Be prepared to drive out for food
With the new highway, it's an 1 hour drive from JB to Desaru without jam. The drive was scenic and pleasant as the highway was very new, the bridge was particularly magnificent. The hotel was recently renovated but I believe the focus was on the lobby area and swimming pools. The lobby was spacious and the pool was inviting as it's half Olympic size and good for those who swim laps. However, while the hotel rooms were supposedly renovated, one can hardly spot the difference except for the new paint work. The bathroom clearly needed more work to be done! The bath tub was old, the taps, the shower heads were also old. The bath towels provided seriously need to be changed as they were old and had gone through hundreds round of washing that they were yellowish and thin. The hotel staff told us that they are in the midst of replacing all the TV sets to LCD but unfortunately mine was an antique box!
Don't bother about the hotel spa too....though reasonable price but technique was lousy.
Lastly, don't count on the hotel cafe for breakfast especially. The buffet spread was pathetic as the food was barely edible, even the coffee was diluted! Ala carte menue for lunch/dinner may still be acceptable to those who are not fussy over food. Hence, it's really important that you drive so that you can explore the nearby kampong kong kong (30km) or town Sg. Rengit (30km) for good seafood. Try Jade Garden Seafood at Sg Rengit for their value-for-money lobster (RM110/KG), and other seafood. Take a drive around the quaint little town for a peep into kampong life.
