Close To Heart

One&Only Desaru Coast is poised to win the hearts of all who set foot in it.

- Joel Chua

WITH ONLY A handful of ultra-niche resorts scattered across the globe – 12 to be exact – One&Only’s reputation for captivating discerning travellers with once-in-a-lifetime experiences in exotic locations precedes itself. Get close to free-ranging mountain gorillas at Volcanoes National Park in Rwanda? Check. Live on the clifftops overlooking the spectacular Riviera Nayarit in Mexico? Check. As befits One&Only’s first foray into Southeast Asia, convention dictates that its fledgeling Desaru Coast resort lives up to the hefty credentials of its established counterparts. Despite its neighbourly proximity to Singapore, Desaru Coast in Johor, Malaysia, has often been overlooked in favour of trendier beach destinations in the region like Phuket, Bali or Samui. That’s gradually changing with the influx of five-star resorts in recent years – all seeking to capitalise on the town’s 17km stretch of pristine, untouched beachfront.

Skip the crowds at the newly completed ferry terminal and opt instead for a hassle-free check-in via One&Only Desaru Coast’s private transfer service – a sleek Tesla X for couples, a spacious Mercedes-Benz V-Class for families – that will whisk you straight from your doorstep to the resort in no time.