Paramount Hotel

The verandah has an in-house eatery and cafe serving traditional Hainanese food, with a spectacular view across the sea to the mainland. It works well for couples, small families, or groups. Paramount Hotel keeps much of its charm from its early busy days and remains tucked away from the tourist trail, even with trendier places nearby in the Heritage area. My older relatives, who passed by before the Japanese occupation when they were young, said it was one of the more luxurious places to stay on the island. It’s an old dame from well before Malaya became Malaysia, and the seafront view is still quite spectacular.

The aircon in this room is less noisy than the one we had before, which is one plus. We came back today because most hotels were full for the long weekend, but as soon as we walked in, a gap between the floor tiles looked like an accident waiting to happen. They sent someone with super glue. We said it wouldn’t hold and asked him to find tape instead. The toiletries are very basic, with no slippers and just two bath towels. Two days ago, the aircon clonked noisily the whole time. We reported it to the front desk; they checked while we were out, then said they’d send someone again. A guy came but couldn’t fix it, said he’d get his brother, and never returned. They changed the towels, but the room wasn’t cleaned; our shoes were exactly where we’d left them. I’ve travelled a lot, and this was the only disposable toothbrush I’ve seen that really seemed meant for one use.

The staff have all been friendly and helpful during the few days I’ve stayed here. It’s a budget hotel without frills, which was fine since that’s not what I wanted. It’s right on the beach, with a restaurant next door. The old colonial style is beautiful and makes for a great cultural experience.

It’s a lovely turn of the century building, with large rooms and very good value. Might not suit everyone, but we’d return and recommend it.