Palmy Exclusive Hotel Berau

At 850,000 for a grand deluxe, I expected the basics. The toiletries were two-in-one shampoo and body wash, with no body lotion or cotton buds. When I asked, they said they didn’t have any. Breakfast was bad. At a price of 400k, that part is understandable.

I stay here for work several times a year because the location is better than the other options. It’s one of the better hotels around, compared with Bumi Segah, and given what’s available locally, it comes closest to a five-star experience, though it falls well short of what I’d normally expect. I’m still waiting for Mercure to open. The rooms aren’t soundproof, so you hear a lot from the neighbors. Staff at reception, housekeeping, and the restaurant didn’t greet us at all, and they need hospitality training. Breakfast runs until 10, but they turn off the warmers at 9, so the food is cold. It wasn’t very tasty either, though still among the better options compared with similar hotels. As an Indonesian, I found that embarrassing. I’d get breakfast somewhere else.

The buffet cost $10, and I’ve never had a “buffet” this bad. Music from the 8th floor was also extremely loud until midnight. I complained to the front desk, but nothing changed. A very bad experience.

The venue looks good, and there’s a nice gym with restaurants nearby. Registration took a long time, though, and the bathroom felt cramped. The furniture was squeezed into the room, making it hard to pray shalat. Prices aren’t suited to budget travelers. I skipped breakfast all four days, so I can’t say how it was.