Hotel Independent di Kalianda

"I stayed here with fairly high expectations since this property used to be a Sheraton. Even though it’s now under a new name and management as Akar Hotel, I expected a decent level of service and maintenance. Unfortunately, the experience was far from that. I arrived around 12:10 a.m. after a long trip, hoping to rest quickly. However, the check-in process turned out to be the longest I’ve ever had. The staff couldn’t find my booking even after I showed my Hotels.com confirmation email. It took more than 30 minutes to verify the booking and another 10–15 minutes for the room to be ready — nearly 45 minutes just to check in. My room was quite far from the lobby, near the tennis court. The condition was disappointing: no robe or slippers, unstable hot water (mostly cold), noisy AC, very slow internet (video calls kept dropping), and uneven flooring. For a rate of around IDR 1 million per night, it really wasn’t worth the money. Breakfast was the biggest letdown. Decorative hangings above the dining area were dusty, and several cakes were left uncovered. These are basic hygiene issues that should never happen, especially for a hotel that once carried the Sheraton name. Overall, Akar Hotel has potential, but management urgently needs to improve cleanliness, service quality, and facility upkeep."