Tioman House Bungalows
I dropped by Tioman House unannounced with my travel buddy, expecting a run-down cluster of chalets, as we'd been at Tioman House before a few years ago. Wow, we were very pleasantly surprised to see that Tioman House has gone through a pretty serious round of upgrading.
Tioman House rooms are simple, but
quite above par as budget hostels go
In fact, in hindsight, I consider us very lucky to get a room at all as a walk-in, because right after we arrived, Tioman House was teeming with travelers. Note to self: Next stay at Tioman House, we need to book in advance.
Our newly-renovated Tioman House room was a delight to stay in. It was in mint condition, had air-con, a blow-dryer, an electric kettle, a little fridge and a hot-shower bathroom/toilet in which everything actually worked.
Welcome to Tioman House
The best part though, was the wee verandah out front that faces the sea, and that, superbly, has two recliner-type seats that were A) very comfy and B) good for hours of sunset-gazing. Placing those recliners there is pure genius.
All in all, this Tioman House room was pretty much a steal at RM 150 per night, especially given the very comfy beds that we had.
Incidentally, if you're into budget traveling, then FYI, there are cottages with just a fan as well at Tioman House. Mind you, these structures aren't in the same great condition that the upgraded cottages are. Then again, I suppose no self-respecting budget-traveler would be too bothered :)
Book your ferry tickets to Tioman
From Mersing, Apr From Tanjung Gemok:, Apr [Tanjung Gemok = Teluk Gading] Mukut / Juara? Click here. Pro Tip: Don't know which jetty to choose when booking your ferry? Typically, the ferry stops at all the main jetties. However, there is the occasional exception, so once aboard, confirm the ferry route with the cabin crew. Taking the Tanjung Gemok ferry? Click here / here |
One of the many great things about Tioman House is that it's smack in the middle of ABC. That means that all ABC eateries are within a few minutes' walk. That said, the sandier parts of ABC's beach are just a short ways away from Tioman House, i.e. a short stroll either direction.
By the way, there's also a provisions shop nearby Tioman House if you're into snacks or need a regular soft drink fix.
Any more Tioman House pros? You bet. If you're into scuba-diving, then you picked the right spot, because Tioman House is pretty much surrounded by dive outfits. Take your pick.
Also, for those that are into having a beer and lounging about, note that just adjacent to Tioman House we stumbled across a bar/pub/bistro-type establishment. Nice background music and great cocktails at a great price.
Lastly, whilst Tioman House offers Wi-Fi, it's not so fast. So there's a tiny little con amongst the countless pros.
Now, if you're still not convinced that you want to stay at Tioman House, then you may be interested to hear that I came across Tioman House on Lonely Planet. It was actually selected as one of their recommended Tioman hostels. I think this is pretty sterling endorsement, because Lonely Planet's benchmark is pretty high. So well done to Tioman House.
Tip: If you're accumulating laundry during your stay, then just drop it off at one of the laundry places around Tioman House. Most charge less than 10 Ringgit for each kilo of laundry done - ironed and folded up neatly, no less. Also, there are snorkeling trips you can go on by boat that are really nice. Tioman House will arrange one for you. Ask them to have the boatman take you to Coral Island, awesome! If you're more of the landlubber-type then go for a jungle walk right behind Tioman House. We came across monkeys, all kinds of tropical birds and also two amazing Komodo-type lizards, though not quite the full-on Komodo size (lucky for us, haha). Oh, lastly, heed my advice, book early.
