numa Hotel Republika & Suites

The location worked really well, around a 15-minute walk to the mall and Old Town, with a mini market nearby that stays open late. The rooms were spacious and very clean. Our only room issues were that the AC was stuck on heating and the Wi-Fi was weak in mine, though it worked well in the other rooms. There’s no lobby or reception, and everything is handled online, but it all went smoothly for us. Whenever we messaged the team, they replied quickly.

The rooms had some good points. Ours was clean and well equipped, with super comfortable beds, strong shower pressure, and air conditioning that was a lifesaver during the heatwave. We didn’t mind that there was no reception, but we got the impression that some problems with the on-site staff are being missed, or that Numa may not know about them. The stairs and hallways look great with their modern, moody lighting, but when staff mop, there are no wet-floor signs. It’s hard to see the water, and we nearly slipped a couple of times, especially on the stairs. It feels like an accident waiting to happen. We were also thrown by the bistro downstairs charging more than the meal’s listed price. When we asked, they said the machine automatically adds a 10% tip. We asked why we hadn’t been told or given the choice to tip ourselves, and they said they could refund it. When we said we thought customers should at least be informed, and believed that was the law, the response was, “The machine does it, I don’t know.” We can’t tell whether staff chose this or it’s just how the system is set up, but it didn’t sit right with us. The hotel may not run the bistro directly, but it’s on the premises and seemed worth mentioning.

The room was really nice and much larger than I expected, and the location was so central that we could walk to most places. It felt very safe. Check-in was simple: I entered the required details in the app beforehand and got the pin before check-in time. The only downside came on our departure day, when we had trouble with the storage lockers. There was an affordable locker facility a block from the rental, though. Apart from that, everything was great and I’d highly recommend it.

Luxurious, lively, and very clean, with great amenities. It felt secure, maybe even more secure than a hotel.