I, or associates of mine, have had several instances of “dodgy” room allocations in Balinese hotels (all in Kuta). What seams to happen a bit, is that the hotel, in the first instance, will put you in their bad rooms!

Obviously, a lot of time in hotels, there are going to be some rooms in better condition than others, and quite often, a few awaiting upgrading. Usually, hotels would put guests into the better rooms, and only start allocating the not so good ones when they are in a pinch. However, I can think of 3 hotels in Kuta, that put us in a “dodgy” room first up, even though they had other vacancies. Although this doesn’t seam logical, it does appear to happen. I assume, they work on the theory that if you complain, they will change you, but if you don’t, they keep their better rooms available for other potential guests? The silliness of this theory, is there is every likelihood the good room will stay empty, and someone will go home with a bad opinion of the hotel, and usually tell plenty of others!

Unnecessary, bad rooms have been given to me previously at Kuta Beach Club, and the Holiday Inn, but the most recent experience has come from the Mercure Kuta Bali. Being a $100+ per night, international hotel chain, this is particularly disappointing!! COME ON Mercure - put people in the good rooms!!