Hotel Cheapskate

The last 24 hours spent in Kelantan couldn’t have been any breezier-usually these trips meant spending long drowsy hours in the car going around the state visiting relatives and a constant feeling of restlessness, this time we spent a lot of time just visiting uncles and aunties who were particularly sick. This morning we departed to Kuantan by car-a frantic 4 hour spent anxiously anticipating when an accident would happen as a result from the driver’s frantic, dangerous driving. And our journey took us to Swiss-Garden Resort in Kuantan, where I spent the Sunday night-this place is probably one of the worst resorts I’ve encountered-I’ve seen ones that are unimaginably hedious but this one looks pretty acceptable-except from the fact that there’s undergoing renovation and ever single corner of the lobby area is filled with dust and dirt. There are stray cats leisurely circling the lobby area, not that I mind filthy animals but the hotel could probably look and do better without them. Then when I enquired about the hotel’s wireless connection (falsely advertised on a huge banner hung over the entrance-“Free Wi-fi In All Rooms”)-the receptionist, who had the deceitful features of a professional conman (crooked yellow teeth, visibly forced smile, indecisive voice) unconvincingly explained how it apparently doesn’t work this time of the year and the only internet available is at the Business Lounge where they charge 7.50 per hour. Hurm, how fucking convenient. The ridiculousness doesn't end there,heck it hasn't even started yet. Additional towels costs money. When I called the reception to book a cab, they nonchalantly explained that it was the hotel’s policy to not have any ties with outside cabs as they offer guests a luxury limo service, which costs 300 for a mere 3 hours. So they gave me the number of a cab service to “personally call”. And when I called for drinking water to be sent they charged me RM 1 for it. All the other atrocious ways they conjure to squeeze money out of our pockets I’m reluctantly willing to overlook, but seriously: charging money for mineral water? How low can they go? This hotel just screams cheapskate and it shows how far they go to acquire petty profits, to the extent where customer loyalty and satisfaction becomes their final aim. The tv’s playing an old, obscure Anthony Hopkins movie I’ve never heard of, but the shows on are the least of my concerns now-I’m going to take a shower then try sleep on this backbreaking torture instrument the hotel calls a bed.