Hotel Dengan breakfast di East Java, Indonesia

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.

Absolutely loved it! It was so much better than I expected. There are several pools, the environment is fantastic and peaceful. The best part was the incredibly large and comfortable bed, perfect for a vacation. The scenery is delightful and truly beautiful!

Overall, my stay was quite good. The staff service was friendly, and the hotel facilities were comfortable. However, there are a few things that could be improved for the future. During check-in, it was already close to 2:30 PM. When I asked when the room would be ready, I was told to wait and that I would be called. Given that the check-in time had already passed, I had hoped the room would be available sooner, as it cut into guests' rest time. For a reputable hotel like Aston, I believe timely room availability is a crucial part of a comfortable stay. In fact, at some other hotels in the same area, rooms are accessible even earlier. Furthermore, I believe the breakfast food options could be improved. Considering Aston's standard and reputation, I had hoped for a more appealing and diverse menu to provide a more memorable experience for guests. Thank you for the service provided. I hope this feedback can be used for evaluation to enhance the quality of services in the future.

Hotel is connected to a mall. Great location. Room is clean. Breakfast at Magnolia has an extensive spread. Quality of food is good, nice presentation and service by staff is excellent. Ambience at Club lounge is nice. What stands out most in this 5* hotel is the world class service rendered by all staff consistently. There is no staff that isn’t polite or helpful. Many go the extra mile to ensure that the hotel guests needs are well taken care of. Special thanks to Evan of the Club Lounge who attended to us when we checked in and Tian when we checked out, Bayu and colleagues (Conceige) who assisted us with ordering of Spikoe lapis cake and Bu Rudy, Lita and David (Magnolia) who served us at our table and Bastian and team for keeping the room clean. We highly recommend this hotel.

Our 2nd time staying at this hotel. It was in a good neighborhood (many street food vendor at night). Good service (fast check-in/out), suitable parking space. Overall a great stay for us.

Awesome stay with a lovely resort environment. The room was clean and comfortable, and the location is very convenient as the safari is just nearby. We really enjoyed the relaxing atmosphere and had a great family stay. Would definitely recommend it!

ARTOTEL TS Suites Surabaya (historically known as TS Suites Surabaya or listed as ARTOTEL Hayam Wuruk Surabaya on some booking channels) is a trendy 4-star lifestyle boutique hotel with best locations

Luxurious hotel with modern rooms, full TV channels, and cold AC. Complete amenities and a clean toilet. The breakfast selection was extensive and impressive! 👍 Unfortunately, the carpet wasn't very clean; it felt gritty underfoot when I wasn't wearing shoes. We also received a complimentary photoshoot, but only got one hard copy and frame. If you wanted the soft copies, you had to pay, and the price was quite steep, though there was no pressure to buy. The photos turned out great, making it hard to say no, haha. The location was a downside; it's far from the city center and right next to a highway leading out of town. This meant frequent traffic jams, and large trucks and buses constantly passed by. There was a minor incident during checkout, but it was well handled by the on-duty deputy manager, so no hard feelings.

Banyuwangi truly is the ultimate ”sanctuary of stillness,” and ÉL Hotel Banyuwangi provides a beautiful, serene backdrop to experience it. I had a wonderful stay overall, and while there are a few areas where the hotel can step up its game, the foundation is absolutely there for this to become an exceptional property. 🏨 The Hardware & Facilities (Top-Notch!) On the physical side of things, the hotel completely delivers. The rooms are comfortable and well-designed, the gym is well-equipped for a holiday workout, and the swimming pool area is beautiful—perfect for soaking in the quiet energy of the region. 🍳 Food & A Soothing Morning Ritual The culinary experience was a highlight. The food quality was solid, and the local flavors were genuinely delicious. But my absolute favorite part of the morning was the outdoor breakfast area, where they offer fish feeding. Watching the fish move gracefully through the water while enjoying breakfast was incredibly calming and set a beautiful, soothing tone for the day. 🌱 Areas for Growth: Service & Sustainability To truly elevate this hotel to a 5-star luxury standard, there are two areas I’d love to see improve: Eco-Friendly Amenities: In a pristine destination like Banyuwangi, sustainability matters. Currently, the hotel is still using single-use plastic containers for bathroom amenities. Shifting toward refillable dispensers or biodegradable alternatives would align beautifully with the natural essence of the area. Staff Guidance: The young team members have incredible potential and are clearly eager, but they just need a bit more structured guidance and hospitality training. With the right leadership, this passionate young staff could easily turn good service into an exceptional guest experience. 🗺️ The Verdict Overall, I will absolutely come back! There is so much promise here, and I have high hopes that the team will take this constructive feedback to heart and continue to polish their service. If you are looking for a peaceful getaway in Banyuwangi, this is still a highly recommended spot. #ElHotelBanyuwangi #BanyuwangiTravel #SanctuaryOfStillness #WonderfulIndonesia #HotelReview #TravelBlogger

The front desk staff were very friendly, and the room was clean and tidy, making for a pleasant stay. There's a restaurant downstairs, and plenty of other dining options around the hotel, though you have to walk about 200 meters to get to them. I was charged a 150,000 IDR deposit for the room, which was not refunded upon checkout.