LOCATION:
On Jalan Sultan Zainal Abidin in Kuala Terengganu. A few minutes from Pantai Batu Buruk.

DESCRIPTION:
Hotel Grand Continental in Kuala Terengganu boasts a modern building overlooking the rustic fishing village (somewhat ugly though, more like a slum that anything else) as well as the popular local beach of Pantai Batu Buruk.

The hotel has 192 rooms and suites. I actually have stayed here twice. For each time, I was quite happy with the room condition. They are comfortably furnished with floor carpeting, individually-controlled air conditioning, IDD phone, colour TV with satellite channels, coffee maker, mini bar and average-sized bathroom.

The swimming pool is located some floors up from the main lobby. It is quite small but has great view of the beach and the fishing village (a.k.a the slums) nonetheless. Other hotel facilities include a boutique store selling mostly batik clothes and traditional crafts, a business centre, as well as ten banquet rooms with about 25,000 sq ft³ of function space that can fill up to 1,700 participants. Truly so, that during my visit, there were a number of events being held at the hotel, mostly organised by the local state government agencies.

I also had the chance to have a buffet breakfast at Restoren Jala Mas, pretty much the only eating outlet in the hotel.

Room rates start a little below RM200 per night, hence the hotel should be quite popular among the business fraternity looking for a decent place to stay. There isn't much natural or even man-made attraction in Kuala Terengganu per se though.

REVIEWED ON:
April 2005, March 2006

MY VERDICT:
A great business-class hotel.

MY RATING: