Copthorne Hotel Cameron Highlands

Surrounded by tea estates and terraced strawberry farms, the Copthorne Hotel Cameron Highlands overlooks a dramatic landscape. The main building is a tower with two wings that could be the exterior of any mid-range hotel in the world, but the property also includes several large Tudor-style half-timbered apartment buildings, with white plaster and green trim. The colonial look isn't original to the property, and it adds a curious flair to the hotel. It's matched by the decor of the cavernous main lobby with its mountain-lodge ambience, stone fireplace, and green-trimmed floor-to-ceiling windows. However, the look is undeniably dated, and includes wicker chairs set with leopard-print cushions and other curious blends of styles. Couples and families from Malaysia make up most of the clientele, but guests also hail from Singapore and the Middle East.

The hotel is located near the main road that cuts through Brinchang, but it’s a bit isolated, and a car or taxi is required to get into town, which is about a 10-minute drive away. Taxis are more expensive than in other parts of Malaysia, and rates tend to be fixed rather than metered, but that can vary from taxi to taxi. Small shops and restaurants line the narrow road that leads to the hotel, but more can be found in a small village farther down the road. The Kea Farm market, Highland Butterfly Farm, and Raju Hill Strawberry Farm are all less than a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Ipoh Airport is about an hour and 40 minutes away by car, though most travelers use Kuala Lumpur's airport, which is three hours and thirty minutes away.

The 350 rooms and apartments are split between the main modern tower and the half-timbered apartment buildings surrounding it. The standard hotel-style rooms strike a Western look reminiscent of a mid-range chain property, with a brown-and-cream palette, patterned carpeting, and dated dark-wood furniture. Despite the potential for sweeping mountain views, the windows are small, and most of these rooms lack balconies. Free Wi-Fi is standard, along with flat-screen TVs, and kettles for coffee or tea. Deluxe Rooms are a bit fresher than the Superior Rooms. Some of the rooms are in need of renovation, and during our visit, we noticed some musty odors, along with mold and wear in places. Additionally, there is no air-conditioning. Most bathrooms have walk-in rainfall showers, and upgraded rooms add shower/tub combos fitted with rainfall showerheads. Executive Suites have separate living rooms with plush chairs, and small balconies. The One- to Three-Bedroom Apartments are sparsely furnished with large, private balconies, and kitchenettes equipped with large mini-fridges and microwaves. 

Like much of the hotel, most of the features at the Equatorial Cameron highlands have seen better days. The hotel has a cavernous main lobby with several pool tables, along with a pair of foosball tables in a lounge area with big leather couches arranged around a stone fireplace. Much of the main building is devoted to event space, with eight meeting rooms and a large ballroom, which seats up to 800 people. The hotel also has a heated indoor pool, but it's in a dark, low-ceilinged room that could use a paint job. There's a modern full-service spa with treatment rooms, though the fitness room has dated cardio and weight-training equipment. For dining, there are two on-site restaurants. The Millennium Garden serves Cantonese and Szechuan cuisine in a formal dining room, and the Coffee Shop serves Malaysian and international cuisine, along with weekend buffet-style barbecues (where children eat free for each paying adult). Guests in search of caffeine can find it at the 18° Celsius Cafe, which has an espresso machine and bakery with desserts. There's also a cocktail lounge with several dart boards along one wall. Parking and Wi-Fi are free.