One of the things I enjoy in my travelling plan is looking for valued hotels or even hostels.

My requirement for accommodation is really basic.

• Clean toilets & bathrooms (can be shared type or within the room)
• Bed-bugs free please
• Safe environment
• Great location is a bonus

I went to Penang recently for a food trail and to find out more about the education system over there.

I’m so pleased to find this concept hotel chain which is paying for what you really need. For example, you can buy credits for usage of air con, hair dryer, wifi or rent towels or buy toiletries.

This hotel concept is what I call it the ‘minimalist’ accommodation. When I first chanced upon the website (www.tunehotels.com) in the beginning of the year, I knew I would stay there.

The cost is unbelievable affordable at RM84 (USD 26) for a 4 days 3 nights stay! It would have cost me lesser if not for the flight (thus room) changes. Note that the cost doesn’t include any add-ons. I didn’t buy any credits for air con as me and my partner have difficulty sleeping in air con rooms.The booking was also done 6 months in advance for us to enjoy such great deal.

So what did it come with? Everything we need!

• Ease of booking procedure
• Clean bathroom & toilet with hot & cold shower (the lovely thing is that you can be using the basin tap without affecting the temperature of the shower head)
• Comfortable bed & clean pillows
  
• Working ceiling fan (with controller for speed and even timer)
• Safe hotel with security and reception on 24 hours stand-by
• Safety deposit box in the room for travellers to place valuable items and documents
• Great housekeeping service daily
  
• 24 hours convenience store (I got my ointment for stomach discomfort there!)
• Availability of Internet for 30 minutes at the lobby (Great for last minute locating of places)
• Excellent location (which is within walking distance from the city central, many attractions and eating places)
• Environmental friendly practices (Energy saving technology is in place)

Tune Hotel isn’t for everyone who needs a typical hotel room with

• Room service
• Television
• Swimming Pool
• Breakfast (There wasn’t any breakfast option on Downtown Penang but for other locations, there is. Anyway, just walk 50 steps, you can get great food next door)
• Plenty of walking space (Every inch in Tune Hotel Penang is fully optimized)

Me and my partner were very pleased with the room and Tune Hotels have indeed lived up to its promise of ‘ 5 stars bed at 1 star prices’. I’m sure we will return to Tune Hotels for our future travel plans and recommend their hotels to our friends and relatives.

Just one suggestion for Tune Hotels, perhaps their staff should be more familiarized with some of the famous food and attraction highlights. We were checking with two of the staff on the location of Lorong Bangkok. They gave us the wrong location of being two blocks away. We realized our mistake when we checked with a local. (After 15 minutes of exploration)

If you’re looking for a hotel with minimalist concept plus great value, Tune Hotel (available in different parts of Malaysia, Indonesia & even London!) is definitely worth every cent.

Thank you, Tune!