Sandakan, Sabah, Malaysia (Borneo)
Does it matter?
I had often asked myself, what is the difference between a guesthouse and a hotel in Southeast Asia? From what I have been able to figure out, there is no real difference. A guesthouse is usually a small family-operated hotel. I guess it’s called a guesthouse when the owners want to convey a homey image. The same small place would probably be called a hotel if the same owners wanted to appear more corporate. I don’t know.
The real difference
Whatever you want to call it, it’s either cheap & good or it’s something less than that. As we mentioned in a previous posting, finding a decent place to stay (on a budget) in most large towns or cities in Southeast Asia is not a difficult process. However, you should put together a mental list of what is acceptable and what is not. If you haven’t made a reservation, have the taxi drop you off at a central location where there are plenty of places to stay — and is within walking distance of the outdoor market and other attractions. Just tell the room clerk what you want, with a verbal list of your preferences. If they have it, fine, go take a look. If they don’t have it, there usually are plenty more places down the street. In the last 4 years of roaming around Southeast Asia, we have always found a room that fit our preferences.
The usual drill: clean, attached bathroom, air-conditioning, less than US$25 (per room) per night, near the outdoor market.
But, beware….
As in your home country, looks can be deceiving. Always inspect the room, prior to accepting it. Also, even if we are staying more than one night, we insist on paying for one night at a time. You never know if the room next to you might be rented to a brass band that likes to practice at night.
Bottom line:
Guesthouse vs. Hotel? It doesn’t matter. What does matter is you find what you want and are comfortable with that find.
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