I am actively adding more hotel reviews recently (refer to 'Travel" tab above to read about others) before moving on to other topics.


Today, I would like to talk about one of many places I have stayed in Johor Bahru. It is many Singaporeans favourite weekend spot - trust me, the jam can be horrible at times. Staycations/short trips are gaining popularity among both Singaporeans and locals. I have visited and stayed at a number of hotels and airbnb (Susana, Holiday Villa, Belllo; just to name a few). I will get to them soon enough.


My most recent trip was an airbnb meant for 5 pax but I did not go with the intention to blog about it; hence the lack of photos. I will start with the previous stay at TROVE hotel instead.

Types of rooms available

There are 5 different types of room for you to choose from, namely Standard Twin, Deluxe Twin, Deluxe King, Club Deluxe King and suites.
TROVE has 7 different types of suites and some are even suitable for bigger groups (2-4 pax).
You can visit their website to find out more

Location

Close drive from JB CIQ and KSL city. KSL is the closest mall/option around TROVE but I don't find it very safe to walk back at night. The paths are among housing estates and it can get secluded at times.

Hence, despite the close proximity, I don't really like the location of TROVE

Facilities

Two dining options - a bar and all-day dining restaurant are available for people who wish to have a meal in the hotel itself. There are meeting rooms and ball rooms in hotel for booking.

I totally cannot remember whether how the pool looks like, or whether there is one (I'm guessing TROVE should have).

Used none of the facilities during our stay.

Deluxe Twin Room

My preference was Deluxe King Room (I really like the natural vibe this room gives off) but it was fully booked. Deluxe Twin was the next best option available.




When you enter the room, you will have an area to place your luggage and your shoes



And the things inside the wardrobe




The fridge provided is a chiller fridge. Not cold enough to keep the ice-cream solid


The most unique thing about this hotel is that they provide alkaline water dispenser in every room for guests. Such a good way to cut down on disposable waste.



Alkaline water doesn't taste like very much. Remember to on the switch before consumption.




Toilet/basin.

Comes with a typical rain shower.

Room is large and it can easily fit a baby cot. However, I feel it is not fully utilised to give that cozy feeling. TROVE was rated as 5-star hotel in booking.com but it is actually a 4-star hotel. The deco, amenities and toiletries provided cannot be categorized in that anyway.

Breakfast

Breakfast taste really good - pancakes, eggs, international and Asian dishes. However, TROVE was obviously short-staffed as:

1. No one was at the reception area
2. Tables weren't cleared
3. Food weren't replenished in time

In fact, the food ran out so fast. This is probably the first time not feeling full after hotel breakfast.

Service

Check in was rather hassle-free but when J was speaking to the receptionist regarding a surprise arrangement, he was bluntly left hanging because someone else joined the queue behind for check in.
I wasn't aware of this till much later but I feel this was very uncalled for.









Overall, TROVE is a clean and value for money place for a short stay. It is great for business travellers too. Location isn't the best in my opinion but what's lacking is the service. It is a hotel with great potential and to be honest, I really wouldn't mind giving this place a second chance to get things up and running.

However, J was very put off by the incidents and he is not very keen to come back again.

I shall see how then!



Things worth mentioning:
- Fast check in
- Alkaline water dispenser available, environmentally friendly and hassle-free
- Quiet around hotel
- Close proximity to KSL/immigration
- Service is not up to standard
- Netflix available from TV (Smart TV)
- Good breakfast but not replenished fast enough

Rating: 7/10
May or may not come back again

Good hair salons in Singapore often come with a hefty price tag. Hence, more and more people are heading to Johor Bahru, especially with our strong exchange rate and close proximity.

There are a ton of hair salons in KSL City. However, we decided to try one from City Square JB because I don't feel secure travelling too far on our own. Don't worry! It is generally safe! Just be vigilant and take care of your belongings etc.


Walked around a bit before handing my hair, and heart, to Jantzen, JB.
It is probably one of the cheapest salons in City Square JB. I checked with another salon and the package was way out of my budget.



The package I took comprises of cut, dye and treatment.
Environment is comfy and clean; though I almost slipped because they didn't clear up the cut hair immediately.

Got a cup of hot tea and some magazines when I settled down in my seat.




My stylist was Kenneth. He didn't initiate much conversation, which is great btw. I wasn't in the mood to talk much that day.


I got my waist long hair cut to bra strap length. He is quite attentive and did a good job shaping my hair. I got a curved cut, thinned at the ends but it still looked really nice and thick.

Photos! But please pardon my messy hair!



The cut works well with my natural hair (since I cut away all my perm!) and my ends fall nicely curled in. It is not super obvious but I still like it.





Kenneth is one of the most gentle stylists I have ever met. I've horrible experiences with many as they tend to tuck and pull my hair so hard.
He on the other hand was comparatively gentle when he tried to untangle the mess on my head (LOL), and also while he blow-dry, cut and wash. No massage during wash anyway.


However, he did not manage to give me the fringe I want. It's okay! Ever since I got the bowl cut fringe from Monsoon, nothing surprises me anymore. Except maybe if someone snip all my fringe away.



Also, I expected him to trim again after colouring but he didn't. I did not ask because he had another customer waiting for him. I like how my hair looks but I wanted something shorter. He did not drop me halfway despite someone was waiting. Instead, he asked the person to wait and finished my hair completely on his own (another stylist briefly helped me blow dry my hair).

Another thing I want to point out is that Kenneth was the one who applied the colour for me. Many places will just ask the juniors or assistants to do it you know. Well, I am not sure what his position is there but I am glad he handled my hair like 95% of the time. I panic a little when someone without prior knowledge touches my hair. Appreciate the personal touch and service!




This is the colour he mixed for me. My sis said it's brown red under certain lighting but it just look brown to me. At least it's visible enough so I'm fine.



Colour is very even and it didn't change much after washing.


My hair still feels smooth after all the chemical treatment, doesn't feel frizzy as well. I find the condition of my hair really great #whatsorceryisthis There were more flyaway but I managed to tame them after adding a new conditioner in my haircare routine.







My whole package cost me RM 255. It worked out to be around SGD$100. Considering the fact that my hair is long (bra strap) and I went to a pretty reputable place, it is really affordable. A cut, dye and treatment will probably set me back 200+ or more in Singapore.

I'm not sure when, or whether there'd be, new year's surcharge will start so check with the salon itself if you're interested!




My current Haircare routine:
Essential light volumising shampoo/dove nourishing care shampoo
Miss en scene treatment
L'oreal sulphate-free conditioner
Liese argan oil/natural Republic aloe Vera gel/Essential hair sleeping mask


The only thing I've added is the sulphate-free colour protect conditioner, which happens to be one of my Jan favourites~




Everything is great and I like my new look very much. The only sad thing is.... my hair is growing too quickly! Less than 1 month and I can see black roots already?!




Anyway if you're looking for a cheap and good place to fix your mane, consider Jantzen salon in City Square JB. Or if you have any other good hair salons in Johor Bahru to recommend, comment down below ^^