Our Eid al-Fitr holiday in Bukittinggi, which should have been a once-a-year special and highly anticipated event, didn't go as we had hoped when we stayed here.
What's commendable is the staff's patience and calm in handling our complaints, and their prompt assistance in obtaining a refund despite the drama.
However, the stay itself was very disappointing. From the start, the cafe looked dirty during the day, with trash strewn everywhere. The waiting room felt stuffy and had a strong musty odor. We tried to think positively, considering the hotel's strategic location, close to the Clock Tower.
Unfortunately, the room was far worse. It was stuffy, the curtains smelled of urine, the bathroom ceiling was open, claiming it was under renovation, and dust was visible in many places. Furthermore, there were mosquitoes and mites flying around. The bathroom lights were dim, and the floor was slippery due to the inappropriate type of tile used for the bathroom.
Parking is available in front of the hotel, but during peak season, it's very difficult to find a spot. We even had a dispute with the parking attendant from the neighboring inn who refused to allow parking in the front area, even though the parking lot was already full with cafe patrons. As a result, we parked in the parking lot, which cost 10,000 Rupiah for less than 2 hours.
In conclusion, this experience was enough for us. Perhaps we were considered too picky with the 1 million Rupiah rental fee for 3 nights, but we think the expectation of a clean and comfortable place to stay with the family is reasonable. However, we felt we were being ripped off by paying 333,000 Rupiah per night for facilities that were far from adequate.