3D2N Shangri La's Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa, Penang.

This is another supposed-to-be-posted-one-year-ago but here I am - never too late is the way to go hah. 

For Adrian's 30th birthday last year, I decided to surprise him with a few surprises but the one that I was looking forward to the most was this staycation. If you watch this video, you would know how he reacted when he found out that his birthday present was a 2-night staycation at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa. 

Why this hotel you ask?

Because it's one of the 5-star hotels that Adrian really likes (though he never stays before) but he really loves the wooden feel that this hotel has. Knowing him, he would never pay to stay at any 5-star hotel unless it's a really good deal - same with me also actually but I not so extreme la. Heh. 

That time last year, Rasa Sayang had these FB live sessions where they give out promo codes for their rooms if you book with them directly and so, it was just the right time! 

You have to stay a minimum of 2 nights to enjoy these discounts (Facebook Weekday Offer) and I paid a total of RM420 for 2 nights - so that makes it RM210 for a Garden Wing Deluxe Garden View Room - which was acceptable (I think) for me. Hah.

That price included daily breakfast for 2 adults, early check-in at 12PM, and late check-out at 4PM. It was these conditions that they were shouting so loud about. 

I also sent them emails to request these (below) and that is also because their website asked if we would like these items so we of course said yes. 

Baby bottle sterilizer

Baby bottle warmer

Baby high chair

Baby playpen

Baby toilet seat

Needless to say, we did not get any of the above. They did not even update us if they have these or not to be sent to our room. They just continued being silent about it. I think if you don't have these items, you should not list them as optional for people to choose from, or if you are out of it, you should at least inform us. 

Good thing I emailed them again about 1 babycot before the trip starts. 

This was actually the second red flag. 

The first being - that we had to wait in the lobby for few hours even though we were told that we could check-in at 12PM - instead of 3PM. We reached the hotel at about 1PM and the receptionist looked lost and cold (he probably had a bad day or something because he was anything but friendly). He walked into the back office for like the 40th time before he could tell us when exactly we could check-in. 

We also reminded him that we were told that we can check-in by 12PM and it was already close to 2PM by the time we talked to him and all. The only thing he could tell us was, the rooms all not ready so we had to wait. Oh man. 

I understand that they may be under-staffed but do not tell people that they can come and check-in by 12PM. My 2 kids were going crazy by the time they called us. It was such a bad way to start the staycation. 

So, that's the first red flag okay. 

We decided to be positive and put all that behind us and just enjoy the weekend. 

It was not too long after we checked into the room, that Adrian realized the rooms were dusty (bed frames, side tables, main table, and chairs) and even Adrian (who usually is very very cincai kind of person) was highly disappointed. 

Their pillows had a funny smell and we did not dare to open up the sheets. 

The grass outside our balcony/patio was long and really messy and dirty. 

It was already affecting Adrian and he is usually the super-not-OCD-kind. We cleaned some common areas on our own. 

Their buffet breakfast is two thumbs up though. I did not go for any breakfast because I didn't feel like to so I stayed in the room with Sofia instead and slept in. 

But according to Adrian and his mom, it was pretty good. They have quite many choices. 

So, I guess in the overalls of it all, it is safe to say that we will not be doing any staycations at Rasa Sayang Resort & Spa - unless the deal is super good - like RM100 per night or something hah. 

If you ask Adrian, he will probably give you a worse review. Heh. 

Here's a quick room tour of the room. Sorry, no photos this time. Heh.

 Till next staycation, bye now.