For an affordable and fun-filled staycation, head to Sunway City Iskandar Puteri where a hotel is connected to a retail park, adventure park and more, writes Hanna Hussein
"THE Family Suite is one of the biggest categories we have, perfect for a family of four," the friendly bellboy tells us in the elevator as he leads us to our room.
This newly opened hotel may look basic, but it is actually an ideal choice for families who prefer out-of-city staycation, away from the bustling Johor city centre.
Strategically located in Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, one of Johor's latest urban townships, the Sunway Big Box Hotel offers affordable yet spacious living.
Directly connected to Sunway Big Box Retail Park, which has numerous shops, eateries and entertainment outlets, the hotel is also not too far from other parts of Johor Baru.
It is only a 30-minute journey to the Senai International Airport and 15 minutes to the Johor Baru Customs, Immigration and Quarantine Complex via the Coastal Highway Second Link, which makes it a quick retreat or thrill-seeking adventure for visitors near and far.
FOR FAMILY
Tucked in the corner of the hotel, our Family Suite, which is a one-bedroom suite, gives extra living space for just RM308 per night.
Entering the suite, the first thing we see is the spacious living area that has lounge seating by the window, a pull-out sofa bed and a kitchenette complete with a microwave and an espresso machine!
Upon request (with additional cost), the sofa bed is set up for us in just five minutes, with more comfortable bedding and pillows.
While my mum and I, as well as my baby, share the bedroom, my dad volunteers to take the sofa bed.
He even gets his own bathroom, as the suite has two bathrooms — one in the living area and another one attached in the bedroom.
The bedroom is very spacious. We can put a baby cot and still have space to move around.
Another wow factor is in the bathroom. The toiletries are from Tanamera, a natural eco-friendly brand that draws inspiration from traditional Asian treatments complemented by tropical herbs and essences. I love Tanamera's products because they smell amazing and are very relaxing.
The Tanamera organic shampoo and bath gel are provided in recyclable containers, reducing the need for single-use plastics, thus eliminating non-degradable waste.
Aside from using Tanamera products, the hotel's ways of committing to sustainable development goals include providing reusable, sanitised and sealed stainless steel bottles in every room.
So, by using the thermal flask, we can get drinking water from the water dispensers which are just a short walk away from the room.
Meanwhile, in the lobby, guests can self-check-in at computerised kiosks, hence reducing paper usage.
FOR THE BOOKWORM
This is not my first visit to the city. I remember going to the Sunway Big Box Retail Park just for the sake of entering one of the largest bookstores in the southern region.
I didn't miss the chance to visit BookXcess Sunway JB again, which houses two whole stories stacked with books up to the 7.5-metre-high ceiling and integrates a children's area, a cafe and even a baby grand piano for those musically inclined.
A bookworm's heaven, the store offers a great variety of books at low prices. Those who enjoy reading (and also taking Instagram photos) will definitely go gaga over the stunning bookstore that resembles a library.
The open-air strip mall environment of the retail park allows visitors to explore shopping and enjoy dining in in an unconventional ambience.
However, it is still new so there aren't many shops opened yet.
FOR THE THRILL-SEEKER
Besides BookXcess, there's another new attraction at the Sunway Big Box Retail Park that will be a hit with families, or even groups of friends looking for a thrilling adventure.
The EnerG X Park located on the first floor of the retail park offers a wide range of activities for all ages.
It is an indoor park, so it's an ideal place to have fun, even on rainy days.
At RM58 (Friday through Sunday, as well as public and school holidays) for the Universal Pass, you can enjoy and play more than 16 games.
There are a wide range of activities, including Zip Line, Trampoline Wipeout, Ninja Obstacle Course and Wall Climbing.
FOR THE EXTREME
Another cool activity to do in the vicinity is the 32-acre X-Park, which is outdoors.
X-Park Malaysia has seven parks nationwide, but the one at Sunway City Iskandar Puteri is considered the largest extreme and adventure park in the country. What's more, it is connected to the hotel.
The park features action-packed extreme activities, especially for sports enthusiasts.
These include ATV, go-kart, mountain biking, motocross, rock climbing, archery, paintball and indoor snowboarding.
There are also water sports activities such as kayaking, paddle boarding and paddle boating.
FAST FACTS
SUNWAY HOTEL BIG BOX
Persiaran Medini 5, Sunway City Iskandar Puteri, 79250 Iskandar Puteri, Johor.
TEL 07-533 6688
EMAIL [email protected]
WEBSITE www.sunwayhotels.com/sunway-bigbox
STAY The four-star hotel offers 284 modern guestrooms and suites to holidaying families, couples and business travellers. It has five room categories — Deluxe, Deluxe Plus, Family Suite, Executive Suite and Premier Suite. All guestrooms are equipped with amenities to provide guests with the comfort they need, complemented by breathtaking views of the township.
EAT The hotel boasts two F&B outlets, which are Pendas Cafe, an all-day dining restaurant and the Pool Bar, a casual venue serving drinks and light bites.
DO
Enjoy the outdoor swimming pool or work out at the 24-hour Fitness Centre. The hotel also has a connected walkway to the Sunway Big Box Retail Park.
GO The hotel is surrounded by plenty of attractions, including the Sunway Big Box Retail Park, Energ X Park and Sunway City Iskandar Puteri X Park. Legoland and Johor Premium Outlet are less than half an hour away.
HIGHS Parking is free! And there are electric vehicle charging stations which are equipped with cables.
LOWS The area is still new, not many shops yet — but it's a perfect getaway for families looking for an affordable vacation.
DESIGNED TO TAKE YOU THERE
SLEEK, comfortable and intelligent, the Volvo S60 T8 R-Design is one of the best sedans of its class. It's an awesome pick for a family saloon, whether you're driving in the city or going on a road trip.
First, let's talk about its luxury features. The R-Design seats are made of fine Nappa leather, a breathable and soft premium leather with Graphite Open Grid Textile, which gives the interior a luxurious look.
The dashboard is also very polished and smart, with the tablet-style touch screen interface that tailors the car functions, navigation and in-car entertainment apps to the driver. The Sensus Connect infotainment system is fully compatible with AppleCarPlay and Android Auto.
But, what really impressed me is the sound audio system, which uses the premium brand Harmon Kardon, a complete 14-system speaker with 600W output.
On top of that, it provides two USB ports in the front tunnel storage and a USB Type-C Port in the rear end tunnel console for easy charging.
The cabin also has a panoramic sunroof, which my little girl enjoys looking out of from car seat. In terms of child safety, the sedan has ISOFIX attachment point for rear outer seats, passenger airbag cut-off switch, as well as power windows with pinch protection.
I am quite impressed with the Volvo S60's seamless transition from electric motor to petrol engine. The car accelerates instantaneously when needed, and almost soundlessly! In fact, during the city drive, the car is completely silent at low speeds.
Of course, a hybrid car is fuel-saving especially in city driving, and fortunately our hotel provides electric vehicle charging stations.
DRIVING DYNAMICS
• T8 Twin Engine e-AWD plug-in hybrid: maximum output of 407 hp and 640 Nm of torque.
• Electric motor output of 87 hp and 240 Nm of torque
• Drive-E petrol engine with Turbocharger and Supercharger output of 320 hp and 400 Nm of torque
SAFETY TECHNOLOGY
• Cross Traffic Alert: detects traffic crossing behind the car for enhanced safety for people inside and outside
• Pilot Assist system: improved cornering performance and supports the driver with steering, acceleration and braking on well-marked roads up to 130kph
• City Safety: autobrake technology that assists the driver in avoiding potential collisions; the only system in the market that recognises pedestrians, cyclists and large animals
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