The Batik Hotel Ternate

I reserved a vehicle to take my family to the port at 10 am. At 9:50, I went to the lobby to check that it was ready before checking out. The staff said the driver had just gone to the airport with someone else and would need at least 30 minutes to return. He took even longer than that. What happened to my reservation? Luckily, I hadn’t brought my baby downstairs or checked out yet, or we’d have been stranded. Nobody even called the hotel phone to tell me the driver had left. When I asked why I wasn’t notified, the staff member just said, “well I told him at 10 am.” They don’t seem to understand how to handle reservations, and the service and communication were poor, both among staff and with guests. That wasn’t the only issue. The day before, after booking, I WhatsApped the hotel to ask if they could turn on the AC around 3 pm. My flight was at 3 pm, and the hotel was only several minutes away, so I wanted the room to be cool when I arrived. The person confirmed my room and assured me they’d do it. When I got there, the room wasn’t ready and I waited almost an hour. The staff member I spoke to said she didn’t know about my request because it wasn’t her shift. If they couldn’t provide that service, they should have told me so I could be prepared. They could have said it wasn’t guaranteed, and I wouldn’t have got my hopes up. The lack of communication was already clear. I’d never stay at this hotel again.

The listing on Tiket.com described the so-called New superior room as having a balcony, but I was given a windowless room. At reception, they told me these were the rooms for Tiket.com clients and the hotel wasn’t responsible for the incorrect description. Sorry, but the hotel provides the description on a platform, it isn’t created by the platform itself. Batik hotel doesn’t honestly describe the room when it says there’s a balcony, and nowhere does it mention that the room has no windows. There was no coffee, tea, or water bouler either, despite those amenities being listed. I was very disappointed. My advice is to stay away from what looks like a nice offer at this hotel, or you’ll probably be disappointed too.

The receptionists are friendly and helpful, and the building is new, with an elevator so you don’t have to haul your luggage up stairs. They accept credit and debit cards. The room is compact, with clean bedding and a clean bathroom. I did wonder whether all the shower handles are placed at waist height. Breakfast choices were limited: rice, chicken curry with coconut milk that was a bit too much for breakfast, fried tempe, and mixed vegetables. There was also standard bread with butter and jam, plus tea, coffee, and water.

I stayed from August 20 to August 21 - 2016, while traveling to Labuha and Obi Island. The room was ugly, very smelly, and unbelievably poor for the displayed published rate. There was no hanger or coffee maker, and the bathroom amenities were like a no-star hotel. Breakfast wasn’t recommended. The cable TV didn’t work. I called reception and they said an engineering staff member would come, but nobody showed up even after an hour. I wouldn’t call this hotel up to any star classification standard.