Grand Hotel Preanger

The room was the letdown. For the price of a deluxe room, I expected better than a dusty carpet with a dirty patch in the corner. The lift situation was also rough: only one elevator went to the lobby, while the other stopped at the 3rd floor, leaving stairs to finish the trip. Not ideal for anyone with elderly family. I had to get off on the 9th floor when the sole lobby lift malfunctioned while going up, then take the emergency stairs down to the lobby. The location is great, close to braga street, food spots, and old architecture. It's a nice place to meet up with family or friends. Breakfast had a good range and tasted good too. The Kwetiau and bread pudding were my favorites, absolutely sublime.

The food was a real disappointment. Breakfast choices were limited, the dining room didn't seem big enough for the number of guests, the fish smelled really bad, and the pasta was hard and somehow stale. The room itself was average, nothing special, but I wouldn't have minded that in an old hotel if I could sleep. I had requested non-smoking and was given a smoking room, then told to ask housekeeping for room freshener. Renovations were underway during my stay, and there had been no mention of them on the website or app. Halls were closed and the lifts weren't working properly. Staff initially stopped me from using the stairs and said I could only take the elevator, even though one or two lifts had to serve the whole hotel. With guests and luggage queuing, I waited 30 minutes. Eventually staff let me use the stairs from the parking lot. There were only two of us and one duffel bag, so I can't imagine doing that with parents or family and lots of luggage. Guests deserve to know what services and access to expect. If I'd known about the renovations, I would've looked for another hotel.

The hotel still has that old five-star charm and aroma, and the room was great. It's well maintained, though a renovation would make the rooms feel fresher and newer. Breakfast is the part that needs work for me, especially adding more protein choices. Still a good place to stay.

We only stayed one night on a short family trip to Bandung, and it was a comfortable, convenient visit. Braga street is an easy walk away, with local food places and shops to explore. The central location worked well for us. It's an older historic building from Bandung's Dutch colonial era, but the property feels clean and is well looked after. There's a swimming pool, and some rooms have a sunrise view with the mountains behind it. Our room was spacious enough, and the sliding wooden window panels instead of curtains gave it a distinctive feel. A handy choice for larger groups too.