Homestay advantage

Not keen on staying in a hotel? Peggy Loh has a list of the best homestays in and around Johor Baru

JOHOR Baru has long been considered as a border town. Most travellers would just pass through or make a stopover en route to cities in the north or to Singapore in the south. But the trend is changing as travellers now  come to the city to stay and enjoy its attractions.

There are hotels in the city but if you’re staying in JB as a group or want to stay longer, you may find it more comfortable and economical to opt for homestays.

I was prompted to look beyond hotels when a friend in Kuala Lumpur asked me for homestay options  as she was planning to take her family of 15 for a holiday to enjoy Legoland Malaysia and other attractions.

A Google search lists websites like www.ibilik.my and www.mudah.my, with choices of homestay from apartments to terrace houses and even bungalows. Here are some picks:

BERKAH BUDGET GUEST HOUSE, BANDAR BARU UDA

At a glance, I can see that owner Siti Faridah S A Rahman has put in much effort to make the cosy five-bedded homestay comfortable for guests. The floors are covered in linoleum and the furniture  neatly grouped in a snug arrangement.  

Since operating the homestay two years ago, Siti Faridah has hosted guests from as far as Egypt and families from other states who come to JB to attend student convocations at nearby Universiti Teknologi Malaysia (UTM). Other

guests are families who come to attend weddings and engagements and businessmen who may stay for up to a month to participate in trade fairs held in nearby shopping complex Plaza Angsana.

The homestay, situated within an established residential area, is another advantage because it is within walking distance to restaurants and Plaza Angsana.  

Check-in time is 2pm and check-out is at noon but if there  is no booking on the following day, guests may extend their stay up to 4pm. The rate per night is RM250 while long-stay guests can enjoy attractive and affordable packages.

Comfort Factor: Families who travel with the elderly will find this ground floor apartment an advantage as it is just a few steps from the road.

The master bathroom has a water-heater. Other electrical appliances provided are washing machine, refrigerator, microwave oven, rice cooker, toaster, crockery and cutlery.

Tea and coffee making facilities are also provided.

After a day out, guests can come home to a cosy apartment and relax by watching television, which is installed with Astro B.yond TV channels.

Driving there is a breeze because Bandar Baru Uda is conveniently linked to the city, Nusajaya and UTM in Skudai by a network of expressways.

JOHOR LEGOSTAY, GELANG PATAH

Lester Wong and his wife, Carmen, are no strangers to homestays as they have been operating homestays in Malacca since 2009.

With his fingers on the pulse of development in Nusajaya, Wong had planned to provide alternative accommodation here before they started Johor LegoStay, their first homestay in the Nusa Perdana Apartments.

A smooth drive from the city via the Kota Iskandar Expressway takes guests directly to the apartment building.

The Wongs timed the start of the homestay in July 2012 to coincide with the opening of Legoland Malaysia theme park and have hosted travellers from around the world including Japan, Korea, China, Hong Kong, Australia, Austria, Indonesia, Singapore and Middle East.  

“When they thank us for a very comfortable and enjoyable stay, it’s worth it,” says Wong who makes it a point to do maintenance checks in the apartment before guests arrive.  

While most guests are groups and families who come to enjoy theme parks like Legoland Malaysia and Sanrio Hello Kitty Town, others  include professionals working with companies in Iskandar Malaysia.

Check-in time is noon and check-out is 10am with a maximum  one-hour extension but if the unit is available, Wong will inform the guests that they can check-in earlier.

Comfort Factor: The four-bedroom apartment is fitted with PVC laminated floors. The rate is RM379 per night but is negotiable for longer stays.

Guests can make their own sleeping arrangements for up to 10 people and extra mattresses with pillows, bed-sheets and comforters will be provided upon request at a separate charge.  

The bathroom has a water heater. The LCD TV is installed with Astro cable TV and there is WiFi service. There is air-conditioning in the sitting room and three bedrooms. The kitchen has microwave oven, crockery and cutlery but no cooking is allowed.

The apartment complex has a convenience store and restaurant, a swimming pool and a playground.

DILLENIA HOMESTAY, TAMAN BUKIT INDAH

The unusual peaks in the building facade of the 1½ storey house often surprises guests who will curiously ask: “Am I going to stay here?”

And owners Rahman Hashim and wife Halwa will proudly reply, “What you see is what you get!”

As I step into the hall, my eyes are drawn to the staircase on my right which is bathed in natural light streaming in through a tall glass window.

The glow highlights the spotless white tiles and the contrasting colours of the furniture in a very welcoming way. I can see why this three-room homestay is a popular choice with repeat guests.  

With well-appointed furnishings and the master bedroom in a cosy upstairs loft, this truly feels like a home away from home.

While most guests are families from the north and east of the peninsula who are keen to visit the theme parks here, there are also tourists and business travellers from Indonesia, Brunei and Turkey.  

Rahman says some regulars place their booking for their next visit as soon as they check-out but he feels that it is only fair to accept reservations two months in advance.

Taman Bukit Indah is between JB city and the theme park attractions in Nusajaya. Located nearby are the Bukit Indah Aeon mall, clinics, a hospital and motor workshops.

Check-in time is 2pm and check-out is at noon. The rates per night are RM230 (weekdays), RM250 (weekends and public holidays) and RM300 (school holidays). Discounts apply for stays of more than  two nights and rates are negotiable for long-term stays.

Comfort Factor:  Air-conditioning is available in the master bedroom and because the house is designed with a high ceiling, the good circulation keeps the downstairs rooms, equipped with fans, comfortably cool.

The unit has three queen-size beds and extra  mattresses complete with sheets, pillows and comforters are available at extra charge. An induction cooker is provided for light cooking.

Self-drive guests will appreciate the spacious car porch with space for two cars.  A third car can be parked across the driveway.

MY HOMESTAY LARKIN, TAMAN LARKIN JAYA

Natural light pours in through the tall windows and gives the bungalow a bright and cheerful ambience. My first impression is how spacious the place is.

The single-storey house with four bedrooms and attached bathrooms are a plus point for families, especially those with elderly folk who may have mobility problems.

“Our elderly guests set the tone for courtesy with us,” says owner Maimunah Isa.

Her guests are mainly families from the north and east of the peninsula who come to attend weddings, university convocations and family reunions during Hari Raya while corporate guests come for job training or work projects.

While response is very encouraging, she feels it is better to accept bookings three months in advance.

Meanwhile, Maimunah has taken homestay hospitality to new heights by catering meals for guests. Since she lives just across the road from the homestay, she is able to provide meal packages including a local breakfast, a packed lunch and a more leisurely buffet dinner.  

Check-in time is 2pm and check-out is at noon. The rate per night stay is RM350 and discounts apply for stays of more than two nights.

Comfort Factor: Rooms have queen-size beds and extra mattresses are available at extra charge. Three rooms are air-conditioned while the TV is installed with Astro cable TV.

The kitchen has a gas stove, rice cooker, refrigerator, cooking utensils as well as crockery and cutlery for 12.

The living room is very large. Upstairs, the loft is turned into a prayer room, with an adjacent ablution room. It can also be used as a dormitory for young people.

The porch is big enough to accommodate six cars!

 

The dining area and sitting room at Berkah Budget Guest House.

A double bed in the master bedroom with an attached bathroom.

The kitchen in Berkah Budget Guest House also comes with tea and coffee making facilities.

The dining area and sitting room in the 4-bedroom apartment.

There are also single beds with pull-out beds below.

Johor LegoStay apartment has a built-in kitchen range but no stove cooking is allowed.

Facade of Dillenia Homestay in a 1½ terrace house.

The sitting room and dining area in the 3-bedroom Dillenia Homestay. Pictures by Peggy Loh

The spacious master bedroom is in an upstairs loft.

The kitchen is equipped with an induction cooker and other electrical appliances for self-catering.

Facade of My Homestay Larkin, Taman Larkin Jaya at twilight – notice the wide verandahs – a favourite place for guests to linger and lounge around.

Each of the four rooms are furnished with double beds like this.

Wide windows welcome natural light into the comfortable dining area; the kitchen is at Right.

Homestay advantage