宅度假 Staycation

Whether you’re based in the city centre who prefers to spend the weekend nearby or someone from the far end of Johor Bahru looking for a bit of a leisurely drive, Pulai Springs Resort is an urban sanctuary and a haven of tranquillity for those simply looking to get out but not go far. With not one, but five swimming pools serving as our private oasis and a sports centre for those who want to lose some flabs, there’s no better place to be stranded or to escape the manic city life!

Voted the cleanest city in the Asean region in 2018, with plenty of heritage architecture and an infectiously languorous mood, the royal town of Muar (once known as Bandar Maharani) makes for an intriguing and rewarding weekend getaway and is well worth spending a day or two exploring, even if you have less than 48 hours …

Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort may not be a familiar territory with the young millennials but old-timers and avid golfers can testify to the sprawling 54-hole golf course which occupies about 800 acres of land bounded by the Straits of Johor in the south, Sungai Kim Kim on the east, Kampong Pasir Putih in the West and the sprawling industrial township of Pasir Gudang to the north. Rated 2nd best golf course in Johor and 9th best overall in Malaysia by Asian Golf monthly readers poll in 2016, Tanjong Puteri Golf Resort is infra-structually convenient as it’s only 25-35 minutes drive away from the JB-Singapore Causeway via the new Eastern Dispersal Link (EDL) and the Pasir Gudang / Kota Tinggi Exit from the North-South Highway; 25 minutes from Senai International Airport via the Senai Desaru Expressway and a mere 1 hour’s drive from the Tuas-Second Link.

Not all of us can afford airfare to faraway places, yet are too lazy to make a weekend escapade outside of Johor Bahru, so we rely on the occasional “staycation” for R&R. Personally, we love staying in as much as going on a little excursion around the neighbourhood we are in. We may be in JB, but with a little curiosity (and a willingness to get out of bed), we’ll find that there’s plenty this city can offer, even for well-travelled locals like us.

Forget the notion that Thailand’s all about night markets, shopping and food. Instead, think flower gardens, European-themed streets and even hobbit homes! Up there on the podium with some of the world’s greatest parks, Khao Yai is one of Thailand’s oldest and most visited reserve which was named a Unesco World Heritage Site. If you’re craving a quick getaway to experience Europe without flying the distance, simply grab your next direct flight out from Senai via AirAsia to neighbouring Thailand but skip the crowds at Bangkok and head over to the scenic Khao Yai just 2.5 to 3 hours away.

So, what’s the fuzz and buzz surrounding the latest hotel kid on the block? Located on a 4.23-acre land, Forest City Phoenix International Marina Hotel is the first hotel ever built outside the China province among 50 other hotel chains. It is also the largest mixed-green Marina Hotel in Southeast Asia totalling 54,554 m² where each of the 283 well-appointed rooms is guaranteed to look out into the Straits of Johor through the floor-to-ceiling glass window and balcony!

Happy at “seeing RED” at DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru, with the coming together of two iconic brands to bring us a wholesome family adventure for locals and visitors alike! Thanks to the marketing folks at DoubleTree, we get to play “tourists” in our home city while experiencing the renowned Hilton-brand hospitality up close and personal for the weekend. Not forgetting our date with the world’s cutest, liveliest and ‘angriest’ birds just a stone’s throw across the streets, we figured it would be wise to check in and grab a bite before our action-packed itinerary begins… YEAH!

The stage is set for some new spook-tacular fun along with Halloween-themed activities, with the LEGO® Kingdom dressed up in the most Fang-tastic decor with giant lighted pumpkins, supersized spiders, cobwebs, bats and scarecrows to scare the living daylight out of all you Halloween fang-natics out there. From now till the end of October, the Brick-or-Treat celebrations this year promises more spine-tingling fun and terror-rific treats for the bravest of the brave, with games and giveaways with a legion of walking Halloween characters, LEGO Building Activities, Brick-or-Treat Trail and more. And the best part, we get to take home a special Halloween Commemorative Brick on every visit!