Pulau Redang: Redang Holiday Beach Villa (March 2009)

by rfcheah on Apr.07, 2009, under Travel - Local Spots

Redang Holiday Beach Villa - Seaview Semi-D Bungalow

Visited Redang again last weekend, 28~30 March 2009 to be exact. No diving this time, just 3D2N snorkeling pacakge. This write up is not really about the trip as a whole, but just about the resort we were staying during the trip – Redang Holiday Beach Villa.

This resort is the at one of the extreme ends of the Pasir Panjang, while another grand resort, Laguna Resort, is at the other end. The Redang Holiday side of the beach is more laid back while at the Laguna side, there are stage set up for live bands at Laguna Resort and Redang Beach Resort. The music runs late into the nights especially during weekends.

We chose the Seaview Semi-D Bungalow, which offers arguably the best view among all Redang resorts.The bungalows are built at the side of the hill slopes. The view up here is superb – half of the Pasir Panjang Beach and the unlimited sea view just outside the doorstep literally. On top of that, the semi-D bungalow units are built among the woods, making one feels really close to the nature. Can’t say the same to the grand Laguna Resort – it is huge, contemporary, classy and happening, but I just don’t see it fit into the Redang settings. Maybe it is just me, or sour grapes – I can’t (and won’t) afford the Laguna pricing for seaview rooms.

The Seaview bungalows are built in woods, providing a nature setting.

The Redang Holiday Beach Villa, like most of other Redang resorts, offers Early Bird Promotion annually. From mid February to end of March (some resorts even runs into mid of April), the package price is 20~30% cheaper. This is to attract more business as the island is just opening up to tourists after the monsoon close-down period (November ~ mid February), and the sea is still relatively choppy during this period.

The buffer-style is OK, not excellent but adequate. One of the 2 dinners is BBQ buffet dinner, and I love the BBQ lamb chop!

Service from the staff is great, they wear the smiles more often than not. There are a couple of India-national workers too in the restaurant. However, the snorkeling trip is a bit messy – the resort uses a big fishing boat for snorkeling trips. Due to the size of the boat, it can only anchor about 20m from the shore. This makes getting on and off the boat a havoc, especially some of the tourists are not good in swimming. Luckily no big incidents happen, but this can certainly be improved by using catamaran or smaller boats.

At the surface, Redang is still great. But down under, corals are bleaching and damaged...

On top of the package price, here are the extra costs

RM20 for 2-way Kuala Terengganu Jetty -> Bus Terminal van transport
RM5 for Marine Park entry (applicable if joining snorkelling or diving trip to Marine Park)
RM10 for life jacket rental (for the duration of the stay)

Redang Holiday Beach Villa - Early Bird Promotion Package Price

To me, a really nice resort is those that can blend well with the local settings, but in the same time contains the ‘nature’ factor, as well as make it simple. Rhetoric is unnessary.

3 words for Redang Holiday Beach Villa: Keep it up!

4 words for Laguna Redang: KISS! (Keep it simple, Stupid!)

But… it is not all that rosy for Redang Holiday Beach Villa as a whole…

The boat transfer to and fro the island is overloaded, and making matter worse, it doesn’t have enough life jackets. The boatmen don’t even make an effort to distribute them anyway. This is really bad. Tioman Bluewater ferry case in Oct 2007 came into mind.

Another shortfall is that they are using fishing boat for snorkeling trips – see my other post here with further details.

So, make your own informed decision whether to select this resort. I love the place but hate the attitude to not go fix the boat/life jacket issue even after the Tioman tragedy.

:Dollar & Cents, Redang, Trip Info

7 comments for this entry:

Redang Island Revisited [March 2009]: Getting There & Around | Bits and Pieces of Life...
April 19th, 2009 on 10:18 pm
[...] advantage of season-opening Early Bird Promotion (see another post here), I visited Redang Island again from 28~30 March 2009. No diving this time, only signing up for the [...]
Pam.G
May 9th, 2009 on 9:53 pm
Hi, thanks for the very insightful review. I’m looking to go to Redang for the first time, end of June. Was looking at either Redang Holiday or Redang Beach (Laguna is out of my price range). Don’t know I can stand having loud music blasting throughout the night.

Can I ask you some questions?

1. Where does the other non-seaview semi-D bungalows face? Is it far away from the main building and beach?

2. Is Redang Holiday too secluded? (heard there’s an abandoned chalet beside the hotel)
rfcheah
May 10th, 2009 on 1:00 am
Pam,
Thanks for dropping by

As you can read from my post, I don’t have good feelings towards Laguna. Redang Beach is happening but loud, Redang Holiday is at the other end and quiet.

1. The non-seaview semi-Ds are facing a garden and each other. Let me see whether I have any photo of that to show you. It is just at the back of the Redang Holiday canteen, not far at all. 2mins walk to the beach.

2. Yea there are some abandoned chalets just beside Redang Holiday, it has been abandoned at least 3 years. Redang Holiday is at one end of the Long Beach, but it takes less than 20mins to reach the other side (i.e. Laguna), not really that far from Laguna/Redang Beach.

My advice is to fork out more to get the seaview semi-D, the view is just great up there. And the semi-D is having 3 double beds, I think can fit up to 6.

Have a nice trip – wherever you choose to stay! And don’t miss the chance to see juvenile black-tip sharks at the Long Beach reef, and also the ‘blue sand’ at Redang Reef Resort beach (beyond Laguna, via wooden bridge).
Pam.G
May 20th, 2009 on 5:25 pm
Hi, hey thanks for the reply. It will only be 2 of us, so all we need is a double bed. Hahha…if i could bring my dogs..they can have the other 2! Kidding.

Can’t wait to go!

Cheers!
Steffi
May 26th, 2009 on 10:26 pm
Hello,

I was very happy to read your comment on the Resort. We are going to stay there for some days in August. It would be nice if you could tell me, if the rooms have a safe or if there is another place where you can store your personal belongings (passport, mones, camera) in a safe way.

Many thanks an d kind regards, Steffi
rfcheah
May 26th, 2009 on 10:51 pm
Steffi,
I don’t remember there is any safe in the room, most probably not. Even the reception is just a small hut that might not have the safe facility. Anyway you should email to the Redang Holiday Beach Villa if you have concern in this regard. For me, I just keep the room locked, and I don’t have concern of passport lost since I am Malaysian.

Wish you have a great time in Malaysia & Redang Island!
Al
September 7th, 2009 on 12:35 pm
We just had 5 days at the Holiday Resort. Setting is fantastic, Food is only OK and the same stuff all the time. Bar is hopeless. Worst feature is all the roosters that start crowing at 5am every single day. Why the management would allow this I do not know.
Other end of the beach gets hammered by very loud outdoor disco music but Holiday Resort was quiet.