Hotel Palmy

The receptionist was very polite and helpful with directions and advice, and the room wasn't the cleanest. What really bothered me was that the lights couldn't be turned off. After looking for the switch for ten minutes, I asked the concierge, who politely said the design meant they couldn't be switched off. See the photo of that irritating night light below. It's overpriced and definitely not a three-star hotel. I've never had a room where the lights wouldn't turn off before, but I guess there's a first for everything.

There were a few problems, and it started with the hotel overcharging guests who book directly. Strange, but that's what happened. There was a stench in the room at first. It cleared after I opened the windows and doors, ran water through all the taps, and turned on the AC. Then there's the mold in the bathroom, which looks like a health hazard the hotel is letting grow. The room lock also failed, the view from the expensive room was poor, and the walls were paper thin. Needless to say, I won't stay here again.

I slept comfortably here, with a clean room and a comfortable bed. Breakfast was just average. There are two Palmy hotels in Berau: Palmy is by the river, near plenty of food vendors, while the newer Palmy Executive is right in the city centre.

The room had a modern look, a comfortable bed, a desk to work at, and a decent bathroom for a good shower. The main drawback was a noticeable smell from the toilet. Oya at the front desk was very hospitable during check-in and check-out for our one-night stay, and she handled our questions and requests kindly. I’d recommend it for a reasonably priced stay focused on the basics.