First off, this is a boon dog place for you to hideaway if you know what i mean. Located about 15km off Genting highlands exit southwards to Bentong in the old rickety road or 10km if you come from Bentong, it is a hidden resort hotel with a natural hot spring.
Looking from outside, it looks as if that is managed by a 5* international brand but the wise old words of "you can take person out of the jungle,but not the jungle out of the person" remains true. As of me writing this, its 2.30am and I really can't sleep.
Development of this resort has been controversial, back a few years ago while the helm of tourism minister Yen Yen. It is on aboriginal land and on the side of a hideout of mine for a few years ago.
Anyway, with some doubts, I checked in at about 2030 hours. MONDAY. And there was no one around. Looking at the front desk, reminds me of a haphazard looking homestay. Reservations were scribbled on pieces of rough paper etc. The price? Starting from RM260 a night. This price was not indicated on their own website. So I took the quad room. It was purportedly on sale for RM200, saving me 80 off!
What it really buzz me that the security was watching tv, at the guard post, and the other,asleep. No bellhop or anyone to show you to your room. Huh? This a resort? Even the guest registration form was photocopied and does not look professional.
Walking thru the waze with 4 kids in tow and a huge green luggage bag (thank God I bought it few days ago otherwise its 2 huge backpacks ++), the placeto the rooms are badly litted and infested with wild insects. Access to the pools etc reminds me of the military camp where the high wire fence obsures the view.
Then it hit me, the pools were also accessable to the public. WTF! Going to their site shows the entrance fees.
So, we were hungry. Room service menu was in the room. Along with 2 other laminated info pages. Dial 551. Sorry, no room service. Why you place in the rooms when you can't order? Restaurant said they had nothing left but whatever was on the buffet. Now I regretted not packing the McD in the way here.
OMFG! We were stuck with the Maggie cup noodles and late lunch I had at 4pm in seremban. They do have a little mart though.
2 keycard were issued, one for the room, another for the pools. WHY??? Bad design n improperly trained contractor to blame? Again poorly lit walkway to the pools, so bring yr own floodlight as its riddled with handicap unfriendly route and lack of signage, if you get what I mean.
2 pools greeted me, HOT POOLS. Ok. Child pool is available with a depth of 1.2m+????? And you call that a child pool? My kids could drown and that depth was my guess figure as no markings on the walkways. Health n Safety death trap!!! The architecture n engineering team needs to be flung off the KLCC towers!!!
Waterwise, kids pool, flipping cold. Not even bluish. Unchorinated I suppose. Hot pools had water fed in, piping hot and I do not recall the natural pool being this hot, about 60'c or so I figure they recycled the water. No natural sulphuric smell but of my old school longkang back in Rulang. Anyway, I got my cheap fix. Not so cheap. My eyes are itchy from the haze too. Reminder to oneself, go to the natural pool.
Wifi. YES. Its available but the way its designed gave away 8 or so ssid. Can't your it guys do a proper wifi installation with the access points? Monkey work again.
In house tv has free to air 1.2.3 but no ntv7 *8 or so. Not even astro. Disappointing. And the phones? Rickety RM20 phones. And nothing of lan points etc. Its bad enough even to play my minion rush.
Did I mention the housekeeping sucks? And signages to the place is non existent?
So positive feedbacks for improvements :
1) Since this is a jungle, consider installing those blue fly traps, n clean them daily. Any bite from them to the guest is on you.
2) Removal of the fencing, separate the guests from the outsiders. Totally.
3) Integrated guest access cards. This makes you look stupid n fire your systems integrators.
4) Proper lighted signages from the expressway.
5) Proper lighting.
6) READ YOUR TERRIBLE REVIEWS ON SOCIAL MEDIA!!!!!
7) DO NOT MISLEAD. Just one UK property which is 3* don't make you international. I got more business in MY,SG,ID,NZ,UK,US and still i don't say international, cos I am not to the MNC standard yet.
8) Retrain your staff. Your front desk is also security. Improve on your hospitality. If you run a hotel, run a proper restaurant, especially when you are out of the way. I have yet to see your breakfast.
(Pics etc to follow on my return but i will tag on my facebook first )
Sorry, I will xpost this on other sites, and overseas tourists, do not expect much. Even a backpacker hostel in Thailand gives better service. 1* out if 10.
So remember, if you die die wanna come here, bring a survival kit. Pack yr McD n stuff from the Janda Baik town b4 heading in.