Guide to Genting Highlands

Genting Highlands is located 1,740 metres in Peninsula Malaysia. The word Genting often leads people think of Casino followed by Theme Park.

So the question now is how do one goes to Genting from Singapore? Coach is the answer!

But where to book tickets? One can book through  www.easybook.com.

A good saving tip (applies to all bus destinations in Peninsular Malaysia) is to use the discount code: 338   on its website booking. You can save up to 20% off!

Another good saving tip is not to book the return segment (Genting back to Singapore) until you arrived at Genting Mushroom Bus Terminal. Bus tickets are usually cheaper should there be seats available. Fares can be as much as 40% cheaper as the currency paid is in MYR, the exchange rate explains the price difference.

However, don’t try using this option if you are looking for early bus back to Singapore or during peak holiday period.

Often than not, we see advertisement on cheap package deals to Genting for as low as SD$78 (2D 1 N package). Being located high up in the chilly climate where average temperature is at  20-25 Degree Celsius in the day and dropping to as low as 15 Degree in the night.

Do you know that First World Hotel has been awarded as the most number of hotel rooms in the world back in the history..

However, should you want to consider spending a night in Genting, my last choice would be First World Hotel. It is often the most crowded hotel with many gamblers. Simply because they are given free rooms to entice people to visit the Casino. Having said that, that was how I was also awarded free rooms. (P.S.  I checked into the hotel room using someone else membership card. There is a self-check kiosk. All you need is the members card and passport.)  The room assigned had a bad smoke smell lingering in the room as well. Sorry but I got to give this hotel a thumbs down on my next visit.

So which hotel to choose from? Guess my pick is actually either the Maxims or Genting Grand Hotel which simply give one a better feeling with its lobby interior decor and ambiance.

Oops. Did I say next visit!? Yep, perhaps likely BUT not a visit in the near future. There isn’t much for one to do if you are not a gambler and food are expensive as well (around the range of SGD$10 for a simple meal). Furthermore, Genting Outdoor Theme Park has been closed from 1st September 2013 for 3 years to make way for the world’s first Twentieth Century Fox World. So lets wait and see. I would recommend families and non gamblers to give Genting a miss until the new theme park is open in Year 2016.

Beside casino activity, there are international acclaimed shows such as The Magician Without Limits Show which I caught during the stay there.

The theatre I could say wasn’t that impressive thou. The chairs are not as comfortable as it should be in other resorts and I could say it was not that well maintained.  In addition, during the show, one could see latecomers entering the venue and it kinda of block your view of the stage. Beside that, one could hear young kids crying yet there are none of the show organisers doing anything to it. Thus, you can imagine how would one “enjoy” with unnecessary background sound and as well as heads in the front row blocking partially the view as well.

Indoor theme park and its interior decors.

Categories: Asia Region