Bala's Holiday Chalet

The Bala's Holiday Chalet

Once a favourite haunt for backpackers from all over the world, Bala's Chalet has undergone renovations to emerge as The Bala's Holiday Chalet, a place that appeals to both budget and discerning travellers... The owner Balakrishnan or simply Bala, has been running the show for over 30 years... Only the priginal structure of this beautiful Tudor bungalow is retained... The interiors, courtyards, bedding and fittings have been upgraded to give it a classy feel...With the upgrade, the chalet has a delightful English garden ambience... Excellent food and highly personalised service... It is simply a place to rest, recuperate and spoil yourself in the cool mountain air...

Unique Quality: There are 30 cottage-style rooms with a commanding view of the Brinchang Valley... Facilities include a reading room, library, lounge bar, a trea garden and a restaurant... British India Restaurant serves home cooked curries, western cuisine and traditional Malaysian dishes... India cuisine is a favourite here...

The most talk-about tea and scones in cameron Highlands are those served in Bala's Jim Thompson" Tea Room... No one should miss the tea and scones with homemade strawberry jam and cream or the apple and chicken pies and sandwiches...

• Opinion of Price: about average

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: the bala's holiday chalet...

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Chalet

• Opinion of Price: about average

Bala's Holiday Chalet

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Typical english guesthouse

Bala's Chalet was the only guest house that i stayed during my visit in Cameron Highland.
It has stunning view looking over the valley, fantastic features of old english antiques which i believed were used during the colonial time.

Unique Quality: The bed were not to my expectation, very basic with tele but only one attract my attention while sleeping is the sky rooftop.
Just a small frame window install on the rooftop allows you to lie down while looking over millions of star. Most of the beds are used to be the convent girl school.

• Opinion of Price: least expensive
• Related to: Road Trip, Farm Stay

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: Bala's chalet entrance

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Do not repeat my mistake

Stayed only one night. Way too expensive for what it has to offer as facilities and services.

Unique Quality: Nice, old english style house, but lacking proper maintenance.

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: The building above my room

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Nice place, so-so service

We spent two nights at Bala's Chalet. We stayed in the Lavender Room, in the back corner. Before we decided on a room (we had actually booked beforehand though), we looked at two other rooms first. The rooms are clean, generally have a nice view (even if it's just the flower bushes just outside the window), and have decent bathrooms too.

Overall, we were more than pleased with our lodging. The thing that left a bad taste in our mouth was the service. Upon looking back, we realized that NO ONE from the staff smiled at us the whole time we were there! It seemed that we were inconveniencing them if we asked for anything.

I'm not sure if I would go to this place again, nice as the room and surroundings were. We went to Cameron Highlands to have a special weekend and realized that customer service (at least to us) really contributes to that!

Unique Quality: The grounds used to be an English school, before Malaysian independence. A few hiking trails are accessible from the grounds.

The place is apparently famous for its tea and scones (at least that's what their advertisements say), but we didn't try them.

Their Indian dinner was expensive but delicious!

• Opinion of Price: more expensive than average
• Related to: Adventure Travel, Hiking and Walking, Family Travel

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: Bala's Holiday Chalet, Cameron Highlands

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Undiscovered Treasure Accommodation in Camerons 3

Food, glorious food!

• Opinion of Price: N/A

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: Yummie! *Burp.

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Undiscovered Treasure Accommodation in Camerons 2

In the cool Cameron weather, a nice hot BBQ dinner is wicked! Not to mention the great fun of cooking your own meat while downing beer and kidding around with good friends.

Unique Quality: They are able to provide a BBQ meal for a fee. This includes preparation & marination of meats, appetizers and side dishes. BBQ pits & coal and cutlery are provided. We paid about RM25/USD6.50 for a sumptious spread of chicken wings, lamb cutlets, fried rice, potato salad, sausages, fruit punch etc.

• Opinion of Price: N/A

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: Preparing for the big cookout.My skewers please!

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Undiscovered Treasure Accommodation in Camerons 1

Bala's Chalet is one of the oldest colonial buildings built during the pre-war era and preserved in its original structure to enhance its natural beauty. Opened as a boarding school 1934 for European expatriate children as a branch of the more famous Tanglin school in Singapore, it began with 150 pupils and 22 qualified teachers all recruited from England. Though now it is no more a school it still carries on this tradition in a different way. It's present owners, K. Balakrishnan, a local boy and Peter W. Blumbach, a German businessman residing in Singapore bought over the property which was left empty after the school closed down and turned it into a guesthouse which became a fine place to stay in years to come. Even the gardener, Mr. Kuppanan has stayed on for the past 47 years tending to his beloved flowers.

Unique Quality: Today, Bala's chalet has 25 cottage style rooms offering good value for money to travelers. Spacious tastefully renovated rooms overlooking the forest and surrounding by a picturesque garden. Quiet and peaceful with some rooms capturing the sunrise.

• Opinion of Price: about average

Bala's Holiday Chalet Photo: Reception View of Bala's Chalet

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