Homey Hostel — Hotel in Perak

I booked a night at Homey Hostel and came to check in at a very reasonable time (4pm on a Sunday) and there was no one there. I rang the doorbell 20 times, called the phone number 10 times, and no answer. Not a very nice welcome to be standing outside in the heavy heat and humidity with my phone about to die after a long day of bus rides, having to sit on the curb in and wait for someone to open the door. After 2 hours, still no one opened the door, so I had to get a refund with the company through whom I made the reservation. I saw later someone else left a review that said the staff is only there from 10am-3pm. You'd think they'd advertise that on the different websites through which you can book the hostel, or at least send me information about the time that the staff will be there and instructions for getting into the building. They didn't bother with either. Hopefully I'm the last person that has to go through this - it really shouldn't have to be this difficult...

Updated response to your reply, since I'm not able to comment directly on the response: when you said you didn't hear from me is it because no one was available to pick up the phone? Like I said I tried calling countless times, in the middle of the day, and when I got customer service support from trip.com, they tried contacting you via phone and email as well, and again no response- so it's not just a problem with my phone. I even tried calling several times yesterday in advance with a question, but again, no one answered the phone. Maybe the phone number you have posted is inaccurate? I did not get any of the text messages you said you sent. I also tried sending a message on whatsapp and the app said there was no whatsapp number associated with the number you provided. In the future, if you simply email customers in advance with the entrance information and provide a number that they can call or text if they have any questions, that would solve the problem of any text message or phone complications that some customers might have. Many travelers have phone plans that don't all work to send or receive phone calls while traveling internationally so texting and calling may not be as reliable as email (note, I've sent and received texts and calls on my phone with my Malaysian sim card to other Malaysian numbers, so this wasn't simply an issue of my phone...

I've stayed here multiple times - and for many good reasons.

The affordable pricing aside, it's strategically located in Ipoh Old Town - within walking distance of many good eateries, cafes (Leekko Hakka Mee, Drinka Cafe, Billy the Cakes, YC Vege Life Cafe, Sansui Tau Fu Fah and not too far from both Ipoh's famous Gourmet Street and Tong Sui Kai) and the Gerbang Malam night market. Those arriving in Ipoh by train can reach here by Grab for roughly RM5-9.

Its host, Suky, is one of the most communicative I have ever met - (provided that you have a Malaysian number or made your booking via booking apps such as Agoda) she usually texts in latest on the morning of the booking day itself to provide me with the passcode to access the hostel, as well as to inquire my estimated time of arrival. She is also generally friendly and responsive - even replying to my concerns regarding to the hostel amenities late at night.

Room is generally clean, with clean towels provided (do ask Suky where to find them if you do not receive one on arrival). Basic soap and toiletries can be procured from one of the 24-hour convenient stores located within walking distance of the hostel. Some of the beds are a little creaky, and light sleepers should bring earplugs since it's located right next to a main road (again, it's strategically located - so do expect traffic!) but that's pretty much something I (and everyone else) should be expecting for accommodations within this price range in Malaysia (and in one of the major cities, of all places!).

TL;DR - Affordable pricing, strategic location with good eateries nearby, and budget but sufficient amenities. Contact the host if there are any concerns, and anyone who isn't happy with what's provided should consider going a bit less budget with their...

Giving this place a star for the attentive customer service since they were quite helpful, and another star for the strategic location.

Yes, it’s cheap — but does it really worth the price? Honestly, I don’t think so.

The hostel itself was far from clean. The common area, sofas, tables, toilets, and even the room were dirty. The common area also had a strong, unpleasant smell likely because someone decided to dry their clothes inside.

Unlike typical hostels, the beds didn’t have curtains or individual lights. So, if your roommate isn’t considerate, the only light available is the glaring ceiling light. Not fun when you’re trying to sleep.

I shared a room with an elderly couple. Nothing against them personally, but it seemed like they had been living there for a while, and the room had a strong medicinal smell. It might be a good idea for the hostel to assign long-term stayers their own separate rooms.

Things got worse when the elderly lady and another guest from Italy both complained about bed bugs. They actually saw them crawling around. I checked my bed right after, and to my horror, the mattress and pillow were moldy, stained, and looked like they hadn’t been replaced in years. Definitely not what you’d expect from a place that’s supposed to host travelers.

The location was central, which would’ve been great, if only it wasn’t so noisy. The window in our room didn’t close properly (it was the old-school type), and since the hostel is right at a junction near a traffic light, I could hear every car, lorry and motorbike revving up all night long.

Oh, and one more thing: my towel disappeared. I left it to dry next to my bed, and the next day it was just… gone. And this wasn’t just any towel — I bought it in Germany, so yeah, I’m still emotionally...