Royal Hotel

The location is handy: it’s beside Pasar Malam Bintulu, close to several banks, with a kopitiam next to the lobby that seems open 24 hours. I booked through Airpaz, and the rate is definitely cheap for Bintulu. The room had a kettle and glasses, but no free coffee or tea, and the “hot” water wasn’t even warm enough. Food prices were nearby, but the rest of the stay made me wish I’d paid a bit more for somewhere cleaner and more comfortable. Noise was a major problem. The pub downstairs gets especially loud on weekends, with people screaming and singing karaoke at 2-3 AM. The room smelled strongly of cigarette smoke, and there was even a glass ashtray provided, as if smoking indoors was encouraged. Cleanliness was a big letdown too. The toilet was yellowish around the sides, the duvet and mattress had questionable stains, and the curtains were really dirty, banyak daki! Water had collected in the window rail and was moldy and disgusting. The noise, smell, and dirt ruined the experience.

It’s next to the Bintulu night market, so you can pick up food and basic supplies nearby. The room was fairly clean, but there was only a water heater, no tea, coffee, or sugar. The towels were thin and a bit crusty from long use. And the old bed was bent in the middle and so hard. I’ve never slept on one this bad.

Good value for the money, with a comfortable, clean room. There are plenty of food shops nearby, and the night market is close too.

There’s food around here and night markets nearby, so it’s good value for money.