Grand Montana

The main drawback was the noise, especially during rush hour, though the central location made it easy to explore the city and reach nearby attractions. Hotel Grand Mintana has spacious, comfortable rooms and suites, with modern amenities like free Wi-Fi, flat-screen TVs, and minibars. The beds were comfortable and the linens were high quality. The restaurant serves Indonesian and Western dishes, and the breakfast buffet had a particularly wide selection. Staff were friendly and attentive, willing to recommend dishes or handle special requests. There was also a fitness center, spa, and rooftop pool with a striking city view. The pool area was well maintained and had plenty of loungers and umbrellas.

We stayed for a week over Christmas in a top-floor apartment. It was huge, with loads of space and a view across town to the mountains. The beds were comfortable, and our double was at least king size, though the duvet was only a double, so we used a single one beside it. The kitchen was basic and short on utensils, but we managed. There wasn't a kettle, though my husband used the coffee machine to make herbal tea and it worked really well. We had breakfast at the restaurant a couple of times because it was pretty cheap. The food was okay, not the best. Some fruit in the bowl was going off, while the spicy sausage and traditional cakes were the best bits. It was clean, and the cleaners came nearly every day to empty the bin, straighten the beds, and even do our dishes. There were a few small problems: the shower cubicle leaked because the drain was at the highest point, so water covered the bathroom floor and ran out through the drain outside the cubicle. There were plenty of towels to mop it up. We used the pool several times, though it was a bit chilly at times, and also tried the sauna. Sadly, the Jacuzzi and steam room were both out of order. Reception staff were friendly and helpful. Since we were there on Christmas Day, they asked our son's age and gave him a present, a small toy and an English workbook. The hotel was a 5-10 minute walk from the gondola and had a free bus there.

The spa was awful. The Jacuzzi was empty and out of order, which we hadn't been told about, and another spa room was also out of order. The pool was dirty. We were aching and would have loved a massage, but staff never mentioned those services. The location was good, the room wasn't unclean, and the views from it were spot on. The room still didn't meet UK hotel standards, where maids come every day. The free shuttle was great when we managed to get on it. Of the four or so receptionists, one was friendly; the others always seemed miserable and unwelcoming, which was a downer every time we came or went. It was hard to find our way around the hotel. The receptionist only offered to show us where to go after watching us struggle for two minutes. We had to check out three hours before pickup, and no secure place was offered for our equipment. In the end, it was a very average stay.

Great location, kind staff, and a great shuttle bus driver. We were a family of four in a two-bedroom place with plenty of room and comfortable beds. The kitchenette lacked a few basics, like a tea towel, a small pan, and a wooden spoon, but as campers we improvised easily enough. The pool and spa could use some attention, though they were fine for a dip and the kids enjoyed them. The shower tray leaked a little because it needs resealing, and some bedroom drawers were broken, but there was plenty of wardrobe space. Good value for money. It's a three-star place that could do with a little extra care to smarten it up.