TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh: Our Family Review

Our family visited TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh – a 5-star resort located in the heart of Malaysia – with our three boys (ages 16, 14, and 12), and this is our take on what it’s actually like staying here as a family of five.

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Tui Blue (the name of the hotel brand) is in “The Haven” group of buidings, giving it the name “Tui Blue – The Haven.”

The resort sits in Ipoh, Perak, in the heart of Peninsular Malaysia. It’s about 15 minutes’ drive from Ipoh city centre and roughly 13 km from Sultan Azlan Shah Airport. If you’re driving or taking the bus from Kuala Lumpur, expect around 2 to 2.5 hours on the highway.

This is a 5-star lakefront suite resort surrounded by limestone cliffs and untouched forest reminiscent of scenes from Jurassic Park or Avatar. The whole place is built around a natural lake with a massive multi-section infinity pool that wraps along one edge. It’s part of the TUI BLUE brand, which focuses on nature and wellness experiences.

While the locals love this resort, it exceeds all international resort standards.

Enjoying the pool at Tui Blue The Haven Ipoh

Enjoying the view from the Infinity Pool at Tui Blue the Haven Ipoh

At a glance:

Year opened: 2015
Total suites: approximately 150
Star rating: Certified 5-star by Malaysia’s Ministry of Tourism

This place is best for:

Families wanting spacious rooms with separate bedrooms
Nature lovers who want dramatic cliff and lake views
Travelers looking for a quiet base rather than a city hotel
Multi-generational groups (we met grandparents traveling with kids and grandkids)
Anyone who values pool time and evening walks over nightlife

Views across the lake of Tui Blue in Ipoh

Maybe not ideal if you:

Want to walk out the door into restaurants and shops
Need constant structured entertainment for teens
Prefer big city buzz and nightlife options (the city is a quick grab ride away)

Resort Facts & What Makes TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh Unique

TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh originally opened in 2015 as a nature-focused suite resort. The property has around 150 apartment-style suites spread across three buildings, all centered around a natural, pristine lake with limestone formations rising directly from the water’s edge.

What makes this location genuinely different:

280-million-year-old limestone cliffs: These aren’t distant mountains you squint at—they’re right there, towering over the lake and visible from most balconies. The centerpiece is a rock formation locals call “Rockhaven” that sits right at the lakeshore.
Primary forest setting: The resort backs onto virgin forest with flora and fauna that’s been here for millions of years. The air actually feels different here—cleaner, quieter.
600m jogging track: A paved loop circles the entire lake, with benches and viewpoints right at the base of the cliffs.
Mixed residential feel: The property has both hotel guests and residential owners, which gives it a slightly more relaxed, less “resort-ish” vibe than typical hotels. It feels like staying in a furnished apartment, which was perfect for us.

Location & Getting There

Ipoh sits roughly halfway between Kuala Lumpur and Penang on the North-South Expressway. It’s Malaysia’s third-largest city, known for cave temples, heritage architecture, and some of the best local food in the country.

The Haven Ipoh location is in a quiet hillside area called Ulu Kinta, set back from the main city but not inconveniently remote. You’re surrounded by limestone hills and forest rather than urban development.

It’s less than a 10-minute drive from Sunway’s theme park: The Lost World of Tambun, Ipoh.

Getting to the resort:

From Sultan Azlan Shah Airport: About 13 km, roughly 20 minutes by car or Grab
From Kuala Lumpur: 2 to 2.5 hours driving via the North-South Expressway (bus or by car)
From Penang: About 2 to 2.5 hours south on the highway
By train: Take the ETS to Ipoh train station, then a 20-25 minute taxi or Grab ride to the resort

Nearby practicalities:

Kinta City Shopping Centre: 10-15 minutes’ drive for groceries, food court, cinema
Ipoh Parade: 15-20 minutes to old town area
Lost World of Tambun world theme park: Just 2.5 km away (10-15 minutes)
Perak Tong Cave Temple: About 10 km (20-30 minutes)

One thing to know: there’s no beach or big city nightlife nearby. Evenings at the resort are mostly about the pool, lake walks, and early nights. For us with teenagers, that was fine—we weren’t looking for clubs, and we were looking for a break from being in the heart of Ipoh and KL.

Our 3-Bedroom Suite: How It Worked for a Family of Five

We booked a 3-bedroom suite specifically because we needed space for five people who actually like having their own corners.

The suite feels more like a serviced apartment than a hotel room. You walk into a living area with couches and a dining table, then branch off into three separate bedrooms. The whole thing opens onto a balcony with a direct nature view of the lake, infinity pool, and the limestone hills that look like they belong in a fantasy movie.

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Sleeping setup:

Bedroom 1: King bed with ensuite bathroom (shower, toilet, vanity, soaker tub)
Bedroom 2: King bed with ensuite bathroom (no tub)
Bedroom 3: Single bed only (this became our 16-year-old’s room and had space for a desk)
Living area: Sofa that could sleep someone in a pinch.

For our family, the 12 and 14-year-olds shared a king bed in one room (they grumbled but survived), we took the other king room, and our oldest claimed the single room as his personal domain. If you have three teens who absolutely won’t share, you might need to confirm extra beds options.

Practical features we used constantly:

Air conditioning: In every room and living area—essential in Malaysian heat and humidity
Free wifi: Reliable across all five devices at once (teens gaming, us working)
Full-size fridge: Stocked our own drinks and snacks leftover from a snack run at the last hotel
Coffee Pods: Morning coffee, afternoon coffee, and evening coffee
Power outlets: Enough for everyone, though bring an international adapter if you’re traveling from overseas

The balcony:

This was one of the highlights. The lake view with those limestone cliffs feels otherworldly, especially in the evening.

What we loved for our family of 5:

Separate bedrooms meant teenagers had space and privacy
Two en-suites (and a third bathroom) meant no bathroom wars in the morning
The living area gave us a place to hang out together without being in bedrooms
Balcony views and picture windows in the bedrooms made the room feel twice as big
Full kitchen (usable for a fee if staying less than a week and without a fee for stays of a week or more)

Facilities: Pools, Lake, and On-Site Activities

Most of our family time at the Haven resort happened in three places: the pool, the lake path, and the breakfast room. Here’s what each was actually like.

The Outdoor Pool

The resort offers a variety of pools including a children’s pool, family pool, infinity pool, and slides pool. Shaped like a seahorse (you can see it from aerial photos) the pool stretches about 60 meters along the lake edge. It’s built in four connected sections, and the swimming pool design includes an infinity edge that makes it look like you’re swimming directly into the lake with cliffs rising behind.

Pool layout:

Children’s wading area: Shallow section for younger kids
Leisure pool section: General swimming depth, where our family mostly hung out
Deeper section near lake edge: This is where the infinity effect is strongest
Shallow jacuzzi with jetted loungers: Near the main pool area
Waterslides: Added fun for kids and teens

Practical pool details:

Typical opening hours: morning until evening (check current times at reception)
Pool towels are available on deck
We didn’t notice a difference in pool traffic from the weekend to the weekdays, but maybe that was the season (We visited Saturday-Monday in February)

Our teenagers spent hours here. The infinity pool edge looking out at the cliffs genuinely feels special—not like a typical hotel pool at all.

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The Lake Walk

A paved jogging track loops around the entire lake—roughly 600 meters. We walked it every evening, and it became one of our favorite parts of staying here.

The path takes you right to the base of the limestone cliffs. You’re not looking at them from across a valley—you’re standing at their feet, looking up. There are benches and viewpoints along the way, plus areas where you can watch fish in the lake.

Wildlife we actually saw: various birds, fish visible in clear water, and other guests mentioned occasional monkeys (we didn’t spot them). The environment here is unique compared to anywhere else we’ve stayed in Malaysia.

Rules: Swimming in the lake isn’t allowed. Swim in the pool, stick to the paths, and respect the primary forest areas.

Boardwalk at Tui Blue The Haven Ipoh

Other Resort Facilities

Fitness center: A variety of cross-training machines and free weights
Badminton/squash: indoor courts available
Table tennis: Our kids enjoyed some time indoors playing ping pong
Archery and Paintball Target shooting: There are scheduled activity sessions – check the front desk for times
Spa on site (we didn’t visit, but there seem to be a variety of services available)
Playground: Younger kids; small but functional

Food & Breakfast: What Our Family Actually Ate

The breakfast at Cuisines Restaurant is a big part of the experience here, so I’ll give you the full breakdown.

Breakfast Spread

Breakfast is buffet-style in the main on-site “Cuisines” restaurant. It’s included in most rates, but confirm yours when booking. Both breakfast and the pool amenities may not be available if you book as a homestay (renting out a privately owned unit), compared to booking the Tui Blue hotel stay. The spread covered both Western and local options, so all five of us found something we wanted to eat.

We could have enjoyed breakfast all day long – so much selection!

What’s typically on offer:

Made-to-order omelets: Choose your fillings (cheese, onions, pepper, ham).
Coffee and tea station: Coffee plus espresso options
Pastries and baked goods: Croissants, muffins, local pastries
Seasonal Fresh fruit: Watermelon, apples, oranges
Western items: Scrambled eggs, sausages, toast, baked beans
Local breakfast options: Fried noodles, rice dishes, fried chicken, bread pudding

The non-traditional breakfast items deserve special mention. The variety of breakfast options meant picky eaters could find something, and adventurous eaters could try local food they might not usually order at a restaurant.

Practical breakfast details:

Typical breakfast hours: 7 am to 10:30 am (verify current times)
Gets busier after 8:30 am on weekends
Finding seating for five was easier when we went early (around 8)
Vegetarian options existed, but buffet items changed from morning to morning
We stayed for 2 nights, and each morning the selection was a bit different, which was great for variety.

Other Dining

The same “Cuisines” restaurant serves lunch and dinner, featuring a mix of local specialties and international dishes—Asian, Western, and Mediterranean. There’s also a poolside bar for drinks and lighter bites catered from the restaurant.

Room service is available if you want to eat on your balcony or simply enjoy a quieter meal in your room.

Rooms & Options for Different Family Sizes

We stayed in a 3-bedroom suite, but the resort offers several room options depending on your family size and budget.

View differences:

Lakeview: Direct views of the lake, pool, and limestone cliffs—this is what you see in most photos
Horizon view: Broader views facing the city – still impressive, but without the views of the lake

Tips for choosing your room:

Book a lake view if the cliff and pool view matter to you—We think it’s worth it
Ask about interconnecting options if two families travel together
Check if your rate includes breakfast for all family members

The three bedroom suite at Tui Blue The Haven Ipoh

Our Three Bedroom Suite at Tui Blue THe Haven Ipoh

Staying Here as a Family: What We Loved About Tui Blue The Haven, Ipoh

After a week at TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh, here’s our overall take as a family of five with teenagers.

The resort delivers on its promise of a quiet, nature-filled retreat. This isn’t a theme park resort with constant activities—it’s a calm base where the main attractions are the pool, the lake, the cliffs, and the quality of space in your room. For our family, that worked well. We weren’t looking for entertainment directors; we wanted a place to decompress and explore at our own pace.

We met other guests from Europe and Australia who’d specifically chosen Tui Blue The Haven Ipoh because their kids wanted to visit The Lost World of Tambun, and the parents wanted something different than a theme park resort hotel. The attentive and friendly service consistently came up in conversations—people mentioned how the management and staff went out of their way to make stays pleasant.

The infinity pool views at Tui Blue The Haven Ipoh

The infinity pool views were unbeatable at Tui Blue The Haven Ipoh

What we liked as a family of five:

Separate bedrooms and bathrooms in the 3-bedroom suite
Strong free wifi that handled five devices simultaneously (two gaming, one streaming, two working)
Pool layout and lake walk gave teens freedom to roam safely within resort boundaries
Breakfast variety that suited our different tastes (fried chicken, omelets, pastries, local dishes, and fresh fruit)
Meeting other international families gave our boys some social interaction
Genuinely stunning views—the limestone hills never got old

Limestone rock lit up at night at Tui Blue The Haven Hotel Ipoh

Limestone rock lit up at night at Tui Blue The Haven, Ipoh

Policies families should know:

Check-in time: From 3:00 PM
Check out times: By 12:00 PM
Security deposit: Around MYR 500 (refundable)
Tourism tax: RM 10 (About $3) per room per night for foreign guests
Service charge: RM 3 (About $1) per room per night

Bottom line: Tui Blue – The Haven, Ipoh resort, suits families who want nature, pool time, and a calm base rather than constant structured entertainment. If you need walking-distance restaurants and busy streets, a hotel in the city center might be a better choice for some of your stay, but for a few nights of relaxation, this resort can’t be beat.

Is TUI BLUE The Haven Ipoh Right for Your Family?

After a weekend here, we can give you a clear picture of what to expect.

This is a peaceful, nature-heavy resort with genuinely impressive views and spacious suite-style accommodation. It’s not a city hotel where you walk out the door into restaurants and shops. It’s a retreat where the main draws are the pool, the lake, those prehistoric cliffs, and having enough space for everyone in your family to spread out.

For us—a family of five with teenagers who wanted downtime between more active travel days—it hit the mark. The pleasant stay we had here came from the combination of space, views, and the ability to do very little while still feeling like we were somewhere special.