Tuna Bay Island Resort — Hotel in Greater Perhentian Island

We booked the rooms directly with the hotel. Emails were promptly answered and we booked 2 (connecting) rooms, with one facing the beach and the other one facing the garden.

Check-in: We withdrew money from Petron station ATM  before we went to Besut town. Drive to Tuna Bay office near Besut Jetty, unload your luggage there and follow someone who will guide you to park your car (RM10/night). The staff will load the bags onto the boat and we walked to the jetty (about 5 mins away) and paid the marine park ticket there. The boat ride to the resort took us about 55 mins.

Arrival: At the resort jetty, the staff welcomed us with orange juice and led us to our rooms, their staff will bring your bags to the room. The beach facing room has a small mini fridge, but the garden one does not have any. Each room has 2 small bottles of shampoo, 2 bottles of shower gel, soaps, 2 small glasses and a vacuum flask. They provide 2 small bottles of mineral water per stay, you may use them to refill the bottles at their cafe. They have a water dispenser that can dispense cold and hot water there. They allow smoking around the resort, what a shame.

Food: Breakfast is ok, on certain days they serve croissant, waffles and chocolate rolls, on other days they don't. It's usually one local fried dish, sausage, potato wedges, sliced cakes, bread, cereals, fruits and yogurt. Coffee and tea are served from the pot. You have to pay if you'd like to order Nespresso. We had lunch and dinners at the restaurant and were very impressed with the taste and speed of service. The juice and smoothies were well made. The fried calamari or squid just melt in your mouth, and the sizzling beef was very tasty as well. The price is, well, island price but I wont hesitate to eat there again next time.

The beach. This is the best part. The area is part of the protected marine park, no boats can come to the beach area and it is safe for guests to swim within the confined spot. The water is clear and when the sea is calm you can see the corals and fishes swimming without even having to swim in the water. You just stand there, the fish just come and swim around you. It's sad to see a lot of dead corals, I hope they can do something to preserve the marine life. The resort offers life jacket and snorkeling mask for rent, but it's easier to rent it from the stall in front of the beach (RM10/day) as they close at 7pm while Tuna Bay's closes at 5pm. (The same stall offers laundry service). Another thing- with dead corals and a lot of seashells on washed up on the beach, you will be needing slippers or beach socks, and make sure you buy ones with thick soles.

Island hopping. We went for island hopping (booked thru Tuna Bay). The guy was decent and friendly without being intrusive. The got to see both islands and swim at Turtle Bay and Romantic Beach. We also had lunch at one of the restaurants at Kg Nelayan. To use the toilets there require RM1 payment.

Spa. We went for a couple's massage. The massage was ok. Was just hoping for the room to be calmer, perhaps softer lighting, better music, and some organic aromatherapy.

Shopping. If you walk past the front desk area, you can find a small mart (Suhaila) that sells almost everything, with island price tags. They accept credit card and bank transfer. There is also another grocery store that sells items near Abdul' chalet, less option but was generally a bit cheaper than Suhaila's.

Check-out. Thre staff will come and collect your bags around 11.20am. Since we charged everything to the room, we had to settle the payment during check-out. Very convenient.

WiFi connection at the...

I agree with most Pros that hv been posted by others, ie location, sunset, beach. WiFi worked well, thank goodness. Good room options and size is ok.

I also completely agree with all the Cons:

1. Rude middle aged Chinese lady. At breakfast I asked her where to get some eggs as it was not in the buffet section and that I saw some guests with eggs. She showed me a fowled face and rudely pointed out the egg station opposite to the restaurant. It was our first morning there, it wasn’t that I asked something that I should know. Honestly I don’t take rudeness lightly and had I a moment again with her I would have screamed at her rudeness. Instead, so as to not ruin my trip, I ignored her the entire trip walking passed her or around her and when she served us I said nothing to her not even thank you made no eye contact but mind you, nor did she improve her behaviour. So a big No No to this horrid lady. Seemed like she chose who she felt she wanted to be pleasant with, but go away if you do not hv any customer service skills bc you end up ruining pples holiday.
2. food was rather on the high end and I’d stick to Asian dishes. Every plate was served with same ‘salad’ dry as a bone with no one to teach the cook how to dress salads. Squeezing some thousand island is no way to dress a salad
3. the full package which includes food is a No from me bc you don’t get a buffet choice , you just get whatever they decide for that meal. It’s a big let down and customers should be told when signing up with food as part of the package. I instead said I’d swap my meals for ala carte and pay any difference bc ala carte ended up being more.
4. breakfast was so so nothing much and took forever to replenish things like fruits or bread when high number of guests turn up.
5. rooms Ok dated as been noted, no tv. So bring ur iPads etc for Netflix. I don’t believe housekeeping cleans the rooms properly just sweeps n no mopping as you can feel sand when you return from the cleaning.
6. I get that this place is low key but pls stop leaving brooms, mops, cleaning materials or anything all around the entrance of restaurant or rooms. It just doesn’t look good and reduces the feel of a hotel or chalet atmosphere. No one needs to see them in plain sight.
7. on hot afternoons and I’d imagine hotter months, the aircond isn’t strong enough to cool the rooms. So you will suffer and the evening comes and temperatures drop slightly I can’t imagine being there mid year when it’s also very...

A Relaxing Stay at Tunabay Resort – Beautiful Location with a Few Trade-offs

We recently stayed at Tunabay Resort, Malaysia for 2 nights and 3 days, booking two beach-facing chalets directly from their website for our family of four. The experience overall was pleasant and memorable, with a few minor trade-offs.

Staff & Hospitality : The staff and management were approachable and helpful right from the beginning. A special mention goes to the lady from the accounts team—she was incredibly warm, cheerful, and welcoming. Her guidance through the ferry boarding process and her willingness to assist made us feel at ease, especially as international tourists.

Location & Accommodation: The resort is located in a stunning, secluded area, right in front of the sea. As we approached by ferry, we were greeted by crystal-clear blue waters and a beautiful beach view that instantly set a vacation mood. The beachfront chalets offer the best views and are definitely worth booking. The rooms were clean, well-maintained, and came with a welcome drink upon arrival. The staff also took care of our luggage and check-in process efficiently.

Food Experience: We had opted for a meal package that included lunch, dinner, and breakfast. As vegetarians and being from India, we found the food a bit bland and lacking in basic spices—clearly tailored more toward European and Western palates. However, considering the remote location of the resort, we understand the limitations and didn’t let it affect our overall experience too much. The barbecue night was a highlight and quite enjoyable, while breakfast was just about average.

Activities: Our main focus was to relax, enjoy the serene beach, and try snorkeling, which the resort offers at an additional charge. For beginners, I’d recommend taking a short trip to Long Beach Island, where snorkeling is easier and there are more options for food and accommodations.

Final Thoughts: If you’re looking for a peaceful, scenic getaway with stunning ocean views and decent hospitality, Tunabay Resort is a great option. While food could be improved, especially for vegetarians, the breathtaking location and overall relaxing vibe more than...