Resorts World Kijal

This was my third visit, and the hotel's location is really handy. Mesra Mall, CMS Seafoods for seafood at night, and a Petronas fuel station are all nearby. The hotel itself is beautiful, faces the sea, and has a spacious golf course.

The beach was the saddest part of our stay. Inside the resort, the grounds were clean and the grass was cared for, but the shoreline was covered in plastic bottles, paper bags, shampoo bottles, and cigarette butts. It was shocking and heartbreaking. Malaysia has such a beautiful coastline, and seeing it treated this way made me angry and sad. If I hadn't been on holiday, I would've gone out to clean the beach myself. Other developing countries protect and take pride in their beaches. Why can't we? This isn't only about the resort, it's about us, and it's very, very sad to see this happening to our country. My family and I still enjoyed the stay overall. The resort is huge, with beautiful traditional Terengganu / Malay-inspired architecture, high timber roofs, open spaces, natural light, and good airflow. The lobby is especially impressive, with tall ceilings and an open-air design. It feels relaxed as soon as you walk in, and at night the place almost feels magical. The pool is large and divided into sections, with a kids' area and mini water park. It's a pleasant place to walk around. The resort is over 30 years old, but reasonably well maintained. The rooms and bathrooms have been repainted, and the furniture and fixtures look refurbished. It isn't new, but it isn't run-down either. Some age does show: the window gaps were dusty and dirty, the curtains needed a proper clean, and the water heater was inconsistent, with no hot water at certain times. The access road and parking areas also have potholes. Breakfast was fine, with a reasonable mix of Malaysian and Western food and an egg station. The gym looks dated. It's a Muslim-friendly resort with no alcohol or live band, so evenings can be very quiet, even boring, with little to do after dinner. Despite the issues, I'd give it 3.5 stars and would return if I wanted to slow down and relax.

The staff were friendly and quick to respond, which deserves credit since the resort is clearly showing its age. My whole family enjoyed the beach, with clear water and clean sand. I'd say it was better than the other east coast beaches we've visited, even Cherating. Breakfast would be better with more buffet options, and there aren't many F&B places outside the hotel.

We booked at the last minute and had a nice stay, even without a sea view. The bed was comfortable and the amenities were great, though we found the bathtub placement in the room a bit strange 😂 I especially liked being able to use the water dispenser and pitchers, which means less plastic waste. There wasn't much to do nearby, though. More seaside cafes or late-night spots would be nice, and the hotel restaurants felt dull, with uninteresting menus.