Good service and location, but room condition and pre-booking transparency need improvement
We booked two different room types: a one-bedroom unit with living room and a Studio.
First, the positives. The service team was responsive and helpful through WhatsApp. The standard check-in was 3:00 PM, but when we asked at around 1:30 PM whether early check-in was possible, they managed to let us check in at approximately 1:45 PM. We genuinely appreciated this.
The location was good and the property itself has good potential. Unfortunately, the condition of the units did not quite match what we expected for the price paid.
The one-bedroom + living room unit had an unpleasant smell, visible pre-existing damage to the decorative wall below the TV and other wall maintenance issues. The bedroom door also felt unusually thin and lightweight, affecting the sense of privacy and sound insulation.
The Studio unit had no usable curtain covering the large glass window/balcony door beside the bed, affecting privacy and rest. We later found what appeared to be the curtain stored in a drawer, but the required holding bar was missing so we could not reinstall it.
We also found broken plastic components stored in a kitchen cupboard. More importantly, the entrance-door strike plate was loose and the surrounding frame showed cracking. We sometimes had to manually press the strike plate into position in order to properly close and lock the door.
These appeared to be pre-existing maintenance issues.
Another surprise was that detailed House Rules were only provided through WhatsApp on the day of check-in. These included no daily housekeeping, no replacement of towels/linen/amenities during the stay, and a requirement for guests to dispose of their own rubbish before checkout.
We understand that an apartment/residence operates differently from a full-service hotel, and we do not expect 5-star hotel service. However, important service conditions should be clearly disclosed before booking and payment so travellers can make an informed choice.
Likewise, an apartment does not need to be perfect. Cosmetic wear can be acceptable. But known defects or missed maintenance should ideally be addressed before check-in or communicated to the guest beforehand, particularly when they affect privacy, security or normal use of the room.
As travellers, we also do not expect to become room inspectors immediately after arrival, photographing every existing scratch, damaged wall or fitting simply to establish that we did not cause it.
For the price paid, the condition unfortunately felt below some less expensive inns/hotels we have previously stayed in.
This is not a bad property. The location is good, the service team was responsive, and with better maintenance and pre-arrival quality control it could be a very nice place to stay.
Our main disappointment was the loss of informed choice. Had we known the actual condition and service arrangements beforehand, we could have accepted them, requested another available unit, or chosen different accommodation before arriving.
Overall: good service, good location and good potential, but room maintenance, quality control and transparency before booking need improvement.
