We left home at 6am, sailed through Woodlands Checkpoint with zero wait and enjoyed smooth traffic all the way. By the time we pulled up at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast, it wasn’t even 8am yet. Hubby had his IRONMAN race that weekend, so we brought his bike along too. Here’s how our stay went, from the room and the breakfast to the gym and that one very awkward morning. Grab a kopi, because this one’s detailed.
The iconic Hard Rock guitar greets guests at the driveway entrance.
The front desk reception at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast.
Checking In at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
We went straight to the front desk, half hoping for a miracle. Nope. The staff told us our room wasn’t ready yet. Honestly, we saw that coming. We showed up super early, and we’d already planned to head out for supplies and brunch at Comma Bakes anyway.
So we left our luggage and the bike with the Concierge, booked a Grab and off we went.
If you’re unable to book a Grab ride, you can also arrange a taxi through the hotel’s Concierge.
Then at 9.11am, my phone pinged. The hotel had sent a WhatsApp message to say our room was ready and we could just collect our keys from the front desk. Wah, so efficient! We really didn’t expect to get our room that early, so we appreciated the effort to make it happen.
It gets better. When we walked back to the front desk, the same staff member who’d attended to us earlier recognised us immediately. Big smile, keys handed over, and we didn’t even need to say a word. Love it when that happens.
The Concierge staff offered to send our luggage up to the room. We politely declined and did it ourselves to save time, but nice of them to offer.
A friendly reminder: durians and mangosteens are not allowed in your room!
Our Superior King Room at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
Heads up on the layout: the lobby sits on Level 3, so we took the lift down to Level 2 for our room. We stayed in Room 245, a Superior King Room, and paid about SGD212 per night via Agoda, with daily breakfast included.
That Welcome Moment
This part genuinely made us smile. We opened the door and someone had already slotted a card into the key card switch. Lights on. Aircon on at the lowest setting of 18°C. TV on, with music playing softly in the background. Really nice vibes, and way better than we expected.
The room feels very spacious too. On your left as you step in, you’ll see a connecting door to the room next door. Coming with a group? You can request connecting rooms. There’s also a huge wall picture of The Beatles, because, well, Hard Rock.
The Bathroom
The bathroom sits on your right, behind a sliding door with full-length mirrors on both sides. Inside, the shower area and the WC each have their own space.
Okay, I need to talk about the toilet. You get a manual bidet seat and a handheld bidet. I love that bidet seat. Powerful jet. Very thorough bum-washing experience, haha.
The shower comes with both a rain shower and a handheld shower. Water pressure isn’t the best, but still decent. The bathroom does show some signs of ageing though, with yellowish, mouldy grout lines and corners.
The hotel provides shampoo, conditioner and body wash in big pump bottles. Thing is, ours only had about a quarter or less in each bottle. Not sure if they do that on purpose. Still, it was enough for the two of us, so we didn’t bother asking housekeeping for a refill.
Here’s what you’ll find around the sink:
- Hand wash and body lotion in big pump bottles
- A filtered drinking water tap
- Left drawer: hair dryer
- Right drawer: dental kits, comb, vanity kit, shower cap and soap
- Below: towels, plus a stool next to them
You can also reach the wardrobe from inside the bathroom. It has sliding doors that open from both the bathroom and the bedroom side. Pretty smart.
The Hot Water Situation
I have to flag this one. The shower runs hot, but the sink tap doesn’t. Even with only the hot tap on full blast, the water feels just warm.
Showering during the day? Generally no issues. Showering at night between 8pm and 10pm? The water doesn’t seem to warm up properly, and you’ll get bouts of cold water on and off. My guess: more guests shower at that time, and the storage tank simply runs out of hot water.
My tip: Shower outside the 8pm to 10pm window if you want steady hot water.
Wardrobe and Mini Bar
- Wardrobe: iron, ironing board, bathrobes, safe, slippers and hangers
- Mini bar (next to the wardrobe): mini fridge, kettle, tea bags (English Breakfast and Chamomile), coffee, sugar, creamer and drinkware
- Bonus: reusable stainless steel bottles you can fill up with filtered drinking water
The Bedroom
The TV hangs on the wall, with a console below that offers plenty of storage space. You’ll also find enough room to open your suitcase. There’s a good-sized table with two armchairs, perfect for getting some work done or eating your food delivery meals.
One small gripe: the room gets rather dim at night. Even with the pendant light above the table switched on, you’re working or eating under dim, warm lighting.
No HBO or Cinemax on the TV, but you do get free movies on demand, with titles like Hoppers, Avatar: Fire and Ash, Lee Cronin’s The Mummy and Final Destination: Bloodlines. There are local channels too, including Singapore ones.
Bed, Pillows and That Ceiling Fan
The king-size bed comes with a comfy mattress, more on the soft side than firm, but it still gives good support.
The pillows run rather flat, so I had to stack them up because I prefer mine higher. If that’s you too, check out the pillow menu for extra pillows. Cute detail alert: each pillowcase has a little guitar embroidered on the top right corner.
My favourite thing in the room? The ceiling fan. I don’t think the aircon ever actually gets down to 18°C. But the fan, which has its own remote control for speed and so on, circulates the cool air really well. The room never felt warm at all throughout the day, and it made sleeping so comfy. Shiok.
Waterpark views come with a downside — expect some noise from the kids playing if you leave the balcony doors open.
The Balcony
Our balcony overlooks the waterpark next door. It comes with a sofa, a coffee table and a hanging rack for your wet apparel. Our side didn’t get much direct sunlight though, so wet clothes took a while to dry. The blackout curtains work brilliantly, giving you total darkness for a good night’s sleep.
Breakfast at Sessions Restaurant
Our room included daily breakfast at Sessions Restaurant on Level 1, served from 7am to 10.30am.
Staff ask for your room number to check you in. After that, it’s all on your own. Find your own table, get your own drinks and help yourself to the buffet. You can choose between indoor and outdoor seating.
What’s on the Spread
Honestly, not a huge spread. Here’s what you can expect:
- Usual Western fare like sausages and baked beans
- Egg station
- Noodle station
- Congee
- Salad and cheese
- Pastries
- Fruits
- Nasi lemak
- Roti canai
- Steamed dim sum
- Teh tarik and kopi tarik
- Juices
Everything looked and tasted mediocre, to be honest. Nothing to shout about. The staff clear dishes very quickly though, I’ll give them that.
Yummy fried tapioca cakes with a crispy exterior and a soft centre!
The best things I ate? The Malay kueh selection. Think apam pisang (banana sponge cake), pulut inti (glutinous rice with sweet coconut topping) and fried tapioca cakes. Go for these.
The Great Breakfast Seating Mystery
Service standards here need to be more consistent. Let me tell you what happened.
One morning, I went for breakfast alone because Hubby was doing his IRONMAN. I arrived pretty early, around 8.15am, and the restaurant wasn’t fully packed. A staff member asked if I was okay to sit at one of the outdoor tables. I asked if any indoor seats were free. He said the indoor tables were for 4 to 6 persons.
So I said okay. But hold on. On Day 1, Hubby and I sat indoors, just the two of us. And when I went inside to get food, I saw quite a number of big tables with only two people each. So what’s this 4-to-6-person rule about?
Halfway through my meal, the staff asked two other solo diners to sit at my table. Nobody checked with me if I was alright with it. So yes, three strangers, one table, eating breakfast together. Lol.
Honestly, what’s the point of assigning tables and seats if everyone can just sit with everyone? That only works if you assume NO ONE minds sharing a table with strangers. Duh. The breakfast area clearly lacks a proper system.
Facilities at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
The entrance to the hotel gym.
The Gym
We hit the gym every day, and every single time, nobody else was there. We literally had the whole gym to ourselves.
It’s a good size. One half has cardio machines like treadmills and ellipticals, plus strength training machines. The other half has weights, kettlebells, yoga mats and core training equipment. Everything looks well kept and well maintained.
Note: The gym doesn’t have a water dispenser inside, so bring the reusable bottle from your room.
The swimming pool at night, with a peaceful and relaxing atmosphere.
A night pickleball session in full swing.
Direct access from the hotel to the Adventure Waterpark right next door.
Outdoor Play and Sports
The property has only one pool, with a poolside restaurant called GMT +8. There’s lots more to keep everyone busy outdoors:
- Sand area for the kiddos
- Water playground
- Volleyball, badminton and petanque: complimentary
- Pickleball courts: RM58 per court per hour
- Mini football
- Huge chess pieces and a big outdoor Jenga set
- Direct access to the waterpark from Level 1
Roxity Kids Club at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
The hotel feels very family and kid-friendly. There’s the Hard Rock Roxity Kids Club for children aged 4 to 12. But it isn’t free, which quite surprised me. Most other hotels we’ve stayed at with a kids or teens club usually offer it for free. Just not here.
We popped over to Constant Grind to grab some snacks whenever we wanted to watch movies in our room.
Constant Grind and the Pharmacy Vending Machine
Constant Grind on Level 1 sells coffee, tea, pastries and cakes. It also works like a mini convenience store, with snacks, tidbits, cup noodles and some travel essentials.
Right outside Sessions Restaurant, you’ll spot a pharmacy vending machine in case you need medication. Pretty useful! It stocks Panadol, cough syrup and even Eye Mo eye drops.
The Music Vibes at Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
True to the Hard Rock brand, this property goes all in on music:
- Lifts: pictures of music artists, with music playing
- Ground floor: glass showcases of fashion pieces once worn by stars like Elvis Presley and Lady Gaga
- TV: lots of music channels across different genres
- In-room experiences: request a turntable with vinyl records or a guitar in your room at check-in, if you’re into that
- Rock Shop: the retail shop for Hard Rock merchandise
Sessions Restaurant also hosts a live band every night except Monday:
- Tuesday to Thursday and Sunday: 8pm to 10.45pm
- Friday and Saturday: 8.30pm to 11.15pm
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast Location: Waterpark Yes, Beach No
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast doesn’t sit on the beach. If you want to hit the beach, you’ll need to head over to the Westin Desaru side. You can book a buggy service via the Concierge to take you there, or hop on the shuttle bus.
Spot this Desaru Coast sign at The Westin as you make your way towards the beach.
But if you’re bringing the family to Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast, the location is excellent. It’s right next door.
Quick Tips Before You Go
- Leave Singapore early. We left at 6am and had no wait at Woodlands and smooth roads all the way.
- Keep an eye on WhatsApp. The hotel messages you when your room is ready.
- Avoid showering between 8pm and 10pm for more reliable hot water.
- Request connecting rooms if you’re travelling as a group.
- Check the pillow menu if you like higher pillows.
- Bring your water bottle to the gym.
- Head straight for the kueh at breakfast.
- Budget extra for the kids club and pickleball courts.
Final Verdict: Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
Service: Generally acceptable. Staff stay polite and always smile and greet guests. The Concierge team is very helpful too. Breakfast service, though, needs some work.
Room comfort: Good. Nothing much to complain about, apart from the night-time hot water and the ageing grout.
Breakfast: Standard. Not great. Pretty forgettable, except for the kueh.
Location: Excellent if you’re coming to Desaru with family and plan to visit Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast next door.
As for us? We’ve now stayed at all three hotels here, and we both agreed: The Westin will be our go-to hotel in Desaru from now on. But if your kids want waterpark days and you love a bit of rock ‘n’ roll, Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast still makes a fun pick.
