Barrack Street Hotel

I wouldn’t call this good value. The building feels like a prison block, and everything is old and worn. It sits beside a busy road with constant traffic noise. Getting around on foot is tricky because there are no dedicated sidewalks nearby, and the streets aren’t lit at night. My room smelled of cigarette smoke. The shower barely worked, the sink leaked underneath and left me with a foot bath, and the air conditioner made a death rattle. I was going to give it two stars, but then I found two cockroaches in the room. There’s also no security: I accidentally unlocked the room below mine, so apparently the keys are interchangeable. Not good

There’s no lift, which makes this a poor choice for senior citizens. I was surprised by that. The location is good and convenient, and the fairly small rooms are comfortable enough for young people or small families. Just be aware that road traffic can make it hard to sleep.

For what we paid, my family and I had a pleasant stay. The room was cosy, clean, and tidy, and I’d be happy to stay again. There are plenty of cafes and restaurants within walking distance, which I really liked. It’s not somewhere you go to spend the day, just a place to come back to in the evening and sleep. Yes, it can be noisy, but it’s a low-rise building beside a main road. Turning up the air conditioning drowned out the sound for us. I don’t understand complaints that seem to expect a royal suite at this price.

The rooms are cosy, and the place is super clean and well maintained, though nothing fancy. Uncle and Aunty have stayed here twice now, and we keep coming back for the central Taiping location. The Lake Gardens and Train Station are an easy walk away. We also like the desk managers Yati and Shahrul. And if you’re a coffee person, Kee Nguyen is right across the street.