Gran Senyiur Hotel

Staff friendly, hotel showing its age in places. Breakfast has a good choice, but common failure is that the "hot" food is at best lukewarm.

This hotel fully deserves its 5-star rating, primarily due to its exceptional staff who deliver world-class service that rivals top hotels globally. Despite being an older property, the outstanding service quality elevates the entire experience.

The staff's performance stands out as truly remarkable, demonstrating a level of hospitality that exceeds expectations even for experienced luxury travelers. Their attention to detail and dedication to guest satisfaction sets a benchmark for service excellence.

While the building shows some age and could benefit from maintenance updates, the core elements of a premium hotel experience are excellently executed. The comfortable beds ensure quality rest, while the breakfast offering maintains high standards.

The value for money is particularly noteworthy, delivering a level of service and comfort that justifies the price point. The combination of exceptional staff, comfortable accommodations, and quality dining creates a thoroughly satisfying stay.

This property proves that outstanding service can overcome minor physical imperfections, demonstrating how passionate, professional staff can create a 5-star experience even in an aging facility. Special thanks to the team for their world-class hospitality.

For travelers seeking genuine hospitality excellence at reasonable rates, Gran Senyiur Hotel delivers an experience that competes with global luxury standards, particularly in terms of service quality.

Staying with family at the Gran Senyiur hotel is very satisfying. Friendly and fast service made us feel at home for a stay. Relaxing with the family on the Rooftop, seeing the breathtaking view from the top is a feast for the eyes.
I will come again to enjoy the Teppanyaki treats at Daisaku Restaurant.

Het hotel was gedateerd. Zwembad stonk en er was geen gezelligheid in de bar. Ondeskundig personeel.
Ik moest zelf vertellen hoe je een gin tonic moest maken. Op de rooftop wisten ze ook geen cocktails te maken. Bij het ontbijt stonk het erg naar sigaretten rook, de deur van de rookkamer was aldoor open. Heel vervelend voor mensen die niet roken.

Looking for place for staycation with my husband, they have a big room and the service was excellent, I want to order their fried rice again next time because it's yummy. Definitely will be back again for our next staycation in Balikpapan on weeekend.

Excellent one night stay post river cruise. Huge standard room very clean and well appointed. Nice Japanese restaurant. Some difficulties at lounge ordering gin & tonic in good clean glasses. Wine available but poor selection and very high price generally 1500000 - 2500000IDR per bottle! Nice Japanese restaurant. Good breakfast. Nice walk to Australian War Memorial “Tugu Australia”
Very satisfactory.

O.k.

Many visits to Balikpapan I spend in this hotel, most of them attending meetings. I also stay few times. The rooms are spacious. Some furniture seem old, but function well.
Breakfast is another reason why I choose this hotel to stay. Various food, yummy, and supported by a friendly man around, explaining the food. I guest he is a manager or something.

The staff were very helpful. The bed was comfortable.

Very Nice Hotel big space and room so clean and comfy all the staff so kind and very friendly

The bed is terrible, cannot sleep and take proper rest. The Aircon Water leaking inside the room and the first day I slept with leaking water. The next day they changed my room and it's the same. Finally, I changed my hotel. The food is super expensive. I am really felt stressed during my stay in this hotel. The bathtub sliding door is nearly falling down during taking the shower.

This hotel seems older than the others since it had built when my parents haven't met each other but, I still think that this is one of the best choices for you guys to stay in Balikpapan. My experience staying in this hotel was quite fun since as you enter the lobby it seems so spacious and quiet even though the lobby is directly connected to the bar. The room of this hotel is really cozy and the room service is polite because they always smile and greet as we see each other and they also helped me carry luggage when I was already at the bar. I can do many kinds of sports here which is swimming and also, they have a gym. The last thing that I want to recommend is the restaurant which is the Skybar. There are plenty varieties of food which is available here and the best of this bar is the location which is a few levels above the bar and it is outdoor.

got there and was impressed at how nice it was. looked like something out of a movie set !

greeted very nicely and took my luggage in. front desk staff very polite, smiling, happy people !

just felt like i was home. They brought my bags up to the room and i knew i was at the place to be in Balikpapan.

room was, bright, CLEAN AND NICE !!

The room has good wifi and for me after coming from a place with no ac, and no hot water it was like being in heaven 😁😁👍.

i was leaving the room when my ipad pinged with a message so i stopped outside the door to check it when 2 polite young ladies from staff were walking by a d asked if everything was ok. i told them just checking messages and they said if i needed anything to please let them know.

that was a first ! added to my great first impressions.

i decided to go have a beer in the lounge.

again like a movie set from years ago in the time when hotels like this were for the rich, famous or important people.

another reviewer mentioned the hotel is old, which it is but the difference between this hotel and another hotel here is THIS PLACE IS CARED FOR AND IT SHOWS !

Ordered a beer and since i was only person there i chatted with the Bartender Miss Feby. very polite sweet young lady and another young man also. was showing them some photos of my travels and home and next thing i knew it was like i was holding court. many of staff and gathered around and i was surrounded by new friends.

some other guest had come and sat in the lounge and the waiter stopped talking and went right over to them and when Miss Feby got the order she aslo stopped talking and made the order. Just as it should be.

then another young lady walked out and started talking and introduced here self as from food and beverage sales.
Miss Marzsa Noer Larasati.

as much as i hated to leave she brought me up and showed me
the skybar. i had no idea it existed. we talked anout many
things and you could see in the way she carried herself and spoke she was a professional in her job.

she promotes events for the hotel and she gave me her business card and explained her job. she makes sure everything in restaurant and bars is perfect for the guest.

they have many different events and she shared her whatsapp with me and the phots show this is not just a nice hotel but a fun place to be for all ages in Balikpapan.

sadly i had a dinner engagement out with friends a d had to excuse myself. very hard to leave this young lady. her attitude about her job and life was amazing. she will have not just a great career but great life also.
the next morning I had a 6:45 AM flight and my ride was supposed to pick me up at 4:30 but never showed and the guy who ran my tour was constantly checking with me to see if his driver arrived and i was pacing back and forth and the staff asked if i needed help and when i explained my predicament they got their phones out and got me a grab car to airport a d when it arrived they grabbed my bags and put them in the car for me.

thanks guys for your help. made flight thanks to you !

i urge all of you to talk with the staff when you go to different places. everyone has a story to tell and is happy to share it all around the world. you learn thing not only about the place you are staying but places in towns you do not know about as well as making new friends and to me thats why i always enjoy meeting people.

The room itself was quite dirty,the walls,the floor, the tables, Nothing had been properly cleaned for long time and particularly the bathroom.Also de toilets in the bar were extremely filhty.There was a constant mould damp smell in the entire room that gave me a head ache after the first night,and a very itchy skin.
I complained to reception but the girls didn't seem to understand english,I said I wanted to leave ,that I'd prefer to be in the jungle, then the manager over heard us and came over singsonging "jungle,jungle" and told me , I quote, "Sir you can leave any time you want,but you are not getting a refund because that's the rule,you didn't pay us,you paid the agent".
I pointed out that the room wasn't up to a 5 star hotel standards but he kept repeating that.
With a smirk on his face,I might add.

The first morning,
housekeeping staff woke me up ringing the room bell several times to clean the room,it was 08:20a.m. I asked them not to do that as I was sleeping and it was way too early.
Nevertheless, they did it a few more times during my stay.
Another morning,at almost 09:00a.m. some maintenance was taking place in the next room because I was woken up again but this time with hammering noises.

I have been all around the area and found this the best place to stay. It proved to be a great base for everything I needed and wanted to do in Balikpapan and around it. I liked that it is strategically perched on the hill overlooking the city and the strait, and that it is at the crossroads with easy access to the sights in all the directions. In my opinion, those hotels nearby, even the newer ones, are not as spacious and definitely not as charming as this classy and stylish Gran Senyiur. I was impressed with hotel's amenities and facilities that any business or tourism traveler may need. The WiFi worked great in the room and everywhere around the hotel. Everything is very accessible and comfortable: the gym, the pool, the spa, the restaurants, the bars. The breakfast is diverse and delicious, just wish I left more space for the yummy local deserts served there. I had some lunches and other meals at the hotel and they were memorably tasty. No real surprise, but everyone, from the front desk to the manager, was genuinely welcoming and helpful. There are nice seafood restraints nearby, by the shoreline, but I am happy I went to the nightly gig at the hotel by LasMorado band, the four super-talented and friendly musicians, in the Sky Bar upstairs, which is also a great place to catch a fantastically refreshing breeze and enjoy breathtaking views, with a choice of drink and food. Thank you Gran Senyiur. I will plan to stay here again on my next visit to East Kalimantan.

Without doubt one of the favorite hotels I stayed during my recent trip in East Kalimantan! The staff was extremely friendly, the hotel very flexible (appreciate this!) and the general manager deserves a special thanks. We had two great evenings here, which obviously also added up to the experience. All respect for the general manager who does a great job here and a true sample of excellent hospitality.

Hotel Gran Senyur was ok . Altho old .
Wifi is available on every floor. But very unstable . No hand rail for handicapped person in bathroom . No handheld shower either. Room was big enough for an extra bed. Fridge was cold n was able to make ice cubes. Great!
Breakfast was good.
Staff were all very friendly n helpful n polite.
Location was just right. Near to many restaurants.
Luckily there were enough lifts . So did not have to wait long to go back to our room.
We went to Samarinda hoping to visit the Dayak village. Unfortunately they were in mourning as one of them just died.
For Dayak ceremony are held on Sunday morning only.

Will prefer other newer hotel with same price range in balikpapan
1.old hotel and room .. took executive suite.. definitly rarely cleaned because hardly occupied
2. Facilities with poor condition : gym have some equipment but in Basement level..spooky corner ..should relocate it somewhere elelse
3. Pool : pictures are deceiving...it is a small L shape pool.. around 20m length
4. Disappointing breakfast selection
5. Access to location : easy ... no additional extra like beach ... ..
6. EXTRA POORwifi connection
7. Staff are friendly ..standard for Indonesian's hospitality level

The decline in the local economy (oil business has left) is reflected in this hotel. Old fashioned seventies 'gradeur' without upkeep. Few guests do patronise this venue nowadays, apart from government and army bobo's.
The restaurants are empty, the rooms are spacious, the staff can't help the delapidation.
But what is your alternative in Balikpapan nowadays?

I stayed at the Gran Senyiur for work and enjoyed the atmosphere of the hotel. As well upreviously mentioned the rooms are large and the hotel looks fantastic but age is catching up with the hotel. The en-suite was good but the shower was slow to drain, the bed was firm but good, the AC worked well in the room and the sheets and towels were clean and replaced as required. I found the internet wifi slow and very intermittent which might sound trivial but is so important these days! Overall I enjoyed my stay and found the staff wonderful and welcoming! Terima kasih!!