No Frills Stay At Jalan Trus: Hotel CIQ Review

Hotel CIQ review breaks down exactly what gives the hotel its unique association with Peranakan culture.

We stayed along Jalan Trus as part of a 3 day-2 night getaway in JB. Since our arrival time was expected to be in the late afternoon, it made better sense to get a transit accommodation before going to the better one the next day. Here is the main Hotel CIQ review, within the city area of JB.

This is a hotel that’s got character borrowing elements from vintage Peranakan homes. You can appreciate the tricycle on reception, items like the tingkat for containing food and furniture pieces from a particular era.

Location of Hotel CIQ

While there’s a major road to cross unlike Citrus Hotel, Hotel CIQ is well within walking distance from the customs checkpoint.

It’s behind Baguss City Hotel, so it’s a slightly further walk. Good thing is, you can walk through the Zenith to reach this hotel. Take the escalator up one floor.

Turn left after walking out from 7-11 and you’ll reach within 5 minutes. The characteristic coloured windows will identify the hotel even in dim lighting.

In Dec 2018, there’s a construction site just across the road, but it doesn’t affect your view. Because there’s no view for the room we stayed in.

Comfort

The room comes with acceptable accessories. There’s a queen size bed, with a desk.

Bathroom’s really spacious, could have housed a bath tub. It also has a safe and a rack for hanging clothes.

Its interior is styled with an industrial colour theme, with grey concrete as the first thing you’ll notice.

I appreciate this style as most young couples would, compared to older traditional style rooms. With the newer furniture featuring metal parts you could at least be confident that it houses less bed bugs.

The mattress is firm, but the pillow isn’t.

In fact, I think it’s incredibly rare to find firm pillows these days.

Though it doesn’t come with slippers, the tiles are not cold to the feet so that’s good news. In fact if you pay attention to some of the floor tiles you will appreciate the vintage tiles that is similar to heritage homes you find in Melaka.

As there was a construction site across the road, it resulted in morning noises on a Sunday morning.

Any family walking past on your floor will also make their presence felt easily. We got a room on level 3.

Service

The check in process is smooth, we paid the customary RM 110 cash deposit, with the return of RM 100 upon check out.

While we didn’t really try the room service, we dialed 100 on the phone to ask for a hair dryer.

It took 20 minutes to come. So get your timing right before you take a shower.

Conclusion

Against tough competition like Baguss City Hotel, the Hotel CIQ review at Jalan Trus will be better against weaker places like Citrus Hotel. If you are out of options, this will be a passable night to stay by virtue of the character of the Peranakan-themed hotel.