Desaru Coast
While it is barely surprising that Anantara's first foray into Malaysia would be a tropical resort, a picturesque one mere meters from the sea not withstanding, the scale of its operations is somewhat diminutive with just 111 keys, 13 beachfront villas inclusive. The location at the newly raised Desaru enclave presents opportunities as well as challenges, the former being it is currently the only resort patch along the peninsula's southeast tip so closed to affluent JB and Singapore. On the flip side, an intimate resort flooded with so many locals and Singaporeans out for a quick getaway can also counteract the intimate, luxurious mood the property aspires to. And with rack rates that begin around S$300, targeted crowds might soon prefer other idyllic stretches further off as aviation and travel inch closer to pre-2020 normalcy.
While at Anantara Desaru
why don't you ...
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Explore the resort grounds with the resident naturalist who is a keen eyed bird expert who'd acquaint guests with the resident and migrant species zipping around the neighbourhood.
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Hop onto provided bicycles, explore the resort grounds on two wheels and revel in the kampong-like atmosphere of the beach-front surroundings.
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There are 2 restaurants in the resort and true to its Anantara form the culinary options here do not disappoint. Sea.Fire.Salt proffers a sophisticated menu with focus on seafood and prime cuts while the weekend buffet at Turmeric churned out some of the most delicious beef satay we've sampled in Malaysia.
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Wellness, another strong suit of the Anantara brand, is well and alive at Desaru. The Roots of Malaysia massage proffered by Anantara Spa here is technically outstanding and not to be missed.
