Forest City Marina Hotel — Hotel in Iskandar Puteri

Check-in Process

I arrived around 6 PM, a few hours past the 3 PM check-in time. The reception was efficient, and I received my keys quickly. However, instead of two room keys, I was given one key for the room and another for the elevator. This posed an inconvenience, as it restricted guests from moving independently if they needed to return at different times.

Parking & Bellman Service

Parking is located on the left side of the building and requires a TnG card for access, which must be validated at reception each time you leave—an unnecessary hassle. Upon arrival, I requested the bellman to take our luggage upstairs while I parked. However, upon returning, I found my family waiting in the lobby as they had to come down to fetch me due to the elevator key issue. Despite a quiet reception area, the bellman never took our luggage up, and after waiting 15 minutes in the room, I had to retrieve it myself. Only then did the bellman rush over, offering assistance, which seemed pointless by that time.

The Beach

The hotel's beachfront location is perfect for relaxation, and the area is well-maintained. However, swimming is prohibited due to numerous crocodile warning signs, which also limited our child’s beach activities. The risk of crocodiles wandering onto dry land further dampened the experience.

Breakfast

The breakfast was the highlight of our stay. We had four breakfasts, each as enjoyable as the last. While some items repeated, the extensive selection ensured variety, with options we didn’t even get to try.

The Pool

There are two well-maintained pools, both relatively shallow (max depth of 4 feet), making them ideal for young children. However, access is not exclusive to hotel guests. While an entry fee of 20 RM is supposedly required, no staff enforced this rule during weekdays, leading to outsiders entering in street clothes without proper hygiene.

Food & Amenities

Most shops in Forest City Marina were closed. The only nearby dining options were a Thai restaurant, a small café, and Marrybrown. A bar was present but unsuitable for families. A few grocery stores and a KK Mart were available, but for lunch, choices were limited to room service or a long drive elsewhere, which I had to do three times during our stay.

Security

The beach and pool are public spaces, leading to a presence of questionable individuals. However, police and security guards patrolled frequently, providing some reassurance. I’d advise against strolling at night.

The Room

The room was spacious, with a large, comfortable bed and breathtaking views. Unfortunately, the water pressure was nearly nonexistent. Despite multiple complaints over five days, the issue remained unresolved. We resorted to using the gym showers instead. Additionally, the in-room phones were dysfunctional; calls would go unanswered until we inquired at the reception. For room service, I had to call the hotel's main line to obtain an alternative number.

Room Service

The food was consistently excellent—fresh, flavorful, and well-prepared.

Staff & Communication

While the staff was polite and courteous, their response to issues was inadequate. The failure to resolve the water pressure problem was frustrating, and the non-functional phones made communication difficult.

Would I Visit Again?

Probably not, and I wouldn’t recommend it. There are plenty of better hotels in the area that offer a more...

I recently stayed at the Forest City Marina Hotel and had a mixed experience. While there were some positives, a few key areas left much to be desired.

Upon arrival, the staff were very friendly and accommodating. The receptionists- Rizal and other employees were helpful throughout our stay. However, there were quite a few issues that impacted the overall experience.

On the first day, we had dinner at the hotel, but the limited options and the quality left us disappointed. Fortunately, breakfast and lunch on the following days were much better and pleasant.

The room itself was decent, though the bathtub did not offer hot water, which was a letdown. Cleanliness was acceptable, but maintenance issues were quite disruptive. There was ongoing maintenance work during our stay, and the drilling noise disturbed what had been a peaceful environment. Although the issue was resolved within 15 minutes after texting the hotel on WhatsApp, the initial disruption affected our relaxation.

The hotel boasts two pools, but one was under maintenance, limiting the facilities available to guests. The water park( operated by a third party)though interesting in concept, was poorly maintained. Additionally, despite having a phone in the room, calling reception or room service was ineffective as no one picked up. This was frustrating and made the phone seem only useful for calling other rooms.

One major downside was the lack of activities during the evening. The hotel could benefit from a kids’ playroom or other entertainment options to keep guests occupied at night. Many of the nearby shops and the eco-museum were closed, and the entire Forest City lacked a mosque, making it inconvenient for Friday prayers.

Pros:

• Friendly and helpful staff • Pleasant breakfast and lunch • Interesting water park concept

Cons:

• Many power points in the room weren’t working • Poor dinner options with limited variety on the first day • Ongoing maintenance during the stay with disruptive drilling noises • One pool was closed for maintenance • Water park was poorly maintained • Lack of hot water in the bathtub • Reception and room service did not answer calls • Few evening activities; more options for children would improve the experience • Many nearby shops and eco-museum were closed • No mosque in Forest City for Friday prayers

Overall, while there were some enjoyable aspects, the hotel needs to improve its maintenance, evening activities, and responsiveness to guests.I definitely see high potential for this place and it is greenery and itz an escape from a busy city but just needed those cons to be...

Dear Hotel Management,

I am compelled to bring to your immediate attention a series of distressing issues encountered during my ongoing stay, which have severely impacted our experience and may serve as a cautionary tale for prospective guests.

Delayed Check-In and Unprepared Room: Upon arrival on December 23, 2024, at approximately 5:00 PM—two hours past the standard check-in time—we were informed that our room was not ready. This delay is inexcusable, especially considering the ample time available for room preparation.

Water Supply Failures and Unsanitary Conditions: The check-in process was further prolonged due to widespread water issues, notably non-functional toilets. Despite assurances of resolution by 6:00 PM, our room's balcony was filthy, harboring insects on the bed frame and sofa. The toilet remained unusable, forcing us to endure significant discomfort.

Inoperative Room Phone and Service Inefficiencies: Our attempts to request basic amenities were thwarted by a non-functional room phone, necessitating inconvenient trips to the reception. Staff acknowledged awareness of these issues, citing ongoing repairs since the previous week—yet the problems persist. A maintenance technician's futile attempt to fix the phone left our room dusty with cement residue, which remained uncleaned. Alarmingly, a cleaner attempted to enter our room without proper notice while we were inside, breaching our privacy.

Air Conditioning Malfunction: The air conditioning failed to cool the room adequately, despite being set to the lowest temperature, resulting in an unbearably hot night. A staff member's cursory inspection deemed the unit functional, dismissing our discomfort.

These compounded issues reflect a severe decline in service quality and operational standards, especially during a festive season when guests seek a pleasant stay. The lack of prompt and effective responses exacerbates the situation, leaving us distressed during what should be a joyful time.

We urge immediate corrective actions to address these concerns during the remainder of our stay and to prevent future guests from enduring similar hardships. Prospective visitors should be aware of these ongoing issues, as they significantly detract from the expected...