Here I am, once again, in my preferred little serene corner of Johor: Puteri Harbour, where everything feels a little quieter, slower and more zen. I have always liked coming here when I want to escape the usual JB (and Singapore too, obvi) chaos so of course, finding myself checking into Fraser Place felt like a pretty good idea.
Check-in was refreshingly quick. Just the kind of efficient arrival I appreciate, especially when all I really want to do after the usual, crazy human traffic into Johor Bahru is get into my room and eat ayam gepuk.
I booked the Studio Deluxe for this stay and the moment I walked in, my eyes went straight to the wooden slat wall behind the bed, complete with the natural lighting that instantly gave the whole studio a very bright, and cosy ambience. Naturally, the first thing I wanted to do was snuggle with under the duvet until dinner. The bed was really, really comfortable and cushy.
Opposite the bed is a TV which unfortunately, isn’t a smart one so I had to connect my Ipad with my own HDMI cable.
There’s also a rather nice curved desk tucked into the corner, with conveniently placed power outlets. It’s perfect if you actually have work to do, although in my case, it mostly became a place for me to charge my Jisulife fan, powerbank and my phone?
The kitchen is properly equipped with stoves and microwave. You could actually cook here if you wanted to. But for me? I’ll just use the microwave to reheat the food I ordered, because I’m on vacation and cooking feels like an unnecessary chore to do.
Instead of relying entirely on bottled water, there’s a filtered water tap here, while dish soap and a fresh sponge are provided for the kitchen. Having a washing machine in the room is one of those things you don’t realise you need until you have one. I wholeheartedly hate doing laundry at home after a long trip, so this takes a little bit of that burden off my shoulders.
I appreciate technology so much so I was super happy that the hotel has integrated it into their rooms for efficiency. Rather than having to pick up a telephone, Fraser Place has its own app where you can chat with the reception team. Need something? Ask through the app. Want room service? There’s an option for that too. Need an extra amenity? Ask away! Hotel? Trivago!
The bathroom is another little highlight. It’s designed in warm, light-toned stone and has a large vanity mirror surrounded by bright LED lighting. It’s like the dressing room I dreamed of. There’s a rain shower as well as a deep soaking bathtub, so you can either have a quick shower or just soak in a bubble bath. I’d do both!
Another reason why I actually chose to stay here is because the rates were pretty affordable for the amount of space and facilities you get, and it felt like a good fit for the kind of quiet escape I was looking for. Puteri Harbour has always been one of my favourite corners of Johor when I want somewhere quieter and more peace and this stay fitted perfectly into that mood.
And considering this Malaysian tour has been the longest one I’ve ever done (the laundry is starting to pile up), being able to get a load done (hehe) before heading home is honestly one less problem for future Aliff to deal with.