Akar Beach Resort

If you’re set on staying here, bring cash like it’s 1996. They take cash only for the deposit, and sorting that out delayed our check-in by almost an hour. The nearest ATMs were all out of service. They weren’t very helpful at first and only started looking for a solution after a while, even though I suggested one as soon as I heard about the cash-only rule. The photos are misleading, and the cleanliness complaints and bad smell people mention are real. Paying almost RM300 (RM280++) for somewhere with a hostel or college dorm feel seems like a scam. For the accommodation and service here, the actual value is below RM100, or RM120 at most.

Being right on the beach is the hotel’s one redeeming feature. It doesn’t make up for how dirty and poorly maintained everything was, though. There was dust and dirt in the room, the hallways, and even the lobby. The room felt old and unclean, and smelled strongly of mothballs. The TV didn’t work, and the air conditioning blew out a foul odor. Cleanliness and upkeep clearly aren’t a priority, and the hotel shouldn’t charge the prices it does.

We booked two nights but left after one. There was a strong mothball smell in the room, plus a huge cockroach there and a large spider in the bathroom. When I told the front desk about the cockroach, they just handed me insect spray. No real help or concern, and the hygiene and service were extremely disappointing. The beach is very nice, but the lack of cleanliness and care ruined the stay. I wouldn’t recommend it, especially for families or anyone expecting a clean, comfortable room.

Teluk Kemang beach is within walking distance, and this is the quieter, less crowded side, so we could enjoy it at our own pace. Parking is free. There was no breakfast during our weekday visit. Our room had a pool view and was clean, though the toilet water smelled and looked a little cloudy. The air conditioning also took a while to cool the room.