Tuesday 3 November 2015

Birthday Staycation / Getaway at Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, Johor

How often do we get two birthdays over the weekend.  One on a Friday and one on a Sunday?  Of course, it is a good time to take a day's leave and declare a long weekend, right?

And we just had to leave Singapore.  Why?

We had been intending to bring the boys for a staycation.
We had been intending to bring the boys to Legoland Malaysia for their Halloween activities.

Often, when we were at Legoland Malaysia, we will leave by the late afternoon to prevent being stuck at the jam near the customs.  We had been thinking to stay at hotels surrounding there or even in the Johor Bahru city area but safety is always our concern.  With reports about car thefts, especially Singapore cars, in the last months, we, like many others, were apprehensive.  Interestingly, when I wrote to hotels with simple questions regarding the level of security in the respective hotels, only one replied.  That is Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, Johor.

And so off we went...  And we parked our car at the hotel basement (not in the open space).


Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, Johor is located in the special economic zone of Iskandar Malaysia, at the Puteri Harbour waterfront in the Nusajaya Zone.  A 15-minute drive from the Malaysia-Singapore Second Link, it is within close proximity to the theme parks and attractions, the major draw for families and young-at-heart.

The hotel lobby.  When we first arrived, we were pleasantly surprised at the vast area with plenty seating.  Check-in was fuss-free - the usual submission of passports and sign-offs.


Lovely surprise in our Deluxe Harbour View Room.  Little touches that guests are often happy with.


Hello, my two birthday boys!  Chocolate cakes seem to always be a hit, don't ask me why.


The second thing they did when they went into the room, after going wow with the cake and balloons.  This is a sofa that can be converted to a bed.  How nice to wake up to a harbour view every morning.


The view the boys were looking at.  It was a pity that there was a slight haze that weekend, although much better than that of Singapore at that point in time.


Our room for the 2 nights.  The boys can't be more pleased than having a big television right in front of the bed.






This, is what the man loves.  The secret to a good quality shower is the ideal water pressure.  It is just great regardless if it is from the rain shower or from the shower head.


Oh, and did I mention the hotel provides cute little bedroom slippers?



If you do not wish to venture out of the hotel, there are actually many things one can do.

I love to laze around by the pool, sipping a drink~~~ do, you?


I will definitely be here if I am on a couple trip.  :P  Different to-dos with different people.  :D  And oh... to the massage too (it's actually quite reasonable, especially when they have promotions!)




The boys love the pool.  There are a total of 3 different pools at the hotel.  An infinity pool with a depth of 1.2m, a jacuzzi pool and a kid's pool.

I do not know what they were talking about over there.  But this photo, is love.



 My time at the jacuzzi!


The older one trying to teach the younger one how to swim.  It always start off with "E, I teach you how to swim, okay?"   :D


Dinner time at Harbour Café, an all day dining outlet.  It is seafood night on every Friday and Saturday.

No raw oysters but for RM126 net per adult, I think the spread is pretty good.







I do not see many buffets serving hotate  (aka scallop) sashimi

The best of both worlds~~~

May I have all that's in there?
Fast, free WiFi is available everywhere in the hotel.  No crappy signals, alright?  And this amuses me...  chargers available almost every corner should one require a charge for their mobile phones / tablets - under lock and key.



And a soak in the tub for the children before a good night sleep. 

I wanted to hit the gym in the morning!  But the bed and sleep got the better of me.  The good thing about driving in is... I can leave the running shoes in the car and not cause excess baggage. 


Can you carry all of them?!
Breakfast at the same Harbour Café is a delightful spread.  From the Malay-style Nasi Lemak to Chinese porridge, freshly cooked omelettes to pancakes, cold juices to hot Cappuccino, we tried almost everything during the two mornings.

D's kind of breakfast - the first round.  Apart from the honey stars, it's pretty healthy, isn't it?




Finally tall and old enough to take his own juice. 





Bittergourd juice?!  Seriously?!


Made in France jam. 
During the stay, we were very honoured to meet Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour, Johor's General Manager, Mr. Sigi Bierbaumer in person.  He explained to us the security in the hotel and that the hotel emphasises a lot on safety.  The hotel has a team of experience and fully trained security officers backed by surveillance equipment to provide a safe environment for everyone.  In addition, Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour is a five-minute drive to the Tourist Police Base.  Information can be found here and here too.



It is always sad to say goodbye to a shiok shiok stay.  If we ever want a stay across the Causeway, Hotel Jen, Puteri Harbour, Johor will definitely be one of our choice.  No other hotel, for now, can impress me with their safety and security measures.


So if you are thinking of a staycation / getaway across the Causeway that will not burn a big hole in the pockets, check out Hotel Jen, Puteri Harbour's offers here.

Hotel Jen, Puteri Harbour, Johor
Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour
79000 Nusajaya, Johor Darul Takzim
Malaysia

What to do at Puteri Harbour?  Read here to find out more!

Disclosure: A 2-night stay was sponsored by Hotel Jen, Puteri Harbour, Johor.  No monetary compensation was received.  All photographs and opinions are true to my own.
 
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19 comments:

  1. Looks great! Especially since it sounds pretty near to Legoland? Hotel Jen is under the Shangri-la umbrella so it's no surprise about the quality! :)

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    1. Yups, it's under the Shang group so there has to be a certain standard.

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  2. Oh this looks like a nice place to go for a short break in JB! Doesn't seem as crowded, and definitely safer than those at the malls, I think. The pools look so inviting and relaxing!

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    1. I think some mention it is safer because the crowd there is different. I think the weather (no haze) now should be so much better for staying longer at the pool.

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  3. Looks like a nice hotel. Would love to try it out someday when we travel in again.

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    1. It is! and it is pretty new. For the price (read: exchange rate difference), it is actually quite a reasonable stay.

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  4. What a relaxing weekend! The infinity pool looks amazing.

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    1. That's a thing about infinity pools, right? And with the harbour view and non high-rise building views, I think yes, it's amazing.

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  5. OMG, the fondue! I'm going there later this month... Shall make it a point to dine at the cafe, just for that fondue!

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    1. Fondue lover, you are! Have fun when you are there.... :)

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  6. Look like a nice place for short getaway!

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    1. Yes, it is! Whether to just relax or bring the children to nearby theme parks and attractions, it is a nice place to be away from the hustle and bustle of city life.

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  7. Looks like a nice place to stay that is out of Singapore but still not too far away! Do they allow your car to be parked at the front of the hotel?

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    1. yeah! and that is why i was thinking if it should be a staycation or getaway! hahaha there are some lots in front of the hotel but always taken up. thus, they will suggest to park at the basement.

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  8. Wow! Looks like a great place to stay! I love the lobby and the chocolate fountain! Plus, they have Japanese food. Looks like the perfect weekend getaway. Thanks for the share!

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  9. I love the lobby too! big area and not some tired looking lobby. it makes a good weekend getaway at a reasonable price. :)

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  10. We've stayed at the same hotel when it was still under Traders. I love their service and proximity to the theme parks too :D

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  11. How safe is parking in the hotel? I'm still thinking to drive up anot. Is it free for residents? Tks

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    1. Parking at the hotel carpark at the basement is free and I think it should be safe as long as you park there.

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