Redang De' Rimba Resort

The island is wonderfully peaceful and suited to relaxing, though getting to the beach takes around 12-15 minutes on foot. The hotel has lots of stairs to some rooms, a bit like bath caves, so I wouldn't recommend it for older guests or people who aren't very fit. Food and drinks cost more than at local restaurants, but we still ate here a few times. There are no fridges in the rooms, which was a first for us and disappointing. Monkeys may turn up on balconies or around the hotel. We didn't mind, since that's not something you see every day.

I’m lowering my rating from 2 stars to 1 because I believe most of the positive reviews are fake. The photos and points they mention don't seem to come from genuine customers. The property also felt badly neglected. The landscaping and basic upkeep need attention, the chairs outside rooms were broken or deteriorating, and the rooms and toilets had decor and appliances that seemed decades old. For what it charges, it felt like a 1-star hotel at 3-4-star prices. There are several flights of stairs to reach rooms, and guests aren't given much basic information about getting around the island. We had to ask at other restaurants about beaches and activities. Service didn't meet expectations for the price either. Reception was often unattended, and when staff came out from the back office they seemed uninterested and did the bare minimum, leaving us to find our own room. We were also surprised to need cash deposits for ordinary bath towels and motorcycle rentals. Our booking said cards and QR payments were accepted, so we barely had enough cash. I think there are better value options on the island. This hotel needs a major renovation and a change in attitude to stay competitive.

The room was passable, but the rest of this stay was a mess. Guests seemed to matter only as a way to get as many ringgit as possible. I've stayed at plenty of hotels in Malaysia, and this was the worst experience I've had here. The activities were a constant headache. We had to book and pay the day before, but they wouldn't confirm anything until 9am on the day. Then they often said there weren't enough people, cancelling at the last minute or asking us to pay an absurd amount for the whole boat. The excursions were very basic and limited. With little else to do in this part of the island, you depend on the hotel, and they take advantage of that. Two of the three activities we booked were cancelled at the last minute. We were also asked to leave a deposit just to get towels. Location matters on Redang. I'd strongly suggest staying at Long Beach, which has many more activities and places to eat. The central part has the airport and Turtle Bay, which is nice but already included in most tours. Going between the two sides takes barely 10 minutes, yet is a nightmare unless you're willing to pay a ridiculous amount. Food was bland and overpriced, despite better and cheaper restaurants nearby. Staff were repeatedly rude, unhelpful, and inflexible. Other guests we spoke to felt the same. This hotel ruined what should have been a lovely Redang trip. Stay away from De’Rimba Resort, and choose Long Beach instead.

The best part is the beach, about a 15-minute walk away, with white sand and incredibly clear water. We saw lots of turtles there. Weekends get crowded with visitors, so it's worth going during the week. The hotel can rent you a scooter if you don't want to walk. We were unsure what to expect after reading the reviews, but ended up pleasantly surprised. Our room had two big beds and was very clean. The bathroom was basic and wet-room style, though it had hot water. Pickup and drop-off at the jetty went smoothly, and the people there were always friendly. Someone was around until 10pm. We only tried breakfast once. It was basic but fine, and for other meals we went to a nice fish restaurant down the street. The bathroom smelled a bit, and there was no WiFi in the room, though that didn't bother us much. They ask for cash deposits for towels and the scooter, which felt a little odd. Bring enough cash to the islands, since you can't withdraw money there. We'd come back!