The trip was part of our annual sisterly bonding vacation and we took the early morning Singapore Airlines flight from Manila. However, instead of going to Malaysia, we actually got a flight to Singapore instead, because Johor is much closer to Singapore than to Malaysia’s capital of Kuala Lumpur. We would have had to take a domestic flight from Kuala Lumpur to Johor if we wanted to land in Malaysia, so this was the better route. We landed at the Changgi Airport in Singapore and then we were fetched by our private car from Hotel Jen.

There were actually a number of ways to reach our hotel in Johor Bahru from Changgi Airport. The cheapest would have been to take a bus from the airport (SG$10 per person) which directly crosses the Malaysian border, and then get a Malaysian taxi to the hotel. However, this is also the least efficient way because you would have to step down the bus with your luggages at the border and personally go through immigration one by one. Given my condition (Read: My Six Year Journey Living With Lupus), that was not an option. The most practical alternative would have been to take a special Singapore taxi but they will only drop you off at a designated stop in Malaysia, after which you have to transfer to a Malaysian taxi to reach the hotel. This costs around SG$70-80 for the trip but you will not have to go down the taxi when you cross the border. 

Since it was our first time to go to Malaysia, we decided to go with the easiest and fastest method, which was asking Hotel Jen to fetch us with their private car. It costs RM405 from Changgi Airport and it took just one hour to reach Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour. The ride was smooth and hassle-free so we got to the hotel at just past noon. 

Checking in at Hotel Jen was quick and easy as well, which was great because we were already looking forward to having lunch. There’s free wifi all throughout the hotel and the lobby also has a few refreshments for those waiting.

We settled into our comfortable Deluxe Room which had 33 square meters of space. The guest rooms are bright and simple with everything you need for a relaxing stay. There is a sofa by the window offering a view of the city, but try to ask for a harbour view room which provides a better scenery.

Aside from the 40-inch LED TV inside the room, guests also get an iPad at check-in that allows them to stream TV shows and movies from Netflix. You also get the basic necessities like a refrigerator and an executive working desk. Coffee and tea making facilities are also available.

The bathroom is clean and comfortable with a separate shower cubicle. There’s no bathtub though, and I really would have wanted to soak on a hot tub. It may not be the flashiest or most beautifully decorated room, but it serves its purpose well which is to provide a cozy place to unwind after a day of shopping and running around the various theme parks.

The best area inside Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour is actually by their stunning Infinity Pool at the roofdeck. The swimming pool is open from 6:00am to 9:00pm and you can just spend the afternoon lounging by the sun beds overlooking the marina.

The bay houses yachts and ships of all sizes which gives the place a serene and enchanting atmosphere. This is the best place to take photos for your Instagram posts.

Since families from Singapore are the primary tourists that come to Johor Bahru, the hotel also has play areas for the kids and the kids-at-heart. 

There’s foosball, gaming consoles, coloring activities, charging stations, and an iMac Station free for the use of Hotel Jen guests. Parents can leave their kids here while they go around to explore the other areas around the hotel. My sister Angel and I had fun playing at the foosball table.

Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour is situated in a building complex which also houses other retail and commercial establishments. Among these is the Sanrio Hello Kitty Town which I was so excited to visit. There are several restaurants and bars scattered across the buildings so everything you need is within walking distance. They also offer free scheduled shuttle services to Legoland Malaysia which is just around five minutes away.

One place in Johor Bahru which I really planned to visit is the Johor Premium Outlet, which is about 30 minutes away from the hotel by taxi. Since Puteri Harbour is not located within the main city center of Johor Bahru and we were spending just two nights at Hotel Jen, I had to choose between going to the city shopping malls or to the premium outlet. Obviously, I went for the latter.

There are many premium brands to explore including Armani Exchange, Lacoste, Guess and a few luxury brands like Gucci, Salvatore Ferragamo and Burberry. Most of the items were discounted at around 30-50% off which was quite a good deal. Our shopping trip extended all the way until the evening but we were both happy with the big discounts that we got. 

Since the Johor Premium Outlet is a bit far from the city, there was a little bit of waiting for the taxis to get back to our hotel. It was a weekday and there weren’t that many tourists at the outlet, so taxis were also few. They also closed early at around 8:00pm so we weren’t able to eat the food options there and just had dinner at the hotel.

Buffet breakfast is served daily at the Harbour Café, Hotel Jen’s all-day dining outlet that serves up scrumptious signature dishes alongside international and local cuisine in fun surroundings. Breakfast is open from 6:30am to 10:00am and there are plenty of choices for the hungry travellers.

The selection is quite diverse with both Asian and American breakfast items like Mi Goreng noodles, chicken curry, yang chow fried rice, bacon and more. We woke up to a hearty breakfast each morning to energize us, especially with all the walking we had to do every day.

Our three day seaside vacation at Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour was short but definitely sweet. It was enough to see the interesting tourist spots around the city, most of which were just a few minutes away from the hotel. Our visits to Sanrio Hello Kitty Town and Legoland Malaysia were truly memorable, but this was just the start of our journey because our next stop was waiting just across the border. This time, we boarded a taxi at Larkin Terminal in Johor Bahru and got ready for a two-night stay at Hotel Jen Orchardgateway in Singapore. 

Hotel Jen Puteri Harbour

Persiaran Puteri Selatan, Puteri Harbour, Iskandar Puteri, 79000 Johor Darul Takzim, Malaysia

(60 7) 560-8888

www.hoteljen.com/johor/puteriharbour