My husband and I went on a three-resort holiday in the East Coast of West Malaysia. Two, we had visited before and one, we wanted to try out. We drove from one location to another and stayed for two nights at each of these resorts. It was, we found, an easy and relaxing holiday on many levels.

Firstly, the resorts were all in our backyard, literally.  Apart from checking for availability and special promotions, it was really quite simple and straight forward. All we had to do was jump into our car and drive on our well-constructed and quite clearly signposted highways and trunk roads to our destinations. No visits to the money changer as we already had the right currency. No fastidious packing and weight restrictions. No booking a cab so we could be at the airport way before the departure time plus finding and/or arranging transportation upon arrival at the other end. We chucked everything in the boot and off we went.

Secondly, these resorts are really beautiful. Expertly built and landscaped in the most natural of surroundings; they are, honestly, Instagram perfect.  I was about to write postcard perfect, but who sends postcards these days. I realise resorts cannot be built without felling trees and contributing to waste and pollution, but generally they appear to be doing their bit towards conserving the environment, wildlife and local culture. In addition, they provide employment and promote tourism.

Thirdly, even though these resorts are quite expensive, they still cost much, much less than a foreign holiday. And, they are an absolute treat and make for memorable bookmarks.

Our first stop was Tanjung Jara Resort[1]. Cost and distance have always been the two factors at play for us when selecting this resort. Cost, we managed to get a small discount as returning guests and a Residence Package, which meant all our meals were included. Distance was about 370km. The now extended highway from Jabor to Kuala Terengganu made the drive distinctively more pleasant as traffic was free flowing, and we avoided, altogether, driving through Dungun town’s too many, stop and start, traffic lights.

Tanjung Jara is a worthwhile indulgence. Our room, as always, was comfortably furnished, and was just a few metres from the sea.  Lapping waves and white sands beach were what we woke up to.  And, the food was overwhelmingly good – balanced flavours and generous helpings. The only downside was we felt compelled to eat more than we needed or even wanted. It was there, so we ate it (that was our excuse). And, Chef Wan, the ever chatty resident chef, was her usual bright and cheerful self, dispensing recommendations that just seemed to work. 

Our second stop was the aptly named Gem Island Resort and Spa[2]. It is a gem that we enjoy revisiting. What’s special about the resort? Its chalets are built on stilts on the sea, and high tide brings a natural aquarium of fish and crabs of all size and variety right up to and under the balcony. We even saw a Moray eel during a previous stay. Every time, we get front-row seats to an amazing entertainment of sealife.

For a closer look and feel, we snorkelled. Snorkelling on Gem Island is a satisfying underwater experience as there are parades of beautiful, colourful, unusual fish swimming in shoals or individually everywhere. They are bountiful amidst picturesque corals. I always feel privileged to be able to share and see such rich sealife, going about their daily routine, in their habitat.

Our final stop was Mangala Resort and Spa[3] in Gambang. We knew nothing about the resort except that our accommodation was close to a swathe of wetland. We were pleasantly surprised as the swampy area attracted many species of birdlife. From our veranda, we saw different types of birds searching for food, chirping and flying about. They included the Stork Billed Kingfisher, Purple Heron, Palm Swift, Cinnamon Bittern and Common Iora. We managed to identify them thanks to the ‘Wings of Mangala’ signboards that listed some 100 species of birds found in the resort. Not particularly patient bird watchers, we spent quite a few hours looking out for birds and getting excited when we spotted them.

The sprawling eco-themed resort allowed us long walks on paved paths around lakes, alongside oil palm, coconut trees and orchards and attractively designed accommodation within the resort. Recreational activities like cycling, paddle boats, archery and a giant snakes and ladders board game were also available to us. Another welcome surprise was our accommodation. It was spacious with a good layout, and generously stocked with coffee and tea plus complimentary snacks and drinks. The free bag of M&M’s chocolate, I thought, was a nice touch.   

It was a good break as all three resorts offered different experiences that we thoroughly enjoyed. That said, Gem Island Resort and Spa got our vote for its panoramic views of fish, crabs, birds, boats, Pulau Kapas (the island next to Gem Island) and the South China Sea from our stilts-supported chalet.