Welcome to Rawa Island Resort, an idyllic tropical island for guests to unwind from the stress and strain of modern life. Feel the grains of white, sun-baked sand between your toes as you stroll along the beach. Take a dip in the warm waters of the South China Sea. Enjoy the green scenery. Snorkel along the natural coral reef just metres from the shore. Or simply relax as you watch the sun disappear lazily over the orange horizon. Situated within the archipelago of the Sultan Iskandar Marine Park, Rawa Island is accessible by a twenty-minute boat ride from Mersing, Johor. This beachfront resort features 77 rooms, each individually designed to blend in with the natural landscape. Modern furnishings provide guests with the comforts of home. We invite you to take a break from the monotony of daily routine. Experience the island's natural beauty and our Malaysian hospitality.
Places to stay are graded on a 0-100 scale. The higher the grade, the easier it is for travellers to find restaurants and things to do within walking distance.
If you're looking for a beautiful beach, accessible snorkelling and a place to relax with a book, it's the ideal spot. The water is stunning - very clear with lots of nice fish and juvenile black tip reef sharks to see in the shallows.
Views from most rooms are stunning over the water. The beds are comfy and bedding clean, but overall the rooms could do with some improvements. This isn't your fancy 5* villa (although some rooms do look like they've been upgraded). The bathroom didn't drain very well, wasn't cleaned thoroughly daily etc. There's no tea, coffee or fridge in the rooms. The doors to the balcony and some windows don't all lock and so won't suit those who are a bit nervous or bothered by having the odd lizard or bug around.
The included meals were fresh with a fair variety of western & asian dishes. The staff were very kind with catering to vegetarian diets and provided extra dishes in addition to the buffet which were great. It is an 'island buffet' and you accept you're in quite a remote spot Vs city hotel standards. It's not for those who are seeking a foodie experience as the main reason for coming.
Cocktails & drinks weren't exactly cheap (by Malaysian standards) but very nice - the bar tenders were super friendly and happily took requests. Coffee from the bar was also good with the variety of options you'd expect.
Common areas of the hotel, bathrooms and walkways throughout the resort are very much tropical. It's an inside-outside place and therefore very difficult to keep to the cleanliness standards many have become accustomed to. We did see a couple of rats as we walked back to our villa later in the evenings which was a bit off-putting and should be looked into.
The service was fairly attentive and friendly but does reflect it's a 3* resort, just for the price you can be led into thinking this will all be more luxurious than it is.
Overall the amount you enjoy this place is probably down to what your expectations are, what you're coming for, and for how long (2-3 nights is great unless you're really looking to lie on a beach).
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Date of stay: August 2024
Value
Rooms
Location
Cleanliness
Service
Sleep Quality
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
I’ve been to a number of Malaysia island resorts. This resort is one of my new preferred resorts.
The water around the resort was clean, I saw little trash in the water, which was very refreshing in Malaysia. Water is also quite clear, perfect for snorkeling. And so much coral! To be sure, a lot of the coral is bleaching. But there are still beautiful pockets of coral around the island, which make for interesting snorkeling, and observing tropical fish and sea life. The sand on the beaches is that fantastic fine white sand for lounging or building sand castles with the kids.
On our last day, I had a bit of a misunderstanding with some of the food package, and the manager, Carlos, was terrific in helping to resolve my misunderstanding in a reasonable and professional way. Overall, I found the staff, very friendly, helpful, and kind.
It is an older resort so don’t expect glamour. They are clearly trying to improve parts of the island, such as the transfer boats from Mersing were new. Although some sections of the island are under repair and improvement, there is still quite a rugged feeling at the island. Even so, our room was clean and comfortable. There is no Internet or TV in our room, which was fine, because we wanted to spend the day outside anyway. But, if you intend to come and work on your computer, you’ll need to bring your own mifi device if you want to work in your room.
Bear in mind that on some days, the boat ride from Mersing to Rawa Island can be quite bumpy, as our trip out to the island had very high waves. We understand that this is because it’s February, and that things calm down March through October.
Overall, however, we thoroughly enjoyed ourselves. We saw lots of families with kids. It was fun with the beach, the waterslides, and the food was better than when I’ve had other Malaysia resorts. We would go back..
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Date of stay: February 2024Trip type: Travelled with friends
Room Tip: Bring cash to pay the park fee at Mersing. They don’t accept cards and the cash machine didn’t...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We recently stayed at Rawa Island Resort for 3 days and 2 nights in the Frangipani Villa. While the resort was pleasant, I must admit that I was a bit disappointed with a few things. Firstly, the location of our villa was quite far from the main area and beach, and unfortunately, the resort did not offer any buggy services. Additionally, our room was situated on the ground floor, and we discovered that people staying in the room above us could peek into our shower area, which was a bit uncomfortable. However, we were fortunate that no one was staying upstairs during our visit. I was also disappointed to learn that the resort's rock bar had been destroyed during a recent monsoon, and their signature slides were under maintenance during our stay. While the food was okay, it was nothing to brag about, and overall, we felt that we paid a premium price for a stay that was just average
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Date of stay: March 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Don't book frangipani villa. Hillside and beachfront are the better options.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Reservation Office/Jetty The office is easy to find in Mersing. For those who drive, there is on-site parking, RM 15/day. You’ll need to go to the harbour centre across the road to pay RM 30/pax marine conservation fee. Waterfront Villa We stayed in waterfront villa 63, the nearest one to the reception. There is unblocked sea view from the patio. There are beach villas between our villa and the reception area. The villa is showing its age, but nothing was faulty in the villa. There is no TV, fridge, kettle and hairdryer in the room. Meals We generally enjoyed our meals here, there are 6-7 dishes, 2 types of pasta, 3-4 types of fried food and 2 types of fruits per meal. There are also salad and desserts. There is a water dispenser at the cafe. I brought my own bottle to refill after every meal. Activities The tide is too low for snorkeling and use of slides in the afternoon, so we usually spend our afternoons relaxing at the patio or on the beach. There are many fishes and reef sharks under the jetty. Reception is good ( we use my maxis) and we bought enough data for watching videos at night.
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Date of stay: September 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Slides are open for only about 2 hours in the morning, snorkel in the morning during high tide.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We were a family of 4 and stayed for 5 nights. The booking was handled superbly by Ainna & Noor. Both were very patient in giving us an accessible room. Fyi, most of the island is accessible by wheelchair or scooter- a plus for travellers with disabilities.
The boatman was very helpful in handling the scooter and very patient and careful.
We got a room with 2 double beds but the AC was unfortunately not powerful enough to cool it down completely. My wife's food was very limited, being vegetarian although she was paying the same price as the meat eaters amongst.
That's when Tom, the GM and his staff, Carlos stepped in with 5 star solution. He spoke to the chef to arrange 2 more vegetarian dishes for her meals each day as she was the only vegetarian. Carlos arranged a separate room for our boys. We were settled in well for the next few days.
There were pros and cons of the resort.
Pros 1. Superb staff ranging from housekeeping, bar man, reception, waiting staff, boatman etc. The staff always offer to help me with my dishes for every meal because of my scooter. Every staff has a ready smile.
2. There are numerous games available. All land games- pool, table football, badminton, table tennis, beach volleyball, basketball and card games are free. Water games like kayak, SUP are not free thou.
3. Very nice walk around the island
4. Good snorkeling with decent house reef
Cons 1. Decent variety of dishes for meat eaters but limited for vegetarian. If you stay for 5 nights or more, there will be repeats.
2. Some of the huts have been renovated but some furniture looked dated. Same for some of the sports equipment.
3. Beware of sand flies. They were nasty.
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Date of stay: June 2022Trip type: Travelled with family
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
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Rawa Island Resort is a hotel with all the amenities you need for a beautiful vacation. Rich and varied food. Fruits and vegetables of all kinds. Elavorated meats and even some fish and seafood. The all-inclusive plan also has simple hot and cold drinks for breakfast, snack and meals. Tea, coffee and drinking water that is constantly replenished. The staff is SUPER friendly and helpful. Always very attentive to everything. They have a super equipped group to take diving lessons and dives. They say the corals and marine life in the area is amazing. We didn't make use of that so I can't say for sure. The drinks and alcoholic beverages (for a fee) were cold and delicious. Very good service from the Bartenders. They have sectors with volleyball court, ping pong, billiards, darts and more. In the middle of the pier overlooking the sea, they have 2 giant slides which are the main attraction for minors and not so young as well. The beach... what about the beach?? MOVIE! The white sand and soft as impalpable sugar and the sea turquoise, celestial, green .. varying day by day according to the weather. It's a real paradise. A few minutes walking to the left of the pier you will see another lodging (much more rudimentary), crossing a little more, you will see a kind of cave that leads you to a lonely beach and hidden when the tide rises. A paradise on earth. We only put 4 stars as the most economical room we rented, left much to be desired in terms of aesthetics and maintenance. I can't think of the top-notch ones. Still, I would return without hesitation. We had a great time at this hotel eating and drinking delicious drinks with our feet in the water. Thank you very much Rawa Island Resort for everything. Greetings from Argentina!
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Date of stay: April 2024Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Antes de contratar y pagar, te recomiendo contactarte con ellos para que te digan el itinerario...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We had very low expectations when we booked this resort, judging from the recent reviews, so we got prepared but we had a good stay.
I'd suggest booking a whole package, with meals for ease of everything else. The buffet has a simple variety, due to the size of the resort also taking into account of fewer patrons due to the pandemic. No complaints over the food. It's good quality and caters to many- but it will be limited if you're vegetarian/vegan.
The beachfront rooms are worth it, as you wake up to the sounds of the ocean. The hike up the island walk is deserted but also beautiful as you can see the peacocks around. The rooms are basic, no kettle and hairdryer. We packed our own portable kettle with disposable cups after reading reviews online, really cheap to buy if you get it online. This is handy if you want your own coffee or snacks outside of meal times. You can pack your own dry snacks and your own alcohol if you are just consuming it in your room quietly. Alcohol prices at the bar are quite shocking but quite expected for a remote resort.
This is a great place to disconnect. No WiFi in rooms, no TV. Bring your own books, cards, etc. Keep your expectations low but it's a comfortable stay if you can manage to bring some of your own stuff that you may need for yourself.
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Date of stay: February 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Beautiful island, no doubt. Snorkelling is really good, right from the beach. The resort is totally overprized though. For some reason, the more secluded islands on the southeast side of Malaysia are all overpriced (maybe because most guests come from Singapore). The rooms and bungalows need full renovation (bathroom very old, mold, showercurtain, etc.). The balcony was not clean (bird dirt everywhere). Housekeeping service not very good. They have a good choice of buffet food but quality is nothing special, so the food. Malaysian food is in general not very good but for the price you pay at the resort, it could be much better. Drinks are also expensive. Confusing notes on the table regarding happy hour (it says everyday from 5-7pm but at check-out they say its only saturdays!?). Service not good; you have to go to the bar to order a drink, although there is enough staff. Price-Service relation very bad. Don‘t expect a 4star accomodation!
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Date of stay: May 2023
Value
Location
Service
Trip type: Travelled with friends
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
After reading reviews prior to our arrival,we have a pretty open mind and know what to expect. The service at the check in counter on the mainland was very efficient. We arrived early for our 12 pm boat transfer and was checked in straight away (more time on the island 😊) room was available and was very disappointed with the look. Very old and it in needs of a major make over. It was clean. The beach and what the nature has provided them (the hills, the look out, corals and the wild animals) were amazing. No internet, TV, fridge and water boiler/kettle in the room (in my opinion they should consider this when it’s due to refurbish. It rain 2 days and was left wondering what to do! Don’t get me wrong, if you don’t mind snorkelling or walking in the rain, you may find this is ok. There is a TV at the common area near the reception but you have to be ‘considerate’ with those doing their team/zoom meeting etc…. W*******s! As there is an internet access here and the restaurant. The management should invest in upgrading the room to keep repeat customers. We will definitely come back here when the room has been refurbished. Thank you to all staff (from the maintenance, housekeeping and the front of house for making it a lovely stay to compensate the poor room conditions.
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Date of stay: July 2022Trip type: Travelled as a couple
Room Tip:Â Prepare for the rainy days - books, magazines, water boiler etc.
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
We visit this island every year upon returning to Malaysia to do air our family. We love this place despite of the 5 star hotel prices with 3 star hotel room quality. I just stress that the staffs are fantastic and they make us feel welcome each visit.
Couple of feedbacks for the management based on our last trip in November 2022:
1. Sandflies - for the first time we got bitten. Each person got between 1-10 bites and it wasn’t because we wandered to the Alang side. We think it’s near the jetty.
2. Construction noises - this isn’t the first time that some construction was happening during our stay, the noise stopped when we approached the front office. Plan your repairing and construction so it’s not banging and knocking concrete floor 3 days in a row from morning till evening. Give your guests a break in between.
3. Mosquitoes/bugs spraying, don’t do it while guests are occupying a room. The fume from the spray stinks and it comes into room through the floorboard and aircond, gave me a headache.
4. Beer prices! It was already high and now at RM28 a can of tiger?!!! Why are you trying to achieve? More profit or less drinking from the guests? I don’t remember seeing any guests abusing alcohol at your resort, so over drinking isn’t quite a problem, why raise the price to this ridiculous rate?? Do you see increase in profit since you raise the price or you see a huge decrease in consumption? The same goes with fruit juice, it was 9 or 10 ringgit and now it’s 19!
We hope to return in February and not meet the sandflies, seeing again more sensible beer and fresh fruit juice prices.
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Date of stay: November 2021Trip type: Travelled with family
Room Tip:Â Check beer and drinks prices before getting a shock at check out.
Beach shoes might help getting...
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia1,979 contribution221 helpful votes
There are quite a few different types of chalet accomadation in the Rawa Island Resort, they are different sized with different locations and significantly different prices !!! From memory the beach chalets were literally on the beach, ie walk off the balcony straight onto the beach. However I am not sure if these were single room or two room chalets (or a mixture of the two). Chalets 59 to 62 are definately not on the beach, although they do have an unrestricted view of the sea (unlike say the Deluxe Hillside rooms), and are only a few steps from the beach. If I am not mistaken the Waterfront Chalets (rooms 63 to 67) were all multi room chalets, these were however over water chalets with no beach access.
I would call the reservation centre in Mersing, which is where you need to go to catch the boat transfer out to the island, and ask which rooms meet your needs. At some point you will need to call them anyway to find out what time the boat to the island departs (the boat transfer times are dependant on the tide !!). The phone number is +607 799 1204, or +607 799 1205. The people there were very friendly and helpfull.
Hope this helps.
There are more places to choose from in the Mersing area.
PRICE RANGE
RMÂ 2,636 - RMÂ 2,906 (Based on Average Rates for a Standard Room)
ALSO KNOWN AS
rawa island safaris hotel mersing, rawa island safaris mersing
LOCATION
MalaysiaJohorMersing DistrictMersing
NUMBER OF ROOMS
77
Prices are the average nightly price provided by our partners and may not include all taxes and fees. Taxes and fees that are shown are estimates only. Please see our partners for more details.
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