Watercolours Resort & Dive Centre

We spent four days and three nights at The Barat Perhentian Beach Resort with the family and had a wonderful time. The calm, scenic atmosphere made it feel family-friendly, whether we were exploring the island, spending time on the beach, or just enjoying the surroundings. It was an easy place to relax, and we'd recommend it to anyone looking for a quiet island escape. We'd love to come back. The resort is right by the beach, with clear water and beautiful views. Our rooms were clean, comfortable, well maintained, and had everything we needed. The food was enjoyable too, with a good range of choices for everyone. From the moment we arrived, the staff made us feel welcome. They were friendly and attentive throughout our stay.

Benny from the dive shop was the standout for us. He was a legend and got our snorkeling and diving sorted. The rest of the staff were friendly enough, but so inattentive that about 15 of the 20 times we wanted to order something, we had to go to the counter to get the attention of the three or four people sitting there. The location is awesome. The beach out front is too shallow for swimming, but a two-minute walk north gets you to the island's best beach, with nice sand and great snorkeling just 5m offshore. The rooms are decent, though basic compared with some we stayed at on Gilli Islands in Indonesia. The door locks need maintenance and are hard to use. Mixed bag, but a good place. Would I stay again? Yes, though I might first check out the two resorts actually on that northern beach. I might even go back to the Gilli Islands first.

October was low season, so the resort was quiet and had a really peaceful, calming feel. It's across from Kampung Nelayan, where we saw lovely coral fish, baby sharks, baby swordfishes, small crabs, and more right in front of the resort. I felt closer to nature here than during my previous stay in the Long Beach area. The front view and the cozy restaurant were a big part of what I loved, though squirrels and monkeys sometimes came by. My best friend and I had a smooth boat transfer. They arranged parking for us, and when we arrived at Besut Jetty, we didn't have to wait for the boat, unlike a bad experience I'd had with another resort. We got there around noon for check-in, and the staff upgraded us to a Deluxe Family Room that was ready right away. We had a wonderful time on Snorkelling Trip B, visiting Rawa Island, Tokong Burung, and Serenggeh for RM60 per person. Near Nemo Chalet, just across from the resort, we saw Nemo fish. At Rawa Island, we found a beautiful blue-purple baby stingray hiding behind coral, with the instructor's help. The food was delicious and hotel quality, with generous portions, though it was quite pricey once the 18% tax was added. I thought it was worth it. Xavier was funny and attentive when taking our orders, and always helpfully brought extra condiments. This was my first stay at The Barat Perhentian and a really good one. I'd come back for the view and restaurant.

I had breakfast at the restaurant this morning, and the sandwich was honestly the best I've had on the island. It was tasty and generously filled. I'm not staying at the hotel, so I can't recommend it.