Century Pines Resort

Star rating: ***
My rating: ***

In our latest visit to Cameron Highlands, we tried out another hotel which we never stayed before - Century Pines Resort. It's actually quite a new hotel, and as usual I would do a little research to see it's review and most said it's good and value for money so I go ahead to book it.

It was actually close to Chinese New Year but we travelled a day before to avoid the crowd, since the Chinese would be having their Big Dinner that night so we expect them to be at home. The trick works well so we had a very smooth drive and check-in.

The room is considered ok but even though we requested non-smoking room, we can still smell it in the room but I won't put the blame on the hotel but the illiterate people who stayed here before...grrrrrrrrrrrr

For dinner, we tried their steamboat and though the food itself is just ok level as we had other steamboats which tasted better, but having it out in the open air in a misty night really made a different...we really enjoyed the steamboat!

But we were wrong to expect a smooth breakfast the next day coz what a crowd it was! We couldn't even get a seat and the staff were so occupied that they couldn't help the other customers waiting in line outside the restaurant like us. I don't know when did these people came in but luckily we were already checking out that day so we had an early check out first and then went out for breakfast in town.

Even though we left early, we still stuck in the traffic as more and more people coming to Cameron. I did managed to stop buying my mom's fav plants - wild orchids. And I guess it's kinda spring here because we can also see wild orchids and other flowers blooming on the way.

So the hotel is located in Tanah Rata:

Strawberry Moment

My rating: Exceed Expectation
Rating: Improvement Required, Below Expectation, Meet Expectation, Exceed Expectation, Outstanding

If you read thru my blog, you'll realize I travelled to Cameron Highlands frequently as this is my fav place to be. I actually even considered buying a property there for retirement! *Grin*

Anyway, during one of the trips, we discovered this cafe called Strawberry Moment, and they even have a website so please check it out for more details here

It's located in Brinchang, just behind Star Regency Hotel, very closed to Brinchang market, which is very convenient. Why? Well, we usually stroll along the market to buy the fresh veggies, flowers and also hawker foods and after all the shopping, it's great to sit down and relax while enjoying your tea or desserts here :) You won't miss the cafe's board:

So what's good to have here? Basically, everything! And really, everything looks and sounds yummy here, even if you are not a strawberry fan, and I guess strawberry fans would think they had died and gone to heaven here *grin* On the first visit, since we were not well prepared, I didn't take any photos but we had tea with their strawberry cheese cake and the special dessert made of sago.

In the next visit, we had these:

My hubby ordered the fresh strawberry juice and strawberry crepe but I just have my old sago dessert and tea. My girl had her fav home-made fresh strawberry ice-creams. The ice-cream is  tasted so different than those in the market so that's why we always return here. I must salute the cafe owner for her creativity in creating the sago dessert which is just out of this world! You have to try it to know why *wink wink*

So, if you ever go to Cameron Highlands, don't forget to drop by here and try the desserts yourself!

Merlin Inn (now known as Cameron Highlands Resort)

Star rating: ***
My rating: *****
I think we were one of the lucky few who managed to stay here before Merlin Inn was changed to Cameron Highlands Resort, under the new management. We went for a night stay on the way to KL for a friend's wedding, and during the time, the hotel was already under construction for renovation. At the time, the room rate was very cheap, less than RM200 per night stay for a deluxe room, with breakfast and tea served. Most customers were Japanese tourists who seemed like regulars, and the place is like a golfer's heaven since the golf course is just in front of the hotel. With nice cool climate, and great cup of tea at your room's balcony with view of the golf course, it's a beautiful way to enjoy your evening after a golf game for the other customers or just a retreat from the hectic working world for us.
Since the changed of name and management, the hotel turned to be the most expensive one in Cameron Highlands. They still maintain the same outlook, but from the web I can see they've done great refurbishment for the rooms. Anyway, maybe it's worth to stay here if you really love golfing =) This is how it looks now with the new name as Cameron Highlands Resort...

The resort is located in Tanah Rata but I couldn't get the map. You won't miss it as it's just opposite the golf course! But be aware that the price shoot up since it's now a 5 star hotel..maybe more...

The Lakehouse

Star rating: ****
My rating: *****

The lakehouse holds sweet memories for both of us, as this was the place we had our honeymoon, right after the wedding on Chirstmas of 2005. It's easy to forget where you actually were, as the place doesn't look Malaysian at all, and you are surrounded with people from all over the world. The staff were great and friendly, the foods were delicious and the room, which was the Honeymoon Suite is just outstanding!
I managed to secure the Honeymoon Package which was offered in their web just before the wedding, and when we reached the hotel, we met with another couple who were wed at the same day as us, but couldn't get the package, so we were very lucky =) The package consist of:

3 days 2 nights stays in Honeymoon Suite
1 candlelit dinner
Daily breakfast and afternoon tea
68 fresh roses

Their tea & scones were the best so far, even after we've tried Bala's. Yes, Bala's scones were actually much better, but their cream and jams were not so good, and the price was too high for just 2 scones =P Lakehouse's scones were ok, but they served with cream cheese and hand-made jams, so as overall, Lakehouse won the race =D Their dinner menu is also great, and you should try the chocolate pudding!

The room was really a jaw-dropping beauty, with four-posters kind-size bed, a facing fireplace and antique furnitures. You should see the bathroom which is I think the same size as the bedroom itself! The whole suite is considerably spotless, except for the hot-water bath-tub, or maybe I should call it the pool, which has some hairs of previous customers...a bit yucky but I think overall, that's the only flaw we could find here =) The bathroom has an eerie feeling, as if it is haunted, so we tried to avoid going there after midnight =) I can't remember is the pool has jacuzzi...

We will return here as my husband agreed to make this a yearly family treat, as this place is so special to both of us.

The resort is located in Ringlet which is a bit further from the town,which gives lots of privacy for those looking for seclusion or stress relief:

The Bala's Holiday Chalet

Star rating: ***
My rating: ***

This is the latest place we've stayed, though it's the 3rd time for us travelling to Cameron Highlands. For me, if you are going to Cameron, there's no point staying in normal hotel or apartments, since you can't experienced the 'difference' Cameron has to offer. Cameron's specialty is of course experiencing the European feelings in your own Asian country, so that's why we chose Bala's. The place itself used to be a boarding school for expat's children since early 1930's, and it still carries out the feelings, though a bit of renovation here and there, the basic still remains. If you search in the net, you can see this place got more negative reviews than good ones, and I understand why when I saw the room.

For those looking for top class accomodation, this place is not for you, as I've mentioned earlier, it's a very old building made of huge stones and large strong woods, creaking wooden floors and doors, with some parts were destroyed through time and not repaired. The place is rated as 2 1/2 or 3 stars, so you should know what to expect. The room and surrounding has the old building smells, which to us, is pleasant and nostalgic. The gardens are fabulously well-maintained, though they should clean up the fish ponds once in a while =)

The foods were great though a bit pricey. For people with sensitive skins, I would recommend bringing along insect bites cream or repellents, since the beds may have bugs or whatsoever. Do not bring kids below 5 year old, as my tot had a few insect bites and rashes, playing in the gardens and sleeping on the beds/pillows. For families, taking the family room is really worth it. I would love to take the Raffles or Executive suite, as it looks so nice & comfy, but all fully booked. The staff are moderately friendly, but they love kids =D I like the way they treat locals with no different than non-locals, unlike some other hotels or resort around Malaysia who treats foreigners like kings and locals like dirt, which is so unprofessional, though we paid the same price. I also heard some other well-known hotels or resorts in Cameron who shooed locals as if we couldn't afford the rooms, but you won't get that treatment here at Bala's.

The chalet is located in Tanah Rata:

Overall, we may return here when our kids are bigger, but for the time being, it worth making a hole in your pocket for a more bug-free place =D