Hotel Review: Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru (Club Studio Deluxe King) - Modern Hotel with Beautiful Club Lounge
If I am pressed for time and do not want to take an extended weekend away from Singapore, Johor Bahru is a great option since the KTM Train takes only a couple of minutes and if that option is unavailable (i.e. I cannot get tickets for it), there is always the option of a private .car transfer. I have been to most of the hotels that belong to a larger hotel chain in Johor Bahru so I was quite interested to check out the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru when it opened. If you hold the American Express Platinum Reserve Credit Card (which you can get from upgrading your American Express Platinum Credit Card), you will get a complimentary 3D2N stay every membership year at participating Frasers Hospitality properties worldwide - the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru is a participating property and it may be a good idea to redeem it here (though you get better value redeeming it for properties located in Japan).
Bedroom
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
The Fraser World Loyalty programme does not appeal to me and I do not stay enough with the chain to get any significant benefit so I have actually booked this stay through an OTA - remember you can easily get 10% off your stays booked on Expedia if you use the right promo codes. Opened in early 2019, the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru is close to both the Johor Bahru CIQ Complex and the City Square Mall. However, with that being said, it is actually not an easy walk from these places to the hotel as there are no proper paths that will take you there on foot. Getting around Johor Bahru is easy with Grab and that is usually my preferred way of transport - a ride from the CIQ Complex or City Square Mall will cost you under SGD 3 so there is little reason why you should walk (especially when you are travelling with friends and family).
Bedroom
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
On this visit to Johor Bahru, I stayed in a Club Studio Deluxe King which is essentially a Studio Deluxe King room on a higher floor with exclusive benefits (which I will talk about more later). Similar to the lead-in room category, the Club Studio Deluxe King rooms (there are also rooms with twin beds if you require that) measure 38sqm in size and they are great for up to 2 adults.
King-size Bed
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
I opted for a king-size bed on this stay and the mattress was great (possibly because the property is new) - it was on the firm side but actually really comfortable! There is also a nice sofa located on the side of the bed which is great if you are looking for a place to rest (which is not the bed) after spending an afternoon out. If you do not plan on using Grab, there is actually a complimentary shuttle bus that the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru arranges for hotel guests - this bus departs on a regular basis and it is best to inquire about this upon check-in.
Universal Power Outlets
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
What I really like about the rooms here in Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru is the abundance of universal power outlets which makes it easy for travellers to charge their devices. The socket configuration in Singapore and Malaysia is similar so there is no drama here but I have been to so many luxury hotels located abroad where I have to look for some kind of universal adapter which is fairly annoying when it is late at night (and all you want to do is to charge your devices and get to bed ASAP).
Work Desk
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
If you are visiting the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru for work, there is a large work desk located within the room which you can utilise. However, if you are really here for work, I would seriously recommend getting a room with access to the Club Lounge as it is not only beautiful but also offers plenty of value (more on this later). In fact, I would go as far as to say that the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru probably has the nicest Club Lounge in the whole of Johor Bahru. You will also find a TV (although somewhat small) here which is located directly in front of the bed so there is no need for awkward adjustments.
Bedroom
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
There is an open wardrobe which is located right next to the kitchenette in the room and even though it is not excessively wide, it will fit at least three to five days worth of outfits in this area. A laundry basket is also provided in the room since there is a laundry area within the Capri by Fraser. I cannot remember exactly how much it costs to have your clothes washed (you’ll have to bring them down and put them into the machine on your own) but I do believe it was something like MYR 7 per wash cycle and MYR 5 for drying.
Kitchenette
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
Unlike most hotels, the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru offers a small kitchenette area even in its lead-in rooms so it is easy to compare it to a serviced apartment instead. In the Club Studio Deluxe King room that I have stayed in, there was a small microwave oven by the side as well as a sink for washing. While I did not utilise the microwave oven during my trip, it can certainly be useful if you are the kind that feels peckish at night and would like to enjoy a warm snack. Complimentary bottled drinking water is also provided in the rooms so it is convenient to take them along with you when you head out.
Nespresso Coffee Machine
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
What really impressed me however was the existence of a Nespresso machine in my room (especially at this price point). In fact, the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru actually offered 'real' Nespresso capsules (instead of the compatible one that most competing hotels in the area offer) in the room which was a nice touch. If you are a tea-drinking person, teabags are provided by the American tea company, Harney & Sons. Alternatively, you can always head up to the Club Lounge (assuming you have access) for a proper cup of tea and coffee,
Bathroom
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
You will not find a bathtub here in the bathroom of the Club Studio Deluxe King here at Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru. However, there is a massive shower area (complete with a rain shower head) which is probably good enough for a short stay.
Bath Amenities from Malin+Goetz
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
Bath amenities are provided by Malin+Goetz and similar to other Capri by Fraser properties that I have stayed in (but have never reviewed, unfortunately), they are placed in dispenser bottles which means that you will not be able to take them home with you (but that also means less waste for the environment).
Interiors
Club Lounge - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
The Club Lounge of the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru offers what I think is probably the biggest draw to the property for me. As mentioned earlier, it is also one of the nicest ones in the area and I would highly recommend getting a room with Club Lounge access if you enjoy a tipple as well as some quiet time in the evening.
Seats with a View
Club Lounge - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
Guests staying on the Club Floor or have access to the Club Lounge will enjoy complimentary facilities and benefits - there is a really long list of them but here are the ones that made a difference for me personally:
Evening Cocktails and Canapes from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM daily
Complimentary Minibar in room
Buffet Breakfast at the Club Lounge
Panoramic Views
Club Lounge - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
There are different seating configurations here in the Club Lounge and some of the chairs actually remind me of those in premium airport lounges where travellers (typically aviation geeks) can sit on to enjoy a view of the tarmac. The Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru has something similar here and guests with access to the lounge will be able to look out to Singapore from a distance and also get real-time updates on the traffic situation between both countries which I thought was fantastic (of course there is also an online live camera that you can refer to but nothing beats seeing it for yourself).
Club Lounges within hotels in Johor Bahru do not have the most extensive liquor selection (and you should not expect them to have it at this price point) but you will find a simple range of base spirits. What I did find odd however was that one of the lounge staff offered to pour me a drink (essentially a beer or wine to be exact) but when I asked for a gin and tonic, she told me that I had to do it myself instead. In any case, this was not at all an issue since I personally prefer a 1:1 gin to tonic ratio (and most lounge staff will pour a 1:5 instead).
Evening Drinks and Canapes
Club Lounge - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
While the food spread was not extensive, I did find them to be of decent quality and some of the local dishes were actually really delicious. Personally, I have found hotels to always under-deliver on taste in situations like these but the mee goreng served in the Club Lounge was actually delicious and it was something that I would not mind paying for if I were outside. I also liked how there was a good selection of hot and cold dishes and most of it was actually quite good. If you do not plan on heading out (even though you should), the food served here in the Club Lounge from 5:30 PM to 7:30 PM should be sufficient for dinner.
Bedroom
Club Studio Deluxe King - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
Singaporeans love eating so there is really no reason not to head out when you are spending the night in Johor Bahru - there are plenty of food options in the area and while I do not have any recommendations personally, there are a number of food blogs that you can check out with regards to that. If you like, there are also a number of (clean) spas that you can visit or go watch a movie in one of the fancy cinemas nearby.
Breakfast
Club Lounge - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
I am not certain whether or not Club guests have the option of having their breakfast at Caprilicious but I went straight to the Club Lounge personally. As much as I love enjoying a quiet hotel breakfast (read: a strong cup of coffee) in the morning, I wanted to leave some stomach space for ‘real’ food outside.
Buffet Breakfast
Club Lounge - Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
Having stayed at the Amari Johor Bahru, Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru, Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel as well as the much older and further Thistle Johor Bahru, the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru is a great addition to the area and it offers a premium (yet affordable) experience to travellers looking to spend the night. While the location is good geographically, it is somewhat difficult to walk to places due to the lack of proper footpaths connecting the hotel to the area. However, with that being said, the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru actually offers an amazing shuttle service to bring guests to popular places like City Square Mall as well as the relatively new (and definitely a place to visit) Midvalley Mall. There is always the option to take a Grab ride anyway so there is really very little reason why you should stay in a 'prime area' like where the Amari Johor Bahru is.
Roti Canai
Roti Canai Bukit Chagar (Opposite Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru)
Even though the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru does not belong to any loyalty programmes that I personally care about, it is definitely one of my preferred hotels in Johor Bahru. I really like the Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel since I get things like guaranteed 4:00 PM late check-out and access to the Executive Lounge has a Marriott Bonvoy Platinum Elite member but the location of that property is really far away from the places I hang out at. Additionally, the Club Lounge of the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru is probably the nicest and the least chaotic (since people actually have to pay for it and not access it for free due to loyalty status) so that is a big plus in my book when I am looking for a quiet weekend away from Singapore.
Having stayed at the Amari Johor Bahru, Doubletree By Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru, Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel as well as the much older and further Thistle Johor Bahru, the Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru is a great addition to the area and it offers a premium (yet affordable) experience to travellers looking to spend the night.
Capri by Fraser, Johor Bahru
Menara Tiga Serangkai, Jalan Tengku Azizah, Kim Teng Park, 80300 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
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The JW Marriott Auckland is still refurbishing its guest rooms and suites (with an expected completion date in November 2024). I stayed in a Deluxe Room (non-refurbished) and have found the experience to be lacking of a typical JW Marriott property.