When planning for a trip abroad, it is always important to keep a budget in mind, so to ensure that you do not spend above your means when enjoying yourself. And this is especially true in the case of spending on accommodations and meals, which can quickly add up.
But for those inclined to keep their travel plans on the affordable side, budget accommodations such as motels, capsule hotels and even dorms, may prove to be a viable solution. One such example was recently highlighted by local netizen @ianlim.xk, who decided to book himself a bed at a locally operated dorm during his solo trip in Kuala Lumpur for RM40 per night.
M’sian rents bed in dorm near KLCC for RM40 a night
Advertised as being located within walking distance of KLCC, he arrived to find that the dorm was located in an plush residential building with a tastefully designed lobby area. However, accessibility to the dorm itself was hampered by the fact that no access cards were granted to the dorm’s guests, and they would have to register at the counter just like other regular visitors into the building.
Small hiccup aside, he was eventually escorted up to the 12th floor and headed for the dorm’s unit. Upon entering, one can see that the common area appears to be well-appointed and clean, with a concierge desk and other basic amenities made available to those living there.
But as he enters the dorm room proper, Ian points out that there were as many as 10 bunk beds that have been squeezed into a single master bedroom!
“It felt like I was living in a refugee camp,” he notes.
A good option, or are there better alternatives?
Each bed came complete with a single fluorescent light and a socket for charging purposes, as well as privacy curtains. A towel was also provided to each guest, but Ian described it as smelling like ‘cockroaches’. Similarly, he remarks that the bedsheets did not appear to be clean.
What’s more, guests were expected to share a single bathroom in the apartment as well.
But Ian does note that service from the staff have proven exceptional.
In speaking with Wau Post, he said that capsule hotels that he stayed in before were better appointed and offer more privacy than dorm rooms did. He adds that bunk beds in a single dorm room were not unheard of for similar setups, but he said that they were not usually this crammed or poorly maintained.
He adds that travellers should be wary and learn not to take reviews on surface value, while also making sure not to make too many compromises for the sake of price.
Other netizens who have seen the video have raised their concerns over safety, especially in the event of a fire.
Some point out that for RM40, the dorm’s set-up and amenities weren’t that bad.
While others say that for a little more money, one could get a proper room instead.
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