Lotus Seaview Beach Resort

The people here made the stay memorable. Redzuan, the manager, came over as soon as I opened the hood when my car wouldn’t start, and helped jump it with the hotel buggy. At breakfast, the cook made me fresh roti canai even though they were closing, and the landscaping team picked fresh coconuts for us. Reception staff patiently explained things, the buggy driver was waiting to take us to breakfast each morning, and the guards were friendly and attentive. There’s a real kampung warmth here, and the staff clearly care. We came a week before Malaysian school holidays, so it was probably quieter then. There are some rough edges. The facilities are dated and don’t feel quite five-star, and I slipped in the bathroom because water pooled from the poor shower drainage. Some rules may seem strict, like one keycard, limited pool access, and no extra towels, though I can imagine they help during busier times. It’s a good fit if you value people and warmth over polished luxury.

The beach is nice and not too crowded, though in the morning the sea was still high and we couldn’t go down to it. It’s away from Desaru coast. Our room was large and clean, and while the facilities looked a little old, they were still well maintained. Breakfast had plenty of choices and tasted pretty good.

It’s about 20 minutes farther south from Desaru, which makes for a calm, quiet setting. There’s a mini shop on site, and a nearby town with a small retail shop like Speedmart or 7-Eleven and halal eateries is only a five-minute drive away. Our deluxe room was a good size, with a large walk-in shower. Breakfast was simple and decent, though it could use more pastry choices.

The beach was great for my child, who loves outdoor activities. We even managed to fly a kite on the first day, but the event had taken over the field on the other days. A loud event was going on right outside our bungalow, and some attendees put their belongings on our porch, which felt like an invasion of privacy. The bungalow was decent, though the living room air-conditioning didn’t work during our stay. All in all, it was okay, with privacy and maintenance needing attention.