IHG Hotels that recognise status

[Verbal]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Johor Bahru (Malaysia)
When: August 2025
Status: Platinum Ambassador
Rate: MYR 162 per night (Visa partner rate, inclusive of 18.8% tax)
Booked: 1 Queen Bed Standard
Received: 1 Queen 2 Single Two Bedroom Suite
Amenity Offered: Welcome drinks or points

Let's cut to the chase - the biggest drawback of this HIX is the location. About 10min walk from Johor Bahru (JB) City Square mall and 15min walk from the JB Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint where you cross the border between Malaysia and Singapore. Add in SE Asian humidity and this location isn't for everyone. You could Grab/taxi it from CIQ but the pick up/drop off location can be busy even at quiet times and worse during peak.

Ignoring the location, the place is pretty nice:

PROs:
- cheap rate, often half the price of the Holiday Inn JB City Centre (HI JBCC)
- free parking is available via reception validating your Touch n Go card (local eWallet like our Opal/Myki card, used for highway road tolls and KL public transport) to swipe into the car park
- good breakfast range of western and Asian dishes that cycle daily
- complimentary HIX branded shuttle bus that runs on a fixed schedule, departing HIX JB daily at 11am/2pm/5pm/8pm and drops you off outside the HI JBCC
- you can also jump onto the shuttle bus from the HI JBCC as it makes the return journey to HIX JB, add 5-10min to the above times for rough departure times (but don't be late, the driver doesn't linger after dropping off passengers)
- shuttle has space for 8 passengers in the back, 1 in front
- you need to reserve a seat at reception for departure from HIX JB; no need to book if you plan to jump on the return bus

CONs:
- the location will put most people off compared to the HI JBCC which is right in the middle of the action
- water drainage from taps/shower is noticeably loud, even minutes after you've turned off the water
- the building is showing signs of age, scuff marks everywhere and many obvious signs of plaster jobs on the walls
- the cable TV channels aren't HD, it's like watching TV from the 90s
- for some strange reason in the bedroom suite, the bedroom TVs have less channels than the communal TV

WOULD I STAY THERE AGAIN?
Yep, I have another night booked for Oct. Cheap location to get those extra nights in for milestone rewards. Not so great if you plan to use JB as a launch pad for daily Singapore trips, but fine if you want to explore the JB area.

WALKING DIRECTIONS FROM CIQ:

Johor Bahru City Square to 12, Jalan Dato Dalam

maps.app.goo.gl

I left my suitcases in Singapore and did this walk with a backpack and a light duffel bag slung around my shoulder. I wouldn't recommend doing this walk in the heat with any type of suitcase - best to get a Grab/taxi or wait for the HIX shuttle bus.

- after you exit Malaysian immigration, follow the crowd to City Square Mall via the overpass walkway onto level 3 of the mall (don't go too far down to roadside level as that's the pick-up/drop off point for Grab/taxis)
- take the escalator down to ground level and exit next to J Co Donuts and Coffee
- cross the road (Jalan Wong Ah cough, there's no lights so you have to time your crossing well) and to the right of Public Bank there is a covered walkway shortcut up to Jalan Trus
- cross Jalan Trus at the light and it's a steep uphill along Jalan Salim (real steep, feel free to take rest breaks walking up in the humidity)
- at the top of Jalan Trus, turn right at the Restoran Al Damascus and walk past the Johor International Convention Centre
- cross the road and follow Jalan Dato Dalam, sticking to the left side along the blue paint for pedestrians
- when you arrive at the back of HIX JB, there is a sheltered pedestrian staircase that leads you down to the front entrance, but the trick is to use the car park entrance instead
- the ramp down takes you to level 3 (easier for arriving), the ramp up leads to level 4 (easier for departing)
- you don't need a keycard to use the lift to select the lobby level (only needed for the upper levels)
- best to use your phone torch at night for the last stage, less for lighting your way and more to tell cars that you're walking in the dark

 

[Beano]

Hotel: Holiday Inn Express & Suites - Johor Bahru (Malaysia)
When: August 2025
Status: Platinum Ambassador
Rate: MYR 162 per night (Visa partner rate, inclusive of 18.8% tax)
Booked: 1 Queen Bed Standard
Received: 1 Queen 2 Single Two Bedroom Suite
Amenity Offered: Welcome drinks or points

Let's cut to the chase - the biggest drawback of this HIX is the location. About 10min walk from Johor Bahru (JB) City Square mall and 15min walk from the JB Customs, Immigration and Quarantine (CIQ) checkpoint where you cross the border between Malaysia and Singapore. Add in SE Asian humidity and this location isn't for everyone. You could Grab/taxi it from CIQ but the pick up/drop off location can be busy even at quiet times and worse during peak.

Ignoring the location, the place is pretty nice:

PROs:
- cheap rate, often half the price of the Holiday Inn JB City Centre (HI JBCC)
- free parking is available via reception validating your Touch n Go card (local eWallet like our Opal/Myki card, used for highway road tolls and KL public transport) to swipe into the car park
- good breakfast range of western and Asian dishes that cycle daily
- complimentary HIX branded shuttle bus that runs on a fixed schedule, departing HIX JB daily at 11am/2pm/5pm/8pm and drops you off outside the HI JBCC
- you can also jump onto the shuttle bus from the HI JBCC as it makes the return journey to HIX JB, add 5-10min to the above times for rough departure times (but don't be late, the driver doesn't linger after dropping off passengers)
- shuttle has space for 8 passengers in the back, 1 in front
- you need to reserve a seat at reception for departure from HIX JB; no need to book if you plan to jump on the return bus

CONs:
- the location will put most people off compared to the HI JBCC which is right in the middle of the action
- water drainage from taps/shower is noticeably loud, even minutes after you've turned off the water
- the building is showing signs of age, scuff marks everywhere and many obvious signs of plaster jobs on the walls
- the cable TV channels aren't HD, it's like watching TV from the 90s
- for some strange reason in the bedroom suite, the bedroom TVs have less channels than the communal TV

WOULD I STAY THERE AGAIN?
Yep, I have another night booked for Oct. Cheap location to get those extra nights in for milestone rewards. Not so great if you plan to use JB as a launch pad for daily Singapore trips, but fine if you want to explore the JB area.

WALKING DIRECTIONS FROM CIQ:

Johor Bahru City Square to 12, Jalan Dato Dalam

maps.app.goo.gl

I left my suitcases in Singapore and did this walk with a backpack and a light duffel bag slung around my shoulder. I wouldn't recommend doing this walk in the heat with any type of suitcase - best to get a Grab/taxi or wait for the HIX shuttle bus.

- after you exit Malaysian immigration, follow the crowd to City Square Mall via the overpass walkway onto level 3 of the mall (don't go too far down to roadside level as that's the pick-up/drop off point for Grab/taxis)
- take the escalator down to ground level and exit next to J Co Donuts and Coffee
- cross the road (Jalan Wong Ah cough, there's no lights so you have to time your crossing well) and to the right of Public Bank there is a covered walkway shortcut up to Jalan Trus
- cross Jalan Trus at the light and it's a steep uphill along Jalan Salim (real steep, feel free to take rest breaks walking up in the humidity)
- at the top of Jalan Trus, turn right at the Restoran Al Damascus and walk past the Johor International Convention Centre
- cross the road and follow Jalan Dato Dalam, sticking to the left side along the blue paint for pedestrians
- when you arrive at the back of HIX JB, there is a sheltered pedestrian staircase that leads you down to the front entrance, but the trick is to use the car park entrance instead
- the ramp down takes you to level 3 (easier for arriving), the ramp up leads to level 4 (easier for departing)
- you don't need a keycard to use the lift to select the lobby level (only needed for the upper levels)
- best to use your phone torch at night for the last stage, less for lighting your way and more to tell cars that you're walking in the dark

This takes me back to the 80s when I attended a wedding in JB. It was an all day affair with wedding in the morning followed buy an Indian themed buffet lunch (women and children first!) and Chinese in the evening. At the Chinese dinner there were four tall glasses (hi-ball), one for water, one for wine, one for beer and one for spirits. The servings were all the same nearly full!