Romantic Hotels in East Java, Indonesia

"Before my trip, I meticulously read numerous online reviews for this hotel, and after experiencing it firsthand, I now understand why the reviews are somewhat polarized. To be honest, the hotel's location and interior environment are quite good. The lobby and restaurant have an older charm, but the rooms are well-maintained. The linens felt slightly damp, but the bright interior lighting compensates for the natural light deficiencies due to the room's age. The hot water supply was also excellent, indicating that the hotel has invested in unseen yet comfort-ensuring aspects – something many poorly managed older hotels fail to do. The hotel features several courtyard areas, each surrounding a beautiful garden. These gardens have a French vintage aesthetic and are clearly well-maintained, though perhaps not with the same meticulous, high-luxury precision throughout. After all, given the hotel's size, it's unrealistic to expect every area to be managed like a boutique property. Breakfast was surprisingly good, especially the baked goods. The bread, though unassuming in appearance, had excellent texture and aroma, on par with top-tier bakeries in Shanghai. There were also many local Indonesian specialties; however, given the general characteristics and standards of Indonesian cuisine, it's best to approach these with cautious anticipation and try a small selection. Nevertheless, among all the good hotels I've stayed in during this trip, this one offered the most diverse and thoughtfully prepared local dishes – just don't compare them to the 'delicious' Western food standards and tastes. In summary, for this price (even the suites are quite affordable), staying in a hotel of this style offers excellent value for money. You can't compare it to hotels priced at 3000 and above, even if its historic exterior might suggest that caliber. The maintenance and staffing costs for such high-end establishments are simply on a different level."

"My favorite part about this hotel is the breakfast; the restaurant staff are incredibly welcoming. I choose this hotel every time I visit, and the mall downstairs is super convenient. Everyone at the hotel is just wonderful!"

"Most people visiting Surabaya choose the zoo as an activity, and this hotel is conveniently located about a 10-minute walk away. The surrounding area has a very local, bustling vibe. Right outside, you'll find many street food stalls similar to breakfast spots in China, especially on weekends when Jalan Progo turns into a vibrant market with countless snacks and sundry goods – truly a melting pot of cultures. The hotel's environment and cleanliness are excellent. While there's no bottled water in the room, the water dispenser on each floor is very convenient. Some toiletries need to be requested from the front desk, and the power outlets are only compatible with Indonesian plugs. The call to prayer around 4:30 AM is unavoidable, and the sound insulation from outside isn't great. The breakfast selection isn't vast, but it caters well to a 'Chinese stomach' with fried rice, fried noodles, and noodle soup. Coffee, milk, juice, and other beverages are also available, so you can definitely eat your fill. There's also an in-house coffee station on the ground floor. The service is very enthusiastic. Considering the price, you can't expect too much, but the staff consistently smiles, answers all questions, and even opens doors when you enter or exit – which is already quite impressive."

"I'd say this is the most satisfying 5-star serviced apartment hotel I've stayed in for years. It's a newly opened hotel, and on the day of our stay, the staff even upgraded us to a two-bedroom, one-living room unit, which was incredible value for money. I never expected to find a hotel of this caliber in Surabaya. The privacy is excellent, with each unit having its own elevator. Security checks are also very thorough; Grab vehicles need to undergo a safety inspection before entering the lobby. This trip coincided with our anniversary, and the staff surprised us with a mural outside our room – we were so delighted! Although the front desk staff's English wasn't perfect, they still tried their best to communicate with me. The room facilities are very comprehensive, with a microwave, tableware, sound system, TV, water dispenser, and more. There are even instruction cards on how to use everything. The only thing that could be improved is putting signs on the washing machine and kitchen doors. We knew beforehand that the hotel had a washing machine and needed to use it after our volcano trip, but we couldn't find it anywhere in the room. We had to contact the front desk, and they sent an engineering colleague over. The problem was, we couldn't find the washing machine's location at all. There was a locked door in the room labeled 'emergency exit,' and we thought it was a fire door, so we didn't open it. Later, another staff member came to our room and rang the doorbell, which we found very strange because no one was outside. Only then did the front desk call and tell us there was another door in the room, and that's when we discovered the washing machine behind it. So, I'd suggest putting a sign on that 'emergency exit' door. But overall, we were extremely satisfied and hope to have the chance to stay again in the future."

"I stayed here for 3 nights, and this is my honest review. The hotel has recently reopened after a complete renovation and rebranding. The staff were excellent. Everyone was friendly and welcoming. Check-in took about five minutes because the staff member assisting me seemed new and was carefully following the procedures. I didn’t mind at all, and I was served a delicious welcome drink while waiting. After check-in, a staff member escorted me to my room. Pros: 1. The rooms have been fully renovated and feel modern. 2. The bed was comfortable, the air conditioning worked perfectly, even at 26°C. 3. Breakfast exceeded my expectations. Everything I tried was delicious, especially the Indonesian dishes. What impressed me the most was that, even though the hotel was still very quiet and there were only a handful of guests during my stay, they still offered a full breakfast buffet with a wide variety of options. Many hotels would simply serve a limited set menu or deliver breakfast to the room when occupancy is this low, but this hotel maintained a complete buffet from end to end. I really have to give them credit for that. 4. The location is convenient, with Superindo and Indomaret within a 3-minute walk and Pakuwon Mall only about a 9-minute drive away. 5. The lobby is spacious and looks luxurious. Cons: 1. The TV was by far my biggest disappointment. I stayed in a Deluxe Room, and the TV appeared to be left over from the previous hotel rather than replaced during the renovation. It was very small, around 32 inches, and wasn’t a Smart TV, which feels completely out of place for a hotel that claims to be five-star. The selection of TV channels was also very limited, and the picture quality was poor with noticeable static, making it quite unpleasant during my 3-night stay. The Executive Rooms have larger TVs, but based on the information I received, they are not Smart TVs either because I was told that only the Suite Rooms will have Smart TVs, and those rooms will only become available after the hotel’s grand opening. You can even notice that the hotel doesn’t include any photos of the TV in the Deluxe Room images on its booking page, which almost makes it seem like they’re avoiding showing it. Nowadays, it’s hard to imagine a genuine five-star hotel still using a 32-inch non-Smart TV in its standard guest rooms. 2. Soundproofing isn’t great. I could hear noise from the next room and the nearby mosque. 3. The Wi-Fi was very slow, and mobile signal inside the hotel was also weak. 4. The shower area had no shelf or storage space for personal toiletries, and the floor was extremely slippery. I almost slipped several times while showering. This is something the hotel should address, as it could become a safety hazard. 5. The power outlet next to the bed was already occupied by the bedside lamp, so I had to unplug it every time I wanted to charge my phone. 6. Although there were plenty of power outlets in the room, about half of them didn’t work, which was frustrating. 7. I wasn’t a fan of the pillow and bed linens. While the bed itself was comfortable, the bedsheets felt rough rather than soft. I even noticed that the underside of my arms became itchy whenever they rubbed against the fabric. 8. The hotel was very quiet during my stay. It seems many people still don’t know it has reopened, and I haven’t seen much promotion or any soft opening offers on its website and Instagram account. Overall: I enjoyed my stay thanks to the friendly staff, comfortable room, excellent breakfast, and convenient location. However, the TV and Wi-Fi were major drawbacks, and there are still several details that don’t quite meet the standard of a true five-star hotel. At the moment, I would personally rate this hotel as 4.5 stars rather than a full 5-star property. It has great potential, and with improvements to the TVs, internet, room details, and overall quality control, I believe it could truly live up to its five-star positioning."

"I had a very enjoyable stay and would like to thank the reception team for their excellent service.Their warm hospitality and willingness to help made every stay pleasant and memorable. Thank you for your professionalism and genuine care in looking after your guests. Your excellent service truly contributed to making my stay enjoyable. I would gladly return and highly recommend this hotel to others."