Candiview Hotel

I'd choose a rating below one star if I could. The condition of this hotel isn't suitable for guests, and the cleanliness is extremely poor. The room walls were dirty, the sheets and pillowcases were very old and stained in nearly every room, and there was hair on the bed. The toilet wasn't maintained, and even the tissue holder was moldy. We were shown several rooms to choose from, but they were all much the same or worse. In one of the other rooms, some of the AC wasn't working properly. After seeing them, we decided not to stay, even though we'd already paid and couldn't get a refund. It was strange that the security guard, who helps park cars, was the one directing guests to their rooms instead of the staff. Management, please treat people with basic humanity. Look at the attached picture so this assessment can be addressed together.

The parking area is fairly spacious, and the staff are friendly. The hotel itself feels very old and needs a lot of renovation, but staff don't do much to maintain what’s there. The bathroom glasses and their shelf were still dirty, there was no bathroom mat, and the corridors were much too dark.

The only small drawbacks were the slightly dirty, unkempt hallway and its strong cigarette smell. Otherwise, I’d definitely come back. My deluxe room with a balcony exceeded what I expected for the price. It was spacious and comfortable, with a writing table in front of a window overlooking Semarang's upper hills. The balcony had a great view too. The room and bathroom were clean, the Wi-Fi connection was good, and both the air conditioner and hot water worked well in the Semarang heat. Breakfast was included. There were just two choices, fried rice or noodles, and the fried rice was delicious.

I attended a meeting here, and the place felt like it had years ago, just with a different atmosphere. The security guard smiled and showed me to the basement parking when I explained I was there for a meeting with Disparbud Kota Semarang. That was lovely hospitality. The experience at reception was different. I passed right by the desk on my way to the meeting and smiled while trying to catch the receptionist's attention, but she didn't seem to see me. She might have been busy with something at her desk, but hospitality should be a priority.