Nestled in the quiet town of Penawar is Desaru Coast, a popular tourist destination from the 70s and 80s that has been recently revived by a slew of luxury properties.
One of the globally renowned hotel brands that have opened its doors to the public is the well-known Anantara Desaru Coast Resorts and Villas.
Just a short hour’s drive away from the JB-Singapore border and about a 4-hour drive away from Kuala Lumpur, it’s a destination that families have been flocking to post-pandemic.
We recently stayed at the Anantara property for three days and enjoyed the various activities around the property.
Anantara Desaru Coast Resort And Villas: A Destination For The Whole Family
It’s tucked away in an exclusive cove of Desaru Coast, so you have a small stretch of private beach to enjoy with the family. With a huge pool for hotel guests to enjoy, the kids will want to spend most of their stay here. We recommend going in the early mornings after breakfast to enjoy the pool as the weather is great and there is plenty of time the rest of the day to check out the other features in the resort.
We got to stay at their 2-bedroom villa which has a small dipping pool and a huge verandah that we also spent a lot of time in. We requested for a baby crib since our tot is only 2 years old and still sleeps in a crib.
The villa itself was stunning, with a bedroom downstairs facing the pool and a perfect place to watch the sunrise from. There’s a large living room and dining area where you can lounge and play with the kids.
The upstairs bedroom is a massive loft with a bathtub in its expansive bathroom and even a mini walk-in closet.
They also have a kids and teens clubs which the kids can go to for short guided activities like painting rocks, playing board games, video games, rock climbing and more. We dropped Jedi off here for a couple of hours and he enjoyed his time with the other kids around his age here. You can opt to leave your kids here if they are aged 3 and above, and there are 2 on-site aides to keep them entertained.
Bicycles are scattered property-wide for those who want to enjoy a leisurely ride around the compound. Alternatively, we also saw many people who brought their own bicycles or decided to put on their running shoes for a jog around the place. It’s easy to clock in a 3km ride or run around the place over one loop.
And if you’re anything like me, I enjoyed spending time at their gym, which was equipped enough for a quick workout every evening after my child went to bed.
Though most of the resorts are tucked away in a quieter part of the small town, you're only 10 minutes away from the nearest row of shops. Not to mention, there is also Grab if you need something urgently.
But one thing you don't have to worry about on the property is food options.
Family Friendly Food At Anantara Desaru Coast Resort And Villas
Sea.Fire.Salt. is their beachside casual dining restaurant with delicious grilled meats and seafood. This is where we got to taste some of their best a la carte grilled dishes and sides. It’s a romantic experience for couples and also suitable for families to have your meals at. We recommend coming here for dinner because you get to watch the stunning sunsets from here. Be sure to make a reservation so you’ll be guaranteed a table.
If not, Turmeric is the other restaurant you can head to for buffet dinners (a la carte also available) for a more localised taste with Thai influence. We spent most of our lunches here tasting parts of their a la carte menu, which was absolutely delicious and the very fussy toddler enjoyed every one of his meals here. This is also where breakfast is served.
The breakfast spread is huge and they offer dishes for both kids and adults (a little bonus for the kiddies is that they have vitagen at the breakfast buffet!). We loved the atmosphere of this poolside restaurant, which was often bustling in the evenings with diners.
We capped off our last day at Anantara Desaru by unwinding at the spa - and this is something I would recommend all parents to set aside time for. If you plan your spa appointments right, you can drop the kids off at the kids or teens clubs so you can enjoy a couple of hours of relaxation with your spouse.
It was our first visit to Anantara Desaru, but we are sure it won’t be our last. It was definitely the best in-property experiences we’ve had since lockdown was lifted as a family.
Be sure to ask the concierge for the wide range of activities that the resort has planned out for families too - from a nature walk where you can learn about the flora and fauna on the property to mangrove cruising to a Johor Bahru foodie tour to an immersive cooking class that the whole family can enjoy, there's just so much to do here.
For more information about Anantara Desaru Coast Resort and Villas, visit their website here.