De Botani Hotel

The room was clean, the bed was comfortable, and the bathroom looked clean and well cared for. There was Wi-Fi with decent speed, plus small free toiletries. I paid around RM130 including fees on booking(dot)com for a deluxe room listed as 17m x 17m. There’s a refundable RM50 damage deposit at checkout, and a RM3 government tax for locals. I’m not sure what tourists pay. For the price, I think it’s very good value and would recommend it.

I’d keep this place as a last choice, since there are a few better options nearby that you could look at first. The online room details aren’t clear, so check your choices carefully before booking. It’s easy to end up wasting money, since bookings are usually nonrefundable and can’t be customized. I’ve stayed at plenty of hotels with better customer service, including some cheaper ones that were managed much better.

The nice things were the considerate blonde receptionist, the decorated hangout area by reception, and the water dispenser. Unfortunately, we also ran into several room problems. We were in room 102. The electronic lock failed twice and we had to get reception to open it mechanically. The AC remote stopped working at one point. Reception said housekeeping would help, but the housekeeper tried the remote buttons repeatedly while looking at the AC and couldn’t fix it. The sink was already clogged when we checked in, with water draining very slowly. No one could help that evening. The housekeeper worked on it the next morning, but the clog came back soon after, though it wasn’t as bad.

The room had plenty of space for our family and was clean, so we didn’t feel cramped despite having many kids. There’s no elevator, but the staff were helpful and the stairs weren’t too much trouble for us. We spent one night here while visiting Ipoh. Being near Tasik Cermin made it a handy base for exploring. For an affordable family stay, the basic amenities were done well and the value was good. A convenient, comfortable option in that area.