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Header image courtesy of Genting Group
Malaysia is synonymous with good food and its islands, and it is known as a cultural melting pot, but it is also home to one of the biggest resorts in Southeast Asia—Resorts World Genting. Set on a mountain 6,000 feet above sea level, Genting Highlands is cool all year round with temperatures between 14 to 20 degrees Celsius, and it even often gets misty.
Resorts World Genting has seven hotels, from the affordable First World Hotel, the Theme Park Hotel for families, to the luxurious Crockfords Hotel, ranked as the best hotel in Malaysia. You don’t need public transport to navigate to the peak of the hilltop as nearly all attractions are within walking distance. As the perfect place for couples and even large families, the resort is a must-visit when travelling to Malaysia.
One would assume that Resorts World Genting would be located in a remote location, but it is actually only just an hour’s drive from Kuala Lumpur, the capital of Malaysia. There are frequent shuttle buses from various bus terminals throughout Kuala Lumpur.
Upon reaching the mid-hill point of the resort, visitors can then take a cable car ride up, which is a 10-minute scenic journey. Acrophobics can opt for the normal gondolas while the fearless can hop onto one of the glass-floor gondolas for a scenic view of the surrounding greenery, which is 130 million years old.
Before getting on the cable car, cross over the pedestrian bridge to the Genting Highlands Premium Outlets, which offers huge discounts on designer brands such as Ralph Lauren, Coach, Michael Kors, and Nike all year round.
A free stop on the Awana SkyWay cable car is the Chin Swee Caves Temple, which allows you to fully appreciate the stunning landscape of the mountain. Explore the nine-storey lamp-lit pagoda, take pictures on the Sky Terrace, or marvel at the 15-metre tall statue of the Buddha.
Next, head to SkyAvenue, a massive lifestyle shopping centre where the majority of the attractions are housed. Spanning five floors of retail, dining, and attractions, you could spend the whole day getting lost here.
If you have a child in tow, head to the fourth floor to the Ripley’s Believe It Or Not! museum or the Jurassic Research Centre to get up and close with velociraptors that actually move! You can also whoosh across the theme park on the Eagle Landing Zipline.
Right downstairs is also the Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park, which boasts 18 rides providing thrills for children or for the whole family across 400,000 square feet.
The Sky VR area also allows visitors to explore alternate universes, whether it be diving through the air on the SkyGlider VR or delving deep into robotic realms on the RoboCoaster. If the weather is not cold enough for you, Snow World will make you shiver with temperatures at sub-zero degrees Celsius.
Make sure you catch SkySymphony, a free public attraction showcasing 1,001 winch balls suspended from a four-storey ceiling. The winch balls are accompanied by visuals and music as they transform into various shapes to tell enthralling stories.
If you want a feel for Malaysian nightlife, one of the biggest clubbing brands in Asia has opened up the perfect party space here. It takes partying to new heights—quite literally—with a club spanning 13,000 square feet that is equipped with a stunning sound system. Acclaimed acts such as R3hab and DJ Hyo have taken over the turntables before, so you are sure to be in for an unforgettable night. It also has a sports bar and a karaoke centre for added fun.
There is a full calendar of entertainment and concerts all year round, with past performers including G.E.M. and Francis Yip. The Arena of Stars seats 5,000 and has also hosted international acts such as John Legend and Sir Elton John.
Locals frequently make special trips to Resorts World Genting just to taste the succulent lobster at Burger & Lobster, an establishment hailing from London famed for its lobster rolls. Try the chilli lobster, a dish unique to this restaurant with brioche slides perfect for dipping into the sweet and spicy sauce.
To pay a visit to Harry Ramsden for world-famous fish and chips and other pub grub, head to the alfresco dining area on the fourth floor for North Atlantic fish coated in crispy batter coupled with double-fried chips.
You can also sample different Malaysian hawker fare all under one roof at the Malaysian Food Street. There are a total of 20 hawker stalls, brought in from different parts of Malaysia. Slurp up some curry laksa (spicy coconut-based broth with vermicelli) or dig into Penang’s signature dish char kway teow (flat rice noodles), prepared by stir-frying the noodles on a Chinese wok with high heat.
Resorts World Genting used to be home to one of the largest, if not, the largest outdoor theme park in the country. Under renovation since 2013, Asia’s most anticipated theme park is finally open in 2022. Named Genting SkyWorlds, it is set to feature rides and attractions based on international movies.
No matter what is on your list, Resorts World Genting is the perfect place to visit for a short getaway!
Alicia is a freelance writer and the lead content writer for one of the top resorts in Asia. She’s a sucker for cafes with a great aesthetic and when she’s not traveling, she’s searching for the next one to visit in Malaysia, where she’s based. Her dream is to be a professional food critic but she’s happy digging into a bowl of macaroni soup with ham. She loves working on travel journals in her free time.
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