[nono1973]

Originally Posted by localbest

Formosa Deluxe cost 460k per nite (join member) whereas Da Vienna Deluxe King cost 490k (Kaha) - Formosa win

Definitely agree with you,but lets not forget the Formosa 460k is a promo price. Original price was 510k rupiah,hehehe...how long is this gonna last? My say is,i need to standby Plan B,like always.

Originally Posted by localbest

Formosa Deluxe have carpet flooring but Da Vienna deluxe uses timber floors which is not cosy - Formosa win (carpet more comfortable)

Definitely,but for every good for a hotel (in this conversation,the carpet),there isalways the same thing that is not-so-good. Odour very much often gets suck into the carpet whenever there's air con and over the years,it keeps adding up resulting in heavier odour,insect breeding etc,thats if proper maintenance isnt carried out regularly.

Originally Posted by localbest

Formosa Deluxe is 30 square metre whereas Da Vienna Deluxe is 24 square metre - Formosa win (bigger floor size by 6 m2)

Hehehe...who wouldnt like a bigger room. But like i say earlier,if there is a good in something ,there will always be a direct opposite of a 'not-so-good' for the same "something". In this case,a bigger floor space requires stronger air con and a more well-ventilated air circulation,therefore a handful of deluxe room in Formosa is not well air-conditioned enough,hence the small handful of complain from some guests that their air con isnt cold enough,yet at times become freezingly cold during the night.

I knew the above theory well enough hence i often ask for a superior-sized room (smaller than the deluxe size) in Formosa rather than getting the deluxe 30 sqm sized room,hehehe...

Originally Posted by localbest

Formosa Deluxe toilet provide tap spray for manually wash backside after pass motion.

Da Vienna Deluxe toilet bowl inside has a nozzle that will spray clean water onto the ass hole of the hotel guest to help to wash clean clean the backside after pass motion - Da Vienna win

I believe this part is quite subjective. I for one wouldnt like the idea of some water jet shooting into my ass hole to wash my butt for me.

I am not a believer of all good and no-bad in almost everything (vice versa). I love to look on the both side of the coin in Formosa Hotel and Da Vienna Hotel.

Let me start from walking into the hotels...

1. From the moment i walked into the hotel premises,i was greeted all the way from the carpark of Formosa hotel (tax drivers and security guard outside) to its glass door (bell boys and security guards inside) and then to the reception counter (the receptionist). Seriously,i dont see that in most other hotels in Batam (except Biz so far),not even Da vienna Hotel.

2. Checking in into Formosa hotel,i do not require myself to put down an upfront deposit when i choose to leave my passport with them. In Da Vienna,i do not have a choice. I MUST put down 300k rupiah deposit and they wont hold on to my passport as their reception counter is too open to the extend that anyone could just walked-in.

3. The Da Vienna receptionist were always busy. A busier receptionists tends not to offer more personal touch service (please note here that i am not implying Da Vienna dont provide good service,in fact they fare way better than many 3 star plus hotels in Batam). I deduce why they were busier becos they have poorer coordination with the housekeeping staffs in other floors. When rooms were ready,reception wasnt notified hence the later check-in for most guests. And with most guests kept in the waiting area,and later almost all of them coming in to check in at a certain same timing (say 1pm to 2pm),how not to be busy.

4. Corridor up to the room,take a look. Why have smoking room on a non-smoking floors. Junior suite room on the 9th floor is a smoking room,but it has a non-smoking corridor and 8th floor has a smoking corridor,but most of the junior suite there were non-smoking room. Isnt that ironical.

Smoking corridor has an ash tray outside the lift,non-smoking corridor also has a ash tray at the same place but it says 'No Smoking'.

5. Upon entering the room,in my case a smoking room. A strong stench of cigarette odour emerge upon opening the door in Da Vienna. I dont have this problem in Formosa smoking room. Do note that the strong cigarette odour from the nose of a smoker and a non-smoker is different.If a smoker says the odour of cigarette smell is thick in a smoking room,it really is. Non smoker/s will most unlikely be able to take it.

* the issue of a strong cigarette odour in most hotel room/s can be resolve at most time by simply turning on the air con with windows and doors opened up for about 5 to 10 mins.

6. As Formosa is an older hotel,always check its flush on its toilet bowl. I have encounter several issue on its flush not flushing whats its suppose to be flushed away completely.

7. TV Programs,apparently both hotels has the same channels but Da Vienna Hotel being newer and taller in building height has a stronger signal.

8. Internet wifi and LAN :

a. Da Vienna has more rooms,more rooms (176) equates to more guests,more guest equates more people logging into its wireless routing. And they seems to be able to take that impact of more users. Strong wifi signal in most rooms,i must say. The bad,their LAN on the hotel dont work.When i ask them to come to fix it,they came,but left w/o fixing the problem.

b. Formosa has lesser room (110),but the structure of their hotel building disallow their newly set up wireless routing to cover all their rooms with stong signal. The LAN port on their wall works,if it doesnt,i call them and they will fix it before they leave. This hotel has a stronger IT team.

9. Security,i think i shant comment on this one becos i have yet to know a hotel in Batam that can beat Formosa base on my knowledge on their securty surveillance,hehehe...and i am not afraid to pass my room key to my girl,allowing her to walk in and out freely even when i am not in room.

10. Now i did a final fussy-customer test. I call housekeeping number,reception and order their food on both hotels. Both hotels pass the quick response timing test,the ask for "anything thats free" test,fixing a light bulb test. But i must say Formosa actually scored higher in this aspect. But i do note that Da Vienna is 7 floors taller than Formosa Hotel. (1 is 4 storey in height and the other is 11)

11. Da Vienna definitely beats Formosa in terms of breakfast base on its varieties. I am a eat to live person,so i am giving more points to the Da Vienna in this one. Man's meat and theory applies.

12. Checking out was a breeze for both hotel. BUT! I am already a season guest in Formosa,i checked out like a prince,hehehe...and i can choose to check out so late that most hotel will charge me half a day stay for it. Its not a fair comparison on this one.

13. Da Vienna Hotel is a hot place to stay among many Sillyporean Chinese,in fact there seems to be too many of them. It goes to show their marketing strategy works since Sillyporean were their primary targeted guests. But with more Chinese Sillyporean in a hotel,the atmosphere becomes different. Like during breakfast,i see people 'speed-walking',bragging loudly and i hear complains about this no good,that no good blah blah blah. Not to mention i am likely to see a familiar face while i was holding a girl's hand whenever i walk out of the hotel too. Formosa Hotel however has a fair share of different mixed nationalities with lesser percentage of Sillypore families comparing with Da Vienna. Biz tho they have many Sillyporean,but i do not see many Chinese Sillyporean (mostly other races).

I am comparing mainly both hotels from the moment i walked in,to the moment i checked out on a mindset when i stayed there for the 1st time.

Just my own point of comparison.