Singapore to Desaru by Ferry: Westin Resort Review & Cost Breakdown
Source: Chiu+1 on YouTube · embedded, not re-hosted
Watch this if you’re weighing the Tanah Merah ferry against driving, staying at the Westin, and want to know what a weekend there actually costs — including how they dodged the resort’s steep food prices.
by Chiu+1
What’s in it
- Crossed on the Tanah Merah → Desaru Coast ferry (about 90 minutes, ~SGD 105 return, tickets booked online via Batam Fast) — one sailing a day, fast autogate immigration, and a free shuttle from the ferry terminal to the Coast resorts.
- The standout tip: the resort’s food is pricey, so they ordered in on Grab and Food Panda rather than eat at the hotel — two delivered pizzas (~RM 54) cost about the same as one downstairs (~RM 52) — and noted the Westin even keeps a delivery-pickup shelf for guests.
- What’s included without paying extra: the Seasonal Taste breakfast buffet, daily free activities (yoga, garden walks), live music with a complimentary drink in the lounge, and a 9am tour of the on-site greenhouse that supplies the restaurants.
- Two logistics to plan around — an unusually late 4pm check-in and early 11am checkout (they got a late checkout to 12:30 on request), and a buggy/shuttle that hops between the Westin, the Hard Rock and the rest of the Coast if you want to look around.
- Honest read on the vibe: it was quiet and uncrowded the weekend they went — relaxing rather than buzzy — with the Hard Rock and its water park right across the way if you want more going on with kids.
More from this video
The only sailing from Tanah Merah is at 10:10 a.m.; the return from Desaru is at 5:30 p.m. After buying tickets on Batam Fast online (sometimes promo codes are available — they got ~SGD 10 off), you still need to collect a physical ticket at the counter, so arrive with enough time to spare. Immigration on arrival uses the autogate, so no passport stamp.
The free shuttle connects four hotels along the Coast — a short ride from the terminal to the Westin, with stops in between. On departure, the shuttle back to the ferry leaves at 4:00 p.m. — a hard deadline to plan checkout and afternoon activities around.
The Westin’s 9 a.m. growhouse tour (about 15 minutes) shows where the kitchen grows its own herbs and greens on property — a quiet, low-key morning activity included in the stay. The breakfast buffet at Seasonal Taste runs until 11:00 a.m., later than most hotels.
Bikes are rentable for a 3.2 km loop around the resort area (about 2 hours). For anything further afield, Grab is the practical option — their ride to a nearby restaurant was SGD 3 even at surge pricing, and Grab drivers can reach the hotel within minutes.
Our take: The most useful video if you’re deciding how to get to Desaru and what a Westin weekend really costs — honest about the resort’s pricey food and smart about beating it with delivery apps.
Where this lines up with our guides
Embedded from YouTube and the property of its creator — we don’t re-host or re-edit. The summary is our own, cross-checked against primary sources and last reviewed 2026-06-01. Creators are also credited on our attributions page.
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