere just to get work done. The room is big, with a balcony and a desk over the water, and the town is quiet, so I expected somewhere to read, do yoga, and relax by the ocean. Instead, for 4-6 hours a day, from 8am-7pm, leaf blowers, whipper snippers, and mowers run at 110 decibels. The building amplifies the sound, and the supposedly soundproof windows have no seals. The beach, balcony, and pools are deafening. Even when the hotel is full, the beach is empty. You can’t sunbathe, use the loungers or pool, eat outside, do yoga on the balcony, or properly relax or work in the room. They also spray toxic chemicals inside with backpack sprayers. The fumes from this 100-year-old motor technology are, to me, much worse than car fumes. Electric blowers would cost far less to run. Even basic street sweepers use electric equipment and hand clippers, so why doesn’t this “5 Star Hotel”? Eight people I asked are sick of the noise too. The room layout and furniture are poor, with so much space wasted. The developers are apparently near bankrupt, and whoever is running this “5-star hotel” isn’t helping. Marketing Phoenix Marina Hotel as a “Low-Carbon City” while running gas blowers for 4-6 hours every day may be an ESG violation. I believe the noise and fumes also go against its own “Green Operations” claims.

For our wedding on 15 November 2025, we needed 80 rooms for our wedding party and guests travelling from Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, and Ipoh. We wanted an accessible venue away from the city, with sea breezes, beach access, panoramic views, and a grand ballroom that would impress guests of all ages. My partner and I and our parents agreed on Forest City Marina Hotel for the celebration and Golf Hotel for the accommodation. The night went superbly and was memorable. The ballroom looked elegant and romantic, and guests complimented the atmosphere, table arrangements, especially the VVIP table, and the food quality, particularly the seafood and signature courses. Servers presented the dishes with a grand display, which was exciting to watch. Food reached every table consistently, and the team stayed attentive, polite, and professional throughout. We had specially requested the Wine & Whiskey Bar Stations, and they were a highlight. The classy setup added a lot to the pre-dinner entertainment and dinner. Guests enjoyed whiskey, white and red wine, and Carlsberg beer while eating, singing, and celebrating. A special thank you to Mr. Hamzah, the Hotel Manager, for his professional knowledge, steady guidance, and warm, kind support. Ms. Farah, the Sales Officer, was patient, communicated clearly, and stayed dedicated throughout the six months of planning, always putting the customer first. We strongly recommend FC Marina and Golf Hotels to couples and families in JB and across the Tuas Causeway looking for a well-organised venue for weddings or special events.

Forest City doesn’t feel “haunted/deserted” to me like some people claim. There were plenty of people around, and the hotel felt lively and comfortable. I loved my Superior Suite and would definitely come back. It was really pleasant, with a huge bed, a very handy bathtub since I had a baby with me, and a spacious balcony. Breakfast was included too. The one drawback is there’s no kids’ swimming pool, but bringing a float for the baby meant they could still enjoy the water.