We jumped for joy last month, when we found out we could travel interstate again. We didn’t take long to book a room and head to Kuantan resort for a night away. Here is our Hyatt Regency Kuantan review!
Relaxing getaway on Kuantan beach
For us, the three hour drive from KL with toilet and nasi lemak stop is the ultimate quick beach break away. We get out of the city for one or two nights, and get to lay by the pool with a book, play in the waves or fly kites on the beach.
At Kuantan beach there are no motorized water toys, parasailing or anything remotely touristy. Just a bit of luxury, the gentle people of the east coast and some biggish waves to play in. For all you tennis players, pop your rackets in the car and make use of the Hyatt’s courts. For the surfers among you, we saw locals out on their boards this time of year, but if you are looking for something bigger, wait for the rainy season.
On the weekend take a stroll down the beach to the night markets, children’s fun arcade and local food. We wandered along the beach to where all the local families hang out. It was really vibrant with street musicians, kids with bubbles, and people just chilling out after dinner on the beach. The breeze from the ocean was perfect.
Our room and food at Hyatt Regency Kuantan
We booked a club room with sea views, which comes with breakfast and a limited evening buffet. Friends had a standard room with an extra bed – the room was nice and well appointed, but with the extra bed there was not much room left. The standard room came with a free minibar, replenished daily with some soft drinks and snacks.
If you are not looking for a big meal and are not too fussy, the club room buffet is fine. We found salad, fruit, cheese and bread, and local foods like nasi goreng, satay, Malaysian pastries and a selection of kuah for dessert. The price is included in the cost of the room and runs from 6 pm until 8 pm. There is also free flow wine, beer, some spirits, juices, soft drinks and tea and coffee.
But if you need more, then head to the restaurants or out on the streets for a large selection of local eateries or the fast food you find all over Malaysia. The Italian bistro of the Hyatt has outdoor seating with a view and very nice food – we tried the mains, pastas and pizzas and all were excellent, though priced on par with the KLCC restaurants.
What’s new at Hyatt Kuantan?
It’s pretty much still the same, except for the newly refurbished rooms and updated reception and restaurants. The room we had was fresh, clean and very modern which is a big improvement on the rooms we last visited in 2014. There are two pools: one with an in-pool bar and a small children’s paddling pool and another pool further away from the pumping tunes of the pool bar.
There is also a children’s games room, but as my two have out grown that we only ever walked past, but saw basketball hoops and bikes for rent. On Sunday morning there was a kids’ cupcake decoration competition themed “Master Chef” that was a lot of fun for the little ones. Morning zumba is most suitable for the whole family, too, if you are up early.
The Sampan has seen better days and the outdoor dining and BBQ area was not operational – we did wonder if these are yet to be completed with the refurbishment. I guess we have to watch this space.
What’s the same?
The pools are still refreshing and the ocean still packing some big waves, so for us it is the ideal quick get-a-way – from beach to pool and back again.
Drinks menu by the pool is rather on the high side so make use of any happy hour offers, or the fridge in your room! A few of the souvenir shops on the main strip stock cold drinks, including beer.
Do’s and dont’s on Kuantan beach!
Do be mindful of the beach and the current. If the red flag is flying it is because the tides are strong and the sea is rough. My kids are tweens and teens and good swimmers, but we are still careful when they are in the water, so watch your wee ones.
The Hyatt used to regularly fly the red, orange or green flags to indicate the dangers, but on this trip we only saw an orange flag briefly. If you are unsure about water safety, inquire at the hotel.
Walk across the public beach and continue on the bridge you can see in the end of the beach. There are lots of monkeys along the way, and behind the corner there is another small beach where the kids can catch crabs at low tide.
All in all, Hyatt Kuantan is still one of our favourite Kuantan resorts! You can check the latest prices here. If you are looking for getaways from KL, check out this list.
Note: during the MCO, only the main restaurant will be open for all meals.
