[nono1973]

Originally Posted by Black Page

I stay a few days away from looking SB, and this is what I read??
I am shocked.
How can I go back to Batam without feeling that atmosphere of the Formosa lobby? the smell in the corridors? the large bed and my room 265?
For me Batam is not Batam without all that

Believe me, the news came as much as a shock to you as it is to me too.

Originally Posted by Black Page

Now what?
Nono, maybe you will suggest me (PM pls ) an alternative?
I am really confused...
Da Vienna? My friend was there, and he told me that his room was small and not so good as my 265 at Formosa.
More expensive places? Nagoya Hills?

When you are about to hit Batam, drop me a PM. I can arrange to bring you (or make arrangement) over to one of those hotel/s i regularly stayed in nowaday.

Too early to talk about it now.

As for Da Vienna, your friend stayed in the wrong room. Your friend should be staying in at least in their Grand Deluxe room and/or above. Price-wise should be close to 265. In future, AVOID staying in their basic room, if you are looking for space (da vienna hotel).

Nagoya Hill Hotel? Its a new hotel, ok...fairly new hotel and over-priced too. Its not in my to-stay listing tho.

Originally Posted by Black Page

Where can I find the atmosphere of Formosa??
I hope someone will buy the property and reopen... Today it is a sad day for me.

The number one ranking in Batam hotel listing that has the Formosa ambiance is Utama Hotel. Its almost like the mirror image of Formosa hotel 7 years or more ago,hehehe...before formosa start its renovation.

Been around looking for Formosa Hotel alternative since few years ago, and nothing comes close to Utama Hotel. But it has its similar flaws like Formosa hotel 7 odd years ago. Cigarette scents!

I am a smoker myself, if i cannot take the scent w/o complaining, let alone someone who dont smoke.

But i did work out something to counter this issue over time.

Note here that only their deluxe room is similar to 265. And there is a bathtub in it like the 265 before being renovated,hehehe...and there are carpet in most rooms too (except their superior double room), even their standard room.

I usually stay in their bigger deluxe room which is about similar to 265 sizing. Standard and Superior double is about 24 m² and Deluxe is 32 m².

265 is a 28 m² if i didnt remember wrong.

Price wise for Utama Deluxe room is about 15% cheaper than 265 tho.

Ask for a no-smoking Deluxe room (even tho thats not gonna help much with the cigarette scent). 265 is a smoking room, just for your info.

Utama Hotel's aircon is not centralize-control, like those i see in Formosa. One room one air-con but i believe its a split unit type. Hence if they dont clean the filter, non-smoking room will also get those "scent" eventually too.

I am guessing you arent a breakfast person, hence you do not need to take the hotel's breakfast. I said this becos during breakfast time, its a smoker's paradise there, just like Formosa Hotel 7 odd years ago whereby they also allows smoking through out the whole breakfast hours.

Formosa during its later years change its rules to allow a small part of breakfast table to be cater for smokers. But during lunch/dinner hours and all other time, smoking is allowed in Vienna Restaurant.

Which is why i say, Utama Hotel is like Formosa Hotel 7 over years ago. Carpetted room, carpetted corridor , hotel room service Food menu almost similar to Formosa hotel, with convenient store just directly at its lobby and a massage parlor that closes about the same time as King massage. There is also a KTV at the ground floor of Utama hotel too.

In my previous few stays, i notice more Malay families and old Chinese uncles there. Hardly spot any youngsters between the age of 20s to 30s tho.

Utama Hotel is in the same generation when Formosa was 1st build about 20 odd years ago.

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