Golden Seagulls Hotel

The experience was appalling. Most of the staff, with a few exceptions, seemed unwilling to help, and communication was very poor. Apart from one night receptionist, the cleaning staff, and one woman in the cafeteria, everyone was difficult to deal with. There were several cockroaches in our first room, and my wife and I killed them before we got moved for the next night. The replacement room was much better, though baby cockroaches were still near the bathroom. The room itself is spacious, with large comfortable beds, some newly renovated areas, and a balcony that was good value. The bathroom was just okay. We had booked buffet breakfasts through Agoda/Trip, and the hotel advertised them heavily, but instead we were sent food. No one could explain it clearly, and the reasons they gave made no sense. It became a bitterly funny moment with other guests ordering delivery, even poolside by the restaurant, to show their frustration. Worse, it seems cockroaches had gotten into the kitchen. Staff were pouring hot water into cupboards to flush them out. An egg had also been laid on the tissues packaged with the cutlery, likely while they were stored, and those tissues were then put with my wife's cutlery. She nearly ate one. It smelled bad, and the whole thing was unacceptable and traumatizing for us. Getting around was easy enough: cabs came quickly and reached the main roads fast, and food delivery drivers found the place convenient. Much of the hotel seems to have been bought by a big China owner, and the convenience stores and Chinese food places there were better than the hotel food. It's a huge shame, because you can see what they were trying to do. This was possibly one of the three worst hotel experiences I've had, made worse because I brought my wife on my business trip for the first time.

The big pool can fit quite a few people, and there's a gym too. Breakfast is decent for the room prices, although the buffet takes a while to refill. The rooms are large and the rates are competitive, but they're bare, without a fridge, microwave, or even a TV rack. Staff were very nice and helpful, and I didn't see cockroaches during my stay. The hotel has potential, though the location feels a bit secluded, with no nearby establishments and an uninviting surrounding area.

The view from the back of the hotel is the main attraction, and the family suite is large, though it feels empty. There's no mini fridge or microwave, the hallway on my floor smelled bad, and the door had no double lock. Outside feels like a ghost town. There isn't much to see, and it's all Chinese restaurants. You need to book a Grab to get out, since it's a long way to somewhere you can catch a bus or jeep.

I had a pleasant night here, with a clean, spacious room and no insects. It had a sofa, TV, and a roomy closet. The hot and cold shower worked perfectly, and there was also a sink and cupboards, though I didn't use the electric kettle. The location suited me well, close to Parqal for my visa processing.