Mahakam24 Residence

The hot water was excellent, the WiFi worked well, and they supplied basic shower items and two small bottles of mineral water. The location is handy too, with restaurants, coffee shops, street hawkers, a mall, and the MRT station all within 1 km. A few things to know: this is a budget hotel, so set your expectations accordingly. Booking online is cheaper than the published rate, but you still need a 100 thousand deposit, even if you booked ahead. I had a superior room without a city view. The lack of a window might bother someone who’s claustrophobic, though it was fine for me. The wall was a little dirty, the pillows weren’t very fluffy, and the clean towels had lost some of their whiteness. The TV only had local channels, but you can plug in a flash drive of movies. If you bring a car, parking is limited to about 8-10 cars.

For $15 on Agoda, this was a pretty good deal, especially with such a good location. My second-floor room was next to what seemed to be a warehouse or staff room, and a beeping noise from there went on all night. There was live music downstairs on the day I stayed, with almost no soundproofing, but it had stopped by the time I got back that night. At this price, I’d still say it was pretty good.

The price is fairly affordable for a hotel. I’d choose a city-view room, since the ones without windows could feel claustrophobic. There are also some eerie AI-generated twists on famous paintings, including the Mona Lisa, hung in the hallway. They feel so liminal that I hope they take them down soon.

I picked this place because the photos looked okay and the location was strategic, but there were several issues during my stay. I was in room 301, directly across from Gran Mahakam Hotel. With a busy road, hotel, and restaurant out front, I expected noise, but light sleepers may be bothered by the security guard’s whistle as he manages traffic. It went on until about 10 pm. The bedsheet had spots all over it, which I found disgusting. I didn’t mind that it wasn’t white anymore. I asked the staff to change it while I was out, but they seemed to just straighten it up, and it was still the same sheet. The bathroom had no sink or mirror, and the lighting was dim, though the hot water worked well. There was no iron in the room, and none available to borrow. For a budget hotel, I’d expect at least one per floor if they aren’t in the rooms. Also, bring cash, since check-in requires a Rp 100.000 deposit.