Unbelievable Ocean Views! Book Your Santolo Paradise Getaway Now!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the gloriously messy reality of Unbelievable Ocean Views! Book Your Santolo Paradise Getaway Now! This isn't your sanitized, perfectly-worded brochure; this is the inside scoop, the unfiltered truth, the stuff they don't tell you, and the stuff you really want to know. And yes, I saw everything, even the slightly-too-enthusiastic towel animal on my bed.
First Impressions: The (Mostly) Good, the Occasionally Quirky
Alright, let's be real: the name, "Unbelievable Ocean Views!" sets a high bar. And, I'll be honest, the views? Absolutely. Freakin’. Unbelievable. Actually seeing the waves crash and feeling the salty air… it almost felt too good to be true. From the moment I pulled up, the exterior of the place screamed "luxury getaway." The exterior corridor was immaculate, and I actually liked the way the sunlight hit the buildings (I tend to notice things like this). The hotel chain is solid. They’ve got a decent reputation.
But let’s be honest here, accessibility? Well they did alright! There are actually Facilities for disabled guests! A big bonus point for Santolo, seriously. And of course, there's an elevator. I needed a car park, and thankfully there's car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, and Valet parking. Whew.
The Room: Sanctuary or Sanitized Prison? (Spoiler: Mostly Sanctuary)
Okay, the room. This is where it gets real. Remember that towel animal? Yeah, it was a swan. And it almost, almost, made me tear up. It made me feel welcomed.
- Inside the Room:
- Available in All Rooms: Air conditioning (THANK GOD), Alarm clock, Bathrobes (YES!), Bathtub (Ooh, romance!), Blackout curtains (Sleep is sacred!), Closet, Coffee/tea maker (Essentials, people!), Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping (Bless their hearts!), Desk (For those workaholics), Extra long bed (Hallelujah!), Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor (Gotta love those views!), In-room safe box (Peace of mind!), Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities (Because wrinkles!), Laptop workspace (Ugh work), Linens, Mini bar, Non-smoking, On-demand movies (Sweet!), Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Satellite/cable channels, Scale (Don't look!), Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers (Luxury!), Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens (Fresh air, baby!). There were also Interconnecting room(s) available.
- And the Rest:
- Additional toilet (Nice!), Bathroom phone (Why?), Carpeting (Eh), Internet access – LAN (For the tech-savvy), Ironing Service (Fine!), Mirror, Smoke detector, Visual alarm (Safety first!).
The room was sanitized between stays, as well, which is a huge relief. They also offered Room sanitization opt-out available - but let's be honest!
The bed? Oh, the bed. I don't know about you, but a good bed can make or break a trip. This one? Pure, unadulterated, sleep-inducing bliss. I actually slept. And I mean slept. No tossing, no turning, just bliss. The room was spotless, everything worked, and I felt… safe.
Internet Access: The All-Important Connection
- Internet - YES!
- Internet [LAN] - A bonus.
- Internet services - They had it covered.
- Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! - WINNING!
- Wi-Fi in public areas - Very practical.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: My Stomach's Report Card
Alright, food. My absolute favorite thing. Restaurants? Plural? YES PLEASE. Room service [24-hour]? Don’t mind if I do.
Breakfast: Okay, I am a breakfast person. And let me tell you: Breakfast [buffet] - yes! Breakfast service - great! Asian breakfast, Western breakfast - options, options! Coffee/tea in restaurant/Coffee shop - More options! The breakfast was amazing!
I tried the Asian cuisine in restaurant, and it was amazing. I was actually blown away by the taste.
Lunch: The snack bar was actually a lifesaver after a long day of sunbathing. And the poolside bar? Essential. Essential, I tell you. The Salad in restaurant? Perfect. Light, fresh, and delicious. They also have a Vegetarian restaurant (nice touch!), and the Desserts in restaurant were divine.
Dinner: A la carte in restaurant - Fancy pants! Buffet in restaurant - I’m IN! Soup in restaurant - perfect for the chilly beach nights. They also offer Alternative meal arrangement!
Happy hour, and the Bar are also major pluses.
Bottle of water - always appreciated.
They also have Safe dining setup.
Sanitized kitchen and tableware items.
Essential condiments
Relaxation and Recreation: The Pursuit of Bliss (And Maybe a Tan)
- The Pool: Absolutely stunning. It's an outdoor swimming pool, and it has an amazing Pool with view! Just soak in the sun or admire the scenery. Swimming pool [outdoor] - YES! Swimming pool - PERFECT!
- The Spa: Now, I'm not usually a spa person. But I was there. The Spa/sauna were very well done. The Body scrub was AMAZING. I felt brand new. The Massage? Pure HEAVEN. The Sauna was relaxing. I don’t know how I'd survived without it.
- Fitness Center: Gym/fitness - I guess its a nice thing to have, but I didn't go.
Cleanliness and Safety: Because We All Like to Breathe Easy
I'm a bit of a germaphobe. So the cleanliness was top of mind.
- Anti-viral cleaning products.
- Daily disinfection in common areas.
- Hand sanitizer - EVERYWHERE!
- Hygiene certification - Check!
- Rooms sanitized between stays.
- Staff trained in safety protocol.
- Sterilizing equipment.
- CCTV in common areas, and CCTV outside property.
- Fire extinguisher, Hotel chain, Front desk [24-hour], Non-smoking rooms, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Airport transfer
- Air conditioning in public area
- Baby Sitting - nice touch
- Cash withdrawal
- Concierge
- Contactless check-in/out
- Currency exchange
- Daily housekeeping
- Doctor/nurse on call
- Doorman
- Dry cleaning
- Food delivery
- Gift/souvenir shop
- Invoice provided
- Ironing service
- Laundry service
- Luggage storage
For the Kids:
- Babysitting service
- Family/child friendly
- Kids facilities
- Kids meal
Getting Around:
- Bicycle parking
- Car park [free of charge]
- Car park [on-site]
- Car power charging station
- Taxi service
- Valet parking
Things to Do:
- Body wrap
- Foot bath
- Steamroom
- Couple's room
- Proposal spot
- Shrine
- Terrace
- Exterior corridor
- Smoke detector
- Soundproofing
- Exterior corridor
- Smoke alarms
- Soundproof rooms
- Hot water linen and laundry washing
Accessibility:
- Facilities for disabled guests
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into my meticulously (read: haphazardly) planned adventure to Penginapan Diar near Pantai Santolo, courtesy of the fine folks at RedDoorz. This isn't some pristine travel blog, this is real life, with all its glorious chaos. Prepare for a journey, a rollercoaster ride, and maybe, just maybe, a sunburn or two.
Trip: Santolo Surf Shack Scramble (and possibly fail)
Day 1: The Great Escape (and the Slightly Less Great Arrival)
6:00 AM - Alarmageddon. Okay, so it wasn't quite 6 AM. More like 6:30 AM thanks to the siren song of the snooze button. Look, I'm a traveler, not a morning person. My brain currently feels like scrambled eggs.
7:00 AM - Pack-tastrophe & Breakfast of Champions. Rummaging through my luggage. Did I forget my toothbrush? Yes, I did. Always. Luckily, I packed a miniature emergency toothpaste. Breakfast: a questionable gas station bagel and lukewarm coffee. I'm starting to feel the buzz of adrenaline, or maybe it's just caffeine withdrawal. Pray for me.
8:00 AM - The Bus to Bandung! (and the endless road). The bus is…well, it's a bus. Smells of stale cigarettes and hope. (Kidding! Mostly.) Honestly, the scenery is already more beautiful than I anticipated. Lush green rice paddies, villages whizzing by - It's enchanting. Though, I could do without the karaoke blaring from the loudspeakers. My tolerance level is running thin: I'm already planning my escape route.
1:00 PM - Lunch (or, Attempted Lunch). Decided to eat at a roadside warung (basically a tiny local restaurant, and what a find!). The food was amazing - Nasi Goreng (fried rice) with a side of fire-engine spicy sambal. My mouth is still burning, but it was worth it. The owner, a sweet old lady with the kindest eyes, barely spoke English, but we managed to share a laugh and a few hand gestures that bridged the language barrier. This is what travel is all about!
4:00 PM - The Transfer From Bandung to Santolo (the real test!). Oh boy… the next leg includes a bemo, or minibus. I don't know what's worse: the karaoke, or not knowing whether I'll make it in one piece. Fingers crossed!
8:00 PM - Finally! Penginapan Diar & First Impressions. Finally. After what felt like an eternity of bumpy roads, we arrive at Penginapan Diar. It's… cute. Rustic charm oozing from every crevice, kind of like me. And the view! Oh, the view. The ocean is calling. The air smells of salt and adventure. I feel my shoulders relax as I take in the scenery. (Note to self: learn how to handle a scooter. Now).
Room Check: It's clean and cozy, with a decent shower (hallelujah!). The bed is a little firm, but hey, I didn't come here to sleep! Much.
Dinner Debacle: Had to hunt down the best "warung nasi" nearby. It was a trek, but my stomach was rumbling like a volcano. The food? Deliciously fried fish with rice and veggies. Ate every bite in silence so I could savor its divinity.
Evening Mood: Exhausted but exhilarated. The ocean has officially taken my heart, forever.
Day 2: Surf, Sun, and Seriously Questionable Decisions
7:00 AM - Rise and (attempt to) Shine. Okay, maybe the sun rose, but mostly I dragged myself out of bed. That firm mattress had me in its grip.
8:00 AM - Coffee and Contemplations. Sipping my instant coffee on my balcony, watching the waves crash. This is the good life. I'm already wondering if I really need to come back to reality.
9:00 AM - SURFING! (sort of). Okay, so I'm not exactly a pro surfer, more like a "stand-up-for-two-seconds-and-then-faceplant-into-the-ocean" kind of surfer. But hey, I tried! The waves were huge, and the water was freezing, but the thrill was incredible. I spent more time underwater than on the board, but I don't care. This is pure, goofy fun.
- Anecdote: Picture this: me, paddling frantically to catch a wave, looking like a flailing seal. I manage to kinda stand… for about two glorious seconds! Then, BAM! The wave takes me, and I'm tumbling head over heels like a rag doll. Emerging from the foam, I'm greeted by the amused grins of a group of local surfers who all knew the owner. They helped me up and gave me a reassuring pat on the back. Humbling lesson learned.
12:00 PM - Sunblock Fail & Lunch. Turns out I'm allergic to this brand of sunblock. Red, itchy, and burning everywhere - a delightful combination! The local warung offered some Es Teh Manis (iced tea) which helped.
2:00 PM - Beach Bumming… and Beach Bumming Some More. Laying on the sand, pretending I wasn't a lobster. The view is breathtaking, the sound of the waves is hypnotic. I'm slowly drifting into a blissful stupor.
5:00 PM - Sunset Spectacle. Watching the sunset over the ocean. The sky explodes in a symphony of colors: orange, pink, purple, a masterpiece. I'm humbled. This is one of those moments you just want to freeze in time.
8:00 PM - Dinner and Deep Thoughts. Had a delicious seafood dinner at a beachfront restaurant. The grilled fish was divine. Sat there, staring at the stars, processing the day. The ocean, the waves, the sun… and the sunblock!
9:00 PM - After Sunset - the Stars. After a wonderful meal, I realized I needed to come back for a final walk. Under the starry sky and the sea, there's something indescribably peaceful.
Day 3: The Departure (Sob)
7:00 AM - Last Sunrise & Regret. Seriously regretting the fact that I have to leave this paradise. Another cup of coffee and another moment of stare at the waves.
8:00 AM - Breakfast. A simple but satisfying Indonesian breakfast.
9:00 AM - Last Dip & Last Attempt to Surf! One last beach walk, a final paddle. The ocean is calling me, but I have to leave. I feel the sadness starting to creep in. I just had to try one More time!
10:00 AM - Packing (the inevitable). The dreaded packing. My clothes are sandy, my heart is heavy, and I’m already plotting my return.
11:00 AM - Check Out & The Drive. Saying goodbye to Penginapan Diar! The staff were incredibly friendly. The ride back to Bandung will probably be just as crazy as the one to here!
1:00 PM - Lunch. A final meal on the road.
5:00 PM - Back to Bandung & Reflection. I feel exhausted, sun-kissed, and profoundly happy. This trip was a rollercoaster, filled with laughter, struggles, and countless unforgettable moments. I wouldn't trade it for anything.
7:00 PM - Back to Reality. After a long and tiring journey, I return to reality.
Final Thoughts:
Santolo, you beautiful, wild, imperfect place. You stole a piece of my heart. This wasn't just a trip; it was an experience. A reminder to embrace the chaos, to laugh at my own clumsiness, and to never, ever underestimate the power of a good wave (or a well-placed warung). I'll be back. Count on it.
Bondi Beach Bliss: Stunning Studio, 5-Minute Walk!
Why does my cat look at me like I'm personally responsible for the weather?
Okay, first off, *right*? The judgment! The sheer, unadulterated *side-eye* you get from a cat? It's truly astounding. I swear, my little fluff monster, Mittens (don't judge, she's a millennial cat), will stare at me, this intense laser focus, like I'm some kind of weather god and I've royally screwed up the sunshine/rain ratio. And you know what? Sometimes, I *do* feel responsible. Like, maybe I forgot to say "good morning" to the sun and now we're all paying the price. Ugh, cats. So much drama. It's probably about food, though. They always want food. Or maybe a clean litter box. Or maybe just to make me feel inadequate. I'm going with all of the above.
Is it normal to have a complete and utter meltdown when the internet goes down?
Normal? Honey, the modern world is a carefully constructed illusion, powered by Wi-Fi. When that illusion shatters… yeah, a meltdown is practically mandatory. I've experienced the full spectrum of internet outage emotions. Panic: "OMG, my work! My emails! Did I upload that spreadsheet?!" Then, denial: "It'll be back up in a sec." Followed by anger: "CURSE YOU, COMCAST! WHY? WHY ME?!" And finally, a resigned acceptance as I stare, slack-jawed, at the blank abyss of my router. I actually considered writing a strongly worded letter to the FCC the *last* time it happened. I didn't, because... irony. But I *thought* about it. And that, my friend, is progress. You're not alone in the digital dark ages. We're all losing our minds, slowly, together. Solidarity!
How do I stop doom-scrolling? Seriously, I'm begging for help.
Oh, *sweet mercy*, do I feel this one. Doom-scrolling is the devil's own pastime. It's like eating a whole bag of chips, knowing it's bad for you, but you just. Can't. Stop. My personal method, which is laughably ineffective most of the time, is to just… turn off the phone and walk away. Doesn't always work. I've tried deleting the apps, putting it in another room, even giving it to my partner and begging them to hide it. See, the *real* problem, I think, is the fear of missing out. You miss a vital news update, and the world ends. Or at least, you miss a good cat video. And really, what's the point of living without cat videos? So, it's a vicious cycle, and I'm as trapped as the next person. We're screwed. But hey, maybe if we all doom-scroll together, it'll be less lonely? Misery loves company, right?
Why are socks always disappearing in the dryer? WHERE DO THEY GO?!
This is a conspiracy, plain and simple. A sock-gobbling vortex, I tell you! A friend of mine swears his dryer is sentient and actively plots against him. I wouldn't put it past the thing. I mean, think about it: you put in a full load of laundry, perfectly paired socks, meticulously folded. And then… *poof*. One sock vanishes, never to be seen again. I've looked under the dryer, fished around the lint trap (a truly horrifying experience), and even considered calling a psychic. Nothing. They're gone. Perhaps they're in a parallel sock dimension, having wild parties with the missing buttons and single gloves. Or, maybe they just hate me. I'm starting to lean towards that theory. They're judging me. Ugh, the dryer. Another source of constant anxiety.
What's the deal with those automated phone menus? Are they designed to torture us?
Oh, the phone menu from hell. A symphony of Muzak and robotic pronouncements, designed specifically to drain your will to live. "Press 1 for... something you *definitely* don't want. Press 2 for... even worse." Then, there's the excruciating hold music. Is it elevator music? Is it a dial tone that never ends? It's impossible to tell. I've been on hold for so long, I've redecorated my entire living room, twice. And the worst part is, you *need* to get through these blasted menus to do anything nowadays. Need to pay a bill? You're speaking to a robot. Need to cancel a subscription? Prepare for a war of attrition. It's a modern Kafka-esque nightmare. I swear, one day I'm going to invent a device that automatically bypasses these things. And then I'll be rich.
Is it weird that I still get nostalgic for things I only experienced for a week?
Ah, the wistful ache for fleeting moments. Absolutely *not* weird. I’m with you! Last summer, I took a week-long trip to the coast. It was… fine. Actually, it was a bit of a disaster at times. The hotel room smelled faintly of seaweed. I got a truly epic sunburn. I ate a questionable clam chowder and spent a night in the bathroom (TMI, sorry). But, and this is the crux of my point, now, months later, I get these intense bursts of nostalgia. I see a photo of a seagull and BAM! Instant longing for sunshine, even though I *know* I was secretly miserable most of the time. Maybe our brains are wired to filter out the bad stuff. Or, perhaps the brain is just a big, lying jerk. Anyway, you're completely justified in your fleeting nostalgia. Embrace it! Relive the memories (even the slightly horrifying ones)! It's what makes life, you know, *life*.
How do you even *adult*? Seriously, I'm asking for a friend... (It's me.)
Ah, the question that keeps me up at night. Adulting. It’s a myth, a lie, a carefully constructed illusion perpetrated by people who seem to have their lives together *way* more than I do. The bills! The taxes! The vague feeling of impending doom that comes with every single decision? It's overwhelming, and honestly, I still feel like I'm faking it most of the time. I'm a whole 30 something and I still don't know the difference between a Roth IRA and a… whatever the other one is. And don't even get me started on how to properly season a cast-iron skillet. I once almost burned my kitchen down attempting to make waffles. Waffles! The sheerHotel Bliss Search
