Grand Sawit Samarinda

We found the staff kind and humble, the breakfast tasty, and the restaurant decorated in an aesthetic Middle Eastern style. The hotel is comfy and fairly cheap, with murattal playing in the corridor and an adzan reminder. Recommended for Muslim couples and families visiting for business or a staycation. InshaAllah 🩷🩷🩷

A small jar is provided in each room, with a water dispenser outside, so there's no bottled drink in the room and less need for plastic bottles. The hotel follows a 'syariah' concept, so unmarried couples can't share a room. Breakfast has a good range of food, and check-in was smooth with helpful staff. It's beside Taman Samarendah on a main street. The room was clean and larger than rooms I've seen at similar prices.

I only booked a night while waiting for my flight and wanted to get out quickly. The service was good, and the restaurant was pleasant and comfortable, with decent food. But the room had a strange damp smell, which seemed like poor ventilation, and the hallway outside it was dimmer than the others. The room itself was very wide, which I liked. In the bathroom, the floor was clean, but there was a lot of fungus and moss between the wall tiles, plus what seemed to be a used soap left by a previous guest. The toilet was broken but somehow usable. Its loose knob pushed the clean-water tank when pressed, making it shake hard. Most annoying, there were no outlets beside the bed, and the TV plug had literally come out of the wall, which seemed like a fire and electrical hazard. Honestly, one of the worst hotels I've checked into.

It's an Islamic-themed hotel with mid-low rates, and could suit a Muslim guest well. Be aware that staff will turn away opposite-sex guests who aren't married to each other. The room was okay, though some of the furniture felt oddly placed and out of place.