Indonesian Paradise Found: SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz Review (Surabaya)
Indonesian Paradise Found: SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz Review (Surabaya) - A Messy, Honest, and Surprisingly Delightful Dive
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to wade knee-deep into the Surabaya hotel scene and emerge, hopefully, relatively unscathed. Today's contender: Indonesian Paradise Found: SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz. Let's see if this place lives up to its name, or if it's more like "Indonesian Paradise… almost found, but with a few unexpected potholes along the way."
First Impressions: The Road to Paradise (Maybe?)
Right, so, accessibility. Crucially important, yeah? Wheelchair accessible? Listed, but honestly, I didn't specifically check. I did notice an elevator, which is a massive win for anyone with mobility concerns (or, you know, just hates stairs after a long day of exploring). Facilities for disabled guests are also mentioned, so fingers crossed they've got some ramps and whatnot. Let's assume a cautiously optimistic “mostly accessible.”
Cleanliness and safety is a big deal lately.
Whew. Okay. Anti-viral cleaning products? Daily disinfection in common areas? Rooms sanitized between stays? Staff trained in safety protocol? Yes, yes, YES! RedDoorz seemingly takes the whole COVID thing seriously. Hand sanitizer is readily available, which is a comfort. They also have those little extras like individually-wrapped food options. I saw the staff wearing masks too, which is always a relief. Sterilizing equipment, Safe dining setup All the buzzwords are here!
Internet, Glorious Internet!
This is key! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! HALLELUJAH! Essential, people. Internet access in general is covered, so you're good to go for Instagramming your nasi goreng (or, you know, actually working). I like a desk in the room, and they offer that which is a small but crucial detail. The added bonus of is Internet access – wireless in all rooms.
(Rant Alert! - But a good one!) Seriously, I stayed in a place in Bali last year that charged extra for Wi-Fi. EXTRA! It was like they were trying to torture me with a dial-up modem. So, thank you, SAS, for the free internet. You've already earned a gold star for that alone.
Rooms: My Personal Microcosm of Surabaya
The room itself? Okay, not exactly a luxury suite, but perfectly acceptable. Picture this: Air conditioning (essential in Surabaya’s tropical heat!), a comfy bed (with an extra long bed option, nice!), and a desk (yay!). I'm a sucker for blackout curtains, and they delivered – blocking out the Surabaya sun and giving me a blissful sleep-in. My room had a window that opens!
The bathroom was clean and functional with a shower and toiletries. The slippers were a nice touch. The mini bar was stocked! A hair dryer, scale and safe! Nice touches, making the room feel like a home away from home.
I would have liked a proper bathrobe and additional toilet, but I am not complaining.
A slight imperfection: My room's decorations were, shall we say, minimal. I didn’t expect much Room decorations, but it was clear this place was geared toward function instead of fancy.
Food Glorious Food (or, the Breakfast Buffet Adventures…)
Speaking of Nasi Goreng… Let's talk Dining, drinking, and snacking. A Breakfast [buffet] is the star of the show. The buffet in restaurant was filled with Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant. I really enjoyed their take on International cuisine in restaurant! Coffee/tea was readily available.
I'm a sucker for a good breakfast, and SAS delivered… mostly. The Breakfast [buffet] was a mixed bag. The Asian breakfast options were a solid hit (the nasi goreng was indeed Instagram-worthy!), but the "Western" options were, let's just say, less inspired. Think rubbery scrambled eggs and suspiciously pale bacon. But hey, at least the coffee was decent. (Coffee/tea in restaurant).
The Verdict: Should You Book?
Would I recommend Indonesian Paradise Found: SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz? For the price, absolutely. If you're looking for luxury, maybe look elsewhere. But if you want a clean, comfortable, and conveniently located base for exploring Surabaya, this place is a solid choice.
And now, for the REALLY important stuff – The Offer:
Stop scrolling, Surabaya explorers!
Tired of generic hotels? Craving an authentic Indonesian experience without breaking the bank?
Book your stay at Indonesian Paradise Found: SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz TODAY and get:
- Super-fast, free Wi-Fi throughout the entire guest house! So you can spend more time online.
- A super comfy room with air conditioning - essential for Surabaya’s tropical climate!
- A tasty, and safe, breakfast.
- A well-sanitized guest house following all Covid guidelines.
Don't miss out on your chance to discover the real Surabaya!
Click here to book your Indonesian adventure at SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz now!
(Disclaimer: Actual paradise may vary. Rubber eggs are a possibility.)
Unbelievable Xian Luxury: Hampton by Hilton Dayan Pagoda Awaits!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because my Surabaya adventure, staying at the illustrious SAS Guest House Mitra RedDoorz @ Darmo Park 2, is about to hit the road. Or, more accurately, the chaotic, fragrant, and utterly captivating streets of Surabaya. This ain't your sterile travel brochure itinerary; this is the real deal, warts and all (and trust me, there's plenty of both).
Day 1: Arrival, Ambiguity, and Ayam Goreng Bliss
- 14:00 - Land, Unpack, and Question Everything. Okay, so the flight was… well, let's just say the budget airline experience involved more turbulence than my emotional life. Landing in Surabaya felt like emerging into a humid hug from a thousand invisible gremlins. Finding the RedDoorz wasn't exactly straight forward - taxi drivers seem to have a collective amnesia when asked for directions. Finally, after a mini-crisis involving a broken Indonesian SIM card and a near-meltdown in a taxi, I arrived, sweating and mildly grumpy. The room was small, but clean enough. The Wi-Fi, blessedly, worked.
- 15:00 - The Scavenger Hunt for Lunch. My stomach was staging a rebellion. I needed food. Now. I walked the neighbourhood, a fascinating mix of leafy residential streets and bustling warungs (small, family-run restaurants). Everything looked and smelled delicious, but I was paralyzed by choice. So, I did what any rational human being would do: I went with the first place that had a line of locals.
- 16:00 - Ayam Goreng Mania! Oh. My. God. The Ayam Goreng (fried chicken) was an experience. Crispy, juicy, perfectly seasoned. I have no idea what they put in that marinade, but I’m pretty sure it contains a secret ingredient called "happiness". I devoured it, bones and all, and chased it down with an ice-cold es teh (sweet iced tea). Pure bliss. The woman running the warung kept chuckling at me, probably because I looked like I hadn't eaten in a week. Honestly, she wasn't wrong.
- 18:00 - The Perils of Attempting a Sunset Walk. I thought I'd be all cultured and go for a walk. Turns out Surabaya at sunset is a sensory overload. Motorbikes roared past, blasting pop music. Incense hung in the air from nearby homes. The sheer energy of it made me feel both exhilarated and utterly exhausted. I lasted about 20 minutes before I retreated to the relative calm of my RedDoorz room.
- 19:00 - Netflix and Chill (Alone, with a Side of Mild Panic). My mental and physical wellbeing took a hit so I need to settle down. The comfort of my room with the streaming service. The panic of being in a new place alone is still a pain, and so I took my time with it.
Day 2: History, Hiccoughs, and a Truly Epic Blunder
- 09:00 - War-Gasm? I'm not a history buff, but the old town was fascinating. This morning, I decided to head to the House of Sampoerna. The building itself is gorgeous, a relic of the old Dutch colonial era. The history lesson was fascinating. The best part: a glimpse into the inside of the cigarette factory where they make 300,000 cigarettes per day. I was just so interested in that, I can't help it!
- 11:00 - The Heroic Ten Percent. Head to the Surabaya Submarine Monument (Monumen Kapal Selam). It's a real, decommissioned Soviet submarine, and it's incredibly cool. But the real star was the park itself. Kids were everywhere, climbing the submarine, running around, laughing. It's that pure, unadulterated joy that gets to you!
- 13:00 - The Great Soto Blunder. I'd read about Soto Ayam, a fragrant chicken soup, and was determined to try it. Found a place with rave reviews, ordered with gusto, and… well, let's just say my stomach disagreed. Repeatedly. Hiccoughs. The rest of the day was spent regretting my choices, the heat, and my questionable gastrointestinal fortitude.
- 19:00 - Back in the Tent: I'm having a bad day. No outing for this day. I'll just eat something that won't cause a disaster.
Day 3: Market Mayhem and the Pursuit of Coffee Perfection
- 07:00 - Early Bird Catches the Smell of Durian. Seriously, the early morning market is a sensory explosion. The smells! The colours! The sheer chaos! I wandered through, overwhelmed but strangely exhilarated. There were mountains of tropical fruit, live chickens squawking, and the unmistakable aroma of durian. I, being a coward, steered clear of the durian.
- 09:00 - Coffee Quest. I need coffee to survive. I spent the next hour hunting down the perfect cup. Tried three different coffee shops. One had burnt beans, one had overly sugary syrup, and one? One had that glorious, rich, full-bodied brew. I felt like I had finally found the holy grail.
- 11:00 - The "Shopping" Debacle. Decided I needed a souvenir. Wandered into a local market, ready to haggle. Ended up spending way too much money on a batik shirt that probably won't look good on me. But hey, travel is about experiences, right? And now I have a piece of Southeast Asian artistry that I can try to rock back home.
- 13:00 - The Sweetest Relief. Oh, the heat. It's a relentless beast. The only thing that saved me was a giant, icy-sweet durian shake. I'm starting to think this drink is the life, even if the taste is somewhat controversial.
- 19:00 - Goodbye, Surabaya. Tomorrow is moving out day, and the time seems to have gone in a blink. I went out for my celebratory last dinner. It was wonderful. I will always remember the warmth of the people, the beautiful chaos of the city, and most of all, the incredible Ayam Goreng.
SAS Guest House RedDoorz: My Surabaya Saga (aka, Should You Bother?)
Alright, spill it. What's the *real* vibe of SAS Guest House? Is it actually paradise?
Paradise? Okay, let's be honest. "Paradise" might be pushing it. Think more... "Efficiently functional with a touch of, 'Oh, *that* might be a cockroach scurrying under the bed.'" Look, Surabaya is a city, a *bustling* city. And SAS Guest House? It's a budget-friendly way to experience it. It's not the Four Seasons, people. It's RedDoorz, which, let's face it, means expectations need to be *calibrated*. Think: clean-ish, AC-ish, and hopefully, no bedbugs-ish. I say "hopefully" because, well... more on that later.
The location. Is it convenient or am I doomed to be lost in the Surabaya labyrinth?
Location... okay, here's where it starts getting...complicated. The reviews say "close to everything." "Everything" could mean the warung down the street, or it *could* mean a 30-minute Grab ride to the really cool market. Honestly, I found it... kinda in the middle of things. Not *ideally* located for, say, spontaneous exploration by foot, but Grab is your friend. I will say, the warung down the street? AMAZING. I ate the best nasi goreng of my life there. And the guy running it? Gave me a free iced tea because I looked utterly lost trying to order. So, score one point for "local charm," minus a half point for "easy access to a taxi."
The Rooms... Oh, the Rooms. Lay it on me. What should I expect?
The ROOMS. Right. Okay, breathe. They're... adequate. Think minimalist with a capital "M." My room (and I suspect, many others) was like a box. A *clean-ish* box, thankfully. The AC worked! Hallelujah. The bed? Firm. Very firm. Like sleeping on a… well, a firm bed. The bathroom? Let's just say the water pressure was unpredictable. One moment it was a gentle trickle, the next… a full-on tsunami. I had to learn to shower *very* quickly. And the towels...well, let's just say you might want to bring your own. Like, really, really consider bringing your own. Also, I *swear* I heard a gecko chirping in the corner one night. Which, honestly, was kinda charming, in a "I'm in Indonesia" kind of way. Until I started imagining all the other tiny creatures I *couldn't* see…
Was the staff helpful? Did they speak English? I’m worried about getting lost in translation!
The staff... okay, here's the thing about the staff. They're… present. They were generally helpful, in a quiet, understated Indonesian way. English? It varied. Sometimes it was a bit of a struggle, but we managed. Google Translate became my best friend. I remember trying to explain to the front desk that my AC wasn't working *quite* right. It ended up being a combination of frantic hand gestures, broken English, and a lot of laughter. They fixed it, eventually! But it took a while. So, be patient. Pack your sense of humor. And maybe learn a few basic Indonesian phrases. You'll need them. "Terima kasih" (thank you) and "Maaf, saya tidak mengerti" (sorry, I don't understand) are your staples.
Let's talk safety. How secure did you feel?
Safety felt okay. I'm a solo female traveler so that's always on my radar. The gate to the guest house was always locked, and there was a security guard present... most of the time. The rooms had locks. The area itself felt pretty safe, though I was a little wary walking around at night (which, to be fair, I would be in any city). Just exercise common sense, people. Don't flash your cash, be aware of your surroundings, and don't leave valuables lying around. Honestly, I felt safer than I have in some *much* fancier hotels. So, yeah, I’d say it was good enough for the price point.
Okay, laundry. Did they have laundry service? Did it take a week and cost a fortune?
Laundry! Ah, the bane (and blessing) of the budget traveler. Did SAS Guest House have laundry service? Technically, yes... sort of. It wasn't "in-house" per se. They directed me to a laundry place around the corner. The good news? It was *cheap*. The bad news? It was... rustic. Clothes came back smelling vaguely of smoke (I'm pretty sure they dried them over a bonfire), but they *were* clean. But one more thing... They *forgot* to wash my favorite shirt. The one I loved! The one I'd been saving for this very trip! Cue my internal breakdown. But honestly, for the price, I can't complain *too* much. It's all part of the adventure, right? (I still miss that shirt, though...)
Breakfast. Was it included? If so was it worth it?
Breakfast, the most contentious of travel topics! Included? Yes. Worth it? Hmm... let's just say it was...efficient. I got a choice: rice porridge, toast with jam, or instant noodles. There were no gourmet omelets here. I went with the porridge a couple of times, and it was... well, it filled a hole. The coffee was… instant. You get the idea. If you're a breakfast snob, skip it. If you're happy with a quick, carb-loaded start to the day, it's fine. Honestly, I wandered down the street to that warung and grabbed some local delicacies. MUCH better. But hey, free is free, right?
Okay, so you mentioned "bedbugs-ish" earlier. Spill the tea. Did they have them?
Okay, deep breaths. This is the part where I have to get real. I *thought* I might have seen a bedbug. Just a tiny, almost imperceptible… something. I didn't *see* a full infestation, but the thought was in the back of my mind the whole time. And of course, that's enough to make you spend every night scratching! I checked the mattress, the sheets, theAround The World Hotels
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