The Bala's Holiday Chalet

“Yesteryear style”

We had a lovely chalet at the top of hill, with a second mezzanine bedroom which our teenager loved. Nicely done in old-world style with comfy beds but, having black furniture and woodwork, the room was incredibly dark. Very nice toiletries provided but the tap on the sink was wobbly and dribbled n… lisää

We had a lovely chalet at the top of hill, with a second mezzanine bedroom which our teenager loved. Nicely done in old-world style with comfy beds but, having black furniture and woodwork, the room was incredibly dark. Very nice toiletries provided but the tap on the sink was wobbly and dribbled noisily all night. There is a shuttle bus into Tanah Rata - useful with suitcases- but you have to ask for it and they will accommodate it if they can. Laundry service RM35 for 5kgs was excellent. G&T excellent but RM36. Indian restaurant- we ate in the restaurant one night and had an excellent meal. I can highly recommend the thali. Breakfast was a bit weird. You have to choose a set menu, one of which is scones and jam! The decor of the place is interesting and, in some parts, a bit eccentric- Christmas decorations on the fireplaces, even a Christmas stocking!

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“Beautiful chalet with one downside”

Beautiful chalet with a very peaceful and charming atmosphere. The location is easy to find, and there’s plenty of parking available, which made everything very convenient. The scones were absolutely lovely, definitely a highlight of the stay. One downside was the noise level, especially with kids… lisää

Beautiful chalet with a very peaceful and charming atmosphere. The location is easy to find, and there’s plenty of parking available, which made everything very convenient. The scones were absolutely lovely, definitely a highlight of the stay. One downside was the noise level, especially with kids screaming and running in the hallway and the noise behind the room (near the breakfast area), which slightly affected the overall experience. I woke up so many times because of loud noises. Kids were running even past midnight. I think guests should be reminded to keep their voices low. A mother was literally screaming at her son early in the morning, i'm sure you don't need an alarm. I wish I had better sleep.

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“Perfect for a writing retreat”

Bala's is a former British colonial school built in 1934 but run as a resort for the last 47 years but Bala and his slightly eccentric wife. I stayed here for 10 days, alone, on a self-styled writer's retreat and it was exactly what I needed. Coming from Singapore it was cool and peaceful and sur… lisää

Bala's is a former British colonial school built in 1934 but run as a resort for the last 47 years but Bala and his slightly eccentric wife. I stayed here for 10 days, alone, on a self-styled writer's retreat and it was exactly what I needed. Coming from Singapore it was cool and peaceful and surrounded by mountains. My room was simply furnished but vast, with a bed, a writing desk, two armchairs either side of a coffee table in front of the bay window for reading, a sideboard and TV (that I never switched on), and a bathroom. I slept like a baby with the windows open every night - impossible in Singapore. Each day I would take breakfast on the veranda, watching the clouds slowly dissipate from the mountain tops as the sun warmed them up. The staff were unfailingly friendly and polite, if not always effective (it took three tries to fix the hot water in my room until someone realised the battery had run out on the ignition!). And they were generous too - on my last day chef slipped me a couple of scones with jam and cream for the bus journey and gave me a lift into town. Bala himself is a character who mixes with the guests and might join you for lunch. The guests I observed were from Singapore & Malaysia, of course, but also Italy, Spain, France, Switzerland and India and I shared a sundowner or two with several of them during my stay. Bala's is not fancy but it's not meant to be. It is a simple, friendly, distraction-free break from the city within easy reach of Tana Rata, the hiking trails, The Smokehouse (best Beef Wellington ever!), and I will definitely back to kick start my next writing project.

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“Old World Cham”

Cameron Highlands in mountainous Malaysia is known for its cool climate, lush valleys, meandering hillsides, vast tea plantations, colorful flower gardens, strawberry and vegetable farms, and colonial architecture [Bala's Holiday Chalet]. Deemed as the oldest forest in Malaysia (200 million years o… lisää

Cameron Highlands in mountainous Malaysia is known for its cool climate, lush valleys, meandering hillsides, vast tea plantations, colorful flower gardens, strawberry and vegetable farms, and colonial architecture [Bala's Holiday Chalet]. Deemed as the oldest forest in Malaysia (200 million years old), the enchanting Mossy Forest offers green sceneries, under misty clouds. Under the expert guidance of Syafiq and his 1991 reliable Land Rover... we roamed the backroads for 4 hours, the main reason to travel so far, 1500 meters in the clouds! 2 days was enough... its time to pursue the journey!

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