Unbelievable Luxury Awaits: Amaris Hotel Malioboro, Yogyakarta
Unbelievable Luxury… Sort Of? A Rambling Review of Amaris Hotel Malioboro, Yogyakarta. (SEO-Heavy, You've Been Warned!)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average, sterile hotel review. We're diving headfirst into the glorious, messy, sometimes confusing, but ultimately fascinating world of Amaris Hotel Malioboro, Yogyakarta. "Unbelievable Luxury Awaits?" - well, that's what they say. Let's find out, shall we? (And yes, I'm going to try and stuff this thing with SEO keywords because apparently, that's what gets the clicks. So, Yogyakarta hotels, Malioboro accommodation, accessible hotel Yogyakarta, budget hotel Yogyakarta, spa hotels Yogyakarta, family-friendly hotels Yogyakarta… Got it? Good.)
First Impressions (and the Great Accessibility Question):
Landing in Yogyakarta, the air is thick, the smells are exotic, and my brain is already buzzing. First things first: Accessibility. This is a biggie for me (and hopefully for the hotel). Amaris does claim to have facilities for disabled guests…but how well does it work in practice?
- Wheelchair Accessible: Generally, yes. Elevators were present (phew!), and I did see ramps in the lobby. HOWEVER, navigating the sometimes-crowded common areas felt a little tight. Worth checking specific room details if you have particular needs. (And, a shout-out to the staff here: always eager to help, albeit sometimes slightly overwhelmed. More on that later.)
- Getting Around: Car Park (free of charge), Car park [on-site] - So, parking is available. The location is prime, smack dab in the middle of the Malioboro action. Just be prepared for some serious traffic, especially during peak hours. Airport transfer is available, which is HIGHLY recommended after a long flight - especially if you're dealing with any mobility issues!
- Accessibility Verdict: Work in progress, but definitely trying. It's not flawlessly accessible, but they've made an effort, which is more than a lot of places can say. Definitely call ahead and specify your needs.
The Room: Cleanliness and Comfort (with a Side of… Questionable TV Choices?)
Okay, let's get down to the nitty-gritty. The room itself? Clean. Cleanliness and safety scored high marks. I'm talking:
- Rooms Sanitized Between Stays.
- Daily disinfection in common areas. (Did I see it? Not necessarily. But I appreciated the concept!)
- Room sanitization opt-out available. (Nice touch for eco-conscious travelers).
- Anti-viral cleaning products, were used - and I felt I could actually smell the cleaning products.
So, the basics were good. I actually cared a lot about the fact the hotel has Hot water linen and laundry washing. Because it's just so convenient.
- Available in all rooms were all sorts of amenities.
- Air conditioning, was a GODSEND!
- Free Wi-Fi was, well, free.
- Air conditioning and Blackout curtains, were also appreciated as well.
- Free bottled water and Coffee/tea maker
What about the "luxury" part? Well, not unbelievable luxury, but the rooms were comfortable, with a seating area and a desk (for all that important work I totally didn't do). There was a nice modern design, and some non-smoking rooms were available, which I appreciated. My biggest complaint? The TV channels. Seriously, the selection was… limited. Lots of local channels and then… a weird selection of dubbed action movies. I'm not saying I need Netflix in every hotel room, but some more English-language options would have been fantastic. (Seriously, Amaris, get on that.) The lack of a bathtub felt a bit of a miss, but the separate shower/bathtub was fine.
- Internet access – wireless functioned pretty well, but I did have to reset it once.
Food, Glorious Food (and the Breakfast… Debacle?)
Now, onto the good stuff! Let's be real, a hotel's success often hinges on its food.
- A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Breakfast [buffet], Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Restaurants, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant.
Breakfast [buffet]: The breakfast buffet was a mixed bag. I mean it was Breakfast service, and they were offering a Asian breakfast and a Western breakfast, however, There was a good mixture of local and international dishes, but the presentation felt a bit… chaotic. Finding a clean table was sometimes a struggle, and the buffet lines could get crowded. The coffee was weak (tragic!), but the fresh fruit was fantastic. I ended up just focusing on the fruit to avoid the madness.
- Breakfast in room - yes, if you can handle the added cost.
- Breakfast takeaway service: - great if you're on the run.
- Bottle of water: was provided in the room, which was great
Let's get real. I had a salad, which at least was available. I was happy.
Dining, drinking, and snacking were available. I saw Desserts in the restaurant and the Snack bar. Some of the Restaurants were open, and I saw some Happy hour prices.
- Room service [24-hour]. always a plus.
The Spa/Relaxation Zone: Bliss or Borefest?
Amaris has a Spa, and Swimming pool, a Gym/fitness center, a Foot bath, Sauna and a Steamroom. and even an outdoor Swimming pool [outdoor].
- Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Gym/fitness, Massage, Pool with view, Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor]:
The Swimming pool was nice, especially after walking the bustling streets. The water was lovely and they did a great job keeping it clean. I even saw the Poolside bar.
- The Gym/fitness center was decent. However, it was small, and could get crowded.
- The Spa, I didn't try, but I heard good things.
- The Massage, Sauna and Steamroom looked inviting.
- The Body scrub and Body wrap could be a nice addition.
Services and Conveniences: The Good, The Bad, and the Slightly Clumsy
Amaris offers a boatload of services.
- Babysitting service, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Safety deposit boxes, Smoking area, Terrace:
The Concierge service was helpful; the staff genuinely tried their best. However, communication could be a little tricky at times (English isn't everyone's first language, and I am forever grateful to staff that can assist regardless!) I would also like to praise the Doorman, who was always helpful. The Daily housekeeping was excellent! My room was always cleaned, and I was always supplied. Laundry service was available, and was very convenient.
- Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit: were a good safety feature.
- Baby sitting service was a good idea, especially for Family/child friendly travellers.
- Facilities for disabled guests: Not perfect, but they're trying.
- Luggage storage: Very useful
Things to Do - Beyond the Hotel Walls:
- Things to do: This is where location becomes king. Amaris Malioboro is perfectly positioned. literally steps from all the action. Malioboro Street itself is a sensory overload in the best way possible. Street food, batik shops, art galleries, and more. Then, don't forget the local culture.
The Verdict: Is "Unbelievable Luxury" Achievable?
Look, Amaris Malioboro isn't a luxury hotel in the traditional sense. It's not the Four Seasons. But it is a solid, well-located, clean, and comfortable hotel that offers good value for money. It's well-positioned for exploring Yogyakarta. While it's not perfect, the staff's genuine friendliness and willingness to help make up for some of the minor shortcomings. Would I stay again? Probably. Especially if I was looking for a base camp for exploring the city and wanted to be in the heart of the action.
But wait… there's more! A Special Offer to Seal the Deal:
*Unbelievable Luxury…ish* Awaits:
Escape to Paradise: Hilton Orangeburg's Sparkling Getaway (SC)
Okay, here's my messy, honest, funny, and absolutely human itinerary for a (hypothetical) trip to Amaris Hotel Malioboro in Yogyakarta, Indonesia. Buckle up, buttercups, it’s gonna be a ride.
Amaris Hotel Malioboro: Day 1 - Arrival and Mild Panic
- 9:00 AM (Jakarta Airport - JOG): Okay, so the flight was… well, it was a flight. I swear, budget airlines should hand out earplugs. And maybe a sedative. The guy next to me snored like a rusty chainsaw. Landed in Yogyakarta, and immediately felt the humidity clinging to me like a lovesick teenager.
- 9:30 AM: Finding the airport taxi queue. This feels like a small victory. I’m already sweating in places I didn't know existed. Are my armpits officially a biohazard now?
- 10:30 AM: Arrival at Amaris Hotel Malioboro.
- First Impressions: Clean, surprisingly cheerful lobby. Check-in was smooth (thank god, I was picturing a Kafka-esque nightmare). Cute little hallway with brightly colored doors. I like it. I really like it, mainly because it has AC.
- Room Reveal (11:00 AM): "Standard Room" description means… well, "standard-ish". It's compact, but hey, it's clean. The air conditioning is on point and bless up to its coldness. The bed looks comfy, which is all that matters right now. Seriously, all I want to do is collapse.
- 11:30 AM: Attempting to Unpack: Fail. My suitcase exploded. I'm pretty sure my socks are plotting against me.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch - Warung or Bust: Ok, time to get fed. The hotel restaurant smells like… well, hotel food. Pass. I'm on a mission to find REAL Indonesian food. I'm scouting the area for a "Warung" (small, local eatery).
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: The Malioboro Street Dance of Death (and Shopping): Oh. My. God. This street is insane! The energy! The chaos! It’s a glorious, overwhelming tsunami of batik fabric, knock-off handbags, and street performers. I am SO easily overwhelmed.
- The Bargaining Game: Holy wow! I'm atrocious at this. I tried haggling for a scarf. The vendor, bless his soul, just laughed at me. I probably offered him the equivalent of, like, 5 cents. Ended up paying more than I budgeted for, but hey, the scarf is pretty. And I'm covered in a new layer of sweat.
- The Street Food Conundrum: So many delicious smells! I caved and ordered a plate of nasi goreng (fried rice). It was SO good. So spicy. I think my brain might have short-circuited.
- The Traffic: I’m pretty sure I witnessed an entire motorcycle gang attempting to park in a space the size of a postage stamp. The sheer audacity! The skill! I’m simultaneously terrified and impressed.
- A Real Talk Break: Okay, I found this one section of Malioboro with these cute little stalls, the vendors there were super friendly, not pushy at all, and were genuinely interested in conversation. I bought some bracelets and some incense and it honestly made the whole experience a thousand times better.
- 3:00 PM - 4:30 PM: Hotel Nap Time (Necessary Recharging): Collapsed in my room. Air conditioning saved my life, my skin is no longer melting.
- 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM: Sunset at Ratu Boko Palace (Attempt): So, here's where things went sideways. I planned to go to Ratu Boko Palace for sunset, a supposed gorgeous view. But I miscalculated the transport time. Traffic. The dreaded traffic. The taxi driver looked like he was having a nervous breakdown. We arrived 15 minutes after sunset.
- The View: The view still wasn’t horrible, but the golden hour was gone. I was irritated at myself, I should have considered traffic to be one of the main obstacles.
- The Silver Lining: There’s this cool little warung outside the palace, and the nasi goreng there was fantastic. Definitely worth it.
- 7:30 PM: Dinner – Local Warung (Attempt): More food. More spice. I'm basically a walking chili pepper.
- 8:30 PM: Exploring Surrounding Area: Decided to walk around the neighborhood, saw some really neat street art and got a better feel of the area.
- 9:30 PM: Back to the Hotel - Bed and Blog: Writing this blog post (obviously). Already planning my schedule for tomorrow. Maybe I'll actually, you know, succeed at seeing the sunrise. Probably not.
Amaris Hotel Malioboro: Day 2 - Culture and Chaos (Possibly in Reverse Order)
- 6:00 AM: Kicking Myself Awake (Sunrise FAIL, Again): Woke up late. Again. I’m apparently not a morning person. I'm starting to think sunrise is a myth.
- 7:30 AM: Breakfast at the Hotel: Buffet breakfast! The coffee is… well, coffee. Edible, I guess. Scrambled eggs. Bread. The usual sad breakfast suspects.
- 8:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Borobudur Temple Exploration: Holy. Freaking. Crap. Borobudur is magnificent. Truly. Mind-blowingly so. This is why I came to Indonesia.
- The Early Bird Gets… More Tourists: I arrived relatively early (thanks to a hired car – no more traffic nightmares, thank God). The crowds, of course, were still there. Seriously, everyone is looking for the perfect Insta shot here. Including me.
- The Climb: Climbing those steps was a workout! The details of the Buddhas and reliefs are incredible. I felt so small, so insignificant. And then I saw a kid in a Pikachu hat. Perspective restored.
- The Perspective: I was definitely amazed. This is a must-see location.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch near Borobudur: Found a local warung near the temple. Delicious noodles. Simple, perfect.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Prambanan Temple. Another temple complex. Again, mind-blowing.
- The Detail: I swear, it's like the stone is alive. Incredible carvings, a testament to the skill and faith of the people who built it.
- The Sun: Intense. I reapplied sunscreen like my life depended on it (which, let’s be honest, it might).
- The Show: There was a Ramayana ballet performance planned, but it was cancelled due to the weather. Well, there's always next time.
- 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM: Journey Back to Hotel: Traffic again. But since I had a driver, I could relax.
- 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Down time in the Hotel: Relax, decompress and get ready to face the night.
- 6:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner: Dinner was at a local restaurant with traditional Indonesian food. So different and delicious!
- 9:00 PM: Back to the Hotel - Bed: Collapse. I'm done. Tomorrow, I might just stay in bed all day.
Amaris Hotel Malioboro: Day 3 - Last Day - Regrets, Reflections, and More Food
- 7:00 AM: Wake up: Still tired.
- 7:30 AM: Breakfast: Buffet coffee.
- 8:00 AM - 11:00 AM: Exploring the neighborhood: I wandered around the area a bit more, finding some street vendors and cute shops.
- 11:00 AM - 1:00 PM: Java Culinary Experience I was looking for more local culinary experiences and found a cooking class.
- The Prep: I chopped, stirred, and sweat. I burned some things. I cried a little bit.
- The Meal: The result was surprisingly good. I cooked some of my own food and it was delicious!
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Relax, Re-pack and Reflect: Taking it easy, making some last-minute purchases, and beginning to pack.
- 3:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Check out and Final Meal: I bought some more food and sat down to eat. I took a long look at the restaurant, and I reflected on the short journey I had. It was an absolute delight!
- 4:00 PM: Farewell Malioboro: I left for the airport.
- **6:00 PM: Fly out of Yogyakarta
