Indonesian Paradise: Pakuwon Mall 2BR Apartment w/ WiFi!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because you're about to get the unfiltered, messy, totally human review of your hotel. I've got a list wider than my ex's excuses, and I'm gonna dig deep, folks. No sugarcoating here. Let's talk about [Hotel Name], because I'm picturing myself there right now…and I'm suddenly craving a banana daiquiri.
First Impressions & Accessibility - The Good, The Bad, and the "Wait, What?"
Okay, so accessibility. Crucial. Essential. And frankly, a good hotel should nail it. This place, bless its little cotton socks, tries. Wheelchair accessible? Yep, some parts are. Elevator? Check. Facilities for disabled guests? Supposedly. But here's where it gets messy. The devil, as they say, is in the details. Did I personally roll around in a wheelchair checking out every nook and cranny? No, I did not. But based on the information, some on-site areas are accessible, which is a step up from zero. Always call ahead and check for specifics!
Let's talk Internet. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? YES! Praise the tech gods. Seriously, I can't function without the internet. But it also says Internet [LAN]. LAN? Does anyone even use that anymore? Makes me feel like I'm flashing back to dial-up and the sweet, sweet sound of buffering. Still, reliable internet access is key. They've got it. Done.
Cleanliness and Safety - Breathing Easy (Maybe?)
Alright, let's get down to brass tacks. Cleanliness is EVERYTHING. We are still living in a world of viruses, so this is important. Anti-viral cleaning products? Good, I hope that means they are really cleaning. The info says: Daily disinfection in common areas, Rooms sanitized between stays, Professional-grade sanitizing services. That feels like a serious effort, and I'm grateful. Hand sanitizer available, Staff trained in safety protocol? Fingers crossed! Room sanitization opt-out available? Okay, interesting. So, it's an opt-out situation. I am curious to know more on the policy of this hotel. The more the better!
Dining, Drinking and Snacking - My Stomach is Growling
Okay, now we're talking. My happy place: food! I'm a sucker for a hotel that does this right. Restaurants? Multiple? Yes, please! A la carte, buffet in restaurant, Asian cuisine. Hold up – Vegetarian restaurant? Bingo! I am going to be honest, a good vegetarian option is vital for me. I am drooling at the idea of it! I can’t wait to see what the food is.
Breakfast? Yes! Breakfast [buffet]? Double yes! I am all in! Breakfast in Room? Wonderful! Coffee/tea in the restaurant? Essential for early risers like me. A poolside bar, snack bar, and 24-hour Room service? Okay, this is starting to sound like a food coma waiting to happen, and I'm here for it. The desserts in the restaurant? My sweet tooth is tingling! Bring on the fudge and the sticky toffee pudding.
Services and Conveniences - Amenities, Ahoy!
Let's go through what they are offering:
- Concierge: Always a plus.
- Daily housekeeping,
- Doorman
- Dry cleaning
- Elevator
- Gift/souvenir shop
- Laundry service
- On-site event hosting
- Safety deposit boxes
- Smoking area (because we all need a safe space)
- Xerox/fax in business center
Again, this is great but I would like to see what these services look like.
For the Kids - Family Friendly?
This is where it gets personal, I have a kid. Babysitting service? Woohoo, means I can sleep in. Family/child friendly? They better be! Kids facilities, and a kids meal. All green flags for my kid.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax - Spa Day, Anyone?
This is where things heat up, and where I am most interested. What can this hotel offer?:
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Fitness center, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool
This is amazing. The Pool with a view is what sells it for me. I want a pool with a view. A sauna. A steam room. A spa. All of it. I'm picturing myself floating in the pool, cocktail in hand, overlooking… I'm already relaxed just thinking about it. The massage I'll get, it'll be an entire day of pampering!
Available in All Rooms - The Nitty Gritty
Here are some of the in room stuff:
- Air conditioning? Yes, please!
- Alarm clock? Nice to have.
- Bathrobes? Luxury!
- Bathtub? Double-yesss!
- Blackout curtains? Essential.
- Coffee/tea maker? Yes, yes, yes!
- Complimentary tea? Awesome.
- Daily housekeeping? Great.
- Desk? Work and play.
- Free bottled water? Hydration is key.
- Hair dryer? Saves space in my luggage.
- In-room safe box? Security is essential!
- Internet access – wireless? Crucial.
- Ironing facilities? Necessary.
- Laptop workspace? Score.
- Mini bar? For late-night snacks.
- Non-smoking? (Good, some places still don't get it!)
- Private bathroom? Of course!
- Refrigerator? Another extra snack.
- Satellite/cable channels? Gotta watch some TV.
- Seating area? Important!
- Smoke detector? Safety first!
- Sofa? I like a comfy sofa
The Emotional Verdict - Is This Place Worth It?
Look, I'm a human. I want comfort, convenience, and a little bit of luxury. And I think this hotel, from what I've gathered, delivers on most of that. The potential for relaxation is high. The food options seem solid, and the safety measures implemented put my mind at ease. The fact that they offer vegan and vegetarian options is a huge win.
Final Recommendation: "Book it, Babe!" - (But Do Your Homework)
So, would I stay at [Hotel Name]? Probably, YES! The fact that it appears to be family-friendly, the spa, the pools, the food…it appeals to me.
SEO Optimization – Because Google Needs Love Too:
- Keywords: Hotel Review, Accessibility, Spa, Restaurant, Swimming Pool, Family-Friendly, [City Name], [Hotel Name], Vegetarian Restaurant, Free Wi-Fi, Non-Smoking Rooms.
- Structure: I've used headers, bolding, and lists to make this readable for both humans and search engines.
- Internal Linking: This review could be linked to other content on a travel website (e.g., city guides, other hotel reviews).
- Local SEO: Including the city name ([City Name]) is vital.
- Long-Tail Keywords: I've sprinkled in phrases like "wheelchair accessible hotel," "family-friendly hotel with babysitting," "hotel with spa and vegan options," etc., to capture more specific searches.
- Mobile-Friendly: The review is designed to be easily readable on any device.
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because my Surabaya adventure – aka, "Operation: Find Delicious Fried Chicken and Survive the Traffic" – is about to unfold. This ain't your perfectly curated Instagram feed; this is the real, sweaty, jetlagged deal. My base camp? That "Comfy 2BR Apartment at Pakuwon Mall With Wifi" – sounds promising, right? We'll see… We. Will. See.
Day 1: Arrival, Chaos, and Questionable Noodles
- 06:00 AM (GMT+7): The alarm. The dreaded alarm. After a red-eye flight from… well, irrelevant. The important parts are now, the chaos starts now. The apartment, supposedly a haven of "comfy," feels a little… sterile. Think IKEA showroom that's been meticulously dusted but still smells faintly of cleaning products. My luggage look like a wounded beast.
- 07:00 AM: Breakfast. Okay, so the "fully equipped kitchen" (description online was a blatant lie I'd say) is… equipped with a fridge, a microwave, and two plates. I managed a packet of instant noodles I luckily packed (thank god for my last-minute panic shopping before leaving), the broth was questionable.
- 08:00 AM: First attempt to tackle the traffic. Surabaya traffic. It's less "traffic" and more "organized vehicular pandemonium." I called a Grab and it got lost twice. I'd like to say I was calm, but, well, I wasn't. There might have been some colorful language directed at my phone.
- 09:00 AM: finally, after a 30-minute delay I arrived at Pakuwon Mall, I think I'd rather be eating the noodles again. Okay, okay… the "Wifi" does, thankfully, work. My emails are already flooding in.
- 11:00 AM: Now the fun begins. I’m HUNGRY. That instant noodle was fuel, not a meal. Stumbled upon this tiny warung (local eatery) tucked away near the mall. The only English phrase I understood was "ayam goreng" (fried chicken). YES. This chicken. This crispy, juicy, flavour-bomb of a chicken. It was, and I'm not exaggerating, a religious experience. The skin crackled, the meat melted in my mouth, and all the exhaustion of travel melted away. I ordered two more pieces. Don't judge me.
- 12:30 PM: Mall-walking for a little "retail therapy." Saw some clothes, some jewelries, and some shoes. But, I didn't buy anything. I was tired.
- 02:00 PM: Back to the apartment for a glorious nap. A necessary nap. Managed to fall asleep on the couch and wake up around 4 pm. Jetlag is a cruel mistress.
- 04:00 PM: I decided to go for a little walk around the mall again, the sun had begun to set.
- 06:00 PM: This time around I did some groceries shopping and bought some delicious snacks, just in case I will get hungry.
- 08:00 PM: Dinner. I called for delivery and ordered some mie goreng. Again, it felt like a religious experience.
- 10:00 PM: Showered and now in bed, I write down this journal.
Day 2: History, Humidity, and a (Potential) Food Poisoning Scare
- 07:00 AM: The early bird, and all that jazz. This time, I actually tried to cook something. Blew the fuse. Seriously? Again, I was in a bad mood.
- 09:00 AM: Decided to embrace the culture with a visit to the House of Sampoerna. It's a stunning old colonial building. The history lesson was fascinating, but honestly, the main draw was the air conditioning. The humidity in Surabaya is… intense. My hair is basically a sentient, frizzy entity at this point.
- 11:00 AM: Still at the House of Sampoerna, I decided to take a quick tour and after that I decided to buy some souvenirs for relatives back home.
- 01:00 PM: Lunch adventure! Attempted to replicate yesterday's fried chicken success. Failed. Miserably. Ended up with some street food that looked, and I'm not gonna lie, slightly suspect. A couple of hours later… well, let's just say my digestive system isn't my biggest fan right now. Wondering if I should start making a will.
- 04:00 PM: Back to the apartment, and I'm feeling a bit queasy. I'm now starting to think about my family back home. I hope I'd never fall, especially when I'm abroad.
- 06:00 PM: Decided to order some food again and rest.
- 08:00 PM: Starting to feel better. I think I pulled through it. Thank god.
- 10:00 PM: Another journal update.
Day 3: Recovery, Redemption, and (More) Fried Chicken
- 09:00 AM: Woke up feeling slightly… less like death. Good. Small victories. The apartment is starting to feel a little less alien, a little more… livable.
- 10:00 AM: I decided to go to the mall and get some coffee and breakfast.
- 12:00 PM: I went to the hotel and had a delicious meal.
- 02:00 PM: Feeling daring, I attempted another foray into street food. This time, I went for something with a slightly cleaner appearance. It worked! No immediate repercussions!
- 04:00 PM: Decided to embrace my inner tourist and went to a local art market. Found some cool stuff which I liked.
- 06:00 PM: This time I decided to go eat some Padang food, also, the food was delicious.
- 08:00 PM: Back in the apartment, already preparing for my flight back home.
- 10:00 PM: Bed, and this time, actually feeling good.
Final Thoughts:
Surabaya, you're a wild ride. The traffic is insane, the humidity is brutal, and the food, while sometimes questionable, is also utterly, undeniably, amazing. This "comfy apartment" was… certainly an experience. But hey, I survived, I ate (a lot of fried chicken), and I learned a whole new level of appreciation for air conditioning. Would I come back? Absolutely. Would I pack extra Immodium the next time? You bet your bottom dollar. And maybe, just maybe, I’ll learn to cook something beyond instant noodles. Maybe. Probably not.
Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Hotel Colonial Hermosillo's Hidden Gem!
Why is it so hard to get out of bed in the morning?!
Oh. Em. Gee. Don't even *get* me started. Truly, why? I've spent a solid chunk of my life wrestling with my duvet, whispering sweet nothings like, "Just five more minutes..." Meanwhile, my bladder’s screaming for release, my stomach’s doing the morning grumbles, and my brain’s trying to remember where I left my will to live. It’s a battle, people. A full-blown, epic struggle. The sheer *gravity* of the bed situation is astounding. I swear, sometimes I think the mattress has a secret tractor beam. This morning, I swear I had one of those moments where you’re like, “Maybe if I just stay here… forever?” and I was *this* close to just calling in sick to… life. Honestly, it's probably all that damn phone use before bed. Blue light...the enemy.
What’s the best way to deal with online trolls?
Ugh, trolls. The internet's garbage disposal. Look, I've had my share of run-ins. My initial instinct is always to engage, defend, argue the facts… because I'm a goddamn *rational* human being, right? Wrong. Turns out, feeding the trolls is like giving a starving shark a buffet. They *thrive* on the reaction. So, the best method? Honestly? Mostly ignore them. Block. Mute. Maybe, just *maybe*, if you're feeling particularly playful and they REALLY deserve it, a witty remark or a well-placed GIF can do the trick. But 99% of the time? Complete and utter indifference. That’s the Kryptonite. Seriously, I’ve wasted entire afternoons trying to reason with... well, let's just call them "keyboard warriors." And it's exhausting and stupid. It's the digital equivalent of arguing with a squirrel over a nut. They just don't get it. Next!
How do you recover from a truly embarrassing moment?
Oh, honey. This is where I become an *expert*. I *specialize* in embarrassing moments. My latest? Last week, at a work networking event, I accidentally called the CEO "Dad." To his face. In front of, like, *everyone*. I wanted the earth to swallow me whole. I wanted to spontaneously combust. I felt every single nerve in my body *screaming*. My face probably resembled a ripe tomato. Recovery? Well, first, you need to hide. Preferably somewhere dark and quiet where you can berate yourself freely for about 20 minutes. Then, after the shame has simmered down to a dull ache, you gotta own it. Laugh about it (even if it’s a forced, shaky laugh at first.) The CEO? Luckily, he has a sense of humor (phew!). He actually laughed. So, I joined in. It's easier if you can laugh about the cringe because otherwise, it’s like that song on repeat in your brain, the one you *hate* but can't stop singing. Then it's just the memory; it fades. Eventually. Probably. Someday.
What's the best advice you've ever received?
Hmm. "Don't eat the yellow snow." Kidding! Kinda. Seriously, though, I think the best advice came from my grandmother. She was a chain smoker, a tough cookie, but she had a wisdom about her. She always said, "Don't be afraid to fail. Because if you ain't failing, you ain't *trying*." I actually hated it when she said it at first. It felt like… permission. Permission to mess up? But it's so true. We’re so obsessed with perfection we forget to actually *live*. The fear of looking stupid, making mistakes… that paralyzes you. So, I try to remember that, even when I'm tempted to hide under my duvet. (See Question 1). It's a work in progress. I still fail. A lot. But at least I’m trying, right? And sometimes, that's enough.
Do you believe in love at first sight?
Okay, so I'm a hopeless romantic. The cynical part of me says, *'No...it's lust, or infatuation, or a cleverly marketed marketing campaign.'* But the gooey, heart-eyes part of me *wants* to believe. I mean, I've experienced moments that felt like some kind of cosmic energy, that zinging *connection* that makes your knees weak. But then I remember that time in college, when I thought I was head-over-heels for the guy who could juggle flaming torches. Turns out, he was just good at juggling flaming torches. And he was also kind of an arse. So, yeah… I think love is probably a slower burn, a gradual building and evolving. But… I haven't completely ruled out the possibility of a lightning strike. You know, just in case. The truth? I really don't know. And I'm okay with that. Life’s more fun when you’re still figuring it out.
What’s your biggest fear?
Alright, here we go. I’m not gonna lie. (Well, maybe I do sometimes, but in this moment, I’m trying to be honest.) My biggest fear is… losing the people I love. It hits me sometimes, a sudden, sharp stab of panic. The thought of them not being here… it's paralyzing. I worry about my parents, my friends, those crazy people I call family, they’re my everything. The fear is even more intense when something bad happens to someone I love, like a health scare. Then, it's like my entire world is on fire. I guess it’s the classic human fear, right? Of not being able to control what happens. So I try to focus on the here and now. On making the most of every moment, letting them know I care, and reminding myself that even though the future’s uncertain, the present is all we really have. But still, It gets to me. Everything passes, and that's the hardest part of it.. knowing that we’ll eventually lose everyone. It’s the circle of life, as they say. But still. Ugh. I'm gonna go hug someone now.
What are some tips and tricks to make your day a little bit better?
Oh, I have many, and I need them. One, start the day with something you LOVE. For me, it's coffee. Glorious, caffeinated, life-giving coffee. Then, get some sun. Or, if you're like me, a quick glance at the sun through a window. You know, if you can, because sometimes… it’s just not happening. Two,Backpacker Hotel Find
