Looking for a budget-friendly holiday destination that looks and feels like a million bucks? Enter: Alang's Rawa, a boutique 12-room resort on Rawa Island just off Mersing, Johor
Turns out you don’t have to take a flight to the Indian Ocean to enjoy azure-blue waters and white sandy beaches… We’ve of course told you all about Nikoi, Telunas and the many islands near Singapore for a quick holiday. But there’s another slice of paradise just a hop, skip and jump away, in Mersing, Johor! Rawa Island, just a 30-minute boat ride off the coast of Mersing is the perfect spot for a relaxing, luxurious yet affordable family holiday.
It’s not often you go on a holiday so life-changing you’re still dreaming of it for weeks, months, and years later… And when you do, you get a little cryptic and divulge minimal details to gate keep this special secret destination. That is, until the wanderlust comes back with a vengeance and you decide it’s time to relive those memories, since the next beach holiday is not in the cards quite yet! So here, let me introduce you to: Alang’s Rawa.
Getting to Rawa Island
Coach from Singapore to Mersing Jetty
Our trip began with a 6:30am coach ride from Singapore to Mersing Jetty, which took about 2.5 hours with a pit stop in between. You can easily book this via booking platforms like redBus or Easybook. There are many options for coach transport timings from Singapore to many different destinations in Malaysia.
And yes I know, 6:30am is crazy early! But my kids got a quick nap in during the ride and we made sure to bring plenty of road trip toys and snacks. Hot tip: make sure to have some plastic bags on hand – the roads in Mersing are very bendy, so you or the kids may experience some motion sickness towards the end of the journey.
If you have a car, there’s also the option of self-driving and parking at the jetty carpark while you’re on the island. This may make it easier to return to Singapore too as you won’t have to adhere to the strict timings of coach departures. However, we can’t attest to it’s safety, so I’d still recommend the coach option for peace of mind and consider booking a private car service from Mersing to Singapore at the end of your trip.
Speedboat to Rawa Island
Once we arrived at Mersing Jetty (also known as Mersing Harbour Centre) at 9am, all that was left to do was wait for the departure of our speedboat to Rawa Island, slated for around 12:30pm. While waiting, there were two options for breakfast – KFC and a local hawker centre. We went for KFC for a respite from the heat and a bowl of comforting chicken porridge.
There’s also a small outdoor playground here if you need the kids to blow off some steam while waiting.
By this point, it did get pretty hot with the lack of shelter and mid-morning sun. The staff at the Alang’s Rawa office located right on the jetty were nice enough to let us use it as a lounge before it was time to depart for the island, so they may let you do the same – especially with young kids in tow.
Not gonna lie, the speedboat ride was intense. I had my six-month-old strapped to me with a baby carrier while my eldest clung on to the boat railing, fighting off sleep as we bounced off choppy waters! But we made it in one piece and when we saw the island, the turbulent boat ride was well and truly worth it.
Alang’s Rawa: One of two resorts on Rawa Island
Rawa Island is home to two beach resorts: Alang’s Rawa, which was our choice, and Rawa Island Resort, a larger 77-room resort with more amenities like a large dining hall, its very own spa, event rooms and diving centre. I know you’re reading this and going, “Wait, so why didn’t you choose the latter?!” Keep reading.
The rooms
Alang’s Rawa is made up of a cluster of rustic white beach shacks, but don’t let the exterior fool you – all the rooms are well-kitted out with comfortable beds, showers and…aircon! There are only 12 rooms in total and five room types available, ranging from the cosy Little A-Frame rooms for two guests, to the large Beach House or Big A Frame Group room which can accommodate up to 12 people. Compared to the other resort on Rawa Island, Alang’s Rawa is more intimate while boasting its own private beachfront, water sports equipment for loan and a modest buffet at every mealtime – it had a ‘private island’ feel with lesser guests, so it never felt too crowded. Which, after feeling a little too touched out ever since baby #2 came along, was just what this mum needed!
We were set up in a Coconut Beachfront Room (a part of the Big A Frame shack) which offered a queen-sized bed, two single beds and a lovely hammock on the front deck. The beach was, of course, just steps away from our front door!
The food
The room rates at Alang’s Rawa include two nights’ accommodation, boat transfers, and all meals from dinner the day of arrival, to lunch the day of departure (drinks charged separately). Every meal was buffet-style, with about six to seven dishes comprising of rice, pasta/noodles, and a mixture of chicken, beef, fresh seafood and veggie dishes (all halal). For breakfast, expect cereals, toast, eggs, pancakes and fresh cut fruit. We were happy with everything we ate (the kids loved it too!) and even ‘splurged’ on some bar bites like calamari and fries when we felt a bit peckish by the beach at tea time.
Things to do at Alang’s Rawa
If you’re looking for an action-packed holiday, you won’t find it here – but there are a few fab activities that make this getaway so special.
The beach and giant slide
White sandy beach, comfy beanbags, beach toys for kids on hand, volleyballs… what more can we say?! The standout here has to be the giant orange water slide that’s visible right when you arrive at the island. However, this is only operational when the tide is high enough. So make sure to check with the staff on the best timings to try it out!
Snorkeling
There’s a massive reef just metres away from the beach, so if you’re a big fan of marine life, this is for you! My husband and I took turns to snorkel along this beautiful reef every morning while we were there, and each time was a magical experience. We’re talking bright, colourful corals, fish of all sizes (yes, even Nemo and Dory make an appearance!) and even small blacktip reef sharks! Be careful though as there are also lots of huge sea urchins and sightings of jellyfish, so keep a lookout while you explore. If you want a tamer, more kid-friendly experience, wake up to see the sunrise then go on a tranquil walk along the shoreline while it’s still low-tide. It makes for a lovely ‘intertidal walk’ where you’ll get to spot small fish and corals!
Kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding
My husband and I each took turns trying kayaking and stand-up paddleboarding with our toddler. All the snorkel gear, boats, paddles and other water sports equipment are available for free with a refundable RM100 deposit at the counter.
Hiking
Rawa Island has a 2.3km Hilltop Walk hiking trail that’s easy enough to do as a family with young kids. Once you reach the top, you’ll be treated to amazing cliffside views of the South China Sea. You may even encounter the resident peacock on your way up! The trail starts off pretty easy but does end with some steep steps.
Bat spotting
Rawa Island has a resident bat colony that can be seen at dinner time – look out into the darkness and you may spot their wings flapping! During the day, look up at the trees behind the main beach shack which houses the restaurant and you’ll see huge bats hanging upside down, taking a snooze.
Things to note before you book Alang’s Rawa
- As it is a small island with plenty of natural resources, the facilities may be a little different from what us city folk are used to. Their water supply comes from a natural well on the island, so you may taste some saltiness while taking a shower, and the water is not safe for consumption. That said, neither us adults nor the kids had any issues with the water quality. We still felt very clean after every shower!
- Bottled water is chargeable at Alang’s Rawa, so prepare ahead of time by buying a few large bottles of drinking water from the Mersing Jetty before you get on board the speedboat. I preferred using bottled water for brushing my teeth and washing my face.
- Hot water for baby formula is available upon request.
- Get ready for sand to get everywhere. Such is island life, but with two little tots it was really hard to keep up with them and how much sand got into odd crevices and into their mouths. If you have older kids, this won’t be much of a problem.
- I would have loved a little pampering while I was there, so we really wished Alang’s Rawa had a spa! Rawa Island Resort next door has one, but they only accepted guests of the resort. The policy may have changed though, so it might be worth checking with them if you can ‘sneak’ in for a massage.
- As mentioned earlier, the accommodation rates Alang’s Rawa include all meals but excludes drinks which are charged separately at the end of your stay. The resort only takes credit card, e-wallet or bank transfer for any extras.
- Alang’s Rawa has an adults-only policy on weekends (age 16 and above) so kids are only allowed at Alang’s Rawa on weekdays. Double check with them on exceptions if you plan to visit on a weekend.
- The resort is closed during the monsoon season, which is usually from November to February.
- Alang’s Rawa takes bookings via email only. Reach out to them via [email protected] with your preferred dates and group size and they’ll be able to advise on the best rates.
Cost breakdown:
$43/pax for coach from Singapore to Mersing
$344/adult for two nights at Alang’s Rawa, all meals and boat transfers included (kids 3 years old and under stay free!)
~$90 for all drinks (we paid for coffee, juices and mocktails) and bar bites
So how’s that for an affordable island vacation? We highly recommend Alang’s Rawa for an easy two-night getaway as a family (or even just for mum and dad to squeeze in a bit of alone time!). As long as you’re open to embracing the natural elements and the opportunity to fully relax without doing anything too adventurous, you’ll love it here.
Happy holidays!
