Hotel Dengan Spa di Johor, Malaysia

KSL Hotel in JB offers great value mainly due to its location. Being attached to KSL City Mall means you have everything under one roof — retail shops, F&B, cinema, salon, massage, and a supermarket. It’s especially convenient for families and travellers who want easy access without driving around Johor Bahru. The rooms are generally comfortable, though some units feel older and could use a refresh. Beds are soft, air-conditioning is strong, and Wi-Fi is workable. Cleanliness is acceptable, but during peak seasons like school holidays and weekends, you may notice slower housekeeping service and longer check-in queues because of the high volume of guests. Facilities like the pool, small dinosaur-themed water park, and gym are nice bonuses. Security is decent, and parking is plentiful. Overall, KSL Hotel is great for short stays, shopping trips, and quick weekend getaways if you prioritise convenience and affordability over luxury.

Very convenient location, opposite KSL mall and eateries. Great view of the surrounding from our window on 19 floor. The Spa at level 6 was very clean and peaceful providing excellent massage. Breakfast variety was good. Waiters were very efficient to clear your plates after you finished each course. Will stay there again for our next visit.

I recently stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Johor Bahru with my family, and unfortunately, our experience was far from seamless. Check-in Process: Our experience started off on a less-than-ideal note when we arrived on a Saturday afternoon. Upon reaching the hotel, we found a long queue at the lifts, with only three lifts serving guests. The remaining lifts were dedicated to carpark access, so we had to wait for around 15 minutes before being able to head up to our room. At 2:30pm, we approached the main check-in counter, only to find a significant queue of over 10 groups waiting at each counter. It was evident that the hotel was handling a large volume of guests at the time. We had booked a 2-Bedroom Suite and were eligible for Priority Exclusive Check-in at the Level 29 Executive Lounge, which we thought would be a faster process. Unfortunately, there was only one check-in counter open, and just one staff member attending to all guests. This led to more waiting and left us feeling frustrated, especially given the hotel’s reputation for premium service. Parking Issues: To add to the inconvenience, the hotel’s carpark was completely full when we arrived. We were redirected to a nearby building for parking, which required a 5–10 minute walk back to the hotel. Given that we were traveling with an infant and had a lot of luggage, this was quite inconvenient. After realizing how difficult this was going to be, my family decided to make a detour back to the hotel carpark. We explained the situation to the security guard at the entrance, and thankfully, he allowed us to enter the carpark. He then directed us to wait for a spot to free up, which we did, and eventually found parking. While this solution worked out in the end, it was still a hassle and not something we expected from a hotel of this standard. Luggage Assistance: Another disappointing aspect was that nobody offered to assist us with our luggage upon arrival. With an infant in tow, we were carrying several bags, a stroller, and other necessities. Having no assistance in getting our things inside was inconvenient and felt like a basic expectation from a hotel of this caliber. Service & First Impressions: Service and first impressions are crucial when you arrive at a hotel, especially one with a reputation like DoubleTree. Unfortunately, this is where our experience really faltered. The lack of assistance with luggage, the long waits, and the overall lack of attention to guest needs made us feel more like an afterthought than valued guests. When you’re paying a premium for a hotel experience, these basic services should be a given. Had we known the service level would be this underwhelming, we might have considered a lower-priced option where expectations were more in line with what was actually delivered. Room Availability: Despite arriving at 2:30pm, our room was not ready until 3:45pm, well past the official check-in time of 3pm. As we were traveling with an infant, this delay was especially inconvenient and challenging. It’s disappointing when a reputable hotel can’t meet its advertised check-in time, particularly when you’ve paid a premium for a higher-category room. Room Experience: Once we finally got to the room, we found it spacious and comfortable. The hotel had made a lovely gesture by providing a complimentary birthday cake as requested, which was a thoughtful touch. However, the room did show signs of wear and aging. Some areas appeared to be in need of maintenance, and it didn’t feel as fresh or well-kept as we had expected from a hotel of this caliber. Breakfast & Executive Lounge Staff: One positive highlight of our stay was the excellent service provided by one of the Executive Lounge staff members. I had approached the team to request an adjustment to our breakfast arrangement — as our booking included 2 breakfasts per day for 2 days (a total of 4 breakfasts), but since we were checking out earlier, we hoped to enjoy all breakfasts on the first

The hotel is very comfortable and clean. I really liked the shower head — it’s powerful, just like getting a massage while showering! Breakfast was excellent and so filling that I couldn’t eat another bite. Overall, it was a very pleasant stay. I’ll definitely book here again if I come back.

Hotel staff are friendly, the room is big, soft mattress and a few types of pillows are provided. Great breakfast, kitchen staff are friendly too. It’s just opposite City Square shopping mall which is a plus. The carpark is not free as it shares with the residential building. But it is bright and felt safe. The only negative side is the rain shower, difficult to adjust the hot and cold water. The toilet flush is not strong too. Need to press both half and full flush button together to get a stronger flush.

The 3-bedroom is an exclusive unit, well equipped with microwave, big fridge, cooking utensils, good WiFi and huge TV. We really enjoyed our stay at this apartment as the check in process was seamless and the host is very friendly and attentive. The location is very ideal and there are numerous restaurants nearby. She has prepared the apartment with great care and we would love to return to this apartment as and when we are in Johor Bahru.

The host was responsive and helpful in ensuring smooth check-in and out. The location of the apartment building is good, within walking distance to CIQ, city square mall and other shopping areas. The 2 bedroom apartment we booked was clean and neat. The unit smells good too. The only complaint we had was the aircon in the living room being too weak, too old and not cooling. As the windows and balcony sliding doors were huge with great views of the custom check point, the sunlight and heat coming into the unit was unbearable, the aircon does not provide any comfort at all. Luckily the aircon in the bedrooms were working properly. The bathrooms were clean and comfortable to use. The lift is clean and not crowded at all, so going in and out was a breeze.

Had a fantastic experience staying at this resort. The room was clean and well-maintained although the resort was established for years. What a perfect place for relaxing. Had 2 nights stay here. Truly love it.