I stayed at Vivacity – JAZZ Suite 2 (Unit B9-08), and this was by far one of the worst homestay experiences I’ve ever had.
First off, the unit looked completely different from the photos shown online. It honestly felt like a different apartment altogether. Maybe other units in the same building are better, but staying here seems to depend entirely on luck—and unfortunately, we got a bad one.
Communication was already a problem before arrival. I contacted the provided number a few hours in advance, which is something I’ve never had to do before—usually hosts or reception will reach out first. Instead, I had to chase them for instructions. The listing stated a $200 deposit payable upon arrival, but the “mobile receptionist” insisted on bank transfer only and refused to provide directions until payment was made. When I explained I could only pay cash (which is a reasonable concern for travelers wary of scams), I was ignored completely until I agreed to transfer. That was a huge red flag. Because of the unclear instructions, we also ended up driving into the wrong pickup area and incurred an unnecessary RM20 toll.
When we finally got into the unit, the issues continued immediately. The main door was faulty and extremely difficult to open—it clearly hadn’t been maintained. The lock was also problematic when exiting.
Inside, the apartment was shockingly dusty. You could literally feel the layer of dust under your feet, like it hadn’t been cleaned or occupied for months. When we turned on the shower, clumps of dust and debris came out and clogged the drain. Tables, chairs, and countertops were all covered in dust. We genuinely considered leaving for a hotel, but since it was already late and we were only staying two nights, we reluctantly stayed. The only positives were that the bed was acceptable and the WiFi worked well.
The next morning made things worse. The master bedroom bathroom had insects on the floor, and we had to clean it ourselves. The tiles were damaged, surfaces were grimy with grease and algae, and overall it felt extremely unhygienic. While showering, the showerhead suddenly fell off and hit my shoulder and hand—this could have been dangerous, especially for a child. Almost everything in that bathroom was broken or poorly maintained, including the tap.
We reported this to the receptionist, who only asked if I was okay—no apology, no follow-up, no compensation. They said someone would come to fix it, but no one ever showed up, even by the time we checked out. The showerhead was still lying on the floor.
The kitchen was no better—the sink tap didn’t even have a proper knob to turn on the water. Again, it showed a complete lack of maintenance and care.
To top it off, during checkout, the receptionist actually asked us to leave a full-star review in exchange for a 15% discount. That was honestly quite shocking given the condition of the unit. I hesitated to respond at the time because I was worried about getting my deposit back.
I’ve stayed in many homestays before, and this is easily the worst experience I’ve had. For a similar price, you’re far better off booking a hotel where at least basic cleanliness, safety, and service standards are met. I would not recommend this unit to anyone and definitely would not stay here again.
