Bigland Renotel Bogor

For the cheaper side of the hotel, this was a nice stay. I used a tiket.com promotion and got the “semi-apartment” room. You can upgrade to a hotel room for quite a hefty extra charge, about 300k, I believe. The room I had was comfortable and clean, with a full set of amenities and a hair dryer, handy for long-haired guests. Hot water worked perfectly. There wasn't a fridge, which I guess is part of the semi-apartment setup. The TV could use an upgrade, though it had an indovision router, so there were some international channels.

Bintang deserves a big compliment. At 4.00 in the morning, he checked with management and made an exception so I could use the gym. People like him are what make a hotel team good. The hotel itself is well located, with clean rooms and a good gym for its category, and I'd recommend it for a short stay. Receptionist Yopi could improve his service attitude. Mas Bintang is a good example to follow.

The access is the real dealbreaker for me. They charge a parking fee even for drop-off and pick-up, which is crazy. The lifts are slow and small, so be ready to spend 30 minutes waiting for one at check-in or check-out. My room smelled strongly of smoke despite being described as non-smoking. The pool is inside the restaurant, and people are allowed to smoke there too. I didn't use it. Who thought that was a good design? The room and amenities were okay, though questionable for a four-star hotel, and the hospitality was okay as well. This fell below my expectations. Proceed with caution.

The staff were the highlight of my eight-night stay while visiting friends in Bogor. Everyone I met was warm, friendly, and welcoming. The rooms were great, the location was wonderful, and the Roof top restaurant was great too. Thanks for such a lovely stay. I'll definitely stay here again on my next visit to Bogor.