Johor Bahru's BEST Ocean View Suite: R&F 1BR Gem!
R&F 1BR Gem: Johor Bahru's "Best" Ocean View Suite? Let's Dive In! (Brace Yourself, This Gets Real)
Okay, folks, let's talk about the R&F 1BR Gem in Johor Bahru. I've been staring at this "Ocean View Suite" like it owes me money, and I'm here to spill the (sanitized, I hope!) tea. This review ain't gonna be some sterile, bullet-pointed list. It's gonna be raw, real, and maybe a little bit chaotic (like my suitcase packing skills).
Firstly, the Vibe (because let's be honest, it's all about the vibe):
Imagine: You roll into JB. The traffic is… well, it's JB traffic. You're tired, your back aches from the flight, and you're craving a little something special. The R&F complex, from what I can gather, is a massive, modern development. Big, gleaming, maybe even a little overwhelming. That first impression? Definitely the "Wow, this is fancy" kind. Then you get to the actual suite…
The Room: My New Temporary Overlord
Right, so the "1BR Gem." Don't let the name fool you: it is a gem. A shiny, well-appointed gem. The view, my friends, the view! They're not lying. The "Ocean View" means ocean view. I mean, buildings in front of you, but the ocean. Which is kinda like saying you have a "mountain view" from your 20th-floor apartment: you technically do, but the real mountains are way off. Still, not bad. I spent a solid hour just staring out the window, probably looking like a lost seal. The floor-to-ceiling windows are a win. And thank goodness for the blackout curtains. Jet lag is a monster, and these babies are my new best friends.
The Good Stuff (and the REALLY Good):
- Cleanliness & Safety: Okay, I’m a bit of a germaphobe, let’s be honest. So the Anti-viral cleaning products and Daily disinfection in common areas did wonders for my anxiety. They also had Hand sanitizer everywhere, which is always, ALWAYS appreciated. The room sanitization opt-out available option made me feel like I had a choice. I chose sanitization. Every time. Again, thanks for the Hygiene certification!
- Accessibility: I am not in a wheelchair, but it's good to know the hotel has that stuff. The Facilities for disabled guests matter, and I always check for that Elevator option.
- Dining, Drinking and Snacking: The Room service [24-hour] saved me. I’m talking about the first night. I am starving. The Bottle of water was a nice touch, too. The Breakfast service was solid (more on that later), and there seemed to be a decent selection with options from Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, to Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant,, and, oh joy, you can get Breakfast in room!
- Internet: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Bless you, R&F. My phone is basically surgically attached to my hand, so reliable internet is a necessity. It worked fantastically. I mean, no complaints.
- Pool & Relaxation: The Swimming pool [outdoor] was HUGE. I mean, seriously, impressive. And the Pool with view. It was lovely to chill around, even if a little crowded. I never tried the Spa. The Gym/fitness seemed decent, but I spent most of my time horizontal in the suite.
Okay, Let's Get Real: The Little Hiccups (because life ain't perfect):
- Breakfast Buffets: This is where things dipped a little. The Buffet in restaurant had the standard stuff, but nothing amazing. I've had better. Maybe my expectations were too high. Maybe jet lag was attacking my taste buds. Either way, it was fine.
- Staff: The staff were friendly, bless their hearts! But occasionally, there was a slight language barrier. Just something to keep in mind. Nothing major, just a minor hiccup when I tried to order room service one hungover morning.
- Details: The Mini bar was stocked, which is always a plus. Coffee/tea maker in the room? Yes, please! But sometimes the little things, the small things you don’t think about, are important. Like, the shampoo could be a bit better.
Accessibility (Let's break it down):
- Wheelchair accessible: I made an assumption that it might be, as the hotel is modern and they do make an effort to state this.
- Elevator: 100% yes. Essential.
- So, in general, they offer quite a lot!
The "Things to Do" & "Services and Conveniences" Rundown:
- Things to Do
- Relaxing: Sauna, Spa, Steamroom, Massage, Foot bath, Body scrub, Body wrap
- Fitness: Fitness center
- Swimming: Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view
- Services and Conveniences:
- Air conditioning in public area: Absolutely. You'll need it in Malaysia.
- Audio-visual equipment for special events: For when you're throwing a rager.
- Business facilities, Meetings: For the corporate types.
- Cash withdrawal. Convenient.
- Concierge. Helpful.
- Contactless check-in/out: A blessing in these times.
- Convenience store: To load up on snacks (crucial).
- Currency exchange: Handy for all.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was like a zen garden by the end of the trip.
- Doorman. Yes. Always.
- Dry cleaning, Ironing service, Laundry service: Because I'm not a savage.
- Elevator: Lifesaver.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Great to see.
- Food delivery. Fantastic.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Tourist trap essential.
- Indoor venue for special events, Outdoor venue for special events: If I want to book a party…
- Luggage storage. Always needed.
- Parking: Lots of it, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site].
- Safety deposit boxes: Great to keep your valuables safe.
- Taxi service, Valet parking: Because driving in JB… yikes.
Food & Beverage (Let the stomach grumbling begin!):
- Bars: Bar, Poolside bar
- Restaurants: Restaurants, Coffee shop
- Snacks: Snack bar
- Meal Types: A la carte in restaurant, Alternative meal arrangement, Bottle of water, Breakfast [buffet], Breakfast service, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, Happy hour, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant
- Cuisines: Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant
- Room Service: Room service [24-hour]
For the Kids (If You Travel With Miniature Humans):
- Babysitting service: Because, sanity.
- Family/child friendly. Appears so.
- Kids meal. Okay.
Getting Around:
- Airport transfer: Always a bonus after a long flight.
- Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site]: Loads of parking!
- Car power charging station: For those with electric vehicles.
- Taxi service, Valet parking: I didn't dare drive.
Available in All Rooms:
- Additional toilet: (Important for when you are sharing a room)
- Air conditioning: Essential
- Alarm clock: For forcing yourself awake.
- Alarm clock: For forcing yourself awake.
- Bathrobes: Because you're on vacation.
- Bathroom phone: In case of emergencies?
- Bathtub, Separate shower/bathtub: Luxury!
- Blackout curtains: A lifesaver.
- Carpeting: Comfortable.
- Closet: Always needed.
- Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea: Caffeine is key.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was like a zen garden by the end of the trip.
- Desk: For pretending to work (while secretly watching ocean waves).
- Extra long bed: Always appreciated (I’m tall!).
- Free bottled water: Hydration is key.
- Hair dryer: Gotta look good!
- High floor: Gives those
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's itinerary. This is MY R&F Fully Seaview 1B Suite, SC Homestay, Johor Bahru, Malaysia adventure. And trust me, it's going to be a mess, a triumph, and probably involve me yelling at a mosquito at some point.
Day 1: Johor Bahru - Initial Disorientation and Glorious Sea Views
- 1:00 PM (ish) - Arrival Panic & Apartment Reconnaissance: Okay, first things first, the grabby hands of exhaustion after the flight. Seriously. Airport -> Grab car -> SC Homestay. Check-in. Finding the apartment felt like a quest, dodging rogue shopping carts and aggressively optimistic taxi drivers. Finally, the doors of the suite open, and…whoa. The photos didn’t do it justice. Fully seaview? More like completely and utterly spectacular seaview. Immediately, I'm torn between collapsing on the king-sized bed and just staring out the window with a dramatic sigh. I choose the dramatic sigh first and spend 20 mins just staring into the sea.
- 2:00 PM - The Great Fridge Inventory & Grocery Store Gamble: Right, need sustenance. Hit a local grocery store. This is where the fun begins. The language barrier is real. I thought I knew what a "milo" was. Turns out, there are ten different kinds. And is this… durian-flavored ice cream? (tempted, VERY tempted). The cashier's face when I pointed at a random assortment of snacks, mostly just pointing and smiling, was priceless. Ended up with a bag full of potential treasures and a lingering feeling I might have accidentally bought a whole pineapple.
- 3:00 PM - Balcony Bliss & The Mosquito Menace: Right, balcony time. Sun, breeze, the endless ocean… This is the life. Until… buzz buzz. OH, HELL NO. Mosquito apocalypse! I swear, these little vampires are bolder than I am. Five minutes of frantic slapping later, I declare a truce. I'll enjoy my view and wear some goddamn bug spray.
- 4:00 PM - Pool Party or Nap Time? (The Choice is Yours): The building has a pool, looks amazing. But. The bed. The king-sized bed. I'm leaning towards nap time. Okay, nap time it is.
- 6:00 PM - Dinner Deliberation & Food Court Fiasco: Okay, I need sustenance. My tummy yells. But where to eat? I got a list of suggestions from a friend, I am too tired to make any decision. Found a place! The food court. Armed with nothing but optimism and a vague idea of what "nasi lemak" is, I plunged into the chaos. The smells… Oh, my lord, the smells! I point, I smile, I hope. Ended up with a plate of something that looked suspiciously like deep-fried chicken, but the spicy dipping sauce was a revelation. Worth every bite. The plastic cutlery wasn’t though, not very environmentally friendly.
- 7:30 PM - Sunset Symphony & Solo Meltdown: The sunset from the apartment window is a masterpiece, honestly. The light, the color, the… tears? A bit dramatic, I know, but being alone in a new place, all those thoughts and feelings kind of gush out at me. So. Pretty sunset. Sad thoughts. All gone now. (hopefully)
- 8:30 PM - TV & The Quest for English Dubbing: I try to watch some TV. English channels are limited, so I decide to try the Malaysian local channel, and some of the shows are too exciting and with dubbing I don't understand!. Fail.
Day 2: Exploring Johor Bahru - The Lost Tourist & The Unexpected Delights
- 9:00 AM - Break of Dawn (and Breakfast Confusion): Figuring out breakfast is a struggle. The amazing kitchen in the suite is mocking me, because I'm not sure how to use half the appliances. Ended up with some instant noodles – the shame! Okay, gotta fix the breakfast situation.
- 10:00 AM - The Lost Tourist Emerges: Time to go out! Armed with a map and a spirit of adventure. First, to get a Grab car, I have to walk towards the main street. It's an adventure itself. I got lost after 2 mins and asked random people for help.
- 11:00 AM - The Sultan Abu Bakar State Mosque: This place! Magnificent. The scale, the architecture, the feeling of being in a place of peace… Absolutely breathtaking. The only thing is, I'm wearing the wrong clothing. So I rented a hijab.
- 12:00 PM - Lunch Adventure Part 2: Back to the food court for round two! I'm getting braver now. Tried a dish I didn't recognize, and it turned out to be… surprisingly delicious grilled fish. I'm actually making progress.
- 1:00 PM - Shopping Mall Siege: The malls are massive. I got lost for a good hour. Okay, I need my souvenir, so I bought some tea, and the seller was really talkative and friendly!
- 3:00 PM - Back to the Apartment - Beach Time and the Great Nap of Comfort: Beach time! I love the sunset, so I should relax before that. Back to the apartment to enjoy the beach view and the great comfort provided by my bed.
- 6:00 PM - The Sunset Redemption: The sunset again. It's even more beautiful than yesterday.
- 7:00 PM - Dinner and the Mosquito’s Revenge (Part 2): Another great meal. The food choices in JB is endless, and they are delicious. But, as soon as it got dark, buzz buzz. OH, THE MOSQUITOES. They’re back. This time, they get a dramatic spray of my new, super-strength mosquito repellent.
Day X: Departure & The Longing
- Morning - Farewell to Paradise: Packing, sighing, taking one last look at that breathtaking view – and already feeling the pang of sadness. This suite, this city… It's been good to me.
- Departure – Already Planning the Return: Okay, grab car to the airport. This adventure is coming to an end. But I'm not going to say goodbye. Just "see you later," Johor Bahru. "I'll be back."
Post-Trip Musings:
- The Food: Seriously, the food. The flavours. The textures. I'm going to miss it.
- The Suite: Absolutely the best! Worth every single penny.
- Mosquitoes: Those villains. But hey, I survived!
- Me: A slightly less lost, slightly bolder, and definitely well-fed version of myself.
So there you have it. My messy, wonderful, totally imperfect Johor Bahru adventure. Now, where to next…?
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R&F Princess Cove 1BR Gem: Your J.B. Ocean View Adventure - Let's Get Messy!
Okay, spill it! Is this "Ocean View Suite" actually... *ocean* view? I've been burned before.
Alright, alright, settle down, you jaded traveler! I get it. "Ocean View" is like "luxury" – tossed around willy-nilly. And yes, the view... is *mostly* ocean. From the 20-something-floor of R&F, you actually see the Strait of Johor. It's not like, *directly* looking *into* the ocean, like you’re on a cruise ship, but there’s definitely water. And boats! Small ones, big ones... Sometimes, if the haze isn't playing games (humidity, oh the humidity!), you can even make out Singapore in the distance. Let's be real, it's a solid effort. And the sunrises? Forget about it. Worth the price even if the hotel staff are a bit... well, we'll get to that.
The R&F area... is it a ghost town at night? I heard things...
Okay, confession time: I was *terrified* the first time I went. Visions of tumbleweeds and echoing footsteps danced in my head. *Dramatic sigh* It's not a ghost town, but… it's not exactly buzzing, either. There are a few restaurants, some shops, and the occasional wandering security guard. The main area, the "shopping mall" section? Let's call it... underutilized. I think I saw more tumbleweeds in a Western film. HOWEVER, there are always people around, and the nearby checkpoints provide a steady flow of potential life.
**Pro Tip:** Download Grab. It’s a lifesaver. You can easily zip into the heart of J.B. for food and some proper, bustling vibes. And seriously, the night market is the best.
**Imperfection Alert:** The building construction around R&F is still ongoing, and it can get a bit noisy during the day. Pack earplugs if you are sensitive. Believe me, I know.
The suite itself – what's the vibe? Cozy? Chic? Or 'that weird hotel smell'?
Right, the Suite. This is where things get better. The one-bedroom is actually a decent size, like, you won't feel claustrophobic (that's a win). It’s more modern-ish. Everything is clean. The bed is comfortable enough - probably better than my bed at home. And the best part the big windows and the view! You’ll spend time just staring out. My biggest complaint is the lighting. Sometimes, the lights act like they want to hide, not illuminate.
I had one mishap; the first time, I had trouble with the door. I spent 30 minutes trying to work out the lock. Call the front desk! This is where things got weird. The phone didn't work. I was trapped in a room! Luckily, I have a neighbor, and the lovely people rescued me. What is wrong with hotels that are not working?
So, it's not overly lavish, not exactly a 5-star resort, but for the price and the view? It's pretty darn good. And it's definitely better from 'that weird hotel smell'.
Food! Is there actually anything decent to eat nearby, or am I doomed to instant noodles? (Again!)
Okay, food. This is key. There are restaurants in the building, like a mediocre mall. I'm not going to lie to you; it's a bit bland. But you won't starve. The real magic is a short Grab ride away. You can easily venture to the city. There is the night market, with all its wonders, and you can pick up dinner.
I had a personal food epiphany: I love the food! Now, do your research. A quick search online reveals the local food scene. And plan your meals around those recommendations.
The pool! Is it crowded with screaming kids, or is it a hidden oasis?
The pool... It's a highlight for many. It's actually quite nice, with a good view. It's generally not *too* crowded, in my experience. I think the kids are still trapped in the mall. There are two pools, one for adults and one for children. The adult pool is a true oasis. I love to sit in the pool, staring at the view. If you want to swim alone, then go in the morning. I highly recommend it!
Would you recommend this place... and why? Give it to me straight!
Okay, the honest truth? Yes. Absolutely, with some caveats. **Here's the deal:**
**Pros:** The stunning view, the comfortable suite, the decent pool, and the affordable price. It's generally clean, and the location, despite the slightly under-developed surrounding area, is convenient for exploring Johor Bahru. It is not perfect, but the price point is good and the view is amazing.
**Cons:** The slightly sleepy vibe of the area, the occasional construction noise, and the sometimes-unreliable staff.
**My advice?** Go in with realistic expectations. Embrace the slightly quirky charm, and treat it as a base for exploring the vibrant city. If you want a luxurious, completely flawless experience, pay double the price and go somewhere else. If you want a fantastic view, a comfortable stay, and a great price? Book this. You won't be disappointed.
