Hotel Pacific Balikpapan

Room 903 was right opposite the elevator, and we couldn’t figure out why the smell of cigarette smoke had got into it. The room itself wasn’t clean enough for me: the bedspread was dusty, there were greasy marks on the mirror, and the walls were dusty too. The hotel is quite old, though the bathroom, especially the bathtub, was impressively clean, which I don’t often see in hotel bathrooms that are otherwise well maintained. Breakfast tasted good and seemed clean, but the dining area is cramped and can only fit so many people. Children over 5 are charged the adult price. At check-in, be ready to leave an IDR 100,000 cash deposit. They did let us check in early, at around 10:40 AM.

I was sick and asked a friend to bring some food from the breakfast buffet up to my room. They wouldn’t allow it, even for someone who was ill. That felt inhumane.

I stayed here as part of my company’s quarantine program before the assessment. It was an ordinary three-star hotel, and my non-smoking room was neat and clean. The air conditioning worked perfectly, though the windows didn’t open. The power outlets were placed too far from the bed, so when I charged my phone, I had to leave it somewhere I couldn’t reach. Breakfast was an ordinary buffet and just okay. Getting room service during dinner was difficult.

The service was satisfying, with friendly employees, quick laundry, and room service that I was very happy with. For a three-star rate, you also get a fairly spacious bathroom with a bathtub. Do check that your room is properly clean, though, because some rooms seem to be unclean. You need your key card to use the elevator, so remember to bring it whenever you leave the room. The hotel has the usual facilities, including Wi-Fi, but the internet speed isn’t very fast. Good work!