Mandalar Arch 39 Hotel

I booked a room for five people. It was big but didn't feel spacious, and the layout wasn't really suitable for that many people. The decor was nice, though, and there's a net to sleep on. Good for kids.

The lobby is nice and the location is good, but the upper bunks in the Mixed Dorm are among the worst designed I've used. The ladders dig painfully into your feet and are so hard to climb that jumping down feels preferable. There are sinks on every floor, but no soap or hand wash, so I had to go to the shower area to get shower gel.

The beds were comfortable, the shared toilets were kept up well, and the cozy place has nice lighting and a chic interior. Breakfast is included, with toast, butter, jelly, coffee, and tea, and there are free snacks like cookies and cheese biscuits for late-night cravings. It's about 500 m from the walled city, near places to eat, and around 2 km from the Walking Street weekend night market. The receptionists were pleasant, but told us there was no Grab in town, even though there is. When we asked them for a cab, they charged triple the fare we found on Grab. Great value overall, just find transport outside the hotel. :D

The room itself was really nice, but cleanliness let the stay down. The bathroom wasn't clean when I checked in, and even after I gave feedback, nothing was done. Housekeeping in the daytime seemed to just make the beds and bring fresh towels. They didn't replace the room's glasses with clean ones. Some important things need improving.