BuBu Long Beach Resort — Hotel in Lesser Perhentian Island

Despite having called numerous times to let Bubu Resort Long Beach know I would be arriving via water taxi, and put in a request for someone to meet me at the jetty since I have a suitcase, Bubu’s staff was incompetent or wholly indifferent about coordinating this simple ask. ||They do not answer the phone at reception at any of the numbers listed on their official website or on Google Maps.||Finally, they agreed to arrange a porter to meet me, but when I called upon arrival, the phone rang and rang again. Eventually, a woman picked up and said she would ask her colleague to come down.||I spent 15-20 minutes breathing in petrol fumes at the bottom of the steep, narrow staircase that leads up from the landing area, seeing people in Bubu shirts come and go, but no one gave me a glance.||One last try to call them again resulted in going straight to voicemail; when I tried one of the other numbers, someone in a mainland office answered and said they would also try to call the resort…||The gas fumes grew too poisonous, so I hoisted the 17 kilo suitcase up the 20-step stairs, across the bridge, the rundown pavement, and ensuing stretch of deep sand to reception.||The woman at reception said, “Sorry”, looking away, and gave me a small bottle of water as The Welcome Drink. I declined since I have a filtered bottle and don’t need to add more plastic waste to the premises, especially for plain water as The Welcome Drink. Why make it sound grand when it’s basic?||That’s where the marketing of this place is shameless. The “paradise” bay is full of boats and fumes and noise: how can so many people snorkel or swim in it?||The restaurant also looks to appeal to crowds that don’t do local Asian food. ||In short, Bubu’s is crass, commercial yet poorly executed. If you travel in search of relaxation. beauty, or quality, avoid Long Beach all together.||The rooms are fine, but I’d choose something much simpler and less polluted, with swimmable waters and professional staff any day.||Sadly, I had to ask reception to coordinate another “porter” for an early morning departure and a potential land transfer to the airport. Let’s see if and when that memo gets lost as well, stranding the guest to manage it alone (again) in the end. ||Don’t be misled by the marketing. Other resorts at least deliver on their promises. Save your money for a much better...

This is my third trip to Perhentian and I have to admit every year it gets worse and worse. Noisy, pollution on the rise and smelly petrol from the boats on the beach. ||Bubu had always been on my list because of the great marketing and the high prices. I assumed it must be good. Wrong. ||Don’t let this fool you. If is far worse than mimpi or actually Perhenthian island resort which is really saying something. ||I guess Bubu markets itself as the only proper resort on PIs. I guess that bubble has burst with the arrival of the Marriott although I understand that is not everyone’s taste however neither is BuBu. ||The rooms are so small that you can wash your face whilst sitting on the toilet. The room between the bed and the walls are literally cms. ||The rooms are super dirty and don’t get a proper clean which also is the same for towels. ||The state of repair is really bad and a lack of investment is to be seen. The photos say it all. There is no ambience here. None. The stair well to the rooms is like an entry to a prison. Again look at the photos. They don’t lie. ||I was out most of the day snorkelling on the reefs and yes they are amazing but when you return to BuBu that soon vanishes. ||The staff are about as disinterested as I have ever encountered. They have employed a few stranded westerners to work in the resort but they are not trained hospitality people and are inevitably too busy on their phone to be bothered by guests or talking to the other stranded backpackers. ||I am Leaving early because I can not deal with another sleepless night. The aircon is so loud you may as well be on a plane and if you turn it off the rooms are so poorly insulated that you melt so no solution. When I mentioned to the resort team I was leaving early because of the poor stay there was not even a flinch or a question why. They don’t care. ||Breakfast was the worst also that I have encountered in SE Asia. The pictures on line are not truthful. ||I wanted to like Bubu but this is not possible. The place really is terrible and reminds me a little of a 1980s camp ground. ||After a stay in PI you should feel refreshed and incredible. I feel exhausted, dirty and indeed of some proper hospitality. ||This was the worst stay I have had in SE Asia for some time. ||Avoid BuBu. ||Got to mimpi or...

I been staying at a lot of hotels for work and leisure and I have never experienced something like what happened today. The following is the story that happened to me today:

I am staying here from 16-20th September 2020 and it’s my 2nd day here. Everything was nice, friendly staff, nice room and ambience, even welcome drink and free cocktail per person per stay each day.

BUT something happened this morning that totally distraught me and ruined my trip. But let me give some context first - The layout of the room is slightly different. When you enter the room, it opens to the bathroom, then there’s a door to the bedroom. So if you are in the bedroom with the bathroom door closed, you can’t see the entrance. Now, here is what happened. I left my wallet on the toilet sink and I clearly remembered it was there. And while we are in the bedroom, we locked the entrance room and the bathroom door was closed too. So we cannot see the entrance. I heard some noises, I didn’t bother much. And I still heard noises then I open the door and saw 2 housekeepers there. And I said to them to clean the room later, I went on to the bedroom to relax. Then it’s time for me to do the snorkeling trip, and I was looking for my wallet and I couldn’t find it. Then it hit me, it may be the housekeepers. I went to the receptionist and reported this issue. They were very helpful and even looked the entire room for me, obviously the wallet was no where to be found. They even brought the housekeepers to the room and they said that when I open the door they were at the door. I said yes but I heard noises for a 2-3 mins before I open the door. They must have heard me and quickly ran back to the proper position.

I even said to the housekeepers that I just need my ic and you can have the money. I said this because I didn’t have much cash in the wallet and I cancelled all my credit cards. And I found it interesting that the housekeeper replied - if I give you back the IC, then you will change the story and accused me. Which I said it’s okay you can have that rm150, I need the IC for my flight! The housekeeper gave me attitude. I feel uncomfortable staying here now.

MORAL OF THE STORY - KEEP ALL YOUR BELONGINGS...