Higher Hotel

The hotel is widely praised for its central location, offering easy access to numerous shops, restaurants, and local attractions, making it a highly convenient base for exploring the city. Its signature feature is providing spacious, clean rooms at an affordable price, consistently highlighted as excellent value for money. This combination makes it an ideal choice for budget-conscious travelers, sightseers keen to explore the city's landmarks, and business travelers seeking a comfortable and well-located stay. Families also find the spacious accommodations appealing, though they should be aware of specific operating hours for amenities like the children's playground. For short-stay visitors and those on layovers, the hotel offers essential comforts and accessibility. To ensure a smooth experience, guests are advised to confirm the operating hours of any specific facilities, especially if traveling with children, and to be aware of the hotel's strict late checkout policy.

Facilities & Amenities
Guest feedback on the hotel's facilities and amenities is quite mixed. The Wi-Fi connection is a frequent point of contention; while some guests report it works well, many others describe it as slow, unsteady, or unreliable, particularly for business use. The TV channels provided are often noted as limited and primarily local, which can be a drawback for international guests. For families, the indoor playground is a significant amenity, but its limited and often inconvenient operating hours, including closures on certain days, have led to considerable disappointment and frustration among guests. On the positive side, the availability of a coin-operated laundromat conveniently located within or very near the hotel is highly appreciated. Parking is available, often underground or in the basement, though some guests mention limited spaces and a lack of bellboy service for luggage. Additionally, some rooms have issues with the mini-fridge not cooling effectively, and guests have reported being charged for ice. Hair dryers are not consistently equipped in all rooms, requiring guests to request them.

Cleanliness & Room Comfort
The hotel generally receives positive remarks for its cleanliness and room comfort, with many guests describing rooms as spacious, spotless, and having comfortable beds with fresh linens. However, there are notable exceptions, with some guests reporting issues such as dirty floors, yellowish stains on beds, visible dust, and even mold in bathrooms, along with unpleasant smells like cat's pee or a general bad odor. The bathrooms specifically draw mixed reviews, with complaints about missing or leaking shower doors, poor water pressure, and a lack of hot water. Some guests also found the bathroom mirrors poorly lit or stained. While many rooms are considered quiet, some guests experienced noise from adjacent rooms due to thin walls or loud music, and occasionally from kitchen operations. In-room amenities like slippers are not provided, and tea is sometimes unavailable, though coffee makers are present.

Dining & Food Quality
Feedback regarding dining and food quality is varied, particularly concerning breakfast. Most guests find the breakfast to be good, adequate, and even delicious, offering a decent variety of options including local dishes, cereals, and bread. However, some guests express disappointment with the limited choices, repetitive menu, or perceived poor quality, with some noting the food can be cold. The breakfast restaurant staff are frequently praised for their thoughtfulness, efficiency, and friendly service. While the hotel does have an on-site restaurant, a significant highlight for many guests is the hotel's excellent proximity to a wide array of eateries and restaurants in the surrounding area, providing abundant options for meals beyond the hotel's offerings. Some guests noted an additional charge for specific items like Dimsum during breakfast.

Location & Accessibility
The hotel's central location is consistently highlighted as one of its strongest assets, placing guests within easy walking distance or a short drive from numerous attractions, including the city center, shops, and a wide variety of restaurants. Its proximity to the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah Mosque and other key landmarks makes it highly convenient for sightseeing. Guests appreciate being able to explore the area on foot, with many local shops and eateries just steps away. Parking is available, often in an underground or basement facility, which is a significant convenience for those traveling by car, though some guests note that spaces can be limited. For broader accessibility, guests can utilize public transport options, including local buses, and many rely on ride-hailing services like the Dart app for convenient travel around the city and to the airport.

Staff & Service
The staff and service at the hotel receive mixed reviews. Many guests commend the staff for being friendly, helpful, kind, and accommodating, particularly highlighting the efficiency of the check-in process and the attentiveness of the breakfast restaurant team. However, a significant number of reviews point to instances of unwelcoming attitudes, rudeness, and a perceived lack of customer service from some front desk personnel, with guests feeling ignored or met with unhelpful responses. The late checkout policy is a recurring point of frustration, as requests are frequently denied without consideration, forcing guests to vacate rooms by noon even with late flights. There are also mentions of poor communication regarding hotel amenities and a general lack of bellboy service for luggage, requiring guests to manage their own bags.

Additional Information
Guests should be aware that the hotel requires a cash deposit upon check-in, which is not always clearly communicated during booking, and some reviews mention a list of fines for any damage or staining within the rooms. The hotel offers different accommodation types, including standard hotel rooms and dorm-style or apartment units that may feature shared bathrooms, shared kitchens, and amenities like washing machines and fridges. These dorm rooms might lack basic furnishings such as mirrors or tables. Guests have reported occasional noise from a nearby gym or from construction within the building. The hotel operates a one-key-per-room policy, which some guests find inconvenient. Additionally, the hotel has designated no smoking areas, and some guests noted the absence of a direct phone line to reception in certain room types.