Nurbayu Villa (3 and 4 bedroom Villa) Kemaman

Facilities were average, and there seemed to be little maintenance. The experience was disappointing. The owner may still be influenced by her main profession and might not have the right outlook for customer service. I hope things improve, unless this business is just a pastime.

One chalet was delayed because the previous guest checked out late. They were charged RM20 for each extra hour, which went to the owner, while we were the ones losing time. After we’d paid in full, nobody explained which spaces we could use. A curtain was the only thing separating our area from the owner’s, which left us really uncomfortable and meant we barely used the indoor space. The Coway was broken, and we only learned that when we asked. They didn’t provide the mineral water that had initially been promised as a replacement. The owner’s replies were short and cold, like we were begging for a place to stay. During a discussion about the facilities, the owner slammed the door while one of us was still standing there. It was one of my worst homestay experiences, with terrible service and unprofessional behavior. Save yourself the trouble and book somewhere else.

Good value for money. I stayed in the roomy "Tanjung" challet, though it took a while for the air conditioning to feel cool. Watch out for the swimming pool, it costs an extra 50 ringgit per chalet. You’d pay less to use the olympic pool in Sydney.

I booked a queen bed, but they were overbooked, so the owner offered me another room in a quiet, remote spot. Since I’m a girl and it was my first solo trip, she let me stay in a room for a wedding event in their villa, even though no wedding was scheduled, and didn’t charge extra. I appreciated that she understood my safety concerns. The room was very comfortable, and the mattress was quite hard but not a big issue for me. Worth the money. I’m looking forward to staying again with my family.