Janda Baik Holidays from £681

A French-themed resort on a mountain top in Malaysia was always likely to be a slightly bizarre experience, and so it proved. Enjoyable though - reasonably priced, conveniently placed, room was good, staff friendly and helpful, plenty of dining options. Biggest issue was trying not to end up in other people's selfies/photos. In-house laundry service was excellent.

Beautiful hotel with friendly helpful staff, especially Mark who showed us around the hotel at check in. Lovely welcome drink offered at check in also. Gym looked great but only had one night stay and didn’t use it, the pool area was lovely and relaxing. Rooms were clean and bed was huge and super comfortable. Day spa looked nice but didn’t use. The food was a bit average at the restaurant down stairs and think they could add a few cocktails to the drinks list to have round the pool. Other than that enjoyable stay.

I really enjoyed my stay at this hotel; however, there were a few areas that could be improved. The biggest letdown was the gym. The machines are very old, many barely work, and some are rusty. Some cable carabiners were too small and corroded, which felt unsafe when using heavier weights. The carpet was also extremely dirty and heavily stained. The rooms were decent overall, although there was a minor water leak from the ceiling. Despite this, I extended my stay as I really enjoyed the sea view room, although it required an additional upgrade fee. On the positive side, the facilities were good. The swimming pools were clean and inviting, and the hotel grounds were well maintained with plenty of areas to relax. The staff were excellent—polite, helpful, and welcoming throughout. There are also many nearby restaurants, shops, and street food options. The beach stretched for around 800 metres, with a rocky section at one end. A bridge led to another area, but it was closed due to aggressive monkeys in the area. Getting around was easy using local taxis via the Grab app, with the nearest town about 10–12 minutes away. There’s plenty to see there, including an art street and modern shopping malls. The total cost was around £120 per night including the upgrade. While slightly high, it felt reasonable for the view, though the gym was disappointing. Overall, it’s still the best hotel in the area, and I would stay again.