Amaris Hotel Bengkulu

There are plenty of restaurants and convenience stores nearby, and both the beach and Bencoolen malls are within walking distance. The location is convenient, but the room was quite small and had very few amenities. I booked a queen room for two and mentioned that there would be two of us, yet there was only one toothbrush and one pair of slippers. I know I could have asked for another toothbrush, but hotels I've stayed at usually provide two sets. I hope the service improves. I was hasty giving this hotel three stars. Service was really slow: dirty dishes weren't cleared promptly, leaving the breakfast room untidy. I don't mind if staff are stretched thin, but reception staff who were idle could have helped clear the tables. The egg station only opened at 7:30, by which time people had already finished breakfast.

I stayed three days in a Smart Queen Room, and the location is handy if you're planning to visit Panjang Beach. The bed was comfortable, the bathroom was spacious, and I liked the variety at breakfast. One thing confused me: the hot shower was hotter in the morning than in the evening. I thought I'd need it more in the evening.

I won't stay here again. The front desk handled my lost key card very poorly. On June 21, after returning from a business trip in Bengkulu, I told the receptionist at 6:00 pm that I'd likely dropped my room key on the street and needed a duplicate. He immediately said there was a 50,000 IDR penalty. I've never been charged for requesting a replacement card before. Paying that amount isn't the issue, but I wasn't told about a lost-card fee at check-in, and there was no notice on the card. Guests should be informed in advance. Since Amaris is part of the Santika hotel group, I expected hospitality and guest comfort to be a priority. The male receptionist looked astonished and refused to give me a new card, telling me to call reception whenever I needed the door opened. He said the room's electronic system is switched on manually and doesn't require a key, which made the refusal seem strange. They were willing to leave the power on without energy-saving mode instead of issuing a card, which could presumably cost more than the 50,000 IDR fee. I asked again for a key, but he wouldn't reconsider, show empathy, or apologize for the inconvenience. When I asked to speak with the Duty Manager/FOM, I was told they'd gone home. I hope management takes a serious look at this process and puts the guest experience first. The receptionist showed no hospitality at all.

The room on the top floor was a nice bonus, with a good view for photos, and there's a swimming pool too. It's a great budget hotel, and breakfast is always included in the price. Indomaret is right across from the hotel for picking up things, or you can walk about 10 minutes to the nearby mall. Rech beach is around a 15-minute walk.