With the school holidays starting, picking a suitable destination can be a tough choice, especially when there are tons of options to choose from. But if you’re looking for a short getaway, Desaru Coast in Johor is a fairly convenient choice – there’s plenty of things to see and do in Desaru, and it’s just a short hop away.
Since the destination is known for its sandy beaches and coastal views, here are the best Desaru resorts to choose from when you’re planning your vacation. We’ve also ranked each place for families with kids and couples to help you make the best possible choice.
Note: Prices are accurate at the time of writing, and are subject to change.
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The easiest way to get from Singapore to Desaru is by ferry from Tanah Merah Ferry Terminal to Desaru Coast Ferry Terminal. It takes about 1.5 hours each way, and a round-trip ticket on a BatamFast ferry costs S$108/adult in Economy class. If you’re worried about getting seasick, there are other options, such as taking a bus from JB or hiring a private driver. Find out more in our Singapore to Desaru transport guide.
Desaru may just be a small part of Johor, but it’s chock-full of outdoor activities and adventures. A mini zoo, fruit park, and waterpark are just a handful of the family-friendly things to do in Desaru. A 2- to 3-day itinerary should be enough time to cover everything, although you can stretch it to 4 days if you want to take things slow.
Just note that booking a Grab does take some time if you’re planning to be out and about in Desaru. If you’ve got a packed itinerary, it might be wiser to hire a private driver to ferry you around over the course of your trip.
Here are the resorts in Desaru, their minimum starting price for a standard room, and what they are best for:
| Resort | Best for | Price for a standard room per night |
| Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas | Private beach for an intimate holiday | From S$395.37 |
| Sands & Sandals | Duplex units with kiddy-themed rooms | From S$128.59 |
| Hard Rock Hotel Desaru | Music-themed resort | From S$162.35 |
| The Westin Desaru Coast Resort | Private beach with water sports | From S$197 |
| Amerald Resort Hotel | High elements rope course | From S$63.99 |
| Lotus Desaru Beach Resort | Spacious apartment-style rooms | From S$82.97 |
| Bayu Balau Beach Resort | Chalet-style accommodation | From S$56 |
| Tunamaya Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort | Horse riding & water sports | From S$109.94 |
From rooms with a private beach to chalet-style accommodations, bookmark these best places to stay in Desaru.
When it comes to cosy vibes at a beachside resort, Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas is one of the top choices in the area. With unique offerings when it comes to the rooms and the activities, this place is worth visiting for both couples and families.
All the rooms, from the standard Deluxe Garden Balcony Room (from S$395.37/night) to the Executive Sea View Balcony Room (from S$699.13/night), like their names suggest, have balconies of their own. You’ll be able to go outside and enjoy stunning views of the sea.
The resort has small villas that are 2 levels tall, with a living area on the 1st floor and a bedroom upstairs. There’s also a private plunge pool that is shielded by a row of trees, which offers privacy for families or couples looking for some alone time.
But Anantara’s most appealing aspect is the fact that the entire resort is located right in front of the beach, which is privately owned by the resort. This means that it won’t be as crowded as a public beach.
Learn more about the beach by signing up for a Desaru Beach Life & Tidepool Discovery tour. Led by an environmental expert, the tour will teach you about sea creatures like moon snails, sand bubbler crabs, and sea eagles. There’s also a birdwatching walk and a resort nature walk for those who want to learn more about nature.
If you’d rather get crafty with your hands, you can pick up a new skill with classes on batik printing and terrarium making. The classes are available to all guests and are suitable for all ages.
Kid-friendly ranking: 3/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 5/5
Book a stay at Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas.
Sands & Sandals Desaru Beach Resort & Spa has standard Superior Rooms (from S$128.59), but also takes things a step further by having dedicated family and couple rooms with special amenities.
Rooms like the Family Suite (from S$437.19/night) make use of the duplex layout to create a kids-themed room on the lower level with colourful wall motifs and boat beds we secretly wished we could also sleep on. This arrangement allows parents to enjoy their privacy on the upper floor while the children indulge in their personal play space down below.
The Couple Suite (from S$219.40/night), on the other hand, offers a full-sized living room on the lower level while the top level houses a cabana-style bed. They even have a bathtub on a private terrace that overlooks the beach – you and bae can soak in it while enjoying the view. Don’t worry, there are plenty of wooden shutters to shield you from any prying eyes when you’re enjoying your tub time.
The hotel is situated in a convenient spot as well, with the Desaru Fruit Farm just 12 minutes away by car. They organise different tours, like an ATV tour from RM55/pax (~S$17.18) around the farm, where you can taste some locally grown produce.
Kid-friendly ranking: 5/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 3/5
Book a stay at Sands & Sandals Desaru Beach Resort & Spa.
The Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast is the best resort option for families who are planning to spend their weekend at Adventure Waterpark, located right next door.
There are different types of rooms to choose from, ranging from a comfy Superior Room with 1 King Bed (from S$162.35) to the luxurious Rock Star Suite (from S$542.82/night). All the rooms have an airy, tropical vibe that offers a clear view of the waterpark and its attractions from the balcony.
Guests can look forward to perks like an underwater music pool and the Roxity Kids Club, which is open from 10am to 9pm daily, the perfect place to leave your children for some R&R.
For RM35/child (~S$10.94) for the first hour and RM30 (~S$9.37) for every hour afterwards, kids aged 4 to 12 years can watch movies and even play games on the PS4 or the VR Set in the IT room.
And when everyone’s ready to explore the water park, just head to the dedicated entrance to Adventure Waterpark located on the 1st floor.
Kid-friendly ranking: 5/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 3.5/5
Book a stay at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort is another option for families who want to visit Adventure Waterpark since it’s located directly opposite Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast. The hotel also has other perks like a private beach and watersports available to guests.
Image credit: The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
The Tropical View Guest Room (from S$197/night) is both affordable and lavish with a King bed, balcony, and bathtub for you to soak any aches away.
Outside of the rooms, guests can look forward to taking a dip at the resort’s pool that overlooks the lawn, or walk 5 minutes across the lawn to the private beach where the Beach Bar is at.
It serves mains like Fish and Chips (RM72, ~S$22.56), and cocktails like the classic Mojito (RM45, ~S$14.10), which you can enjoy at the outdoor dining area. The nearby deck chairs are also a good place for parents to relax while the kids start making sandcastles.
The beach is also where DASH Outdoors is situated, the go-to company for all things water sports. They run a variety of activities that help inject some heart-pumping fun into your vacation, such as kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding. There are even thrilling high-speed water rides like wakeboarding for the daredevils who aren’t satisfied with tamer water sports.
Kid-friendly ranking: 4/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 4/5
Book a stay at The Westin Desaru Coast Resort.
Located on the quiet side of Jalan Kampung Punggai Desaru is Amerald Resort Hotel. It’s one of the best resorts in Desaru if you’re looking to get away from the hustle and bustle of popular holiday destinations.
Image credit: Amerald Resort Hotel
The standard Superior King Room (from S$63.99/night) is perfect for couples on a budget who still want a taste of luxury. The Deluxe Twin Room (from S$78.04) would be a better fit for families since there’s more space in the room and separate beds for the kids.
Image credit: Amerald Resort Hotel
Aside from the usual amenities like a pool and gym, Amerald Resort Hotel also has adrenaline-filled offerings, like an 18-rope high elements course and a 100m-long zipline.
Kid-friendly ranking: 3/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 4/5
Book a stay at Amerald Resort Hotel.
Image credit: Lim Poh Chin via Google Maps
The rooms at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa take on more of a service apartment layout, with a kitchenette and a dining area. There are also amenities like a microwave and a medium-sized refrigerator, which make it suitable for long-term stays.
Image credit: Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa
Rooms here are spacious, with options such as a 1-Bedroom Suite (from S$82.97/night) and 2-Bedroom Suite (S$150.06/night). The interiors feel a little dated, but if you don’t mind and just want extra space without breaking the bank, this is a wallet-friendly pick.
The resort has its own Splash Park, which is a miniature water park located inside the resort. Kids can let loose at multiple pools for guests of all ages, a lazy river, a water playground with a slide, and a giant bucket that dunks water every few minutes.
The time has come to deliver some pew pews.
Image credit: Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa
If you prefer just lazing on the beach, it’s situated right behind the hotel, accessible through a private entrance. Besides that, there are other activities like paintball and combat archery for a little bit of friendly competition.
Kid-friendly ranking: 3/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 2/5
Book a stay at Lotus Desaru Beach Resort & Spa.
Bayu Balau Beach Resort is an incredibly budget-friendly option that offers roomy chalets for comfy family stays. It’s also the place to go if you’re really looking to spend your vacation just chilling by the beach.
Image credit: Bayu Balau Beach Resort
Those who feel more comfortable in a modern hotel setting can choose a Standard Queen Room (from S$56/night) or a Deluxe Family Room (from S$75/night). But if you’re interested in trying alternative housing, the Fisherman Concept Chalet is the perfect choice.
These cabins are similar to the ones found in Changi, except there’s no fencing that obstructs your view and access to the sea. Book Chalet Type-A (from RM150/night, ~S$47), which can accommodate 2 people, or the Family Room (from RM260/night, ~S$81.46) for 3 pax.
You can also choose to upgrade your chalet to more luxurious cabins like the Superior (from RM190/night, ~S$59.53) cabin that has 2 levels and looks more like a rustic beach house.
Keeping to the traditional fishing kampung theme, fishing from Tanjung Balau Jetty is one of the top things to do there. Once you’ve reeled in the catch of the day, book a DIY BBQ pit (RM300/5 pax, ~S$94.01), which includes BBQ ingredients such as chicken and prawn, as well as equipment you’d need.
Kid-friendly ranking: 2/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 2/5
Book a stay at Bayu Balau Beach Resort.
Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort makes it easy to dive straight into holiday mode with direct beach access, perfect for water sports like parasailing and jet skiing. Adventure seekers can take on the High Ropes Adventure course, tackling 6 challenging obstacles before soaring down the zipline.
Image credit: @tunamayaresortdesaru via Instagram
And if you’ve ever dreamed of a seaside trot, you’re in luck – the resort also offers horse riding right by the beach.
Image credit: Klook
A standard Deluxe Room (from S$109.94) comes with a king and a single bed, giving you plenty of space to stretch out. But if you’re travelling with the whole crew, opt for the Junior One Bedroom Suite (from S$186.98), which comes with a queen and king bed, for a comfier family stay.
Kid-friendly ranking: 3/5
Couple-friendly ranking: 2/5
Book a stay at Tunamaya Beach & Spa Resort.
As of 1st May 2025, One&Only Desaru Coast is no longer under the One&Only banner. The property, now called The Sireya, is set to make a grand comeback as Mandarin Oriental, Desaru Coast in January 2026. There’ll be brand-new experiences, so definitely keep this one on your radar for your Desaru getaway next year.
A blue ocean view combined with serene greenery can be a great reprieve from staring at quarterly reports on most days, which is why beach resorts are popular holiday destinations. And since Desaru Coast is only 90 minutes away by boat, it’s the perfect place for a short getaway if you’re looking for sun, sand, and surf.
For more things to do in Malaysia, check out:
Cover image adapted from: Sand & Sandals, Klook
Photography by Poh Jin Ron.
Originally published on 20th October 2022. Last updated by Wei Yin on 11th November 2025.
A portion of this content may contain referral links where The Smart Local may collect a commission. Our opinions remain our own.
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