Hen Hen Hotel Johor Bahru: Your 90305 Oasis Awaits!
Hen Hen Hotel Johor Bahru: My 90305 Oasis…Or Was It? – A Rambling Review for the Rest of Us
Okay, buckle up buttercups, ‘cause this ain’t your typical hotel review. We’re diving headfirst into the Hen Hen Hotel in Johor Bahru, the one that promises a “90305 Oasis”. Honestly? I'm still not sure what the hell a 90305 is supposed to mean, but hey, I went in with an open mind (and a healthy dose of skepticism).
Let me tell you, travel writing is hard! Trying to capture the essence of Hen Hen Hotel is like trying to wrestle a greased pig. So here's my uneven, honest, and likely slightly chaotic take.
Let's Start with the Bare Bones - The "Stuff" They Boast About (And Whether They Deliver)
Accessibility: I didn't specifically request an accessible room, but I did notice an elevator and ramps. Good. I’m not in a wheelchair, but I appreciate the effort, and it's a big plus for anyone with mobility issues. (Rating: Solid)
On-site Accessible Restaurants/Lounges: I didn’t see any specific labeling, but the main restaurant seemed relatively navigable… though the tables felt a little close together. Not ideal for maneuvering a chair, perhaps. (Rating: Needs improvement)
Wheelchair Accessible: See above. It appears to be, but confirmation from someone who actually needs that would be more telling. (Rating: Based on observation, potentially yes.)
Internet - Oh, the Internet!
Internet Access: Check, they offer it. Though, let’s face it, in this day and age, it's like saying they offer air to breathe.
Free Wi-Fi in All Rooms!: Hooray! Essential, right? Right. But… (there’s always a but, isn’t there?)
Internet [LAN]: They also boast LAN. Remember LAN? That’s like a dinosaur these days. Unless you're rocking a vintage desktop, who's using that?! (Verdict: Point for effort? Maybe?)
Internet Services: I'm assuming this covers everything from basic browsing to streaming. I managed to watch a few episodes of my current obsession, Married at First Sight (don't judge!), so I'd say it’s adequate. (Rating: Works!)
Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Yep, the lobby, the restaurant, the pool… all covered. Again, standard. (Rating: Check)
Things to Do & Ways to Relax - The Quest for Serenity…Or At Least a Nap
Body Scrub/Wrap: Nah, didn't indulge. Too busy stuffing my face with… you’ll see.
Fitness Center/Gym/Fitness: I peeked in. It was…small. And seemed to have a distinct odour of… well, gym socks. I’m more of a “walking to the buffet” kind of exerciser. (Rating: Pass for me.)
Foot Bath: Now that sounds intriguing. But I didn’t see any foot baths on offer. Maybe I missed it.
Massage: They had a spa! Always a good sign. I considered it. But the allure of… you know… (To be continued…)
Pool with a View: The pool was… okay. It wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t exactly overlooking the Swiss Alps either. More like… the other buildings. (Rating: Functional, not spectacular.)
Sauna/Spa/Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: All the spa stuff! I’m a sucker for a good sauna. And this one… was decent. Not life-changing, but definitely relaxing. (Rating: Worth a try!)
Swimming Pool/Outdoor Swimming Pool: See pool with a view.
Cleanliness and Safety – Because Let’s Face It, 2024 is a Minefield
Anti-viral cleaning products/Daily disinfection in common areas/Hygiene certification/Rooms sanitized between stays/Professional-grade sanitizing services: They claim to do all this, and honestly, the place felt clean. I didn’t see any obvious signs of… well, you know. This is a massive relief, especially with… everything. (Rating: Seemed to deliver.)
Cashless payment service: Excellent! I embrace the digital age. No more frantically hunting for ATMs.
Doctor/nurse on call: Thankfully I didn’t need to test this.
First aid kit: Good to know, although I didn’t stumble into any dramatic mishaps.
Hand sanitizer: Everywhere! My germaphobe tendencies were satisfied.
Hot water linen and laundry washing: Standard, but essential.
Individually-wrapped food options: See that below!
Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: They tried, but it’s a bit tricky when the restaurant is packed at breakfast.
Room sanitization opt-out available: Nice to have the option, for those who want it.
Safe dining setup: They seemed to be taking precautions, but I’m not entirely sure about the safety of… the amount of food I consumed.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Hope so!
Shared stationery removed: Progress! No more pens that have been through who-knows-what.
Staff trained in safety protocol: Seemed like it. Everyone was wearing masks and… well, it seemed like they knew what they were doing.
Sterilizing equipment: Again, good to know.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Most Important Section, Obviously!
A la carte in restaurant: Yes, they have a menu. Though the buffet was calling my name…
Alternative meal arrangement: I’m sure they would accommodate dietary requirements. I was too busy thinking about what to eat, rather than what not to.
Asian breakfast/Asian cuisine in restaurant: OH, YES. This is where things went sideways in the best possible way. The congee was amazing. The noodles… incredible. I may or may not have gone back for seconds… and thirds… every day. Let’s just say my waistline is not thanking me right now. (Raving: The food was a highlight! The Asian breakfast was chef's kiss.)
Bar: A bar! Always a good move. I didn’t actually go to the bar, but I did order room service… which leads me to…
Bottle of water: Free! Hydration is key.
Breakfast [buffet]/Breakfast service/Buffet in restaurant: The star of the show! This is where my "quest for serenity" was replaced with a quest for… all the food. Seriously, the buffet was massive. And the range… from Western to Asian, from pastries to… well, everything. The food coma was real. (Rambling: I’m still dreaming about the breakfast. The sheer variety was overwhelming, in a good way. I’m talking pancakes, waffles, fruit, eggs, dim sum… you name it, they had it. It was glorious, and I regret nothing.)
Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop: Yes, yes, and yes. I fueled my food-binge with copious amounts of coffee.
Desserts in restaurant: Yes… and yes. See “buffet."
Happy hour: Didn’t try it. I was too busy… you get the picture.
International cuisine in restaurant: They offered a mix of cuisines to suit everyone, from traditional delights to local favourites.
Poolside bar: Tempting… if I hadn't been so busy eating.
Restaurants: Yes, they had one main restaurant, and probably could be counted as a bar too.
Room service [24-hour]: This is where the magic happened. After a long day of… well, eating, I indulged in some late-night noodles. Delicious! The speed was impressive, too. (Anecdote time: one night, I could not find any room service menu, I called the receptionist to enquire. I ended up speaking to a very tired guy at 3 am that gave me a very very detailed explanation of the menu item and it turned out to be one of the best meals I had ever tasted!)
Salad in restaurant: They had salad. I saw it. I didn’t touch it. Shame on me.
Snack bar: Didn't see one.
Soup in restaurant: They had soup!
Vegetarian restaurant: I didn’t see a dedicated vegetarian restaurant, but there were plenty of vegetarian options in the buffet.
Western breakfast/Western cuisine in restaurant: Pancakes, waffles, and all the usual suspects. Plus, the omelet station… a beautiful, beautiful thing.
Services and Conveniences – The Nitty-Gritty
Air conditioning in public area/in all rooms: Essential in Johor Bahru!
Audio-visual equipment for special events: Didn't see any, so I can't comment!
Business facilities/meetings/meeting stationery/Xerox/fax in business center: All the business-y things. I wasn’t there for a business trip, thankfully
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Okay, buckle up buttercups! This is gonna be less "perfectly planned itinerary" and more "a travel journal written by someone who actually travels". We're hitting up the SPOT ON 90305 HEN HEN HOTEL in Johor Bahru, Malaysia, and trust me, it's gonna be a ride.
Day 1: The Arrival (and the Great Toilet Paper Debacle)
- Morning (ish): Flight from… well, wherever I'm coming from. Let's assume a slightly delayed flight. Always a great start. The airport chaos hits you like a brick. Trying to find my luggage feels like a scavenger hunt designed by Satan. Finally, the suitcase! Victory!
- Afternoon: Taxi to Hen Hen Hotel. The driver, bless his heart, probably thought he was driving me to Narnia. The air conditioning in the taxi was a gift from the gods. Johor Bahru starts to unfold - the sights, the smells… mostly a mix of exhaust fumes and delicious food aromas.
- Late Afternoon: Check-in at Hen Hen. The receptionist, bless her heart, probably thought she'd heard the same questions a thousand times. The room… it's… functional. Clean-ish. The air con works. That's the main thing.
- Evening: Ah, the first test. The hotel's shower versus my expectations. First, cold water. Then, scalding hot. Then, nothing. Eventually, a lukewarm drizzle. But you know what? I'm alive. I'll survive. And then… the toilet paper! Gone! Vanished! Apparently, my room's supply was more of a temporary suggestion than a permanent fixture. Cue the frantic search for someone, anyone, with a roll. Let's just say I learned a lot about patience that evening. Dinner was that street food stall I just HAD to try. Delicious, but I'm pretty sure I saw a cockroach. That's traveling, baby!
Day 2: The Food Coma & The Lost Tourist
- Morning: Breakfast! Okay, the "complimentary breakfast" was… interesting. I'm pretty sure the scrambled eggs were made from a substance scientists haven't yet classified. But the coffee was (surprisingly) decent. Coffee is the fuel of champions, after all.
- Mid-Morning: Decided to get some legit food. Hit up the famous Restaurant XY (Made up name – I'll update this later). Ordered Mee Goreng (because, duh!). Oh, the food! The taste! The spices! I swear, I almost licked the plate clean. This is the actual reason I travel: the food!
- Afternoon: Post-food coma. Needed a walk. Decided to explore the city. Got hopelessly lost. Like, really lost. Ended up in a back alley that looked like something out of a movie (in a bad way). Started questioning all my life choices. Thank goodness for Google Maps, and a very patient taxi driver who seemed to find me endearing.
- Late Afternoon/Evening: Tried to visit the Shopping Mall ABC for some retail therapy. Let me tell you, shopping is a sport, and I'm not very athletic. Went in, got overwhelmed by the sheer number of people and products, and retreated back to the hotel. Dinner was again (probably) with a cockroach.
Day 3: The Temple & The Shopping (Round Two)
- Morning: Decided to face my fears and visit a local temple. Wow. The colors, the chanting, the incense… it was actually kind of beautiful. I felt a weird sense of calm, even though I probably looked like a lost tourist wandering around like a buffoon.
- Mid-Morning: The second attempt at shopping. Armed with a little more confidence (and a map!), I re-entered the retail arena. This time, I survived. I even bought a souvenir! A ridiculously oversized t-shirt that says "I Heart Johor Bahru." Seriously, it takes up half my suitcase. But hey, memories!
- Afternoon: Pool time! The hotel pool was small, but actually pretty refreshing. Spent a good hour just floating around and contemplating the meaning of life. Or maybe I was just thinking about what I was gonna eat for dinner. Details, details…
- Evening: Before even thinking about dinner, let's think about the trip. I wouldn't necessarily say I fell in love with Johor Bahru, but I learned a lot, and it showed me a tiny bit of what the best part of travel is - being open and going with the flow. And yeah, the cockroach thing still haunts me…
Day 4: Goodbye, Johor Bahru (and the Great Laundry Dilemma)
- Morning: Packing. The worst part of any trip. My suitcase now resembles a poorly packed burrito. The hotel laundry service (a last-minute desperation move because, let's be honest, I haven't touched my dirty clothes yet) promises it'll be done today. We'll see…
- Mid-Morning: One last walk around the streets, just soaking up the atmosphere. Spotting stray cats. Giggling at terrible marketing. Feeling wistful.
- Afternoon: Checking out of Hen Hen. Laundry? Nope. But they promise it's "coming soon!" Whatever. (It never came. I wrote this at the air port) Taxi to the airport.
- Evening: Plane. Home. Exhausted, slightly sunburned, and smelling faintly of street food. But also filled with memories, a ridiculous t-shirt, and a newfound appreciation for toilet paper.
The Wrap-Up (aka The Messy Truth)
Look, the Hen Hen Hotel wasn't exactly the Ritz. But it was a place to rest my head. Johor Bahru wasn't always pretty, but it was real. And that, my friends, is what travel is all about. It's about the unexpected, the messy, the slightly ridiculous. It's about embracing the chaos and finding the joy in the journey, even when you’re searching for toilet paper in a foreign city. Would I go back? Probably. Just maybe with a bigger bag of travel wipes. And maybe, just maybe, I'll learn to navigate a shopping mall next time.
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Okay, spill the tea! What *ACTUALLY* is Hen Hen Hotel like? Is it a real oasis, or just another Instagram trap?
The location, location, location! How's the Hen Hen Hotel situated? Is it actually convenient for… well, anything?
Let's talk rooms. What are they *really* like? Clean? Cozy? Or… cramped and questionable?
The hotel has a pool? Is it Instagram-worthy, or just a glorified puddle?
Breakfast! Tell me about the breakfast at Hen Hen Hotel. Is it worth getting out of bed for?
How's the staff? Friendly? Helpful? Or are they too cool for school?
Anything I should be aware of *before* I book? Any nasty surprises?
Okay, one last question: Would you go back? Be honest!
