Hotel Menara Lexus

The staff were great and the hotel is in Medan, but the rooms are small, even if they're neat. Breakfast was poor, especially for foreign guests, since they only served local dishes. There are extra costs to watch for: a 100,000 rupiah security deposit, mineral water in the room, toothpaste and toothbrushes, and bathing soap. The TV only has Bahasa channels. Expect several charges at checkout on top of the room price.

The surrounding streets are hard to walk around, with four lanes of honking traffic and open sewers, so you'll need a taxi or becak from the hotel. Inside, it's very clean and the staff are attentive and helpful. Rooms are small, and the road-facing ones can be noisy. The free breakfast is usually decent, with rice, fish, vegetables, fried rice, fruit, and hot drinks. There's also a bar downstairs for a drink and local singers at night. If you're sensitive to chemicals, be aware of the automatic perfume dispensers in the hallways. A good budget option overall.

I came back last night with a Dutch friend for a late Bintang. It felt a bit expensive, and we might have caught some live music if we'd arrived earlier, between 20:00 and 24:00. Four years ago we rented the bridal suite, and the very friendly staff made that a memorable stay.

The bed was comfortable and the place was clean, with a nice old-school feel. Breakfast was good and the price affordable. There's no lift, but that was fine for me. I'd stay here again next time I'm in Medan.