Back from Genting :)

Back from Genting from a 3D2N trip :)!

The preamble for this trip was one that started with anticipation and excitment (cuz it's both OH and my first trip to Genting!) to one that was rather disappointing. As I was doing my homework about the trip, reviews online about Genting was pretty unpleasant. The reviews for the hotel that I was staying in (First World Hotel) can only be described with one word: BAD. My excitment was all dampen as I read those review just a few days prior to the trip.

But OH said, this is a getaway for us and we should just enjoy it! So we went ahead happily. It turned out better than I expected! So I will be giving a brief review of Genting :)

My 3D2N trip started on 1 Apr in Golden Mile Complex :D. Hahaha. The coach journey took abotu 6-8hrs. Board the bus at 11pm, arrived at Genting Highlands at abt 5+am on Friday.

Upon arrival, we walked around to recee the area first. As I've done some 'homework' already, we knew where we want to find. As we walked around with our luggages, it appeared cumbersome. Checked-in luggage at hotel and found that we can already get our queue number! I've read online that First World Hotel is the largest hotel in the world so far, and there're 5000+rooms! Needless to say, check in was hell. Luckily we got our queue number at 5+am, so we're number 152.. Otherwise can really die waiting! So my advice is, if you're going FWH, the moment you arrive at Genting Highlands, GET A QUEUE NUMBER IMMEDIATELY!

Headed to the casinos to take a look. We visited the 2 larger casinos in Genting: Monte Carlo and Hollywood (both in Highlands Hotel). Was reeeallly big! To gamble there, its recommended to sign up for a world card for free before gambling. You can cash in the card and play. Then if you don't want to play anymore, the credit will still be in the card, alot more convenient that using cash. Later on you can withdraw out the money from the Worldcard ATM in multiples of RM10. If you use just cash, to take out the money if you don't want to play is a hassle cuz the attendant must jot down ur passport number and u can only redeem it as certain counters with your passport.

Had breakfast at the casino (which we kind regretted cuz it was expensive and service was lousy, and they charge service charge -_-) then we headed to take the Genting Skyway(initially wanted to take the Awana skyway but it only operates during weekends.). I heard about the skyway but didn't know that the station was near the hotel! There are signages everywhere so don't have to worry about getting lost. The skyway cost RM10 (2 way) per pax. If you want to buy some tidbits or asam for your family, you can consider going to the shops at the skyway stations. There're really big shops selling sour plums etc, nuts and snacks at affordable prices :).

We were told by the reception in FWH that the queue starts at 12 but for our number, we should go back after 1. We kiasu and went back at 12+pm to retrieve our luggages. Firstly, we were shocked by the sea of people flooding in the lobby, for a moment I thought I was in the airport or something :S. Secondly, the queue number was like, 75 -_-. Anw to cut the story short, we got our room at abt 2pm (abt 1hr wait), which was better than I expected.

The room was... oookkkk. Very very basic considering we had a Deluxe room. If you're going FWH, pls note. Toothbrush is NOT provided, so rmb to bring! Bring along an air refreshner if possible. For us we were lucky as our level had very little smokers so our room didn't smell bad. One review I read, the lady's room reeked of cigarette smell cuz of some other people who smoked in their rooms, and the smoke traveled to their room via the ventilation.. But otherwise the room was ok la. Clean, at least. But i find it eerie, cuz our double bed has got 3 pillows and the mirror reflects the window and the TV reflects the doorway. It just feels spooky. But nothing happened to me so its just personal perception :D.

Took a short nap then headed to take a free shuttle bus from Highlands Hotel to Chin Swee Caves Temple. Quite a nice and serene place to visit. Shuttle services operates per hour, schedules is available outside the Hotel. Alternatively, you can take the Awana skyway to the temple during the weekends.

Returned to the hotel for dinner. We were too tired to go anywhere further so we had to have dinner at one of the restaurants in FWP. Prices are abt the same as Singapore's restaurants (think Xing Wang cafe, etc). Food is okay. The only flaw, no smoking policy in Genting is CRAP so I do suggest that you bring a mask if you're going lest you get suffocated by the people smoking INDOORS. Argh.

Day 2 we went for the theme park. With the worldcard, there's a 10% discount. So we paid RM53 for a all day park tix (indoor and outdoor park). There's a all-in-one tix at abt RM79 consisting of the theme parks + snow world + alot of things. It's tempting, but we figured out we won't be doing so many things in ONE day. Hahaha.

The outdoor theme park was alright. Rides were not exactly fantastic... Thrill rides are not exactly thrilling! Hahaha. But my advice is, go in the morning because the queue can be really bad in the afternoon! Recommended ride: cockscrew is probably the more thrilling one (though its just oookkk in my opinion). When I was there, space shot was under maintenance but reviews said that its good.. Otherwise you can pay additional RM10 + RM2 for flying coaster, now that's really fun! :D.

Indoor theme park in FWP has alot less rides. The more fun ones are the bumper car, euro express and 4D motion. Apart from that, the rest are all joy rides. But the indoor theme park opens till 1am during peak hours so u can play as long as you like :D.

Had lunch at Penang Food Village at Theme Park Hotel because of the reviews I read. The food is indeed slightly cheaper than the restaurants, but the food is only slightly above average. Service is not bad :).

Dinner was at a Vietnamese restaurant in FWP because of a RM10 voucher from the theme park tix. Food was not too bad but restaurant price. Indeed, you pay to get good food lo..

While playing in the indoor park, we went shopping in FWP. There're alot of local boutiques like Padini, Voir and etc, so can have quite a good shop :). There's another shop selling Malaysia local products in FWP, I think its level, the shop name is Heng Heng. Things are quite affordable also and fresh and tasty. There's a pushcart store selling wood craft items in level 2. Its on a buy 2 get 1 free promotion with free engraving! OH and I were won over by the girl's service and the really nice engraving done, bought alot of souvenirs back :D!

Wanted to try our luck at the casino again, so this time we headed for Starworld casino at FWH, which is the smallest casino of the lot in Genting. The moment we enter, aiyooo. The smoke from all those sickening smokers was really suffocating, especially in such a small area. We left Starworld eventually cuz it seem we cannot use the worldcard in starworld, and its so troublesome to get a temporary starworld card, so we left for Monte Carlo again. But again, the smoke was really bad that we stayed hardly for an hour then we left. The situation wasn't this bad in the morning, so my advice is, go casino in the morning! :S

Last day, we chance upon the Highway station canteen (highway steysen canteen) at resort hotel I think (just cross the road from theme park hotel). Food there is really cheap! One big plate of chee cheong fun + yong tau foo was only RM7 and you can be full from it! Very nice :). A pity we didn't eat there earlier! Beside the shop there's a convenience store (168) that opens 24hours, so if need anything urgently, can go there to buy :). Finally was last min shopping then had to run for the coach home :D.

Overall, quite a fulfilling trip, lucky for the homework done. Only pity is that we didn't get to find the Visitors' Galleria and heated swimming pool.. And of cuz, never really won big bucks :(. BUT well, did had fun and let go!

Okay, time to go back to mug liao, enough of reviews :).