Hotel Excelsior in Ipoh

My first impression of Ipoh Hotel Excelsior was extremely disappointing due to the lack of basic hospitality and poor operational efficiency.

Check-in is stated to be at 3:00 PM, and hotel charges are clearly based on a stay starting from 3:00 PM until 12:00 PM the next day. However, even after 3:30 PM, the room was still not ready. This delay was not communicated proactively—we had to repeatedly follow up just to find out when the room would be available. The late check-in, caused purely by the hotel’s inefficiency, disrupted our plans and caused unnecessary inconvenience.

The toilet had a continuous running water issue, likely faulty, and the constant noise disrupted our rest. On top of that, there was loud music every night, making it difficult to sleep

The hotel is extremely rigid about guests bringing non-halal food into the restaurant area. While I respect halal practices, the approach taken felt unwelcoming and lacking in sensitivity. If the hotel intends to enforce such strict rules without flexibility or proper guest guidance, perhaps it should be clearly stated upfront—or reconsider accepting non-Muslim guests altogether. Hospitality should be about inclusivity and respectful communication, not enforcement without empathy.

This is honestly the first hotel I have stayed at in Malaysia that felt so rigid, unaccommodating, and lacking in basic guest experience. A hotel stay should feel welcoming and well-managed, but unfortunately, this experience was the opposite.

I would not recommend this hotel to guests who value efficiency, flexibility, and genuine hospitality.