As Malaysians who have visited Redang Island a couple of times and stayed at different resorts, we decided to try The Taaras this time, hoping for the ultimate Redang experience. Being one of the most luxurious and highly rated resorts on the island, we naturally had high expectations. Unfortunately, the overall experience fell below what we expected.
For starters, the boat transfer from Merang Jetty was quite basic. Considering the resort’s positioning and price, we expected something more comfortable, perhaps with proper cushioned, forward-facing seats and an enclosed or air-conditioned cabin. Instead, it was a regular small speedboat with bench seating along the sides. The bumpy ride simply didn’t feel like the start of a luxury resort experience.
Upon reaching the island jetty, we were taken by shuttle van to the resort through the local kampung. This was different from our previous stays in Redang, where boats usually dropped us directly at or near the resort beachfront.
On a positive note, check-in was quick and smooth, and we appreciated having our rooms ready at around 1.30pm, well before the standard 3pm check-in. Nadia at the front desk was warm and welcoming and shared useful information about the resort. However, after introducing herself as our “care-taker”, we expected a little more personalised attention during our stay, even if it was just an occasional check-in to see if we needed anything.
Our cliffside room was very spacious with absolutely breathtaking views. However, the room itself felt quite old and dated and could benefit from refurbishment. We also had an issue with the air-conditioning leaking water due to ice build-up, although credit to the maintenance team for responding and resolving it quickly.
Dining was probably one of our biggest disappointments. Restaurant choices are limited, and we found the food at the all-day dining restaurant underwhelming in both taste and quality, especially considering the prices. After the first day, we rented a scooter and ate in the local village instead, where we enjoyed fresh seafood, grilled fish and other local dishes at a fraction of the price.
On the positive side, service at The Cove was really good. Special shout-out to Jonathan from Indonesia for his excellent and genuinely friendly service — we really enjoyed chatting with him. Breakfast was also decent, with a good variety of continental, Asian and Malaysian choices.
We also expected more from the snorkelling experience. Our package included only one stop at Turtle Point, a short distance from the resort. An additional coral stop cost RM90 per person. Having stayed at other Redang resorts offering half/full-day snorkelling trips with several stops, we found this rather limited for the price.
The resort is very secluded and far from Long Beach. A water taxi costs RM110 per person with a minimum of four passengers, so you are largely reliant on activities within the resort. We found the evenings particularly quiet with not much happening, although this may partly be due to visiting in late September when occupancy was lower. We did really enjoy the yoga session with Bruce!
Overall, we loved the beautiful private beach, amazing views, spacious room and some genuinely wonderful staff. However, considering the premium price and luxury positioning, we expected a more complete and polished experience. Many activities also come at additional cost, which adds up quickly on top of an already expensive stay.
Given how private and secluded the resort is, we feel that offering reasonably priced half-board or full-board packages would make the experience much more complete and provide better overall value.
The Taaras is undoubtedly beautiful and has plenty of potential, but for the price we paid, we simply expected more.
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