Sea La Vie Batik @ Laguna Resort

Bring cash if you're set on staying here, like it's 1996. They take cash only for the deposit, and the nearest ATMs were all out of service. We waited almost an hour to check in before they came up with a solution, even though I'd suggested one as soon as I heard about the cash-only rule. The photos are deceiving and don't match the place. And the cleanliness complaints and bad smell people mention are real. For me, this accommodation and its service are worth less than RM100, or RM120 at most. Paying almost RM300 (RM280++) for somewhere with a hostel or college dorm feel comes across as a scam.

Being right on the beach is the one thing this hotel has going for it, but the state of the place made the stay unacceptable. Dust and dirt were everywhere, including the hallways and lobby, and cleanliness and upkeep clearly don't seem to be priorities. My room was old and dirty, smelled strongly of mothballs, and had a TV that didn't work. The air conditioning gave off a foul smell too. Given all that, the prices they're charging are far too high.

The beach is very nice, but the room's smell, pests, and lack of care ruined the stay. We had booked two nights and left after one. There was a strong ubat gegat smell, a huge cockroach in the room, and a large spider in the bathroom. When I told the front desk about the cockroach, they just handed me insect spray. No help or concern. Hygiene was extremely poor and the service disappointing. I wouldn't recommend it to families or anyone looking for a clean, comfortable stay.

Teluk Kemang beach is an easy walk away, and our room looked out over the pool. The beach there isn't the busy, popular stretch, so you can enjoy it at your own convenience. Parking is free, though there was no breakfast during our weekday visit. The room was clean, but it took a while for the aircon to cool down. The toilet water looked a bit cloudy and smelled.