In order to replace my summer vacations unexpectedly moved by my employer, I decided to go back to Indonesia as I love this country and the kindness of its people. The tourist sites are superband Java is not yet totally invaded by Chinese and Australian tourists who come in numbers to the neighboring island of Bali.
So I chose theSheraton Mustika Yogyakarta. Why ? Because it is the only Starwood hotelin Jogja surely, and because Jogja is near two major tourist sitesthat I particularly like, namely the Buddhist temple of Borobudur, one of the largest in Asia and that of Prambanan which although partially destroyed during the recent earthquakes, remains beautiful and is under reconstruction.
Booking
As always, it is important to use the hotelier’s websiteand its chain to get the best benefits. Reservation on the SPG website for the equivalent of 50 € per night. It seems ridiculous but for Yogyakarta, it is quite expensive.
One week before departure, I contact the hotel to secure (free) transfers from the nearby airport.
Two days before, I see that my reservation has been modified to upgrade to a Deluxe suite, perfect!
Arrival
As previously mentioned, the hotel shuttle had beenreserved for my arrival: the hotel representative was waiting for me just after the baggage claim area with a sign with my name.
We went to the parking lot where the vehicle operating the transfer was parked.
5 minutes later, arrival at the hotel and warm welcome from the check-in staff as it is usual in Indonesia and especially in Java.
My upgrade to the Deluxe Suite was confirmed, andall the benefits explained. After we checked in, the check-in lady escorted us to our suiteand introduced us to it.
So we were able to settle in quietly in our suite.
Room
The assigned suite was located on the 6th floor of the building, at the end of the floor. If this location seemed good at first sight, the noise generated by the farm and the nearby mosque considerably altered our sleepduring the entire stay.
The suite wasvery spacious. A completely separate living area was offered, with a wet bar, a dining table (initially with a fruit basket and water bottles) and a sofa and armchairs.
The sleeping area was completely separate, with a beautifullocal wood floor and a comfortable bed, according to the brand’s standards. An desk was also available.
The bathroom was spacious,equipped with a separate tub and shower. We regret the presence of the toilet in the bathroom in a suite of this size. Several times, hot water problems have required the intervention of a plumber. Also, the toiletries initially provided were not Sheraton products, which was corrected during our stay.
Finally, a virtual tour of the suite:
Hotel facilities
The hotel’s facilities appear to be greatly oversizedfor the volume of guests present. We had the feeling thatonly a few guests were present in the hotel, which has several hundred rooms.
Thepool is very nice and well maintained. It is built in atotally local style, which gives the pleasant impression of bathing in a temple!
The service is very careful, which is understandable given the small number of customers. On the other hand, as for the entire catering,service times are very long.
Wifi is available throughout the hotel, although the connection was sometimes difficult in our own room.
I did not use the gym during this vacation.
Spa
We used the spa once during our stay. Although theprices are still very high for Indonesia, it was still much easierto use these facilities than to have massages in the city center.
The rates were around 30€ per hour, with SPG members also receiving a 20% discount on these treatments.
We have selected a side-by-side treatment for 60 minutes.
Some mistakes:some towels had not been changed, and the place, overall, did not exude cleanliness, a shame for a hotel spa.
But the treatment was very very well done.
Restaurants
One of the hotel’s big strengths: every dish is less than €10, and no matter which dish or place you choose, the food has always been excellent, whether it’s local or international.
All the lamb dishes were perfect, as well as the Nasi Goreng with seafood, which I recommend only to the very hungry!
Departure
The check-out process was easy, although the receptionist didn’t seem to be very comfortable with pre-authorized banking systems.
For verification purposes,all the receipts of theroom charges of the stay. Very professional!
Conclusion
Anice stay, even if a few problems marred the experience. A low rate never justifies poor service.
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