Purnama Balige Hotel

Breakfast was passable, though there wasn’t much protein beyond the eggs. The room, even though it was the hotel’s second-best, felt too small to fit the extra bed. That bed was just a thin mattress, and the upgraded bed was only so-so, so neither seemed worth the extra cost. The shower’s hot water kept cutting out, and housekeeping didn’t change the sheets daily unless asked, which I thought should be standard.

I only came by for the restaurant, not an overnight stay. The food and the lake view were decent, but the toilets were among the cleanest I’ve seen around here. Big thanks to the hotel team for that 😊

Veronica, the manager, was first class. The staff were warm and genuinely helpful, and the food was amazing. The view is breathtaking, too. For a budget-minded traveler, there’s a lot here that feels like a luxury hotel without the high price. They also have fantastic four packages. I could live here!

My room looked out toward the hills, though some rooms face the lake. Breakfast was simple but delicious, and came with a great view of the lake and Samosir in the distance.