Hotel Review: Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas (Deluxe Sea View Corner Room) - An Easy Getaway Retreat from Singapore

On 01 December 2019, the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas opened her doors to the public and I was amongst some of the first guests to check-in to the property. As I was there for a company retreat (from my actual day job), I did not have a lot of time to check out the entire property and to be honest, it was probably a little bit too early to tell anyway. However, with that said, I was still won over by how beautiful the rooms are and how much potential the property actually has. Having been to the the Anantara Seminyak Bali Resort and the Anantara Mai Khao Phuket Villas back in 2017, as well as the Anantara Uluwatu Bali Resort in 2018, I was particularly excited to check out the brand new Desaru property this year. 

Click HERE to check out the brand new Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas!

Hotel Lobby
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Getting from Singapore to Desaru can be quite costly if you are traveling alone but if you are sharing the private vehicle, it can work out to your advantage. For this trip, I have booked arranged for a private MPV (typically served by an Alphard or a Starex) and that costed $380 nett for a return trip. Now if you are quite confident in driving, I would definitely recommend driving up to Desaru from Singapore on your own - the journey will take approximately 2 hours in good traffic but obviously that is highly dependent on actual road conditions (especially at the causeway). There is very little you can do outside of the property if you do not drive and the Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast is probably the only attraction which is within walking distance. 

The Lounge
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The lobby of the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is stunning and the darker shades exude some form of residential charm. Once you get past that, it opens up to a fantastic view of the swimming pool and the ocean which is just a short stroll away (there is a direct beach access from the property). The lobby opens up to The Lounge where you can get to enjoy a coffee and some light bites while overlooking the fantastic view. Since we were traveling as a big group (this was a company retreat after all), we waited around this area while waiting for my rooms to be ready.

View from Hotel Lobby
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

I visited the property on its first day of opening, and as such, most of the greenery was not in full bloom yet and there are some awkward, barren patches. After speaking to a number of hotel staff, it appears that visiting the property after March 2020 is a better idea since everything should be completed by then. With that said, the view from The Lounge is still fantastic as it overlooks the expansive ocean and the swimming pool - it is also East-facing which makes it the perfect spot to enjoy a beautiful sunrise in the morning.

Walkway to Private Balcony
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

As a top-tier DISCOVERY Loyalty Black member, I was accorded a one-category upgrade from the Deluxe Sea View Room which I have booked for to the Deluxe Sea View Corner Room. Unfortunately the One Bedroom Lagoon Pool Villa (two categories higher than the room that I have booked for) was not available during my stay but thankfully the room that I stayed in was beautiful and I really enjoyed the view from it. It is definitely worth mentioning that there very few villas at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. Therefore, if you do wish to stay in a villa, I highly recommend that you book and pay for it since it is probably going to be very unlikely that it is available.

Bedroom
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The room rates over at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas are actually quite expensive (and significantly higher than the Westin and Hard Rock properties next door) so that might affect your decision to visit but hopefully we will see a rate adjustment in the near future (especially after the new One&Only Desaru Coast opens in March 2020). For a property of its size, the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas actually does not really have too many rooms and that is a good thing if you are looking for a nice escape from the city. The Deluxe Sea View Corner Room that I stayed in was the best room category (there are no suites here, only villas) and it is one category below the lead-in villa category.

Room with a View
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Measuring 50sqm in size, these rooms are strategically located in the property to offer the most spectacular sea views from the expansive private balcony (or rather, semi-private but I will touch on this later). They are beautifully-appointed and some of the Deluxe Sea View Corner Rooms even come with a cosy swing chair in the balcony which I actually spent plenty of time in.

Towel Art on Bed
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

If your eyes are sharp enough, you would have noticed the two ‘crabs’ on the bed. These are always fun to find in the room so kudos to the housekeeping team over at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. Two of my guests were also celebrating their birthday weekend here on the same visit and they received a slightly different towel art.

Bedroom
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The boxy layout of the bedroom makes it look and feel a lot larger than it actually is - sure 50sqm may not be small but the squarish layout made the room feel even larger. Located on one end of the bedroom is the minibar and small workstation where you will be able to find a range of connectivity options as well as universal power outlets.

Welcome Amenities
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

As a DISCOVERY Loyalty Black member, I received a plate of fresh fruits as well as some local snacks as welcome amenities. I also received a letter welcoming me to the property as well as a brief outline of the perks that top-tier members will get to enjoy during the stay. As you may already know, a late check-out of up to 6:00PM can be accorded to top-tier members at no additional charge if the room is available. However, since I was leaving the following day at 3:00PM, the property was nice enough to extend a late check-out for all the rooms under my folio (keeping in mind that this was the property’s opening and therefore, room bookings might not have picked up yet).

Nespresso Coffee Machine
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

You will find a Nespresso coffee machine here in the Deluxe Sea View Corner Room and I do believe all the rooms offer it but I could be wrong. As I have mentioned on multiple occasions, I really do appreciate having a proper coffee machine in the room (especially when you have a beautiful balcony like that) so this is a huge plus for me. Six complimentary coffee capsules were offered in the room and these were also replenished during evening turndown for me. Consistent to the Anantara hotel brand, there are no executive lounges or club lounges here in the property so having a decent coffee machine certainly helped. Teabags (from a less aspiring brand) were also provided by the side and complimentary drinking water can be found by the minibar as well as in the bathroom. 

Well-stocked Minibar
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

In comparison to the other Anantara properties that I have been to, the minibar and in-room dining prices here at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas are significantly more reasonable. Item within the fully-stocked minibar are chargeable so if you are driving, it is a good idea to bring some of your own beverages should you require them. During my stay, I was also unable to find any Grab drivers in the area (and that's understandable because the area is still under development) but I would expect it to flourish like other parts of Malaysia soon. Since you will be eating most of your meals on the property (you can always walk over to The Westin Desaru Coast Resort and enjoy up to 20% off F&B if you prefer), it is a good idea to budget for this if you are planning to stay over an extended weekend. 

Plush King-size Bed
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The Deluxe Sea View Corner Room features a fantastic king-size bed (even though twin beds can be arranged) with plush bedding. Located on both sides of the bed are universal power outlets so you do not have to worry about bringing along an adapter if you are visiting from abroad. There is also a large sofa (big enough for two adults) located directly in front of the bed where you can enjoy the mesmerising ocean view from the comfort of your own room (in a temperature-controlled environment).

Universal Power Outlet and Light Controls
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The light controls in the room looked exactly like the one that Swissotel The Stamford has and they are not only intuitive but extremely polished as well - I really like the ‘ambiance’ setting which allows you to turn on some of the room lights quickly without making it look like an office or the library.

Balcony with Swing
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

I think it is safe to say that the best aspect of the Deluxe Sea View Corner Room is the privacy balcony which you can either access from the bedroom or the entrance of the room (see the first photo). As mentioned earlier, some of the rooms here come with a large swing which is perfect for lounging about in the day to enjoy the natural breeze. There is also a small seating area by the side which has seats for three adults - the actual space is a lot larger so if your guests are comfortable with the ground, you can definitely accommodate a lot more people.

Spacious Balcony
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

While the balcony is a private area (meaning to say, only you and your guests can access it), it does look out to other rooms as well. What this means to say is that other hotel guests can very easily look into your balcony so if you are the type that like waking up to an ocean view, make sure you are properly dressed before stepping out.

View from Balcony
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

I was blessed with great weather on the days that I visited the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas - it was actually pouring the day before! The view from my room was fantastic and honestly, the entire property gave off this relaxing and chill Bali-vibe which I really enjoyed. The Deluxe Sea View Corner Room that I was assigned to also overlooked the different pool villas - the ones closest to the ocean are residences and apparently you will be able to book some of them in the near future (the prices seem pretty steep though!).

Bathroom
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Consistent to my experiences with other Anantara properties, the bathroom of the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is stunning. The bathroom of the Deluxe Sea View Corner Room features a deep-soaking bathtub that is large enough for two regular-sized adults to sit side-by-side. As mentioned earlier, I visited the property on its opening day so I actually had some issues with getting hot water in my room but this was quickly rectified by the team on the ground (I would expect this to be ironed out by now).

Bathroom
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

The bathroom also features double vanity sinks as well as a sliding mirror which is ingenious - closing it ensures privacy (especially if you are sharing the room with a friend) but you can also choose to leave them open to enjoy a view of the ocean while you are brushing your teeth or washing your face. Apart from the bathtub, there is a separate shower area (complete with a fantastic rain-shower) and a bathroom located next to it. I also like the fact that the wardrobe is located here in the bathroom and that makes a lot of sense since you will not have to brave the cold (assuming you have the air-conditioning on outside) to get dressed.

Bath Amenities
Deluxe Sea View Corner Room - Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Like all Anantara properties that I have been to, single-use plastics (where bath amenities are concerned) are not utilised here and bath amenities are provided by an in-house brand which smells amazing as always. There are two sets here - one by the bathtub and another one in the shower area so you do not have to shift them around. If you are planning to spend some time in the sun, the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas also provides an after-sun balm in your room which helps prevent sunburn (I hope!).

Sea.Fire.Salt
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

As this was a company retreat, we have actually booked out the entire Sea.Fire.Salt (a beachside restaurant) for our dinner and it was beautiful. The food was delicious (we had a specially-curated menu of seafood and grilled items), the service was great and the location was perfect. If you are planning a special dinner in Desaru, the Sea.Fire.Salt is a fantastic location as it looks out to the ocean - try to get a table closest to the water!

Infinity Pool
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

Located directly across Sea.Fire.Salt is an infinity pool that overlooks the ocean - there are two swimming pools here at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas but unfortunately the infinity pool was closed on the days that I was there. Sun loungers (for hotel guests) can be found on the beach and you may also opt for some water sports (chargeable) if you wish. Do note that the currents are quite strong in Desaru so this is definitely something you should watch out for if you are bringing your children.

Night View from Balcony
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

When I got back to my room after dinner, I noticed that the room has been turned down and the coffee capsules which I utilised during the day have been replenished. I sat on the balcony for a bit just to enjoy some peace and quiet - I also considered taking a nap in the swinging chair but decided against it as I know I would wake up regretting it.

Main Swimming Pool
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

As far as I know (at least while I was booking it), all of the breakfast-inclusive room rates come with buffet breakfast for two adults and one child which is great for traveling families. Breakfast was served at Tumeric and while the spread was not extensive, I did enjoy some quiet time on my own in the morning over a solid cup of espresso. I did not actually take any photos with my camera but if you are interested to see how breakfast looks like, check out my previous Instagram Post for a sneak preview.

Main Swimming Pool
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas

While there were a number of hiccups during my stay (which is understandable since it was the first day of operations), I really enjoyed my time at the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas. At the time of writing, the room rates are fairly high and it is tough to justify the high costs (especially with Bali being just a short flight away) involved with spending a weekend there. There is quite little to do around the property (apart from the waterpark) and I do not typically like to drive into Malaysia from Singapore so I am not especially encouraged to revisit just yet. With that being said, I would be interested to head back to the property next year (just because it is fairly close by) to see the finished product.

Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas
Persiaran Pantai, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor Darul Ta´zim
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