It is one of the fastest growing cities in Malaysia and with that it doesn’t have brilliant crime rates but like many other cities it has a lot to offer a family. Whether you are nipping over the border from Singapore for a few days, which is easy enough to do or travelling through Malaysia, it is definitely worth a visit!
In the Johor Bahru area alone, there are over 10 theme parks to choose from! Here are our top 5.
OUR CHOICE
1. LegoLand Theme Park MalaysiaImagination becomes real at LEGOLAND® Malaysia Resort with more than 70 hands-on rides, slides, shows and attractions for families and children of all ages. It took us a full day with hardly any waiting time to experience the whole park, so you could do with at least two if you want a day at the waterpark also. It has to be the largest and most impressive Legoland with brand new attractions and improvements constantly being added to keep it up there with some of the best we’ve experienced. Our top 3 favourite features in the park were:
Ninjago World - The Ride
The great LEGO race VR coaster
LEGO Academy
Hello Kitty amusement park with a playground, a Kitty House, craft activities & live entertainment.
3. Thomas Town
Part of the Hello Kitty Park, Thomas Town, along with some other adorable characters is another option for your visit.
4. Angry Birds Activity Park
Family attraction featuring indoor play areas & obstacle courses inspired by the Angry Birds game.
5. Austin Heights Water & Adventure Park
Spacious amusement centre offering a water park, skating rink, rope course & other kids' activities. It is a water, adventure and sports park, all in one!
Places To Stay
Holiday Villa Johor Bahru
We stayed in Holiday Villa, Johor Bahru and it is a great location if you’re undecided in which park to hit, or if you want to have a park marathon and visit a few because its central to all the parks. Some will be closer than others but with taxis so cheap and fixed prices in advance using the app ‘GRAB’, I wouldn’t worry too much about distance.
It took us 21 minutes in a taxi to get from the hotel to Legoland. If you choose this theme park or visit some of the other parks near the marina, you could stop off here for a stroll to check out some of the amazing boats and yachts and you can even book in to charter your own for the day!
This is a beautiful hotel, with probably the best roof top, infinity pool on the planet but remember, you are in the heart of Johor Bahru when you leave the front door. When you look out of the window you won’t see beautiful buildings and clean streets but if you’re okay with that, you love the hustle and bustle and experiencing other cultures, this is a great place to stay. You have local malls, stalls and restaurants to the rear of the hotel but with plenty of well known places like KFC, Pizza Hut and even Tesco if you’re looking for a bit of comfort!
You have probably the best view in town from the top of Holiday Villa with epic sunrise and sunsets but our highlight had to be watching a tropical storm! On that note, it is wise not to let a forecast put you off going anywhere in Malaysia as it says 'thunderstorms', most of the time! You get the odd storm now and again with some heavy rainfall, being a tropical country, but these disappear quicker than they arrive and mostly happen at night. It is so warm in Malaysia that it doesn't bother you having cloud sometimes, in fact it can be a God send.
Top tip: Use the front door to enter and exit the hotel when being picked up or dropped off in the car. Use the rear of the hotel when walking anywhere on foot, for quick access to the shops and restaurants. There are no sidewalks at the front of the hotel and the traffic travels fast.