Cozy Homestay at Palas Horizon @ Kea Farm/6 pax

Cleanliness needs work: there were visible stains around the homestay, and the network connection was slow. The security guards, though, were polite and made a welcoming first impression. Palas Horizon is handy for visiting Sungai Palas and Boh Tea Plantation, so the location is a real plus. Better cleaning and maintenance would make it a much better place for travelers.

We had trouble even before arriving, as we were repeatedly asked for a deposit two days ahead of check-in. On the day, we waited an hour to get the mailbox password for the apartment keys. At 11 that night, the lock on a bedroom door broke when we closed it, leaving someone stuck inside all night. They eventually had to climb out a window just to use the toilet. The managers said they couldn’t do anything until the next day, which threw off our plans. The sheets and pillows were dirty, and we also had hot water problems. The guards said other guests had complained about this company too. It was a horrible experience, and I’d never return to that apartment.

We drove two hours from Ipoh through a rainstorm, stayed inside for about ten minutes, then walked right back out and drove to Ipoh again. Total waste of our time and money. This could have been a decent budget stay if the cleaner had actually cleaned properly, but it was terrible. There were huge dead bugs that looked like they’d been there for weeks. The toilet had pee caked in it with dead bugs on top, there were bugs in the toilet bin, and an insect nest on one toilet floor and the sink. Two giant silkworm moths were there too, one on the toilet sink and one on the second toilet floor. The bedroom was dusty all over, which was a problem since my partner has asthma. The bed seemed clean and comfortable at first, but then we saw long hairs on the sheet and stains on the bedding. The kitchen was relatively clean, though its floor ledge was covered in old dirt, dust and insects.

The bathroom tiles get really slippery when wet, so be careful. Apart from that, it’s a beautiful apartment, with healthy, well-kept plants and fresh lilies to welcome you. It has cooking utensils and cutlery, plus complimentary drinking water, Maggie Mee and eggs. The beds were very comfortable, the sheets clean and the towels fresh.