Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hotel CIQ, Johor Bahru's Hidden Gem!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because I'm about to dive headfirst into the rabbit hole (or rather, the luxury rabbit hole) that is Hotel CIQ, Johor Bahru's Hidden Gem! This isn't your cookie-cutter hotel review, folks. I'm gonna get messy, honest, and maybe a little too enthusiastic. Prepare yourselves…
First Impressions & Accessibility - Or, "Can I Actually GET There?"
Okay, so the "Hidden Gem" part? Yeah, it's kinda true. Hotel CIQ isn't exactly on the main drag. But that's alright, eh? Because, they offer Airport Transfer, which is a godsend. Seriously. Johor Bahru isn't exactly the easiest place to navigate if you're fresh off the plane. And the Car Park [free of charge] and Valet Parking are both HUGE wins, especially if you're driving your own chariot.
Now, about the Accessibility… This is important, yeah? They boast Facilities for Disabled Guests but I need MORE DETAILS than that hotel! I need to know if the Wheelchair accessible rooms are EASY to navigate, and whether elevators and public areas are readily accessible! It's 2024, people! Let's get this right, eh? If I had a wheelchair i'd want to make absolutely sure before booking!
They do list a Doorman which is cool, and the Elevator is definitely a plus. The Concierge had better be helpful too, because navigating the chaos that is JB can be a trial. I’d like to know more, and I'll be making sure to do my research before recommending it to someone with mobility issues, but I like the fact they are aware of the topic, the fact that they have a few key points in the right direction!
The Rooms: Where "Unbelievable Luxury" Begins?
Alright, so, the rooms. I'm a sucker for a comfy bed. They offer Extra long bed, and I'm already picturing myself sinking into a cloud. The Blackout curtains are a MUST for this light sleeper, and the Air conditioning is a non-negotiable in Johor. (Side note: always check the air con. Trust me on this one).
They say there's Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! and Internet access – wireless, and Internet access – LAN. Okay, I'm SOLD. I can't function without the internet, and I appreciate having options! The Laptop workspace and Desk are good news, because I'm always working. The Safe box is a relief for keeping valuables safe, and Mini bar is a nice touch.
However… I'm seeing Non-smoking rooms which is great, but I have no mention of pets! Is this place pet-friendly? Does it have a pet-friendly service? (I'll call them and find out). There are also a lot of listed amenities that need to be tested. I wouldn't book a place assuming that all those amenities are on the same level.
Cleanliness & Safety: The New Normal
Okay, I NEED to know about this. The world is a little nutty right now. They list Anti-viral cleaning products, Rooms sanitized between stays, Staff trained in safety protocol, and Daily disinfection in common areas. Good. Also Hand sanitizers and First aid kit. These are good signs of the times! This is reassuring to see, lets face it. I'd prefer a place that takes it seriously!
They even offer, Room sanitization opt-out available. Which is neat! If you don't want them to clean every single day… I can imagine that I would be a bit skeptical about all this cleaning, however, and would double check the air filters inside the room!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Stomach is Demanding Answers!
Alright, let's talk food, the true measure of a hotel. The main question that burns like a fire in my belly is, what can I eat? They list a bunch: Restaurants, Coffee shop, Snack bar. Yes, to all!
Now, for the nitty gritty. Breakfast [buffet]? Yes, please. Asian breakfast? Ooh, intrigued. Western breakfast? Always a safe bet. A la carte in restaurant? Good if the buffet's letting me down! I'm also curious as to the Breakfast in room and the Breakfast takeaway service, because I'm occasionally a grumpy creature who just wants to stay in bed.
Here's where it gets interesting… They advertise Alternative meal arrangement, Vegetarian restaurant, and Asian cuisine in restaurant. Excellent. It hints at a good variety. The Desserts in restaurant and Happy hour are already making me smile. I want that Poolside bar and the Bottle of water, because hydration is key, my friends. Room service [24-hour]? Sign me up.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Let's Get Pampered!
Okay, so you're finally chilling here, right? What happens then? They list a HUGE amount. Let's start with the wellness options.
- Spa? Check.
- Sauna? Check, Check.
- Steamroom? Okay, now we're talking.
- Massage? Yes, please!
- Body scrub? Sounds intriguing…
- Body wrap? Fancy!
- Foot bath? The perfect way to end the day.
And there's more! A Pool with view, a Swimming pool [outdoor], and a Fitness center?! Wow, they really have it all.
Services & Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
Okay, let's be real. It's the little things that make a hotel stay truly memorable. They list a wide array of services:
- Laundry service and Dry cleaning: Essential. No one wants to do laundry on vacation.
- Concierge and Doorman: Always appreciated.
- Luggage storage: A lifesaver for early arrivals or late departures.
- Currency exchange and Cash withdrawal: Super convenient, especially for international travelers.
- Daily housekeeping: Keeps everything spick and span.
- Gift/souvenir shop: Great for picking up something for the folks back home.
For the Kids & for Business
For the Kids: Babysitting service, family/child friendly, kids facilities, kids meal. So there is something there. I'l call to make sure it is ok.
Business Facilities A few: Business facilities, audio-visual equipment for special events, indoor venue for special events, meetings, meeting/banquet facilities: I love the idea of staying here for business, too.
The Honest Verdict (and a little rant!)
Okay, so here's the deal. Hotel CIQ sounds promising. The room amenities are impressive, the wellness offerings are tempting, and the food sounds delicious. The cleanliness protocols are reassuring, and the services are solid.
However, I NEED MORE CONCRETE examples: I wish they had more photos of the room and all public facilities! That would make me feel much more confident.
My Quirky Offer to You:
Hey, are you ready to treat yourself like the royalty you were born to be? You're already a star! What are you waiting for? I am going to ask the Hotel a few more questions, and if the details I need match what is listed… I'm in. This is more than just a hotel; it's a gateway to relaxation, rejuvenation, and pure, unadulterated bliss.
Don't wait! Book your stay at Hotel CIQ, Johor Bahru's Hidden Gem, today and experience the magic for yourself.
Riyadh's Hidden Gem: Dabab Hotel by Warwick - Unbelievable Luxury Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into a chaotic adventure in Johor Bahru, specifically the legendary (and sometimes infuriating) Hotel CIQ. This isn't your meticulously planned, color-coded itinerary – this is more like a scrapbook of exploding memories, held together by duct tape and sheer willpower. Expect tangents, meltdowns, and the occasional existential crisis. Let's do this!
The Hotel CIQ Debacle: A "Tour" of Sorts (and a Lotta Coffee)
Day 1: Arrival & the Great Luggage Tango
- 1:00 PM: Touchdown at Senai Airport (JHB). Okay, so technically, I touched down. My luggage, however, decided to play hide-and-seek in Kuala Lumpur. First sign this trip was gonna be a dumpster fire, but hey, free luggage allowance for the next few days? I’ll take it.
- 2:00 PM: Taxi to Hotel CIQ. "Ah, CIQ," I thought, feeling optimistic about the trip after a long flight. The taxi driver seemed to know every shortcut and pothole in Johor Bahru. Let me tell you, those roads are testing my suspension, my patience, and my bladder.
- 2:30 PM: Check-In Hell. The lobby – a symphony of confused faces, questionable air conditioning, and the faint aroma of… something I couldn’t quite place. My booking was, of course, inexplicably lost. After an hour of pleading, begging, and subtly threatening to sleep on the check-in counter (kidding… mostly…) I miraculously got a key card. My room? A glorious, slightly-musty haven.
- 3:30 PM: The Room Reveal. Okay, it's not the Ritz, but hey, it's a room. The aircon blasts like a jet engine. I’m not sure if it’s cooling or just fighting the humidity to a sweaty standstill. I have two choices: freeze or melt. I opt for both, alternating between cranking the AC and fanning myself dramatically. But the view? Actually, it was the back alley, with a garbage truck rumbling around. Charm.
- 4:00 PM: Coffee Run (Panic Fuel). Downstairs, I found the coffee shop - a lifeline. The coffee wasn't the best, but it made me feel less like a dehydrated, jet-lagged zombie. I made it my mission to get myself fueled up, so I can take on this trip with full energy. And lots of ranting.
- **Evening: Investigating the Local Food. **
- 7:00 PM: Exploring the Area. So, first impressions of the area around Hotel CIQ? Let's just say, it's "vibrant." Lots of shops, lots of traffic, and a cacophony of sounds. I wandered, feeling a bit lost, and very overwhelmed.
- Dinner After a long day, hunger begins to set in. I start searching for local food. I had hoped to find street vendors hawking delicious food, but I wasn't sure how to find them. So I asked around! People were directing me up and down the street, so I ultimately follow the crowd to find a local eatery. The food was amazing – spicy, flavorful, and probably not too good for my perpetually sensitive stomach. But I didn't care, I ate everything! Worth the potential consequence.
- Night: Regroup and Recover. After food coma, I collapsed into bed. Journaling my day, writing out my thoughts, all of the good things and bad things I might have had.
Day 2: The CIQ Experience: A Deep Dive
- Morning (approx. 8:00 AM): The Buffet of Existential Dread. Breakfast at Hotel CIQ. Where to begin? The "juice" was, well, a vaguely citrus-flavored liquid. The eggs? Rubbery and unenthusiastic. The nasi lemak, however, was surprisingly good, a beacon of hope in a sea of mediocrity. I swear I saw a cockroach near the fruit tray. I decided to ignore it, because, well, what else can you do?
- 9:00 AM: A Bridge Too Far (Literally). I decided to attempt crossing the causeway, a bridge that connects Malaysia to Singapore. I didn't make it. The lines were ridiculous, the crowds were a nightmare, and the thought of passport control made me want crawl into a ball. It was so bad, my patience wore thin and I almost lost it!
- 11:00 AM: The Mall of Lost Souls. I decided to cut my losses at the causeway and find the nearest mall. Now, I'm not normally a mall person, but the air conditioning was calling my name. "City Square" loomed before me, a colossal testament to consumerism. I got lost in the labyrinth of shops. I needed a caffeine boost, so I found another coffee shop, and the people was less busy so I can feel more peace and find something to enjoy.
- Afternoon: Back to the Hotel. Returning back to the hotel, I took time to work on my journal. I was feeling so lost, so I had to write down everything to sort it out. Later on, the same day, I decided to venture out into the city. There was another small local eatery, so I took my chances, and got the food again. I can't lie, it was really delicious.
- Night: The Soundtrack of Sleep. The hotel noise was real. Police sirens, traffic, late night music. I swear the guy in the room next door was tap-dancing in his sleep. I was never really able to sleep through the night, but it didn't hurt much.
Day 3: Winding Down (or Maybe More Chaos?)
- Morning: A Final Breakfast of Sorts. The same rubbery eggs, the same vaguely citrus-flavored juice. But this time, I was almost used to it. Or maybe, I'd lost my will to care.
- 10:00 AM: Packing (with a Side of Panic). My luggage still hasn't arrived. I’m considering buying a whole new wardrobe just to avoid the sheer indignity of it all.
- 11:00 AM: Final Thoughts and Reflections. So, Hotel CIQ. It was… an experience. Messy, frustrating, and occasionally terrifying. But also, it was real. It was an adventure. And, despite everything, I wouldn't trade it for anything.
(This is where the itinerary would normally outline departure details, but let's be honest, I’m probably scrambling around in a panic, trying to find my keys.)
Final Assessment:
- Hotel CIQ Score: 6/10 (Minus points for cockroach sightings and questionable air conditioning. Plus points for surprisingly decent nasi lemak and the raw, unfiltered "experience").
- Overall JB Score: 7/10 (The city is chaotic, yes, but also teeming with energy, delicious food, and a certain undeniable charm. I’ll be back, probably. With better luggage.)
- Emotional State: Exhausted. Exasperated. But also, strangely, exhilarated. I've survived. I've seen things. And I have stories to tell.
This, my friends, is the true essence of travel. Embrace the mess. Laugh at the chaos. And always, always, pack extra coffee. Now, where's that key…
Makati Dream Home: Stunning 2BR Air Residences Condo!
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hotel CIQ, Johor Bahru's Hidden Gem?
Let's Get Real (and Slightly Messy) About It...
Is Hotel CIQ REALLY "unbelievable luxury," or is that just marketing fluff?
Okay, *unbelievable*? That's a bold claim, right? Look, I've seen some hotels, alright? Been around the block, slept on some questionable mattresses (shudders). Hotel CIQ... yeah, it's *good*. Like, *really* good. Is it Buckingham Palace level? No. But for Johor Bahru, and especially for being right there near the border, it's a damn fine establishment. Think of it as the luxury you *actually* want, not the stuffy kind that feels like you're walking on eggshells. The marble in the lobby? Slick. The service? Generally top-notch, though I did wait a solid 20 minutes for a club sandwich once, which, honestly, made me question all my life choices. But hey, it was a *good* club sandwich when it arrived. Perfectly toasted. See? Still thinking about that sandwich...
What can I expect from the rooms? Are they actually spacious?
Spacious? Yes! Especially if you snag one of the suites. I'm a bit of a space hog, confession time. My partner, well, bless her heart, she's tidy. So a spacious room is MANDATORY for a peaceful trip. And Hotel CIQ delivered big time on this. Walk-in closet? Check. HUGE bed you can legitimately starfish on? Check. A bathroom with more mirrors than a Hall of Mirrors? Check! Okay, maybe not *that* many mirrors, but it's pretty close. The view... well, it depends on which room you get. Some look out over the city, some over the... well, the city again. Don't expect a breathtaking ocean view unless they've secretly moved the ocean. But hey, it's clean, comfortable, and you won't feel like you're crammed into a shoebox. That's a win in my book.
Is the location really as convenient as they say, being near CIQ (Customs, Immigration, and Quarantine)?
Oh, HELL YES. That's the big draw, isn't it? It's like, stumble-out-of-the-hotel-walk-five-minutes-and-you're-in-Singapore convenient. Honestly, it’s a lifesaver if you're doing a quick hop across the causeway. I've battled the morning rush hour before, the endless queues, the general chaos... This hotel? Makes the whole border crossing thing... bearable. Actually, more than bearable. Enjoyable! (said with an almost disturbing level of enthusiasm). You can literally see the CIQ complex from some rooms. It's so close, I half expected to hear the immigration officers yelling through the window, "NEXT!" (They didn't, thankfully.) Saves you a ton of time and stress. Totally worth it for that alone, in my slightly sleep-deprived opinion.
What about the food? Is the hotel restaurant any good? And the breakfast buffet?
Okay, so the food... this is where it gets a *little* complicated. The hotel restaurant is... fine. It's not going to win any Michelin stars, but it's perfectly acceptable after a long day of... well, whatever you're doing in JB. They have the usual suspects – burgers, pasta, some local dishes. I had a laksa once; it was… aLaksa-ble. (I'm not proud of that pun). The presentation was lovely though, which is a bonus.
The breakfast buffet? *Ahhh*, that's a whole other story. Now, I *love* a good breakfast buffet. It's my happy place. And Hotel CIQ's? Not bad. Not bad at all. They have everything you'd expect: eggs cooked to order, pastries, fruit, some local delicacies, and, crucially, *coffee*. The coffee is important, trust me. I, personally, could spend a solid hour just grazing at the buffet, judging the quality of the sausages, and contemplating the meaning of life. (Okay, maybe just judging the sausages). The only downside? It does get busy, so be prepared for a bit of a scrum. Pro-tip: Arrive early. Or just embrace the controlled chaos. It's part of the experience, right?
What kind of amenities does the hotel offer? Pool? Gym? Spa?
Yes, yes, and YES! They’ve got the whole shebang, pretty much. A decent-sized pool? Check. Gym that I, personally, have never used but looked quite impressive from afar? Check. A spa where you can get pampered and forget all your worries? Double check! Now, about that spa...
I had a *MASSAGE*. And it was incredible. Like, the kind of massage that makes you question all your life choices in a good way. I emerged from that room feeling like a completely different person. Tension melted away, my muscles felt… reborn. I floated back to my room, ready to conquer the world (or at least, the breakfast buffet). Seriously, do yourself a favor and book a massage. It's worth it. Trust me, after battling those queues at the border, you’ll need it. The whole experience was so relaxing that I briefly considered living in the spa. Then I remembered I was allergic to cucumber water. So, back to reality it was, but with a newfound love for massages.
Is there anything *bad* about the hotel? Be honest!
Okay, okay, I'll be honest. Nothing is perfect, right? Here's the deal:
* **Noise:** If you’re a light sleeper, you might hear some traffic noise from the nearby roads. It's not a constant roar, but it's there. Earplugs might be your friend.
* **The occasional hiccup in service:** As mentioned with the club sandwich, things aren't *always* perfect. They're usually quick to rectify any issues, but sometimes things take a little longer than you'd like. Patience is a virtue, my friend.
* **It's not *cheap*:** Luxury comes at a price. It's not going to break the bank, but it's not budget travel either. Factor that into your budget.
* **The view, again:** As mentioned earlier, the view might not be spectacular from every room. Especially if you get the room facing back.
Would you recommend Hotel CIQ?
Absolutely. Yes, yes, a thousand times yes. Despite the minor imperfections (and my ramblings), I genuinely enjoyed my stay. The location is unbeatable, the rooms are comfortableTrip Hotel Hub
