SEPANG GOLD COAST : GOLDEN PALM TREE RESORT (DISILLUSIONED)

We wanted to go for a short break in October 2011 and we wanted somewhere near. We heard much about our Sepang Gold Coast. Yes, you hear me right. We have one GOLD COAST right here in Malaysia, located at Sepang. Now, we have been to Gold Coast, Australia and we totally fell in love with that place.

Curious of what our very own gold coast has to offer, we did a search and came across this very interesting resort known as the GOLDEN PALM TREE RESORT. Again the design of this resort resembles something similar in the Middle East, with villas branching out from the shore line to the sea, just like a palm tree.

Pictures from the website looked impressive. However, the prices were rather steep. But then we were thinking, a place charging this kind of prices can not be that bad right?

We made a few calls to see if we could just walk in to check out the place but were told that only guests could go in and most of the weeks we called, we were told that they were running at full capacity and occupancy. Now, that seemed like a good sign, or so we thought.

We found out also from their website that they too have an `All Inclusive' package which include room stay, breakfast, lunch and dinner. This package even include `all you can drink beer"! I was like "Wow! This is like Club Med!" The inclusive package is not as pricey as Club Med or Tanjung Rhu Resort in Langkawi that I posted in my last post, but it was not cheap either.

We were still cautious, and hence, we only booked for one night stay.

Getting there from Subang (with the help of a GPS) was not difficult and we had a pleasant drive. Upon arrival, the lobby was spacious and impressive. The service we received from the front desk was reasonable and we were quickly checked in and a buggy drove us to our villa. We got upgraded to the Canary Palm Villa (a promotion if we paid full upon booking).

Now, we asked for a room towards the tip of the branch for the best sea view and we got it. No complains. But on the downside, it is a long long walk to the club house, restaurant and the pool which are all located at the center of the palm tree. From our room, it was easily a 10 minutes walk and not particularly nice, if it rains as it did in our case.

The room was new and nice. Very comfortable and with an excellent view of the sea. It would even be nicer if the weather held up. There was one king size bed on one side of the room and  two single beds on the other side, separated by a very nice living area.

The infinity pool at the club house is also excellent, with a little shallow end for the children and a deeper end that stretches towards the sea for the adults. However, one must watch over the children playing on the shallow end carefully as they could easily climb over the ledge separating the shallow and the deep end, and ended up struggling in the adult pool immediately.

What we were not particularly happy about during our stay here was the service at the restaurant and their `All Inclusive' package. Firstly, their `All Inclusive' package meals were from a different fixed menu. Our lunch at their Chinese Restaurant, Hai Sang Lou was pathetic. We were served a small bowl of porridge and some fried dim sums. If we were to order any extra, all those would be chargeable.

Our unpleasant experience continued when we were dipping and swimming in the pool. Beer was definitely free and inclusive and so was coffee and tea. But when my wife wanted to order a cup of Milo, we were shocked to find out that that too is not part of our `All Inclusive'. Milo is chargeable! We somehow had that feel that `All Inclusive' customers were second class customers who opted to an fixed inferior menu as compared to those without the `All Inclusive'.

Our nightmare with these `All Inclusive' package extended to our dinner. We were told that it is going to be an international buffet dinner at their Bila Bila Restaurant by the pool and the operating hours were from 6pm to 10:30pm.

We managed to get to the restaurant by 8pm after getting the children ready and braving the rain, walking a full 10 minutes with our umbrellas. By the time we got there, most of the dishes were empty and many tables left uncleared. We found a table and sat down and patiently waited for the dishes to be refilled but sadly, the staff did not seemed to have any intention of filling them. Finally, we went up to the manager and complained and then only we see some of the dishes being refilled by the staff by which time, we have already lost our patience as well as our appetite. And neither the restaurant manager nor the staff were apologetic over the issue.

Would we go back again for another visit? I seriously do not think so. And if you are thinking of a visit, I would strongly suggest not eating at the resort. There are plenty of good seafood restaurant only a couple of minutes drive away.

On the day we check out, we were walking behind this Caucasian male personnel of whom we presumed to be of the senior management team through his mannerism. We would be expecting him to be smiling to the resort guests that he bumped into but oh no...not him...he is high and mighty...

As we were walking out, there was this row of chairs which was supposed to be lined nicely against the wall. Well, one chair was out of the order. And this high and mighty senior management team Caucasian personnel walked up to that chair and .....using his LEG, kicked the chair back against the wall, and this was in full view of all other resort's guests!

With that, I began to understand why we were treated the way we were treated at the restaurant the night before.....emmmmm....and they are rating this as a 5 star resort ......go figure!

Gold Coast Australia boasts of miles and miles of white sandy beaches. Gold Coast Sepang has miles and miles of dark muddy shoreline. I wonder who was responsible in coining up the name for this location and what was in his mind ....????