Homm Laguna Bintan

Pancha was always kind and ready to help me. Homm Laguna Bintan has comfortable, clean, well-kept rooms with thoughtful amenities, and the staff were warm and attentive. There’s a good range of food, both local and international, plus lots to do, including spa treatments and water sports. The resort sits by the beach with lovely views and easy access to nature. A peaceful place for a relaxing holiday, I’d highly recommend it.

A nice beach hotel feel. The buffet breakfast has plenty of freshly prepared choices, and dinner offers several options, with the Indonesian dishes particularly good. The staff are friendly and helpful, and the hotel is clean and comfortable. The rooms have dated, 70s-style fittings, but they’re still in good condition. Beds and linen are comfortable, and the towels are good quality, always a good sign.

For $120 a night, this is a very cheap getaway. The resort and rooms are older, and that’s the trade-off, but the rooms felt worth what we paid. The location works well if you’re golfing at Laguna, and it’s fairly close to the ferry terminal. The free shuttle to Plaza Lagoi takes about 15 minutes, with a few restaurant choices there. The service is what really earns the five stars. Even on a busy long weekend, staff remembered our names and went out of their way to make the stay enjoyable. Gideon, the desk manager, was friendly, diligent, and nothing seemed too difficult for him. He’s a real service professional, and clearly going places. I imagine he may have moved up by our next visit, and I’d honestly be sad not to see him. There are plenty of other talented staff ready to look after you, though. It’s a little old and tired, but the price is very low and the human touch is on another level. Give it a try next long weekend.

There aren’t other dining options when you’re staying at this resort, so we had lunch at Cassia. I got food poisoning afterward. The hotel said they’d take me to a doctor, and the ride was free, but the nurse acted suspiciously. When I described my symptoms, she told me not to say it was food poisoning. The doctor said the same, claiming the rest of the hotel would have gotten sick otherwise. It was absurd. He also said my stomach sounded fine, even though I told him I’d gone to the toilet 13 times before we arrived. The way they treated me was disrespectful and appalling. After we returned and explained what had happened, the hotel did nothing beyond offering hot water. Getting served by the wait staff already takes ages, and then I got sick on top of that. It wasn’t worth it.