Ban Loong Hotel

Rest was difficult: noise and conversations from the next room came through clearly. The air conditioner barely cooled the room, and a toilet leak kept dripping and left the floor wet. There was no battery in the TV remote either. The hotel is on the second floor with no lift, which was a hassle with luggage. I expected basic comfort from this 2-star place, but left disappointed.

We had a comfortable mattress and a clean bathroom, and I liked the scent of the shampoo and shower gel. There was no tissue roll in the room, though. We stayed in double deluxe room No. 5 for just a short spell, checking in at 11:45pm and leaving at 12 noon the next day. The room has no view, and an opening in the roof brings in natural air and light. It also served as a fire safety feature and, in the morning, an alarm of sorts. With the high ceiling, dust on the lights and air vents was noticeable. There are 3 private parking spaces in front, so no parking ticket is needed. A few old town Ipoh attractions are walkable, with plenty of shops and restaurants nearby.

A pleasant enough place, though my sleep suffered. The pillow was stiff and too thick, and even with the air conditioner on its coldest setting and the fan at full speed, it didn’t cool enough. Better pillows and more toiletries would help, since there was no toothpaste. They should also check and service the air conditioner.

Ipoh surprised me in a good way, with so many great restaurants and coffee shops, including plenty right by this hotel. I also loved the colonial buildings in the old town, though it’s sad to see them so run down. The hotel itself has a lot of character, converted from an old storage building, and you can feel that history as soon as you walk in. The family who owns it runs the place to a really good standard. I’d absolutely recommend stopping here.