Johor Bahru Family Paradise: E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury!
Johor Bahru Family Paradise: E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury! A Deep Dive (and a Few Grumbles)
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! I've just emerged from a stay at the much-hyped E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury in Johor Bahru, and let me tell you, it's a mixed bag. Prepare for a review as chaotic as my suitcase after a week-long trip. This isn't your sanitized, robotic travel blog spiel; this is real life.
Accessibility: (Trying to be inclusive, Bless 'em)
Let's start with the basics. The hotel claims to be accessible. Now, I didn't roll in on a wheelchair, but I did notice… well, let's just say the execution felt a bit hit or miss. The elevator was thankfully big enough for… well, for anyone. The lobby felt spacious, and the reception area had minimal fuss. That's a plus! But I did see some potential pinch points around the restaurants, and I'm genuinely uncertain how some of the poolside areas would fare. A mixed bag, really, and I'd definitely recommend contacting the hotel directly to get a specific feel before booking.
On-Site Dining & Drinking - A Culinary Adventure (With a Few Landmines)
- Restaurants: Okay, so we're talking multiple restaurants. Fancy, right? Asian, Western, something-for-everyone, supposedly. Now, the Asian cuisine restaurant was a definite hit. I scarfed down some delectable noodles that would make a grandma proud. My tip? Don't skip the local delights. The Western offerings? Let's just say I'm still not over the slightly… overcooked steak. But hey, at least they had a good selection of wines.
- The Buffet: Ah, the buffet. This is where things get interesting. Breakfast? Standard buffet, ok. I've seen better, I've seen worse. It had everything that you'd expect. I'm not going to say no to a buffet.
- Poolside Bar: Now this was a winner. Sipping cocktails in the sun while watching the kids splash around? Absolute bliss. The bartenders were friendly, the drinks were strong, and the vibe was, thankfully, pretty relaxed. I might have stayed for a few extra rounds… don't judge.
- Room Service (24-hour): Thank god for 24-hour room service. After a long day, sometimes you want nothing more than to hide away and order a mountain of comfort food. The menu was extensive, and the food was generally good. I was particularly fond of the late-night pizza.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax – More Relaxing Than Finding My Car Keys
- Pools: Swimming pools! Big ones, beautiful ones, with stunning city views. I spent a good chunk of my time here, and while I did encounter a few overly enthusiastic kids, it's hard to complain when you're floating in cool water under the sun.
- The Spa: Okay, so the spa. I dove right in. My wife and I had a couples massage that was pure heaven. The masseuses were skilled, the rooms were serene, the ambient music was perfect. For a few precious hours, I melted away the stresses of everyday life. Amazing. They also had a sauna, steam room, and foot baths - the whole shebang.
- Fitness Center: I, uh, attempted to use the fitness center. Honestly, after all that buffet and poolside bar action, I figured I should. It was a decent gym with a decent range of equipment.
Cleanliness and Safety – Feeling Safe-ish
- Hygiene and all that jazz: They were definitely taking hygiene seriously. Hand sanitizer was everywhere, the staff were masked up, and there were constant reminders about social distancing. I appreciated the effort, and I felt relatively safe. I didn't see any anti-viral cleaning products, though. Maybe I missed them…? Well, they were clearly trying.
- Room Sanitization: They offered to have rooms sanitized. That made me feel good.
- Breakfast in room: I never tried this, but I'm sure it's a great option.
Services and Conveniences – The Good, The Bad, and the "Meh"
- The Good: The concierge was helpful, the daily housekeeping was efficient, and the laundry service was a lifesaver.
- The "Meh": Wi-Fi was mostly reliable.
- The Annoying: Oh, and finding parking was a NIGHTMARE… despite the "free car park." I'm talking circling the lot five times before giving up and parking… somewhere else.
For the Kids (and the Big Kids at Heart):
- Babysitting service: They had it!
- Kids facilities: They had some things.
- Kids Meal: yes. Good.
Rooms - Luxurious? Maybe. Quirky? Definitely.
- So, the suites were spacious and well-appointed. The beds were comfy, the views were great.
- The bathroom had all the bits and bobs. Bathtub? Check. Bathrobes and slippers? Check. Oh, and the alarm clock. A lifesaver.
Getting Around - Easy Peasy… Until You Try to Leave
- Airport Transfer: They offered it.
- Taxi service: They had it.
- Car Park: This one is a big, big, big point of contention.
Meta-Data & SEO Stuff (Because the internet demands it!):
Keywords: Johor Bahru Hotel, R&F Mall, E'Garden Suite, Luxury Hotel, Family Friendly, Spa, Swimming Pool, Restaurant, Accessible Hotel, Buffet Breakfast, Johor Bahru accommodation, vacation, Malaysia.
Title: Johor Bahru Family Paradise: E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury! (A Chaotic Review)
Meta Description: An honest, sometimes messy, but always real review of E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury in Johor Bahru! Dive into the good, the bad, and the hilariously quirky. Spoiler: parking is a nightmare!
Hotel Chain: No idea. Honestly.
Smoking: Non-smoking rooms, yay.
Security: They have it.
Final Verdict:
Look, E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury isn't perfect. It’s not. But it is a good option for families, particularly if you’re looking for a bit of luxury and convenience while exploring Johor Bahru. The spa is divine, the pools are gorgeous, and the location (right next to R&F Mall!) is incredibly convenient. Just be prepared for some potential parking woes, and maybe bring your own anti-allergy spray, just in case. Overall, I'd recommend it with a few caveats. Would I go back? Probably. But next time, I'm taking a bus, and maybe I'll skip that extra slice of pizza. Maybe.
Escape to Indy: Holiday Inn Airport's Unbeatable Deals!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this ain't your grandma's travel itinerary. This is… well, this is me, trying to wrangle a family holiday in Johor Bahru. And honestly? I'm already exhausted just thinking about it. Here we go…
E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Princess Cove Family House Adventure: The Train Wreck (I mean, Trip)
Day 1: Arrival & the Great IKEA Pilgrimage (aka, "Where's the Damn Food Court?")
Morning (6:00 AM - 8:00 AM): The Alarm's War Cry. Ugh. Seriously? Does anyone actually enjoy getting up before the sun? Forced smiles and frantic packing. Kids are already whining. Husband is already snoring. The blissful chaos begins. Flight (or whatever magical portal we somehow squeeze ourselves through) to Senai International Airport - hopefully, the luggage makes it this time. Last time? Let's just say I learned a valuable lesson about packing underwear.
Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Car rental pick-up. "Sir, your car… it's a compact… Yes, I know you booked a minivan. No, there are no other minivans. But hey! Good news!…" (Rant about compact cars suppressed). We are all packed in like sardines, and you can guess who's sitting in the middle seat between two screaming kids.
Lunch (11:30 AM - 1:00 PM): IKEA Tebrau. This is non-negotionable. (Kids scream even more).Ikea is a must, the holy grail! My husband is "the map," and he's already lost. The kids are already wanting a toy. There are so many people. And the meatballs…oh, god, the meatballs. (Where is the damn food court?! I'm starving) I think I spotted a fellow traveler who wants to give up. I give a little nod.
Early Afternoon (1:00 PM - 3:00 PM): Check-in at E'Garden Suite. Pray the place actually looks like the pictures. (Spoiler alert: It usually doesn't). Find out the A/C doesn't work, the wifi is slower than a snail in molasses. (Breathe). I would sell my soul for a cold beer right now. But the view from the balcony is actually kinda nice. (Small victory!)
Late Afternoon (3:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Shopping at R&F Mall. (Pray for mercy). The only thing that interests the kids is games. Husband is still trying to figure out the TV. Me? I'm already mentally composing angry emails to customer service.
Evening (7:00 PM onwards): Dinner out - hopefully somewhere not too far from the apartment. My stomach is grumbling. Kid's temper tantrums. Husband is probably starting to think of a divorce. End of the day.
Day 2: Adventure Cove Waterpark (or, How I Learned to Embrace the Wet Chaos)
Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Breakfast at the apartment. (Cereal, because honestly, who has the energy to cook?). After this, we are ready for the water park..
Morning (9:00 AM - 10:00 AM): It's time. Put down the phone, do the fun things.
Early Afternoon (10:00 AM - 1:00 PM): Adventure Cove Waterpark: This is it. THIS is what we came for. Splash! Scream! Soaking wet happiness! The kids loved it. (I did too, mostly!). I also lost my sunglasses in the wave pool. Note to self: Invest in a waterproof phone case!
Lunch (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Food at the water park is overpriced, and everyone is already hungry. I had to wrestle a fried chicken away from a hungry toddler. Priorities.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 4:00 PM): More waterpark fun! Because we need more. The sun started to take it's toll. I started to question my life.
Evening (6:00 PM): Dinner. We decided to order something local. A mistake. The chicken was too spicy. The kids refused to eat it. I made a mental note to stick to western food tomorrow.
Day 3: City Touring and Trying to Find the "Authentic" (Good Luck With That)
Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Breakfast, another attempt to get the kids ready. (Another fail).
Morning (11:00 AM - 1:00 PM): We went to a local cafe to try to experience "local culture". The cafe was great, and the coffee was excellent. Everything was great.
Lunch (1:00 PM - 2:00 PM): Decided to try something new. We tried a restaurant in a mall. The kids had pizza. My husband and I had the local dish. Amazing.
Afternoon (2:00 PM - 5:00 PM): Time to hit the streets. Trying to hit up some markets. The heat was unbearable. The kids complained. I got lost. Husband started to sweat.
Evening (6:00 PM): We all decided that it was too hot and went back to rest at the suite.
Day 4: Legoland and the Battle of the Lines
- Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Breakfast. Mental pep talk: You can do this. You will survive. You will not lose your mind.
- Morning (9:30 AM - 12:00 PM): LEGOLAND! The kids loved the rides, I enjoyed the views.
- Lunch (12:00 PM - 1:00 PM): Lunch. The food was ok.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - 4:00 PM): We did everything we could.
- Evening (4:00 PM - 6:00 PM): Heading back. I am exhausted. The kids are quiet.
Day 5: Departure & The Aftermath (aka, "Where's My Sanity?")
- Morning (6:00 AM - 8:00 AM): The final alarm. Packing. (Again!). Another round of frantic "Did we forget anything?" and the panic sets in. Trying to make sure everything is ready.
- Morning (8:00 AM - 9:00 AM): Check of out and head to airport. The kids start complaining. I ignore them.
- Morning (9:00 AM - 11:00 AM): Back home. The chaos continues.
Post-Trip Thoughts: This trip was both a nightmare and a beautiful experience. I would go back anytime. The end.
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Johor Bahru Family Paradise: E'Garden Suite R&F Mall Luxury! - The REALLY Real FAQs
Okay, so...is this place REALLY "Luxury?" Because my idea of luxury is a butler who wipes away my tears with silk scarves.
Alright, let's be honest. "Luxury" is subjective, right? And the marketing folks at E'Garden are probably on speaking terms with the word...often. It's NOT butler-with-silk-scarves luxury. Think *pretty* darn nice. The suites are spacious – enough room for the kids to wage a small-scale war with their light sabers (yes, mine brought them). They’ve got the amenities, like a decent kitchen (I cooked instant noodles triumphantly), and the beds are comfy. The views? Some are KILLER, overlooking the Straits. My view, on the other hand, was of the next building. (Don’t ask.) So, the luxury is more like: *spacious, clean, and with a pool.* Which, at the end of a long day of mall-ing and kid-wrangling, feels pretty darn luxurious, let me tell you. Especially after that darn instant noodle feast I whipped up. That felt like winning a Michelin star, honestly.
How big *are* these suites, *really*? My family is a small army.
Okay, "small army" is a good benchmark. My suite comfortably housed my two kids, my spouse, and me. And we *all* had room to breathe. We took the 2-bedroom suite (because sanity). It’s definitely not cramped. My kids, who are experts at claiming territory, didn't even start the usual sibling wars over space. (That's a WIN in my book!) Think of it like this: You could comfortably have a small party in there. Maybe not a *rager*, but at least a "pass the chips" kind of get-together. And the bonus? Having a separate living area means you don't have to tiptoe around once the kids are in bed. God bless separate living areas.
The pool... is it as glorious as it looks in the photos? Because, let's be honest, sometimes those photos are lies.
Alright, the pool. The pool is... pretty darn good. It's definitely *there*. It has a shallow end for the little ones and a deeper end for the (pretend) Olympic swimmers (ahem, that would be me). The pictures don't lie *completely*. It's clean, it's refreshing after a day of shopping (or sweating your butt off in the Malaysian heat), and the kids will LOVE it. I spent a good hour dodging rogue water balloons and trying not to get splashed by my husband (who still thinks he's a kid). One minor (and I mean *minor*) downside: it can get crowded. But hey, that's family life, right? Embrace the chaos, people! It's good for the soul.
R&F Mall... is it any good? Or will I spend the rest of my life in a car park finding my way back to the hotel?
R&F Mall is... an experience. It's *right there*. Literally connected to the hotel. That's a huge plus, especially when you're schlepping tired kids. It has a pretty decent selection of shops, some familiar brands, and a ton of places to eat. (Pizza Hut, anyone? My family’s favorite.) BUT, navigating it at first is like entering a maze. I got gloriously lost trying to find the kids' toy store. (My kids are now the proud owners of a plastic pink flamingo. Don’t ask.) Parking, from what I've heard from others (I walked), can be a nightmare. Expect some walking - and a lot of it. And plan your route *before* you go so you don’t end up wandering aimlessly like a zombie, fueled by caffeine and parental exhaustion. The upside? Lots of options for food, and it's right there. Convenience wins, even when your feet hurt.
Is it easy to get around Johor Bahru from E'Garden? I don't want to be stuck.
Okay, ease of access is decent. Grabbing a Grab (the Southeast Asian Uber) is pretty straightforward. We used it to go to Legoland and other attractions. It's relatively inexpensive. Traffic can be… well, it's Malaysia. Expect potential gridlock. Allow extra time. The hotel staff can help arrange taxis too, if you prefer. So, not stuck, but maybe a little bit delayed. Patience is definitely a virtue. Bring snacks. (Always bring snacks.)
What about the food? Is there anything besides the instant noodles and Pizza Hut? (Please say yes).
Oh GOD, YES. Aside from that glorious cup of instant goodness that I had at 2am? (Hey, don’t judge. Parenting is tiring!) R&F Mall has a ton of food options, from local Malaysian cuisine to international chains. There are restaurants *outside* the mall too! Explore! Ask the hotel staff for recommendations. I had some *amazing* Nasi Lemak (coconut rice with various deliciousness) - try it! My kids, though, stuck to their chicken nuggets. The world is a strange and wonderful place. Just be prepared for a bit of a culinary adventure, or stick with the familiar. There's something for everyone. Prepare for your wallet to weep a little though, depending on your choices.
Cleanliness? I'm a bit of a germaphobe.
Okay, cleaning is important, especially with kids. The suites are generally clean. I didn't find any lurking dust bunnies plotting world domination. The cleaning staff is efficient. My only real issue was a slightly sticky patch on the bathroom floor - not the end of the world, but I'd recommend bringing your own anti-bacterial wipes if you REALLY want to be sure. Overall, though? Good. Not hospital-grade sterile, but definitely clean enough to make me feel comfortable AND let the kids eat snacks off the floor. (Okay, I'm exaggerating a LITTLE there...)
Any downsides? What should I REALLY know?
Okay, let's get real. The biggest downside for me? The location, whilst convenient to the mall, is a little… isolated. You're in a newly developed area. Not much within easy walking distance *except* the mall. If you want to explore the city, you'll need to Grab or taxi it. Also, remember that sticky patch? (Deep breath). And the pool, while lovely, can get crowded. Oh, and the elevators. They were sometimes a bit… sluggish. Explore Hotels
