Our flight back to Bali is this afternoon and we are waiting on our taxi to arrive (at our fourth hotel in the last two weeks). We are hoping he really comes because there has been confusion. Cross your fingers for us.*
When preparing for our language studies in Yogyakarta, I asked the school what hotel they recommended, they gave me the name of a hotel (Prime Plaza) and of a guesthouse (Embe-Enem), but neither had availability for our dates. Then they gave me the name of another hotel (also, no availability) then finally two more (Hotel Phoenix and Hyatt) that were further away and luxury hotels. The first one I checked (Phoenix hotel, a heritage hotel in the center of Yogya) had space for the entire 16 days but was pretty costly and really beyond what we wanted to pay -- plus a 25 minute taxi ride to the school). I tried the first hotel again and realized that it had an availability calendar -- which showed it available for 13/16 days but the three days without space were not sequential -- the longest period it had was a 7-day stretch. We managed to string that together by booking the Phoenix for the first two nights (before classes started), then Embe-Enem for 5 nights, Park Plaza for 7 nights and two nights undecided. At the end, we decided to leave Yoyga immediately after class ended on Friday and go to Borobodur for our last two nights.
Packing and unpacking that many times was a bit of a drag (as is worrying about the cab showing up today!) but it was kind of fun to see such a range of hotels in the Yoyga area: from simple to luxury to quaint. Here are a few photos and thoughts on the different places
When preparing for our language studies in Yogyakarta, I asked the school what hotel they recommended, they gave me the name of a hotel (Prime Plaza) and of a guesthouse (Embe-Enem), but neither had availability for our dates. Then they gave me the name of another hotel (also, no availability) then finally two more (Hotel Phoenix and Hyatt) that were further away and luxury hotels. The first one I checked (Phoenix hotel, a heritage hotel in the center of Yogya) had space for the entire 16 days but was pretty costly and really beyond what we wanted to pay -- plus a 25 minute taxi ride to the school). I tried the first hotel again and realized that it had an availability calendar -- which showed it available for 13/16 days but the three days without space were not sequential -- the longest period it had was a 7-day stretch. We managed to string that together by booking the Phoenix for the first two nights (before classes started), then Embe-Enem for 5 nights, Park Plaza for 7 nights and two nights undecided. At the end, we decided to leave Yoyga immediately after class ended on Friday and go to Borobodur for our last two nights.
Packing and unpacking that many times was a bit of a drag (as is worrying about the cab showing up today!) but it was kind of fun to see such a range of hotels in the Yoyga area: from simple to luxury to quaint. Here are a few photos and thoughts on the different places
First stop: Phoenix Hotel, 17-19 February
The Phoenix was the fanciest place we stayed. At Rp. 1,159,970/night it felt like living in the lap of luxury. A huge amount in Rupiah, but when looked at in U.S. dollars (a little over $77/night) it was actually a lot less than the cheapest Waikiki hotel available....
Embe-Enem Guesthouse, 19-23 February
I still can't figure out what constitutes a Guesthouse or Homestay in Indonesia. I had imaged that we'd be living on the property of the owners, but really it was more like a small hotel. There must have been around ten rooms that ranged in price from Rp. 275,000 - 600,000 ($18-40)/night. While in Yogya we saw a large (3-4 story?) building with a big red neon "Homestay" sign at the top. So that doesn't mean what I thought either.
At about the Rp. 300,000/night level you stop getting tea and coffee makings in your room, but there was a small kitchen right out our door that had both whenever we wanted, plus fully set up for making any other meal that we bought ingredients for. Breakfast was included but much more simple here: white bread, margarine, chocolate spread, peanut butter and jam; plus tea and coffee. Still, all we needed to hold us out until the hour lunch break during our 6-hours per day of Indonesian language class.
At about the Rp. 300,000/night level you stop getting tea and coffee makings in your room, but there was a small kitchen right out our door that had both whenever we wanted, plus fully set up for making any other meal that we bought ingredients for. Breakfast was included but much more simple here: white bread, margarine, chocolate spread, peanut butter and jam; plus tea and coffee. Still, all we needed to hold us out until the hour lunch break during our 6-hours per day of Indonesian language class.
Prime Plaza, 23 February - 3 March
Our last hotel in Yogyakarta. The Prime Plaza are an Indonesian hotel chain, I think. I wasn't sure what to expect but it was really nice. Lots of batik on the walls and in the room. For Rp. 767,700 (about $50)/night we were back in the lap of luxury. Another amazing breakfast buffet was included in the room price. It was not quite as amazing as at the Phoenix (only got 3 kinds of fruit every morning!) but kept us going all the way until dinner. There was a nice pool too which inspired us to go on a goggles-hunt (good evening activity since stores are open late) and start swimming every morning.
The Omah Borobodur Guesthouse, 3-5 March
It was not easy to find a room in Yogya for the weekend and since we wanted to see Borobodur anyway, we decided just to get a hotel out there and leave directly from our last class at Wisma Bahasa. This time the guesthouse looked more like what I imagine a guesthouse might. Six adorable cottages on a property surrounded by trees. This place cost Rp. 472,499 (about $32)/night which seemed fair for the secluded and peaceful location that was only a few minutes walk froma busy main street with lots of restaurants and shops. We lucked out with weather. It rained really hard both days we were there, but we were inside for all the heaviest rainstorms.
The rain on the roof is so loud that you can't hear the booming thunder, but it was pretty impressive too.
*Update: despite our massive confusion (and my Indonesian is still not good enough not to be a little terrified talking on the phone), the taxi arrived on time (5 minutes before scheduled) and drove us on a beautiful route to the airport where we were so early that we had to sit for 20 minutes until the counter opened for us to check in! We'd taken one cab from Yogya to Borobodur Friday afternoon and the driver said that there weren't always cabs to call in Borobodur but that he could return on Sunday to get us to the airport. On Sunday, about 90 minutes before he was going to come he called to say there was a problem but that he'd have a friend come for us. Then another call about 60 minutes later to let me know something else was going on and that I shouldn't worry. I didn't ever figure out what the something else was, and, of course I worried, but it all turned out ok!