Hotel Review: Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre (King Bed Suite Sea View) - Great Location for Travelers Without Private Transport
The Singapore-Malaysia land border has reopened on 01 April 2022 and all Singaporeans will be allowed to travel between Singapore and Malaysia without the need to do any pre-departure and on-arrival tests. Singaporeans will have to download the MySejahtera app on their mobile phones (check out my guide to traveling between Singapore and Johor Bahru here!) so it will be a good idea for you to have a working 4G/LTE connection (either through roaming or the purchase of a foreign SIM card) during your visit. If you have been following The Shutterwhale on Instagram, you must have seen the terrible travel disruption that I have encountered in the US due to flight cancellations and well, bad travel planning. Due to the travel disruptions, I was unable to make it for my flight to Singapore (and subsequent flights for a personal vacation) so I decided to travel over to Johor Bahru the night before I actually did - that is how simple the whole process is! Having stayed at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru and the Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel on multiple occasions, I have decided to check out the relatively-new Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre this time since part of the Komtar JBCC mixed-use development. The location of the hotel is fantastic (especially for those who are not driving) as you can easily walk over from the Sultan Iskandar Building (CIQ) via a sheltered walkway.
View from Lift Lobby
Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The lobby of the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre is located on level 8 of the property so guests will have to proceed to this level in order to check in. While I do hold top-tier status in several hotel loyalty programs, I am only a Gold Elite member in the newly-relaunched IHG One Rewards program. As such, I was not counting on any possibility of upgrades during my stay (especially since it extended over a long weekend). Since I am sitting on a number of reward points in IHG One Rewards that I have no use for, I decided to clear some of them here at the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre - the number of required Reward Points fluctuated between 8,000 to 11,000 points per night during my stay (which I thought was reasonable for a property that charges MYR 300 per night after applicable taxes on average). Prior to check-in, I have also reached out to the property to secure an upgrade to a Studio Suite at an additional MYR 200++ per night (approximately S$75 net after applicable taxes). Checking in to the property was fairly seamless and I guess it helped that I was checking in two days before the long weekend in Singapore (where many couples and families decided to head over to Johor Bahru). While I was initially told that my suite will only be ready at approximately 2:30 PM, I received a call at approximately 11:45 AM telling me that my suite will be ready from 12:00 PM - as a Gold Elite member, I received 300 points as my welcome amenity.
Bedroom
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre sells three types of suites here but they are collectively known as the Studio Suites and the One-Bedroom Suites. I was assigned a King Bed Suite with Sofa Bed at check-in (which is the second-tier suite) and this is essentially a Studio Suite with bedding provided for the Sofa Bed on the side. The lead-in level Studio Suite which costs slightly lesser looks exactly the same (with the sofa), but bedding is not provided. The King Bed Suite Sea View (or the Studio Suite) features 54sqm of space which is almost double that in the lead-in room category at 28sqm so you may wish to upgrade your room if you value more living space.
Modern Technology
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The new-built property features modern furnishings and technology like a 49-inch flat-screen TV in all rooms, as well as multiple USB charging ports and universal power outlets (extremely important for international travelers from outside the region!). I was initially told to call up housekeeping to collect the bedding from the sofa bed (which I did not require) but I decided to do it on my own as it was honestly a bit of an eyesore when not in use. I really like the yellow chair in the room as it is quite the statement piece - it also looks out to the Sultan Iskandar Building which is great for real-time traffic monitoring.
View from Bedroom
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
While I did visit Johor Bahru during the Good Friday long weekend, I actually arrived on a Wednesday and departed on a Saturday - the crowd really came in on Thursday evening and departing Johor Bahru on Sunday was a mess. With all that being said, it is probably not a good representation of a ‘regular weekend’ so you should not be deterred to come in (by car or by bus) at all. To play it safe, I would recommend getting in on a Thursday evening, and leaving on early afternoon on Sunday.
Bed
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre is honestly quite impressive for a Holiday Inn-branded property - my previous experiences with this brand have been lackluster; acceptable for the price point but not somewhere I would look forward to staying in. Having said that, the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre ticks all the right boxes and it could very well be my favourite Holiday Inn property so far. The bed (on the firm side) is pretty comfortable and four pillows are provided. Universal power outlets are located on both sides of the bed which makes it easy for you to charge your personal devices throughout the night. I did have two extra pillows (total of six pillows) on the day of check-in but I am not sure why housekeeping decided to take two of them back after making up my room the next morning.
Work Desk
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
Even though I visited Johor Bahru for leisure, it certainly helps to have a small work desk to get some things done throughout my stay. Connecting to the WiFi is fairly easy and the connection was stable for most parts of the stay (except late at night and in the early morning, strangely). Most of the suites here at Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre are located in the corner so you will get to enjoy two floor-to-ceiling windows.
Wardrobe Space
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The suite here at the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre features an open wardrobe space which I know some travellers absolutely detest. Since I was only here for a couple of nights, it was perfectly fine - the area is also tucked away near the entrance to the room so the bedroom still looks pretty neat which is important to me. An electronic safe as well as an iron can be found in this area as well - there is also a small recyclable bag in one of the drawers here (used for sending laundry) which I have found to be fairly useful if you plan on visiting the supermarket or one of the stores from the nearby malls.
Separate Bathtub
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The bathroom is one of the main reasons why I had decided to upgrade my room for a charge - the King Bed Suite comes with a sizeable bathroom with a separate shower and bathtub area. While it is not a freestanding tub, returning to one after spending the entire morning or afternoon out exploring the area is perfect. As mentioned earlier, I typically stay at the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru or the Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel when I visit - only the suites in these properties have a bathtub as well if that is something that you value.
Bathroom
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
There is a massive heated mirror here in the bathroom but I would recommend leaving it off as it does heat up the bathroom quite a bit (which may be a good thing for some people). The bathroom is literally the first thing you see when you enter the room so if you are taking a soak in the tub, be sure to turn on the privacy light and latch the door for your own modesty (even though the chances of housekeeping coming-in unannounced is pretty low).
Shower and Toilet
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
The suites at Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre feature a separate shower area but you will not find a rainshower here - just a regular showerhead. There is also just one bathroom here but since this is a studio suite, your guests will already be in your ‘bedroom’ if they come over so there is really nothing you can do about it.
Bathroom Amenities
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
Consistent with brand standards, bulk-size amenities are provided here at the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre and while I do appreciate the positive impact these initiatives have on the environment, the body wash bottles located by the sink and the shower area were both empty when I checked-in to the room. The opaque bottles definitely make it hard for housekeeping to check whether a top-up is required so this is quite certainly a pain point for everyone.
Banana Cake
Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory
One of the main reasons why I recommend the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre over other international chain hotels in the area is due to its location. Now if you are traveling into Johor Bahru with your own private transport, this is obviously not a big issue - simply stay where you want, or whichever chain you have significant elite status in. For those without private transport, hopping on a Grab ride is incredibly easy and the prices are typically quite low when you compare them to what you pay in Singapore. With all that being said, it certainly is nice to have some of the most popular restaurants, cafes, and bakeries within walking distance from the hotel.
Hiap Joo Bakery & Biscuit Factory needs no introduction - the banana bread is something that most Singaporeans look forward to when they visit Johor Bahru. A 10-piece box used to cost RM 9.60 but it is now RM 12 when I dropped by during my stay in Johor Bahru. When cities were in lockdown state back in 2020 due to COVID-19, you could actually get an imported box of banana bread from Hiap Joo Bakery in Singapore for S$10 - that’s how much the locals love it!
Do note that the queues have definitely returned so try to avoid peak hours if possible - this is why entering Johor Bahru on a Thursday evening is great since you will be able to get your hands on these bakes early Friday morning before the crowd comes in on Saturday (on a regular weekend). The walk from Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre will probably take you approximately 10 minutes on foot but you may also choose to hop on a Grab ride which should not cost you more than RM 7 unless there is a massive surge.
Long Black
Flowers in the Window
Jalan Wong Ah Fook used to be one of Johor Bahru’s busiest streets and while there are signs of recovery with the opening of the land border, it is still relatively quiet (especially when you are visiting from Mondays to Thursdays). If you are planning on visiting one of the restaurants or cafes in the area, do check to make sure that they are open ahead of time as many of them are operating at reduced hours and the information online may not always be the most accurate (especially for those old-school eateries). There is a rather strong cafe culture in Johor Bahru and it seems like traveling 20-30 minutes to visit a cafe that is somewhat out of the way is very much the norm here. Having lived in Singapore for most of my life, traveling more than 30 minutes by a car feels like a trip on its own but the cafes here in Johor Bahru are on a different level in terms of decor.
Fish Curry (Tail)
Kam Long Curry Fish Head
I did take the opportunity to visit some of the cafes that were further out - you may check them out on my Instagram page - and they were indeed quite impressive but honestly, if you are after a good cup of coffee in the area, you do not really have to stray too far. OG cafes that have been there for a while including Flowers in the Window, The Replacement – Lodge & Kitchen, as well as Mrs. Who, all serve up a proper cup and delicious food at a reasonable price point. While the decor of these places is a little more predictable (since they are located under shophouses), the convenience of having them near the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre makes it fantastic for those staying for just a night.
There are also a number of local restaurants that are fairly popular in the area - Kam Long Curry Fish Head is one of them but the queue is seriously something you must have the appetite to stomach. Since the restaurant is located just a short 3-5 minute walk from the hotel, I managed to get there in time for its opening - still I had to wait in line for approximately 10-15 minutes to get my food. Ordering can be quite chaotic and I guess the staff is slowly trying to get back momentum in serving foreign customers who do not speak the language but once you get past that, a piping hot clay pot of curry awaits. Here’s a pro-tip for those of you staying at the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre - order it on GrabFood to save yourself the hassle. Sure, you might not have a great photo to show off on Instagram, but the prices on Grab are exactly what you would find in the restaurant and if you are new to GrabFood in Malaysia, there is even a discount of up to RM 15 on your order. Save time on queueing, save money on food, and save the hassle of walking. Since the hotel is located just minutes away from the restaurant, you can be sure that the curry is served hot!
Should you be interested in more local eateries, other notable restaurants in the area include Restoran Hua Mui, IT Roo Café (which allegedly serves up the best chicken chop in Malaysia), as well as Restoran Ya Wang - all of them are within a 10-minute walk from the hotel. Honestly, even if you do have a private vehicle, it might be quicker for you to walk since the roads do get pretty congested depending on the time of day and day of the week.
Swimming Pool
Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
Looking for something to do in-between meals? Head up to the swimming pool of the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre to enjoy sweeping views of the city and the sea. The pool does get pretty cold so you will probably want to visit on a sunny day but even if you do not decide to enter the water, lazing on one of the chairs by the pool can be quite relaxing. There is also a small jacuzzi area at the end of the pool if you prefer to sit in a large body of water and do nothing (no judgement!).
Fitness Center
Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
For those of you trying to break even or make a dent in your caloric intake, the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre does have a small fitness center located on Level 32 of the hotel. There are two treadmills here for all the cardio junkies, as well as a small free-weight area with dumbbells of up to 20kg if you wish to train. The treadmill that I got on the first day was pretty gross unfortunately and I will spare you the details but thankfully disinfectant wipes are provided in front so make sure you wipe down before and after your workout. Towels and drinking water are also provided here so you do not have to worry about bringing them from the room.
Yoga Studio
Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
Located behind the walls of the free-weight area is a small studio that is suitable for yoga and other low-impact functional training workouts. While the exercise mats leave much to be desired, I do appreciate the property carving out a dedicated space for those planning a mindful practice. The tall glass windows and mirrors also allow plenty of natural daylight to enter which makes the studio look a lot larger and definitely a lot nicer as well.
Bedroom
King Bed Suite - Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
While I generally try to stay in hotels where I have significant elite status (World of Hyatt, Hilton Honors, and Marriott Bonvoy), my stay at the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre has been rather enjoyable. The studio suite is spacious with plenty of lounging areas (perfect after spending the day out) and being able to enjoy the bathtub at the end of the day is fantastic. The lead-in room rates here at the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre are also comparatively lower than that of DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru and the Renaissance Johor Bahru Hotel but if you are planning to book and pay for a suite, I would personally recommend the DoubleTree by Hilton Hotel Johor Bahru over this as it also comes with Executive Lounge access. However, if you are just planning to spend a night in Johor Bahru (especially if you are taking the bus) and do not care too much about space or a bathtub, the Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre is in a great location at a fantastic price point.
Holiday Inn Johor Bahru City Centre
Jalan Tun Abdul Razak, Johor Bahru, Johor 80000, Malaysia
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