Imperio Residence with Private Bathtub by Lets Stay

The staff and security were genuinely friendly, and the room itself was new and stylish, with a lovely sea view. Still, I wouldn’t rush back. It could be a nice place once the building work is finished and the problems are sorted out. Finding it was difficult. The booking site showed the wrong location, about a 15-minute walk from the actual place, and the entrance is around the back down a closed road. We arrived at about 23:15, even though the site said check-in was open until midnight. We only caught the staff as they were leaving. I don’t know what we would’ve done if we’d been a minute later. There was a strong, sickly chemical smell, like paint, in the room and corridors. I assume it was because the building was new, but I’m not sure. Running the fan and aircon barely helped. The next morning we found the windows could open, which cleared most of the smell, or maybe we’d just got used to it. Other problems: the bathtub leaked, so the water drained away unless we left the taps running. One towel and several bedsheets had stains. There was no kettle, so I boiled water in a frying pan, then noticed it had a bit of rust. No washing machine detergent was provided, and there was only one small toilet roll. When we asked for more after 6pm, we were told we’d have to wait until the next day. There was no bottled water. The TV had few channels and such a weak signal that it was pretty much unwatchable.

The pool is nice, and the building has a good view. I had trouble getting in from around the 7th or 8th floor, though. Even with my access card, I couldn’t enter the premises. The place is good to stay at, but the empty ground floor could use more convenience stores and F&B shops, plus facilities like a gym.

The room in the Oyo home was nice, with fresh decor and furniture, but I hated stepping outside it. The corridors were dusty, the lift lobby looked dull and very dusty, and the parking area was a mess of construction materials. CCTV wasn’t operating yet. The building also didn’t feel fully finished, and construction or renovation noise from morning to night was annoying. I’d asked OYO before arriving whether the pool was fully open and was told it was. After I arrived and paid in full, including the deposit, I was told it was closed for maintenance because a foreigner had been injured the day before. I’d brought my kid so they could swim, and going three nights without that was very frustrating. Cancelling the trip was difficult, and I knew getting a refund from OYO would be hard too. I hope OYO gives accurate information in future. Getting customers to stay just to fill the property feels insincere. Note: the pool was closed from 27 July 2019, with no confirmed reopening date. Better avoid this place for a vacation over the next three weeks.

The place was spacious and clean, and the nearby mall at the hatten place is within walking distance for anything you need. There isn’t a mall at imperio residence. The property still needs a lot of improvement and upgrades, though. Having to “rent” a kettle and iron for two hours is a big no. Parking on level 6 felt quiet and dark, so I’d prefer to park on the ground floor.