Grand Plaza Hotel

For what I paid, this was a really good value, and I’d stay again. The hotel is near the beach and shops, with free, secure parking, a recently renovated lobby, and a clean room. The AC worked, the pillow was fluffy, the sheets had no stains, soap and shampoo were provided, and there was hot water. A few things fell short: there were no washcloths, the bed wasn’t soft, and I could hear everything from the hallway and neighboring rooms. I assume the firm bed is typical for Asia.

There’s an elderly waitress at the hotel who seems to have trouble hearing customers and understanding what they’re saying. I think she should see a doctor and shouldn’t be working here.

I book here for last-minute trips because it’s budget-friendly, near restaurants and shops, and check-in is usually easy. As a solo traveler, I haven’t had any safety issues. You’ll need a taxi for the airport. Otherwise, many shuttle stops nearby can take you to the malls, Village of Donki, or nearby resorts. Book those separately on the shuttle’s website. The shuttle the Donki does also takes cash.

The location was okay, with plenty of restaurants and bars nearby, but our room and the service were awful. My sister and I waited about 25 minutes for someone to get us a cart, then gave up. The lobby counter was dirty and smelled strange. The room had an old smell, cigarette odor, and dirty floors. Both beds had stained sheets with hairs on them, so we asked housekeeping for replacements and changed them ourselves. The bathroom wasn’t clean either, with hair everywhere, and the air-con filter was packed with dust. Before leaving for my sister’s appointment in the morning, we asked for our trash to be taken out, the sheets changed, and fresh towels brought. When we returned in the evening, none of it had been done.