Ryokan Chic Hotel

I was hurrying to a concert and didn’t have cash for the RM200 deposit, so I paid by card. I’ve called the hotel several times, but the deposit still hasn’t been refunded.

I saw someone say a RM120 room felt worth only RM50, and I agree. The hotel’s name is fancy and cute, but the stay was disappointing. The bathroom and the steps leading to it get very slippery after a shower. The mattress was uncomfortable, almost like sleeping on a toto. And the room didn’t match Agoda’s photos at all. The listing showed a window, but when I arrived it seemed I’d have to upgrade to get one. The deposit process was frustrating too. At 10PM, when we checked in exhausted, the front desk said cash was the only option. My husband asked again about paying online and was told QR payment was possible, but the refund would take the next two months. At checkout, the receptionist then said we had to come back to collect the deposit. The management should make this easier and more in line with how customers pay now.

I don’t usually complain, but I’ve never had hotel service this bad. The room smelled unpleasant and there was no mineral water. The woman in charge was unfriendly and spoke quite rudely. They took a RM200 deposit. I had no cash and asked about paying by credit card or e-wallet. She said an e-wallet refund would take a month because their accounts are outsourced. More than a month later, my money still hadn’t arrived. When I called, the person in charge kept passing responsibility around and spoke to me unpleasantly.

I stayed because Starling Mall was close to where I had to work on the weekend, but I won’t return. At RM120, the room felt worth less than RM50. It was old, run down, and small, and looked very different from the Agoda pictures. The carpet was sticky, towels and sheets were stained, and ants were everywhere, even climbing onto my luggage. I had to move my laptop off the table too. Wouldn’t recommend it for business or leisure, maybe only for backpackers.