G5 Hotel and Serviced Apartment
by the TopOfHotel team
Light-on-the-wallet serviced apartment where a $23 room still gets you a kitchen and a rooftop pool — just go in knowing the upkeep is hit or miss.
Light-on-the-wallet serviced apartment where a $23 room still gets you a kitchen and a rooftop pool — just go in knowing the upkeep is hit or miss.
In-Depth Review
Rooms and decor
At around $23 a night in Johor Bahru, finding a room that has both an in-room kitchen and a rooftop pool is genuinely hard — and that's the case for G5 Hotel and Serviced Apartment, which has almost no rivals at this rate. The overall score is a modest 6.8/10, so set expectations accordingly, but there are real reasons people still book it. The rooms have wood floors and a plain, clean-looking design, and the standout is the small kitchen tucked into the unit — a hotel at this price where you can actually cook. Families staying several nights can shave a lot off the food bill by stocking up at a supermarket in town and cooking in.
Food and amenities
The honest warning to read before booking: room standards aren't consistent. Some reviewers mention beds firmer than expected, and the units nearest the car park catch noise around the clock. The easy fix is to request a room away from the parking deck when you reserve, and to read the latest reviews for your specific room type rather than the overall average. As for facilities, the open-air rooftop pool is the highlight — for a budget-minded family that still wants the kids to swim after a day of walking, it earns its keep. Beyond that you get free Wi-Fi and parking, about what you'd expect from a small serviced apartment. Service cuts both ways: some guests praise a friendly, helpful front desk, others run into a rougher experience — at this rate, leave a little room for that.
Location and getting there
It's central. The malls and restaurants are close, and it's a 12-15 minute walk to JB Sentral and the CIQ checkpoint, which makes shopping and a hop across the border into Singapore straightforward. Legoland is the catch: it's a 25 to 30 minute drive out to Iskandar Puteri on the west side, so think of G5 as a low-cost city-centre base rather than a stay near the park.
Things to know before booking
Three things up front. First, the noise — rooms by the car park are loud, so ask for one further away and confirm it at check-in. Second, consistency: housekeeping and upkeep vary from stay to stay, so this isn't the place if you need a guaranteed standard. Third, it's not walkable to Legoland — budget the 25 to 30 minute drive each way if the park is your main reason for the trip. Beds in some rooms also run firm, worth knowing if you're particular about that.
Our take
For budget families who want both a kitchen and a pool starting around $23, this is a hard combination to find anywhere else in the city. The catch is simple: the standard won't match a big chain, and you have to go in expecting some variability. If you want steadier, more predictable quality, nudge the budget up a notch to Holiday Inn Express or Grand Belllo — safer bets, but you'll give up the kitchen and the rooftop pool to get there.
Score Breakdown
Assessed by our editorial team from data and real guest reviews
The Honest Verdict — pros & what to know
- Rooms come with a small in-room kitchen, which makes self-catering and multi-night stays genuinely cheaper — handy for families watching the food bill.
- There's an open-air rooftop pool, something you almost never get in this price bracket, so kids can swim off a long day of walking.
- Rates start at roughly $23 a night for a central JB base, which is hard to beat if budget is the deciding factor.
- The wood-floor rooms keep a simple, clean-looking design rather than the worn-out feel you often get at this rate.
- Several reviewers single out the location and a friendly front desk as the high points of their stay.
- Rooms close to the car park pick up real noise — ask for a unit away from the parking deck when you book, and confirm it on arrival.
- Cleanliness and service are inconsistent: reviews split between good stays and ones that hit problems, which is the reality at this price.
- It's not near Legoland — the park is a 25 to 30 minute drive out to Iskandar Puteri — and some guests find the beds firmer than expected.
Who It’s For
Match Score by travel style
Amenities
Location & Nearby Spots
Things to do near Johor Bahru
Day tours, attraction tickets and experiences around Johor Bahru — book ahead on Klook with mobile e-tickets.
See activities in Johor BahruAffiliate link — we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you.
Insider Tips
- Ask for a room away from the car park — reviewers specifically flag the parking-side units as noisy.
- Use the kitchen: grab groceries from a supermarket in town and cook a few meals to stretch the budget further.
- Read the most recent reviews for your exact room type before booking — the room and service standard isn't consistent across the property.