“Discover the ultimate guide to a 3-day, 2-night romantic getaway in Johor Bahru and Desaru. From top-notch dining spots and luxurious accommodations at Westin Desaru and Hard Rock Hotel Desaru, to relaxing massages and fun activities, this itinerary has everything you need for a perfect couple’s retreat.”
After five wonderful years of non-stop parenting, my partner and I finally decided to embark on a much-needed couple’s trip without the kids. It wasn’t easy; we had countless prep talks with our little one, Hengboi, reassuring him that we’d return with his favourite train tracks.
Initially, we toyed with the idea of more distant destinations like the Maldives, Bali, and Bintan, but our parental instincts had us worrying about potential sickness or emergencies. Hence, we opted for a flexible and nearby destination: Johor Bahru (JB). The penalty for cancellation was minimal as we can drive in, and we booked hotels, which allows last-minute cancellation.
Day 1: Departure and City Center Adventure
Morning
The day finally arrived, and we managed to sneak out of the house (without the kids!) with a mix of excitement and a touch of guilt. I have to admit, it felt liberating, though I did miss the kids (of course!). We checked the checkpoint cameras early in the morning and chose to enter Malaysia via the Tuas checkpoint at about 11am on a Saturday morning, which seemed less congested—a decision that paid off.
Afternoon
Upon entering via Tuas, we decided to eat and shop around the Eco Galleria area, which we had previously visited during our trip to Legoland with the boys. Without worrying about the boys’ nap time, we enjoyed a leisurely lunch at Thirteen Units Hong Kong Cafe, a quirky mahjong-themed cafe in Johor Bahru offering affordable HK fare like bubble waffles, wonton noodles and milk tea.
Thirteen Units Hong Kong Cafe
- Address: 151, Jln Sentral 24, Taman Nusa Sentral, 79100 Iskandar Puteri, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 8:00 AM – 9:00 PM daily
After lunch, We drove about 10 minutes to Eco Botanic and treated myself to a gel pedicure and manicure at Smoothy Wax Parlour, while my husband found a shop for a relaxing one-hour leg massage at Chihiro Wellness. With my nails done, I took a coffee break at Zus Coffee, waiting for my husband to finish his massage.
- Smoothy Wax Parlour
- Address: 50A, Jalan Eko Botani 3/2, 79100 Gelang Patah, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 8:00 PM daily
- Contact Number (Whatsapp): +60 017-636 0209
- Chihiro Wellness
- Address: 43, Jalan Eko Botani 3/5, 79100 Gelang Patah, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 01:00 AM daily
- Contact Number: +60 011-2121 4343
CHECK IN
We drove for about 30 minutes and checked into the Renaissance Hotel, which boasts a grand lobby! During our last visit, we stayed at St Giles Southkey, so we decided to try a new hotel this time. The room at the Renaissance is definitely more spacious than at St Giles, but if you’re traveling with kids, the convenience of the connecting mall beside St Giles is a significant advantage.
We took a Grab to St. Giles Southkey Mid Valley for a massage at Siam Oasis. We highly recommend making a reservation as the massage parlour was packed! The other alternative is Thai Odyssey.
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Siam Oasis
- Address: Lot L2-023 & 024, Second Floor, The Mall, Mid Valley Southkey, Persiaran Southkey 1, Southkey, 80150 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
- Contact Number: +60 7-336 1111
We didn’t want to drive as our previous experience with parking and traffic jams at St. Giles was bad. After our massages, we shopped around, topped up on medicine and supplements, and bought coffee.
Evening
For dinner, we took a Grab to Senibong Bay Seafood which was about 7 minutes away. The restaurant offers both outdoor and indoor seating. We chose to sit outdoors, facing the sea, enjoying the great ambiance with a live band. The service was excellent, and the food was served quickly.
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Senibong Bay Seafood
- Address: 30, Jalan Permas 4, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
- Contact Number: +60 7-388 1189
We ordered a salted egg crab, two lobsters, noodles, sotong, and juice, which cost us about RM825 (approximately SGD230). While not exactly cheap, the crab and lobster meat were really big and juicy, and it would have cost more elsewhere. After dinner, we took a taxi back to the hotel.
Day 2: Hotel Surroundings, Shopping, and Drive to Desaru
Morning
We had our breakfast at the hotel before venturing out to explore the surrounding area. There’s no lack of food choices given the number of eateries nearby. Mum guilt set in, and we spent some time at Mr. DIY buying toys for the kids.
After that, we crossed the street and went for a one-hour aromatherapy massage at Bangkok Family Spa, which was significantly cheaper than the parlour at upscale Mid Valley Southkey. The environment is quite alright too.
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Bangkok Family Spa
- Address: 69, Jalan Keris, Taman Sri Tebrau, 80050 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 11:00 AM – 11:00 PM daily
- Contact Number: +60 7-336 6888
Afternoon: After our massage, we checked out of the hotel and drove over to the nearby Aeon Shopping Center for a grocery run. We ended up with many things for the kids again.
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Aeon Permas
- Address: 1, Jalan Permas Utara, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya, 81750 Masai, Johor, Malaysia
- Opening Hours: 10:00 AM – 10:00 PM daily
As we had a heavy breakfast, we decided not to stop for lunch and instead packed Papa Roti, sushi, and milk tea to have on the road to Westin Desaru, which was about an hour’s drive away.
Late Afternoon and Evening:
Upon arriving in Desaru, we checked into the Westin Desaru Coast Resort.
The view from our room was great, though it could be better as I was hoping for the room with a view facing the pool and sea. The hotel was facing full occupancy, having hosted the Ironman marathon over the weekend that we were there. The hotel room were well decorated too and came with a small cake as we were also celebrating our wedding anniversary ❤️
We also went over to check out the Hard Rock Hotel Desaru, which was just a 5-minute buggy ride or walk away. Their pool is smaller, but their kids club and water area are significantly bigger than Westin’s! We’ll probably bring our kids back to try Hard Rock Hotel.
Walking back to Westin from Hard Rock Hotel took us 5 minutes without kids haha. We spent the evening dipping in the pool, soaking up the sun and relishing the tranquil environment.
For dinner, we opted to order grab from KFC and enjoyed it in our room while binging on Netflix, a luxury without the kids around.
The Westin Desaru Coast Resort
- Address: Jalan Pantai 3, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia
Hard Rock Hotel Desaru Coast
- Address: Jalan Pantai 3, Desaru Coast, 81930 Bandar Penawar, Johor, Malaysia
- Explore my journey through the beautiful and diverse Taiwan here.
Day 3: Final Relaxation and Return
Morning
Our final morning was spent enjoying the resort’s amenities. We took a dip in the pool and had a leisurely breakfast that offers international cuisine which includes my favorite malaysian dishes like nasi lemak, teh terik and rendang.
Afternoon
After breakfast, we went to stroll along the white sandy beach and enjoyed the sea breeze while sipping on our coconut. The beach was easily assessable fron the Westin.
Mindful of time, we headed back to our room reluctantly to pack up and began our journey back home to avoid the evening jam. We stopped by the petrol station to top up fuel and groceries. The drive was smooth, and we felt rejuvenated and reconnected as a couple. We arrived home to hugs from Hengboi, excited to see the new train tracks we promised.
This short but sweet trip was exactly what we needed—a blend of city excitement and beach relaxation, all within the comfort of knowing we were never too far from home. If you’re considering a short getaway without the kids, Johor Bahru offers the perfect balance of flexibility, convenience, and diverse experiences.
Shell Petrol Station
Address: Jalan Pasir Pelangi, Taman Iskandar,
81100 Johor Bahru, Johor, Malaysia