Budget hotels are good if they serve their purpose

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OVER the past one year, budget hotels have been gradually mushrooming in Selangor especially in commercial centres near housing areas.

A visit to some areas revealed that these hotels are located in the middle area of shophouses. They have a distinct colour which could be easily spotted from far.

These hotels usually take up two floors and are fully air-conditioned, complete with bathroom attached, television and offers guests free wireless Internet usage throughout their stay.

Coffee-making and ironing facilities may not be available in some hotels as owners want to provide more room for movement. However, guests could request for such items at the check-in counter.

In Shah Alam budget hotels are found in most parts of the city especially in Section 13 and 7 where there are a number of tertiary institutions like University Teknologi Mara (UiTM), Management and Science University (MSU), University Selangor (Unisel) and the Advanced Management and Technology Centre (PTPL).

Making their presence felt: Most budget hotels are located in shop houses near busy commercial centres.

Tree Boutique Hotel in Section 7 which opened its doors in June this year had been well received by parents of students studying nearby, said Phoebe Owi, the hotel’s manager. “We are a very basic hotel and our main target is families visiting Shah Alam for short holidays,” said Owi, who was kind enough to take the writer on a short tour of the three-storey hotel.

The hotel normally has its peak season during school holidays and convocation week.

The hotel has little decorations — potted flowers, framed pictures of green sceneries to match its green and grey-coloured walls.

The staircase up its two floors were brightly lit and is equipped with CCTVs.

There is not much space in the rooms — just enough for guests to walk from their beds to the washroom.

“Most of our guests do not stay for long — maybe just one or two nights only,” said Owi.

Room types range from standard room with one queen sized bed to twin-bed rooms and a family suite with two queen sized bed in it.

Fairly large: These budget hotels even have family rooms with two queen sized beds in it.

Room rates range from as low as RM88 to RM138 per night at the hotel depending on the type of room.

Considering that the hotels are sandwiched between shophouses, only certain rooms have windows. This means guests will have to pay more if they need a room with window.

In Petaling Jaya, budget hotels are easily found in neighbourhoods like Kota Damansara, Damansara Uptown, SS2, Kelana Jaya and Sunway Mentari.

Besides catering to parents of students, these hotels are also a choice for those on business and family visits.

“Our rooms are usually full as we have guests from all over the country. Most of them are either visiting friends or on a one-day business trip,” said the receptionist at the My Home Hotel in Kota Damansara.

When asked if guests could view the rooms before deciding to check-in, he said they could but only in the morning and proceeded to show pictures of the rooms on its digital photo album placed at the check-in counter.

Similar to other budget hotels, My Home Hotel which has some 15 branches in the Klang Valley also has various choice of rooms to offer.

On its website, the hotel boasts itself to be a business hotel designed for businessman and leisure travellers.

The receptionist who declined to be named said the hotel is usually full and advised that one should make prior bookings before visiting the premise.

Although many residents interviewed were alarmed by the sudden increase of budget hotels in their neighbourhood but most of them agreed that it was a good option for all.

Resident Nasir Khan who lives in Section 11, Shah Alam said he was surprised when the hotels first made their debut near his home but he has no problems with it.

“My colleagues from Japan use to tell me how good these budget hotels are and how they can save money instead of having to stay at a five-star hotel.

“The hotels are well equipped with common facilities and they are very clean. You will be amazed with how some are so well designed,” said Nasir.

Big effort: Even though the walkway outside each room may be a bit narrow compared to larger hotels, the owners still make the effort to decorate it.

Another resident P. Raviwharmman said budget hotels are good if they serve the right purpose and not attracting social ills in the area.

“It is a good intention by the owners to provide outstation travellers with a more affordable choice but it should keep to its purpose of providing a place to stay,” he said.

Soo Wai Ching who lives in Kelana Jaya said when she first found out about the hotels in her area, she was curious to know who would choose to live there and why.

“It is funny to see hotels near a housing area but I now understand why.

“This is because relatives are able to live in a hotel near their family especially during festive seasons like Chinese New Year and Hari Raya at a cheaper option,” said Soo.

Besides My Home Hotel which is situated near the Kelana Jaya LRT station, Soo said she would also recommend the newly opened Good Hope Hotel to her relatives for its convenient location.

While Lesley Tan said budget hotels give travellers like backpackers who intend to visit other parts of the country a choice instead of just living in Kuala Lumpur alone.