Sari Pacifica Resort & Spa Redang Island — Hotel in Pulau Redang

Package: 3D2N Full-boarding with snorkeling, 2 seaview chalets for 6 pax.

Disclaimer: My review is only based on my experience staying at the seaview chalets. I cannot comment on the other room types. This is a long review. Summary: for the package we took it was worth it except for the food.

I booked and paid for the stay by phone through Sari Pacifica HQ. It was very difficult to get through to them. But once I did get through, it was a very easy process to book the stay. Jay who picked up my call (finally) answered all my questions and clarified certain aspects of the package (e.g., what is included and what is not, etc.). I would highly recommend the seaview chalets as they offer the most privacy and stunning views of the ocean and sunrise (see pictures). I requested a connecting chalets, and the hotel was able to provide me with one. Thanks Ms Suhaida.

We boarded the speedboat to Redang at Al Ameen Jetty in Merang (not MARANG - that's for Kapas Island ). The jetty provides open air parking with 24-hour security at RM10/day. I was told covered parking is also available, but I am not sure about the rate.

Once we arrived at our stop, a tractor wagon from the hotel was already waiting. The ride was quite bumpy and slow, and it took about 15 minutes to reach the hotel. Upon arriving at the hotel, we were served with welcome drinks (chilled guava juice).

The chalets are quite spacious and could fit 2 more extra beds (the policy is that only one extra bed is allowed per chalet, but since we had two chalets, the hotel didn't mind putting both extra beds in one chalet after advising us that it might make the room very crowded). Despite the two extra beds, the kids still had room to perform their solat in the sizable walk-in closet. The swimming pool is also very big - you could do the traditional lap or just float around like on a lazy river (it does not have a lazy river but the pool surrounds a part of the lobby).

The amenities in the room are adequate. Obviously, it has seen better days. However, the room is quite clean, the bed is very comfortable, the pillows are soft and fluffy, the air-conditioning works, movies can be played on the TV and hot water is available. Each chalet has it own porch that offers and unobstructed view (except for a few coconut trees) of the South China Sea and a few small islands. You can watch the sunrise from the comforts of your bed.

We swam with the turtles. The water was crystal clear. I was told that the depth where we were was about 5 meters, but we could see all the way to the bottom. There were several turtles swimming around us, and they seemed very comfortable with us. This was probably the highlight of our trip. I wouldn't have minded if we had stayed a bit longer here (limit given was 45 minutes).

Overall, the hotel staff were very friendly and accommodating. The 2 reasons I'm giving the service 3 stars are 1) no housekeeping, and 2) because of the food. Our package included 2 lunches, 2 breakfasts, 1 dinner and 1 Korean BBQ dinner. Overall, I would give the food 2 stars. The Korean BBQ itself is only worthy of 1 star. Everything seemed wee bit too sour for my taste. Everything seemed to be marinated with rosemary and bay leaves, which didn't seem Korean to me. My only consolation was that they had an egg station during breakfast.

Would I go again? Yes, for the view, the privacy, the people and the snorkeling but not for the food.

I hope the hotel will gain back its pre covid business and will be able to hire more staff and renovate/repair some of the outdated facilities (chipping paint in the restaurant ceiling and wall, especially) to bring it back to...

"Sari Pacifica" a brand that USED TO instill so much confidence and standard in the past, has now succeeded TREMENDOUSLY into throwing my expectations into the mud. My 4 days 3 nights stay with my friends and family during the end of March 2022 has made us questioned, whether this is truly the "Sari Pacifica" we used to know, or did we accidentally checked into a BOGUS hotel in Redang? Mind you, we stayed at the apparently the best option it has to offer, the SEA VIEW Villa. The only FACTOR that allows this "resort" to have a 2-star rating from me is PURELY AND ONLY because of the friendliness of their staff members, who despite limited in their capacity, tried their best to help us in overcoming the shortcomings of the "resort".

Upon arrival at Pulau Redang, while other hotel operators have provided staffs to wait and help their guests to carry their baggage into the truck, we were standing BLUR on where we should be going for a while. The 1 and ONLY 1 staff who was waiting for the 20 of us, was only able to help us carry 1 or MAXIMUM 2 rounds of our baggage with his 2 hands. We could only watch with ENVY, the guests of other hotel operators, as me and my wife carried our 1 year old girl under the hot island weather, for no less than 30 minutes, while the staff sent the first 10 of my friends to the resort and then came back for the rest of us.

If the definition of a Villa is that of its size. Then KUDOS to "Sari Pacifica" for indeed, the Sea View Villa is huge in its size. But my friends and family as Guests... did not appreciate such a BIG, yet Sandy floor, stained blankets and bed sheets. The en-suite toilet is HUGE with a bathtub that we did not dare to use. I agree though, the view from the Villa is as good as it gets in Pulau Redang. The aircond in my first villa was not working well, and I managed to shift to another room the next night.

The food, while I truly did not expect much, having stayed in Redang a few times over a few different resorts, and YET it fell far below my ALREADY low expectation. The first night, we were served grilled BBQ without lights and fans at our tables. Can you imagine? After feedback, the next day onward we were given permanent table position under a WORKING CEILING Fan. There were only 2 or 3 in the entire eating area. You have to feel bad for people who were not so fortunate. A special credit for the F&B manager who tried to make up as best as he could to us, and prepared a steamboat dinner for us on the last night.

Overall: Staff: 5 Stars Cleanliness: 2 Stars Value: 0 Star. We paid RM1200 per person for 4 days 3 nights for those staying at Sea View Villa. You can judge for yourself if based on what we have experienced the good and the bad, whether it was value for money.

Recommendation: Food: Pelangi resort has good western food in my opinion. Cleanliness: Coral Redang, Pelangi Resort, Redang Beach, Laguna Redang. Value: Anywhere but Sari...

I first saw this resort when I first visited Redang back in 2017, and I've always wanted to stay here.

Disclaimer: If you wanna snorkel more, this resort is not a good choice, but if you wanna have a good rest and enjoy the sea, here's the place.

When I saw all negative reviews here (only after full payment was made) I almost regretted. I've read back all the information provided in the website, I regretted my choice, again. Despite all that, I still proceed with the stay and it was actually beyond my expectation.

Everything went smooth for me (Alhamdulillah, praise to Allah). When I reached the Merang Jetty (need to follow the location they provided in the email), I was told by the lady that the boat might get delayed due to the school holidays. But no, it wasn't delayed but was early by few minutes. We had to wait at Laguna Jetty for approx 5-8 minutes before our transportation came to pick us to the lobby. Check in time (as per on paper) was supposed to be at 3pm, but our room was ready by 11.30am. Our bags were carried by the bellman, to our front door.

We chose the Seafront Villa, full board package with 1-time snorkeling (here's the reason why I couldn't give full 5-star).

We were told that there's 2 stops, first one is turtle point and second is open sea. For turtle point is understandable that the water wasn't crystal clear (pre-monsoon season), while the second spot he brought us had big waves.

Here's the scam part. DO NOT TRUST the boatman, when he offered 'add-on' to go to other spots.

Our boatman offered two-additional spots (CHARGED at RM20/person/spot), first one was to visit a cave (unfortunately big waves, so can't go there), and 2nd one is a small island in the midlde of the sea (which we didn't want at the very first place). Then he made a PROMISE that he'll talk to the front office requesting to bring us back to the turtle spot at 2pm, because the first visit we wasn't able to see the turtle.

When we went back to the resort, the manager denied and refused to let us go on 2nd round of turtle point snorkeling. We should have known it was a big SCAM.

Food were okay, we had the nicest Thosai (for a hotel/resort I'd say it was a good one).

There's UNO stacko, Ping Pong table, Pool (RM4/game), game cards, beach games that you can enjoy during your stay.

On our last day, we were treated like a VIP cause we were one of the earliest to leave, the only two to ride the boat to Merang Jetty, and when we arrived our taxi to airport was already there and again, the only two to ride the taxi.

It was a pleasant trip except that I am seasick, but I...