4 Star Hotels in Balok

Firstly, I have to say, The Kasturi is probably my favourite place in Pahang. I first came here in 2018 - and it made such an impression that I couldn't wait to come back. Came back as soon as PKP was lifted (review here somewhere) and a tad disappointed. Husband booked a night's stay for our 18th wedding anniversary and I have to admit the service has improved by leaps and bounds. Check in was warm and professional - villa is clean and hubby had made arrangements for flowers and some refreshments in the room which was so appreciated by yours truly. Had same villa as previous stay - toilet is still wonky. Hand bidet in indoor shower compartment is still non functional and the fish keropok was left untouched this time (learnt my lesson from last time - pls get new supplier - I am sure there are many more keropok makers who can make better keropok sira) This time however, husband ordered food to be sent to the room - FYI, room service is limited to the asian food selection (not advisable to preorder western dishes as these will end up cold by the time it gets sent to the room) Loved the caprese salad and the fried rice. The seafood fried in batter was above average. The white rice and chicken was too sweet for our liking. Breakfast was served 'unlimited ala carte style' The variety was ok - choice of nasi lemak, western and chinese congee. Nasi lemak - much much better than the last time I was there - but had an issue with the sambal sotong, which I informed the staff. Saw that they offered 'DANISH' as part of breakfast - but we only received toast and baguettes - so I'm not sure if I was confused about the danish being pastries? Barista also needs to learn to make proper latte art. However, the F&B staff - Deedi was extremely friendly and warm. He looked like he knew what he was doing despite being his 6th day at Kasturi - thought I would make a special mention about him. Would I come back for a fourth time? Some improvements have to be made about the upkeep of the facilities in the room and definitely better improvements with the F&B - but Kasturi's one life-saving feature is definitely its location....

Cleanliness: I would rate the cleanliness a 2 due to the poor maintenance and housekeeping. None of the electrical outlets were functioning properly, and there was a noticeable electrical sound. For those traveling with children, please be extra cautious. During our sightseeing trip from 1 pm to 10 pm, we returned to find the towels we had used earlier that morning, wet and folded on the table instead of being replaced with fresh ones. Additionally, our used cup had not been washed and was left untouched. Location & Amenities: The location was great, and the kids had a fantastic time, especially in the pool area. The pool is spacious, clean, and convenient for parents to relax while their kids enjoy themselves. The surrounding environment is excellent and truly mesmerizing. We were happy to sit back, relax, and enjoy the soothing sound of the waves—it was incredibly calming. The seaside area is ideal for large family gatherings or company events, with plenty of space available. Service: I would rate the Front Office Staff at 4, especially Mr. Aftar, Mr. Azlan, and Mr. Rahmat, who were very helpful. However, I had a negative experience with Ms. Y (name withheld), who was unhelpful and lacked empathy. We were planning to shorten our stay from 3 days/2 nights to 2 days/1 night due to heavy rainfall, flooding in some areas, and car issues. We asked her at the front desk, after consulting Trip.Com, if we could shorten our stay. Instead of showing understanding, she kept saying she couldn't assist and that the Manager on Duty was unavailable. She directed us to deal with Trip.Com the following day, which we understood. However, when I asked if, in case Trip.Com approved our request, we could check out later (around 1 or 2 pm), she refused. She claimed they couldn’t offer a late check-out as the hotel was fully booked. I was shocked, as I was giving up an extra night and yet wasn’t granted even a late check-out at 12:30 pm, and yet she was mentioned it will be chargeable. To my surprise, I later checked online and saw plenty of rooms available and an empty pool. This was disappointing. Just imagine, i am planning to give away my extra night and when i wasnt able to get a slightly late check out due to fully booked ? what ridiculous is this ? IF, we requested late check out on the actual check out date, i totally understand . But this is another way round and she left me speechless. On a positive note, Mr. Aftar, Mr. Azlan, and Mr. Rahmat were understanding and helpful. Despite not asking for much, their suggestions, empathy, and sincerity made a significant difference in our stay. It was because of them that we decided to continue our stay and cancel our initial plans. A big thank you to them for their kindness and helpfulness, always checking in to see if we needed assistance and offering thoughtful suggestions. Overall Experience: Our overall stay was very good and enjoyable. The kids loved the pool and the sightseeing views. The location is fantastic, with a breathtaking view of the sea, providing a truly relaxing experience. Special thanks also to the IRD staff at the restaurant for kindly helping us store our frozen food.

It was a very relaxing holiday for my family despite us travelling in a big crowd of 3 families. Stayed in one of the chalets. PROS: 1) enjoyed what nature could offer. The plants, tress, beach was such a relaxing, de-stressing sight. 2) service - very good i would say. They would respond immediately on the request of food or beverages. Upon checking in the chalet, was given glasses of welcoming drink. 3) chalet - love the concept of ”kampung” chalet. The whole structure is made of wood, which i felt was quite sturdy and didnt make much of funny noises when walked upon in the living room and hall. 4) swimming pool - as we had stayed in the chalet, there is a private pool next to to it. Water was prescient, with minimal to no insects seen. The common swimming pools on the other hand, they were fabulous. There is the kid's pool and the adult pool, which was kept very clean and my kids enjoyed tremendously playing in it. Cons: 1) being next to nature, you cannot avoid the annoying mosquitoes feeding on you. - best to have apply some mosquito repellent patch especially during the evenings. 2) food at the cafeteria however was quite a big let down in my honest opinion. Food options are not quite to my expectation. The plates and cutleries were dirty with visible stains. 3) the wooden stairs leading up to the chalet needs a major upgrade. It looks like it will give way anytime soon. We were really concerned as in our crowd, my aunty was walking with a walking stick. 4) not many options of food stalls except for a few local Malay restaurants down the road. 5) there are two rooms in a chalet. Unfortunately these rooms are separated and one needs to pass through a door to exit and another door to enter the room. Family with young children would not benefit staying in such design. Overall, i would give this place a 7/10.

I recently had the pleasure of staying at The Royale Chulan Cherating Villa, and I must say it was an unforgettable experience. From the moment I arrived until the day I checked out, the staff and services at this resort exceeded my expectations! Without a doubt one of the best resorts in Malaysia and if you're ever in Cherating, THIS is the place to stay! First and foremost, the staff deserves a standing ovation. Their warm welcome and genuine hospitality made me feel like a VIP guest. Whether it was the front desk staff, the buggy drivers, the housekeeping team or even the F&B staff, everyone was attentive, friendly, and always ready to assist with a smile. They went above and beyond to ensure my stay was comfortable and enjoyable, and for that, I am truly grateful. Kudos to Rizam for introducing us this hidden gem. The dining experience at the resort was exceptional as well. The Ocean restaurant offered a delectable array of dishes, catering to various tastes and preferences during my breakfast and dinner. I was particularly impressed with the chef's culinary skills and the waitstaff's impeccable service. Shoutout to Mahdi and Nizar in building a strong service team. Each meal was a delightful journey for the taste buds, and the dining experience added another layer of enjoyment to my stay. However, while the staff and services were outstanding, there is room for improvement when it comes to the resort's facilities. Although the property is well-maintained, some areas appear a bit outdated and could benefit from a renovation. I was told that they have very limited budget provided by the management and the improvement process is quite slow. They don't even have a gym or a large banquet hall which I understand is a requirement for a 5 star resort. The rooms, while clean and comfortable, could use a modern touch to match the high level of service provided by the staff. Additionally, the pool area, though enjoyable, would be even more appealing with updated loungers and a fresh coat of paint. These are my two cents which I hope the management would consider to do as soon as possible in order to maintain this amazing place and their regular guests. Despite these minor facilities-related issues, I wouldn't hesitate to return. The exemplary staff and top-notch service is more than enough to compensate for any facility shortcomings. In fact, I look forward to seeing how the resort evolves in the future, as I believe that with some upgrades, it has the potential to become an even more remarkable tourist attraction. I truly hope the management takes care of it's staff by giving rewards or incentives as I can see they worked really hard to maintain this resort's standards. In conclusion, my recent stay at The Royale Chulan Cherating Villa was a delightful experience, primarily due to the exceptional staff and services. While there's room for improvement in the facilities department, it doesn't overshadow the overall positive impression I have of t

The beach is approximately 100m away. There are no sea-view rooms. The price is reasonable. You can request a buggy if you need to go to the restaurant at Royal Chulan Villa. The room condition is average – the air conditioning is cold, and the bathroom is clean. However, the sofa might need an upgrade. Breakfast is not bad. The staff are helpful and friendly. It’s also within walking distance to Marion Cafe if that’s important to you.

Check-in was smooth. Booked the family room, facing the sea. Had a pleasant stay, room was spacious and clean, bed was comfy, view was amazing. Provided towels, bath foam, shampoo,electric kettle and packed drinks, bottled water. However no mini fridge in the room. Happy that the hotel provided hot/cold water dispenser at the foyer, we just refilled our bottles whenever needed. Staffs attended me with a smile whenever i needed something. Breakfast was decent. Only frustrated with the big piles of stones placed along the beach, block views and can't really enjoy the beach. But when the tide comes in we did made the best of it. Affordable room for family of 5 with nearby eateries and groceries.

The bed is very comfy. The room service is fast (I complained need 1 more towel and they showed up within 5 minutes with extra towel). Check-in is fast and the room is clean with clean bed sheet. Unfortunately the room not sound proof, I can hear my next door room talking and the room is near to the road, so it is quite noisy. The breakfast is okay but since it’s free, I have no complain.

Our extended family - 32 pax in total had our family day at this resort last weekend. We had great time here! This hotel has a number of swimming pools which the kids will surely love. It’s almost like a mini water park. The hotel area are well kept and clean. We had the hotel organised telematch games for our group at a field within the hotel compound. The hotel staffs who organised the games for us were nice, friendly and funny too. It was great fun for us! This hotel is a beachfront hotel but unfortunately, during our stay, the public beach in front of the hotel was quite dirty. Probably because of the high tides and rains. Since we are still under movement controls because of the Covid19, there’re SOPs which we have to follow but not a problem at all for us. For meals, the hotel organised banquet style serving in a private room for us. That was really nice and made a lot of difference for us. We had BBQ dinner and we were able to have our own talent show since the room is only for our group. The food served buffet style for us and it was delicious! The hotel is an old hotel but i believe it was recently refurbished. The room are spacious and very clean. But the toilet is quite basic. At the moment, the hotel is offering very, very good rates. I highly recommend this hotel for large group who would want to have team activities. Many activities can be organised here.

apartment with one room, even so it is very spacious. but room look little abandon and dusty. nothing special other than strategic location. guard very friendly, and check in and out very fast. others side, room very near to beach, only 100m walking already reach the beach. beach have clean water, the sand very clean. so very worth it to stay here.

Exceptional setting. The Spanish-style building is at the heart of a huge wooded lot. The setting is peaceful, it feels very good. The common areas are pleasant, as are the bedrooms (comfortable bedding and non-aggressive air conditioning). The staff is very friendly and at the service of the guests. I would particularly like to thank the hostess who is very friendly and available. Clearly it is a place that I recommend, we all loved our stay at casa Titik. Congratulations to the owners. This is an address that we keep preciously for a future return to Malaysia 🇲🇾