Makassar Golden Hotel

The location is the one thing this place has going for it, which makes its condition such a shame. I paid for an oceanfront cottage for three nights and left after just an hour. I travel to Makassar often, and at IDR 400,000 a night there are much better options. This level of neglect isn't normal. I wouldn't feel safe staying overnight here, and the place seems unhygienic and badly run down. If purgatory had a hotel, this might be it, stuck in a time warp with no maintenance. The cottage was dirty and dated, with little bugs inside and a door that didn't lock properly. The floors were unclean, the old wooden furniture had a few random newer pieces mixed in, and there was no fridge, ice, or way to keep drinks cold. The bed creaked like it had been there since the 1970s. The pillows smelled awful and were stained with sweat. There was exposed wiring, and although the bathroom looked passable at first glance, the sink had mold and there were insects there too. Even the old welcome book looked as if it had blood on it and dated back to the 1990s. Outside, the gardens were neglected, with dead grass and weeds covering things, including the drains. Huge loose sheets of tin on the hotel facade were flapping above the so-called pool. Staff seemed disengaged and wandered around without opening doors or helping with bags. I can't entirely blame them; they must hate the state of the property, and the owners are clearly responsible. When I checked out after an hour, nobody seemed surprised. My taxi also had to wait because there was no guard to open the gate, and the ticket machine was broken.

The pool itself is still nice, though the area around it has seen better days. The rooms are decent, but the hotel feels old, and the other facilities are worn out. The hallway carpet looks odd and smells strange, while the bathroom seems past its best.

We had a great week as a family in the seaside rooms. Being able to step straight onto the private pier was lovely, especially for the views over Makassar’s seas at sunrise and sunset. The pools were very large and the water was clean, with separate areas for kids and adults. The adult pool reaches almost 3 meters deep. Our room had a king-size bed and very cold AC, and the staff were responsive and helpful. At 450-500K IDR, about $50, a night, it felt affordable and worth it. The property does need serious renovation, though. The lobby looked gloomy and had no AC, some pathway tiles were broken, and the rooms still had old phones and fridges. I hope the hotel gets revitalized in the future.

I had pretty high hopes for this hotel, so the worn interiors were disappointing. The paint is peeling, some tiles are cracked, and we even ran into an electricity problem. The facilities just didn't work for me. The staff, though, were all humble and helpful.