The Westin Desaru Coast Resort — Hotel in Johor

Relaxing Stay in the Garden Terrace Room ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

We stayed in the Garden Terrace Room at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, and it was a wonderful experience! The room was spacious, modern, and surrounded by lush greenery, making it perfect for a relaxing getaway.

✔️ Room & Comfort The room was beautifully designed with a calming color scheme and plenty of natural light. The Westin Heavenly® Bed was incredibly comfortable, ensuring a great night’s sleep. The bathroom was spacious, featuring a bath tub, rain shower and amenities.

✔️ Private Garden Terrace – A Hidden Gem! The highlight of this room was the private terrace with a small garden, opened up to a lush green garden and a pond, creating a serene and refreshing atmosphere. offering a peaceful and private space to unwind. Perfect for enjoying morning coffee while listening to the sounds of nature or a quiet evening with a book. • Direct access to the resort’s garden area, muara lagoon pool, splash bar and to the beach, great for a quiet morning or evening stroll.

Delicious & Varied Breakfast at Seasonal Tastes ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

We had an amazing breakfast experience at Seasonal Tastes, the all-day dining restaurant at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort. The buffet spread was extensive, fresh, and catered to all tastes.

✔️ Wide Variety of Choices The selection was fantastic, offering a mix of local Malaysian favorites and international classics: Local Delights: Nasi lemak & teh tarik, roti canai, nasi dagang, Chinese section and Indian section. Western Options: Omelets made to order, fluffy pancakes, waffles, sausages, and smoked salmon. Healthy Choices: Fresh juices, yogurt, cereals, hand picked salad counter and gluten-free options. Pastries & Breads: Croissants, Danish pastries, and freshly baked bread.

✔️ Live Cooking Stations The egg station was a highlight, where chefs prepared eggs any way you liked – from scrambled to eggs Benedict. The noodle station also served delicious laksa/mee kari/mee rebus/ made fresh on request.

✔️ Excellent Service & Ambience The staff were attentive, always ensuring our coffee cups were refilled. The restaurant had a spacious, bright, and relaxing atmosphere, with views of the resort’s gardens and pool.

❌ Minor Issue It can get busy during peak hours, so arriving early is recommended for a more relaxed experience.

Relaxing & Scenic Muara Lagoon Pool Experience ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

The Muara Lagoon Pool at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort was one of the highlights of our stay. It provided a relaxing, nature-inspired swimming experience that felt more exclusive and peaceful than a typical hotel pool.

✔️ Beautiful & Spacious Pool The natural shape of the pool, surrounded by lush greenery, created a tranquil, resort-like ambiance Surrounded by lush greenery, making it a peaceful escape from the sun.

✔️ Family-Friendly & Relaxing Great for families and couples—kids enjoyed splashing around while adults could lounge nearby. Plenty of sunbeds and shaded areas, ideal for relaxing with a drink.

✔️ Good Location & Facilities Conveniently located near other resort facilities esp The Gym, making it easy to access. Poolside service available for drinks and snacks.

❌ Minor Issue It can get busy in the afternoons, so early mornings or evenings are best for a quieter experience.

Well-Equipped & Spacious Gym at The Westin Desaru ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ (5/5)

The WestinWORKOUT® Fitness Studio at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort is perfect for guests who want to stay active during their vacation.

✔️ Modern Equipment & Facilities The gym is spacious, clean, and well-maintained. Equipped with state-of-the-art cardio machines (treadmills, elliptical trainers, and stationary bikes). A good selection of free weights, strength training machines, and yoga mats.

✔️ Open 24/7 Convenient for all schedules, whether you prefer an early morning workout or a late-night session.

✔️ Refreshments & Extras Towels, water, and even fresh fruits are provided, which is a...

⭐ Honest but Fair Review of Our Stay at The Westin Desaru

We were quite excited for our stay, but honestly, it turned out a little underwhelming. Maybe my expectations were too high after reading all the good reviews, but a few things just didn’t meet the mark.

Family of 4 stay. Check-in via the Marriott Bonvoy app was smooth, and we appreciated the early 3 PM check-in and welcome drink. We were informed about a water shutdown one night (10 PM–5 AM) and got 20% off F&B as compensation — dine-in only. Oddly, in-room dining wasn’t available for this offer.

Breakfast This was where we felt the biggest gap. The food variety was fine, but the service could be better. On both mornings (weekday stay), we weren’t offered a baby chair or kids’ cutlery — we had to ask twice. One morning, when my child accidentally spilled food, the staff saw it but didn’t assist, which was disappointing. Everyone was polite, but it felt like the team needed more attentiveness and training to match Westin’s usual standards.

Also, calling the lobby for assistance was a challenge — no one picked up after multiple tries, and I had to go down personally to ask.

Facilities Muara Lagoon (Level 1): Beautiful, shaded by trees. The kids’ pool (1–2 ft) was nice but can get crowded. The adult pool (4 ft) was quieter and more relaxing. Infinity Pool (Level 2): Great view, but no ramp access between Level 2 and Level 1, which makes it inconvenient for families with strollers or wheelchairs. Kids’ Club: Staff were friendly, but didn’t really explain available activities — we just supervised our kids ourselves. Babysitting might be available if you ask. Games Lounge (Level 6): A small space with board games, a kids’ corner, and PS5 rentals (paid). Movie time at 2 PM — random Netflix picks. Gym: We didn’t manage to find it — signage could be clearer.

Shuttle to Adventure Park This was one of the highlights. Guests heading to Adventure Park can request a free shuttle to Hard Rock Hotel (just next door). The driver was lovely and patient, and the return process was well-coordinated. Really appreciated this service.

Dining at Kedidi We had dinner here once. Food was tasty though a little salty, and the service was excellent. Baby chairs and kids’ cutlery were offered immediately — such a simple gesture but it made a big difference. We paid around RM300+ for 2 mains, 2 kids’ meals, 1 appetizer, and 1 still water.

Extra Notes: GrabFood deliveries can be collected at the lobby. There’s a small snack corner in the lobby (chips, Haagen-Dazs). Hard Rock Hotel has a vending machine for essentials (Panadol, sunblock, etc.) — a nice idea Westin could consider. Desaru Mini Zoo is about a 30-minute, easy drive. Checkout was smooth (thank you, Shikin!). Parking is free and validated. RM400 deposit upon check-in. Beach sand is a bit rough but clean — kids enjoyed it! There’s a rinse area to wash off before heading back. Wi-Fi was fast and stable throughout the hotel premises. The bathtub was larger than usual, but the hot water could’ve been warmer.

Overall We really wanted to love our stay, but it just didn’t meet the expectations we had for a Westin property. The facilities were okay, and some staff were great, but overall service felt inconsistent. For what we paid (almost RM2k for 2 nights), we expected a more seamless experience. Service quality was below what we’d expect from Westin. Sadly, it didn’t match our previous experience at Shangri-La.

Wouldn’t return — hopefully they improve...

Severe Breach of Privacy and Appalling Conduct by Hotel Management.

This review is a formal account of an extremely disturbing incident during my recent stay at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort, involving a serious invasion of privacy and an appalling failure of professionalism, particularly by the hotel’s newly appointed General Manager.

Despite a very clearly displayed “Do Not Disturb” sign, three male staff members tried to enter our room without permission, with them unlocking the room door and opening it widely. We were having a bath at the time, and only became alarmingly aware of their presence when we opened the bathroom door to find them standing right outside the main door with the main door flung open, speaking to us and beginning to clean (read: insisting to), including mopping, while we had just stepped out of the bathroom and were neither properly nor fully dressed.

When questioned, the male staff members stated they were entering to check for a potential water drainage facility problem in the room. However, even after confirming we were unharmed, and simply using the bathroom, and in spite of us verbally asking them to please leave, they made no move to leave or apologise, instead demanding to remain and mop the hallway floor, twice. The situation was very invasive, unjustified, and extremely alarming.

This was an unacceptable and deeply invasive breach of privacy and personal safety.

Subsequently with immediate effect, we had reported this promptly and escalated through several hotel representatives, Service Express, the Loyalty Manager, and the Assistant Front Office Manager, before reaching the General Manager. The GM was involved only after four whole hours, way after this incident had taken place.

Shockingly, the GM’s response was dismissive, extremely condescending, fraught with mockery, and completely unprofessional. She made no effort to understand what had occurred, laughed during the conversation, and treated our very serious concern as if it were an insignificant joke.

According to her public profile, she had only been in the role for three weeks, which is evidenced by her complete lack of accountability or leadership.

Her attitude was condescending, flippant, and frankly offensive. To be met with backhanded remarks instead of empathy from the highest-ranking staff member on a Marriott property is beyond unacceptable.

I have submitted a formal complaint to Marriott’s regional office and will continue escalating this matter through the relevant corporate and regulatory channels until this is fully addressed.

This review serves as a warning to future guests:

At Westin Desaru, your right to privacy may be violated, and you may be ridiculed by the very person who should protect your interests, its...