Anantara Desaru Coast Residences — Photo by Minor Hotel Group

Thailand's Minor Hotels Group is set to expand its Anantara brand to Malaysia with the opening of the Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas on 1 December 2019.

Desaru Coast is located at Malaysia's south-eastern tip in Johor Bahru and spans over 16 square kilometres along a pristine 17-kilometre beachfront facing the South China Sea.

Desaru is near Iskandar Malaysia and is easily accessible via a 45-minute drive from Malaysia's Senai International Airport (JHB) and a two-hour drive from Singapore. Additionally, visitors from Singapore can travel to Desaru by ferry, followed by a short drive.

The new-build Anantara Desaru Coast Resort & Villas offers a range of accommodation nestled in lush tropical gardens.

The resort has 123 keys comprising 90 deluxe guest rooms in low-rise buildings that overlook the gardens, lagoon and ocean; thirteen stand-alone luxury one and two-bedroom pool villas; and 20 expansive three and four-bedroom residences that offer guests an infinity pool, full kitchen and chef and butler service.

The pool villas are located around a lagoon and their design draws heavily from a traditional kampong house that is designed to suit the tropical Malaysian climate with floor-to-ceiling windows; slanted carved wooden panels; louvres and vents under the roof; and wide-open doors that allow natural airflow to cool the interior.

Facilities at the resort include Sea.Fire.Salt, a specialty grill and seafood restaurant with alfresco courtyard and beachside dining; an all-day dining restaurant offering local Malay, Asian and international fare; an observatory bar overlooking the lush resort and ocean; an infinity beach pool bar; and Dining By Design, Anantara's signature private dining experience in exotic locales.

Two swimming pools offer refreshing freshwater alternatives to the ocean, while kids and teenagers alike can laze the day away playing the latest high-tech games or partake in cross-cultural educational activities in separate dedicated clubs.

The resort also features a spa, fitness centre and meeting facilities.

Hotel website