Review: Pangkor Laut Resort, an SLH Hotel

Pangkor Laut Resort, an SLH Hotel

Date of stay: February 3-4, 2025
Address: Pangkor Laut Island Pangkor Laut, 32200 Lumut, Perak
Room: Booked Garden Villa for 40K Hilton points
How to get here: From Kuala Lumpur, best is to take a Grab.
Hilton Property: Number 199 in 57 countries

Video on YouTube

Pangkor Laut Resort Office

Pangkor Laut Resort welcome lounge

We arrived around 11:30am at the jetty complex and was able to register at the welcome lounge after a few minutes. There were only 2 staff taking care of the check-in process while there were like 10-15 guests coming at the same time. We were asked to present our passports, as well as a deposit of 500 MYR for our 1-night stay. Cold towels were offered and there was also a coffee, tea and water station which is self-serve. 

The seating area was nice, although it got crowded and chaotic as more and more guests arrive. The speedboat leaves the jetty for the resort every hour from 12pm to 4pm. But with already around 30-35 guests waiting for their turn and with not enough seats, it just felt like we were in a 3-star hotel. Sadly, the overall experience here was not luxurious at all and I hope they would have a better system.

Drinks station at the back.

There are also toilets located outside the registration office.

Our luggages were taken care of and sent directly to the resort.

Speed Boats (80 MYR per person, one way)

We were supposed to take the 12pm speed boat to the resort. The ones who arrived first at the jetty and registered were the ones to take the speed boat first, which is normal. The speed boat transfer for one way per person is 80 MYR and for the two of us, the return fare was 345.60 MYR including the taxes.

It takes about 15 minutes to get from the jetty to the Pangkor Island Resort. Our speed boat is named "Gapis"

The resort itself is located on a 300-acre private island, although it only occupies a small portion of the island (as you can see on the map above).

Pangkor Laut Resort

After about 15 minutes, we arrived at the jetty.

We were greeted by the staff and escorted to the reception.

Reception & Lobby

Reception and lobby

We were asked to have a seat first as we wait for the next available staff to give us a briefing of the resort. In the meantime, we were given fruit popsicles 👍

Guests being briefed by the staff

Restaurants, activities and more. We decided to join the jungle walk at 9am the following day but sadly, both me and Mike were not feeling well so we had to cancel.

The briefing gives you all the information as to where the restaurants are, the amenities and the services like the free van to the Emerald Bay from 5 different stops in the resort. Although it is in island, the Emerald Bay is the only place where you can swim, the Royal Bay is only for water sports like kayaking since the water is not safe for swimming "due to jelly fish, etc." Sadly, the water in Emerald Bay is not clear so no chance for snorkeling. In fairness, the waters in Penang and Langkawi are also not for snorkeling. From the internet, Redang Island and Tioman Island are the only places where you can snorkel (only during the dry seasons) so I guess Malaysia is not as blessed with clear waters for snorkeling as the Philippines is. Or maybe it is a combination of the rivers, industrialization and planting so many oil palm trees that make the waters not clear here in Malaysia. 

Card key

Behind the reception is the library and opposite it is this space with 2 big chairs.

There are plenty of lovely pots like this in the resort 👍

Garden Villa 316

Our garden villa 316 is above the garden villa 314.

Private balcony with sun loungers

Garden Villa 316

The bed was a bit on the harder side.

Anti-mosquito spray, balm

Phone, writing kit, adjustable thermostat

Work desk, 2 bottles of water

Couch

Cable TV

The bathroom was spacious.

Bathtub

As expected, there was double sink. The toiletries were from Mangosteen which is not really a luxurious brand 👎

The soap bars were from ADA Cosmetics.

Mini bar

Closet with bathrobes, luggage rack

Umbrella, safe, iron and ironing board, hair dryer

BOH tea, nespresso machine (a cup noodle costs 10 MYR).

Walk-in shower with Mangosteen toiletries

Toilet

View

Royal Bay Beach Club (12pm to 5pm)

Bar

One of the many hornbills around the restaurant 👍

Menu

Menu

Menu

Drinks menu

For lunch, I had the seafood pizza for  60 MYR which was very good.

Mike had the Char Kway Teow (60 MYR) which he thought was also tasty 👍

Uncle Lim´s Kitchen (6pm to 10:30pm)

Seating

Menu

Menu

Menu

Drinks list

Drinks list

Fresh watermelon juice

My prawn was very good 👍

Mike's crab was also very good.

Breakfast Buffet - Fish Village (7:30am to 10:30am)

Seating

Seating

Outdoor seating

Below are some of the photos from the buffet which had an extensive offering:

Noodle station

Fried noodles

Egg station

Roti Canai

Cold cuts and salad

Hotel Amenities

Main pool

Main pool

Main pool

There is also another pool exclusive for those staying at the Spa Villas. The Spa Village and the spa pool are both located in the Spa Villa section as well as the Fisherman´s Cove, all of which are for 16yrs old and above only.

Loungers, main pool

Jacuzzi, towels, drink station

Sea sports activities including kayaking.

Games Room

Squash Court

Recording Studio (should be booked thru the Concierge and maximum usage is 2 hours).

Tennis courts, basketball court

Conference Hall

Library

Business Center

The Kazbah Gift Shop

 

Fitness center (open 24 hours)

Sea Villas (rate per night here is $400)

1 of 5 van stops going to Emerald Bay (this one is closest to our room 316)

The van near the reception stop (there is a van every 10-15 minutes).

Emerald Bay (sadly, the water is not clear just like in the Royal Bay and Coral Bay)

Island Flying Foxes are hanging on this tree between the reception and the Royal Club restaurant.

Outlets

Straits Bar (6pm to 11pm)

Chapman's Bar (Emerald Bay) open from 12pm to 5pm

CONCLUSION

Having seen photos of the resort and the rate per night (about $400 per night), we were really looking forward to our stay here. I have booked a 1-night stay using 40K Hilton points which I thought was a very good value. For this we were booked to a Garden Villa which is the lowest category. Although we did not pay for the room, we still spent $170 for lunch, dinner and the boat transfer which was not cheap. While the villa was spacious and the hotel amenities were very good, there was no beach to swim considering it is an island. The Royal Bay and Coral Bay were off limits due to jelly fish, The only one we could visit was the Emerald Bay but even there, the water was not clear so there was no chance to do snorkeling. The water did not feel clean either as per Mike. The breakfast offering was very good but nothing special that could make it a real 5-star resort. We came here thinking it was a very special resort because of the price tag and that we would have a great time just like the way we did in the Maldives and the Seychelles. Sadly, I think that the resort is really expensive and overrated and not really worth the $400 per night it is charging. I just visited the Philippines and spent a wonderful time snorkeling in Siquijor, Bohol and El Nido, with most 5-star hotels charging for half the price they charge here. It was good to experience how it was like staying at Pangkor Laut Resort but sadly we will not be back.