Staycations. A recent article on Straits Times on Airbnb even suggested young Singaporean couples are booking their stayca locally on the portal, that’s how much craze has gone into this hipster’s take on a weekend escapade. Now, what if I tell you there are equally cheap hotel stays just across the causeway and we can probably get a Suite Room at the same cost of a Deluxe Room here in Singapore, or even less? Welcome to the Renaissance Johor Bahru.

The Place A good 15 minutes drive from the causeway onto the new EDL highway, you will get to the Permas Jaya estate in North-east Johor Bahru. While Renaissance Johor Bahru exterior will not impress you, its interior will assure you of its well-deserved five-star rating.

The Room We told you, and the pictures will paint a better picture. The Junior Suite room here will set you back for only RM900 inclusive of taxes! That’s the price of a similar one night stay in a standard hotel room in Singapore, except that the Junior Suite room we stayed in is much bigger and well, suite-r! 69sqm of luxurious space to indulge during the weekends, with a king-sized bed, a cosy living room, too big a toilet and well, a walk-in wardrobe. We are not ranting for once.
The Facilities Ok, you have a pool to suntan in, a gym to guilt-free yourself, restaurants to indulge in (Wan Li, a Cantonese Restaurant, and Cafe BLD, where you can get you Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner buffets!), and to complete the package, a Sky Lounge.
Exclusive for club rooms and suites, you get to enjoy Day-long Afternoon Tea, Evening Hors d’oeuvres and Evening Light Snacks at the Sky Lounge. Basically you get to snack all the way from 2.30pm to 9.30pm! Enjoy the views of Johor Bahru skyline and do spot Singapore as well from across the coast.
If you are concerned about safety in Johor and wish to stay within the hotel, Cafe BLD has both Lunch (RM68 weekdays, RM75 weekends) and Dinner buffets (RM90 weekdays, RM102 weekends). Just check their website on the latest seasonal promotions and buffet themes, and you may not even need to step out of the hotel at all!
The Rates Opps, we let the cat out of the bag before we got here. But yes, we double-checked on its website. If you were to plan ahead, you can enjoy the Junior Suite at under RM900! Of course, if the basics suffice, an entry-level Deluxe Room will set you back for only RM400 (tax inclusive) a night!

The Rants It takes some driving, and yes, some patience while crossing the causeway.

Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel
2, Jalan Permas 11, Bandar Baru Permas Jaya
81750, Masai, Johor, Malaysia
Tel: +60 7 381 3333

For more information, do check out the official Website.