The Hostelz.com Review - Genuine, independent review you can trust.
ParkView Guesthouse is located very close to Kota Bahru town centre in a quiet little square that is shaded with big trees.
The Location
The hostel occupies the first floor of a townhouse, and access is up some stairs and through a door that is kept locked and operated with a key card.
Rooms and Bathrooms
Dormitories are mixed and you have a choice of air-conditioned or fan-cooled rooms (private rooms are also available). Bunk beds are basic, metal models, but they are surprisingly comfortable. Each bed has a power point close by. There is a lightweight blanket on each bed as well as a bottom sheet and pillowcase. There are no lockers, although you will get a key to your shared dorm and the front door is kept locked at all times; access is with your key card, which you receive on arrival.
Bathrooms are shared and are rundown and tired looking. At the time of writing, there is a trick to turning one of the showers off; it would be nice to be told about the problem on arrival -- who knows how many guests spend time struggling with it! A light is broken in one bathroom and a toilet flush is broken in another -- staff seemed resigned to the fact that they had to mend the flush, so it could be an ongoing fault. Toilet paper is supplied but there is no urgency by the night staff to replace it, despite being informed.
Common Spaces
There is a small common area that is shared with the reception desk, where you will find a sofa and some big bean-bags. There is a TV to watch and books available for exchange; Wi-Fi is quite good throughout the hostel.
A basic breakfast of toast and jam is served daily; tea, coffee, and drinking water are freely available around the clock. A small balcony overlooking the park is quite a nice place to sit at a tiny wooden table. It is a bit cluttered with a small hand basin in the corner; even if you disregard the constant dropping leaves from the overhanging trees, the terrace -- including the basin -- is dirty.
Summary
The overall impression of the hostel is that it's shabby and not too clean, although we don’t think that is the fault of the staff, but instead perhaps of absent owners who are maybe not really committed to offering a genuine service.
Photos taken by the Hostelz.com reviewer — Genuine photos you can trust.
Jane Clements
Hostelz.com Staff Reviewer
Published on Jun 11, 2018
Location and Contact
Location
• From airport: 30 minutes car (+- RM30 by taxi / RM15 by grab car). • From bus station :15 minutes by car. • 5 minutes walk from Kota Bharu Bas Stesen. • 10 minutes drive from Tesco Bus Station. • 20 minutes drive from Sultan Ismail Petra Airport, Kota Bharu.