Weekend getaway at the sucky Tiara Beach Resort (TBR), Port Dickson

So it was raining and flooding all over Malaysia, but that doesn't stop us to have our little weekend getaway to Port Dickson, Negeri Sembilan. Since it was planned quite late, almost all other hotels in the PD proximity that has a beach front was fully booked. So we settled with Tiara Beach Resort, even though it is not located near the beach, it does have a mini water-park and lots of activities every weekend. How do we know? Cause we've been there previously, and our previous stay was very pleasant memorable.

But not this time. Apparently since our last visit, TBR quality of services has fallen to the wayside. Our first smell of trouble started when we arrive for check-in, around 3 p.m on Saturday. Now, we do understand that weekend is a very packed and busy day, and a little bit of delay is unavoidable. But guess how long we have to wait before finally the receptionist can serve us? 1 hour and 10 minute. Yes. 70 long minutes, that's how long. Unacceptable. Too little counter opened. The electronic queue system keeps breaking down. Too many people in the lobby area. Seriously, you are the guest there, choosing to come and spend your time and money on their place, yet you were asked to wait for 70 minutes till "we sorts out our issues", and then you can only go to your room.

Once we go to our room, there's already couple of problems waiting for us. The bathroom sink is broken, the air-conditioner is set to Sahara desert temperature, and there's no frigging remote control for the air-conditioner. Called the housekeeping asking for maintenance, and luckily we were greeted with a happy face handyman. He quickly fixes the air-conditioner by reinstalling the air-filter in the correct direction and then fix the broken bathroom sink, and cause the bathroom to become messed up. Remote for the air-conditioner was never provided, so you have to call the maintenance if you ever need to change the temperature. Never mind then, I was in no mood to argue, trying not to think negatively and spoil my holiday mode.

Next stop, the big swimming pool a.k.a. mini water-park. My significant other and our children went to the pool. It was crowded according to them, and the kiddie's pool was actually filled with parents, and definitely not a good place to have a splashing fun.

Dinner at Terrace Cafe was also a big disappointment. Again, too crowded, too pricey (RM50 per-pax), limited choice of available foods (I counted, there was only 16 dishes), and noisy. We might as well go out and eat at the eateries available along the Telok Kemang / Port Dickson trunk road. But we were tired, so we resigned ourselves to the substandard food.

The next morning, instead of a complimentary newspaper, there was a little notice slipped under the door, saying something to this effect: you must check-out by 12 noon, any later and we will charge you 1/2 of your room rate. How rude. Yep, that's right. While most other hotel provides complimentary late checkout subject to room availability, Tiara Beach Resort will charge you if you are late to check-out. They delay you for more than one hour during check-in, and ask you to check-out on time, no exception. Rude. Lousy. Rude. Rude.

The only good and fast service was during check-out. It was over in like 30 seconds. I guess they need to prepare the room as fast as possible for the next unlucky holidaymaker that they will rip off.