New and different

Theme Park Hotel’s creatively-designed rooms and easy access to tourist attractions in Genting Highlands make for a memorable stay, writes Laveda Charles

IT has been a 10-year lapse so I am stoked to be heading to Genting Highlands for a one-night stay. This time, however, my abode is the boutique Theme Park Hotel in Resorts World Genting, which has taken on a new creative look that blends really well with the upcoming first-in-the-world Twentieth Century Fox theme park located next to it.

“It’s an old structure, based on a boxy, old school, industrial design. We wanted something exciting, new and different,” says Datuk Edward Holloway, Resorts World Genting senior vice-president of hotel operations.

During the one-hour ride up, my mind imagines the many families and groups checking-in to this hotel especially once the theme park is open. The lobby is simple yet interesting with a giant bench, a stack of giant teacups and a Alice in Wonderland trick mirror. At night the hotel stands out in red LED lights all around the building.

Upon reaching the fourth floor, I am spellbound by warm purplish lights along the corridor. The floor has a vending machine, handwritten directions and room numbers are painted on the floor in front of each room.

My room card gives access to the Quad room which accommodates four people. The Sixers room accommodates six people and it includes a built-up bunk bed perfect to keep families or groups together when on vacation.

QUIRKY QUAD ROOM

I tap my card and enter the fun and quirky room which includes two queen sized mattresses with mini red bolsters placed on a built-in tatami-style raised platform. There are no cupboards. Storage spaces are at the

The wall is filled with artwork.

bottom of the beds.

The one feature which is likely to be everyone’s favourite is the wall of artwork facing the beds. On the wall is the TV hung on brackets with artwork around it to make it seem like it is enclosed in a cabinet. The designs follow the “line of sight” theory which gives the impression of space.

Quad room at night.

There are no fancy curtains here but blackout roller blinds with hand-painted white designs. I love the cute things in the room like the kettle and the cupboard with knobs to hang clothes and lamps. Replacing the “Do not disturb” and “Please clean the room” signs are “I am not an early bird” and “Dirty nest inside”.

There are minimum objects in this room but you will find all the necessary items. The shower and toilet are separated by frosty glass doors. There is fan in the room but with a slight opening of the window, which faces a garden, my room is cool enough.

GRAb AnD GO

Breakfast is not included as the hotel has a grab-and-go concept. Grab-and-go F&B outlet Eatopia at the lobby sells hot and cold beverages, healthy wraps, pastas, nasi lemak bungkus, sushi and pastries (sweet and savoury). There are high tables and chairs where you can sit and eat.

For breakfast, there are healthy choices like oats in a mug, wraps and snacks like nuts and health bars. After 10am, take a cool, five-minute walk in the mist to Sky Avenue Mall to indulge in delicious meals. Some food outlets in the mall are not available in Kuala Lumpur so you may want to try them out. Grab-and-go at Eatopia.

Genting Highlands, Bentong, Pahang, Malaysia 03-2718 1118

www.rwgenting.com

448 rooms (Quad room, Sixers room, Honeymoon Suites and King room - disabled-friendly). The Quad has various artsy design with two queen sized mattresses placed on a built-in tatami-styled raised platform.

Only one outlet — Eatopia, a grab-and-go F&B outlet (snacks, western light bites, pastries)

No gym or heated pool, so the adventure is yours to discover outside the hotel

Sky Avenue Mall, Premium outlet, Arena of Stars, Twentieth Century Fox World theme park, cable car and SkyCasino

Good location (close to all the tourist attractions). Creatively designed rooms. Can accommodate a big group of people in one room

Those who love breakfast buffet may be disappointed but there is a variety of food and beverages at Eatopia

RM270 (Quad room), RM310 (Sixers) and RM190 (disabledfriendly King room). Prices fluctuate, check current prices at the website