Escape to Paradise: Urbanview Hotel Nimara Ngawi - Your Indonesian Getaway!
Escape to Paradise: Urbanview Hotel Nimara Ngawi - My Honest Indonesian Getaway (The Good, The Bad, and the Surprisingly Spicy!)
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because I’m about to spill the beans on my recent escape to the Urbanview Hotel Nimara Ngawi, your purported Indonesian getaway. Forget those perfectly curated Instagram photos; this is the real deal, warts and all. We're talking everything from the surprisingly good breakfast buffet to my near-disastrous attempt at a body wrap. Consider this your digital, unfiltered travel diary, complete with a healthy dose of caffeine-fueled opinions.
First Impressions: Finding the Place (and Praying for Internet)
The website promised "Escape to Paradise." Let's be honest, "finding" the place was my first adventure. Ngawi isn't exactly a bustling metropolis. The accessibility? Yeah, that's an important one, and I'll be totally honest here. The hotel lists themselves as having "facilities for disabled guests". I didn't need those facilities personally, but from what I could see, the main areas – the lobby, restaurant – seemed reasonably accessible. There's an elevator, which is always a plus. Definitely makes a difference. Also, it's a hotel chain, which made me breathe easier - because at least they'll know what the heck they're doing.
The first thing I did was check for Internet, Internet [LAN], Internet access, Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!, Internet services, Wi-Fi in public areas. Oh sweet internet gods! They advertise Wi-Fi [free] in the rooms, and they mean it! The connection in my room wasn't exactly blazing fast, but it was consistent enough to stream some questionable travel documentaries (and, you know, get some work done… maybe). The Internet access – LAN was good too. No complaints there.
The Room: My Cozy Little Haven (and a Minor Freak-out)
Let’s dive into the specifics. Available in all rooms: Air conditioning was a godsend, especially after wandering around in the Indonesian heat. Alarm clock, Bathrobes (yes!), Bathroom phone (never used it, but hey, options!), Bathtub, Blackout curtains (essential for sleep!), Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker (thank you, caffeine!), Complimentary tea (a nice touch!), Daily housekeeping (spotless!), Desk, Extra long bed (YES!), Free bottled water (hydration is key!), Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies (didn't use, but hey, choices!), Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale (don't judge!), Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers (soft!), Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], Window that opens. My room was… comfortable. Clean, well-appointed, and the soundproofing was glorious. I'm a light sleeper, so that was a major win.
I have to admit, though, the room wasn't perfect. The additional toilet was nice, but it was close to the mirror, so a bit awkward because you have to move around to do anything. The additional toilet was nice, but it was close to the mirror, so a bit awkward because you have to move around to do anything. It got me thinking about the design and how they were trying to maximize all the space. The interconnecting room(s) available feature was a nice touch, especially for families, though I personally wouldn't be using that. I did consider the smoking area, because the design of the room was that you could either chill in the room or be out on the balcony enjoying the fresh air. The on-demand movies was sweet in theory; in practice, the selection was a tad dated. (Bring your own streaming service, folks!).
The Food: From Buffet Bliss to Experimental Cuisines (and a Curry Incident)
Alright, food. Let's talk about food. This is where my experience went from "pretty darn good" to… well, fascinating.
- Breakfast [buffet]: The glorious start to the day. I loaded up on Asian breakfast staples, because when in Rome, right? And what's the deal with Western breakfast? It's a serious upgrade! The Breakfast service, as they called it, was fast, with the staff on hand everywhere. I also enjoyed the Coffee/tea in restaurant option, which had me refilling my coffee cup more than once. The Bottle of water available was a real blessing.
- Restaurants, A la carte in restaurant, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Buffet in restaurant, Coffee/tea in restaurant, Desserts in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, Poolside bar, Salad in restaurant, Soup in restaurant, Vegetarian restaurant, Western cuisine in restaurant, Snack bar: The hotel's restaurant, which offered a variety of options, was a lifesaver. I did have a very tasty salad one day. I'm not sure I got the Happy hour situation, however. It seems to be a big deal, with a lot of people congregating in the area. The overall verdict on the food? Pretty decent variety.
The Activities: Pool, Spa, and My Near-Death Experience with a Body Wrap
Here's where the "Escape to Paradise" promise really kicked in… sort of.
- Swimming pool, Swimming pool [outdoor], Pool with view: The outdoor pool looked inviting, surrounded by sun loungers, and offered some sort of a view, although it wasn't exactly a panoramic vista.
- Spa, Spa/sauna, Sauna, Steamroom, Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath, Massage: The promise of a spa day had me practically skipping to the reservation desk. I’m all about ways to relax. The spa was… nice. The massage was decent, but the Body wrap… Oh, the body wrap. I’m not sure what was in the concoction they slathered on me, but it involved a suspiciously fragrant herb and a near-suffocation experience. I swear, I could barely breathe with all the layers! I nearly ripped myself free a few times. Then I thought about the Sauna or Steamroom, but it would've been too much. I was already at my limit.
The Other Stuff: Services, Safety, and the Little Things
- Services and conveniences, Air conditioning in public area, Audio-visual equipment for special events, Business facilities, Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Contactless check-in/out, Convenience store, Currency exchange, Daily housekeeping, Doorman, Dry cleaning, Elevator, Essential condiments, Facilities for disabled guests, Food delivery, Gift/souvenir shop, Indoor venue for special events, Invoice provided, Ironing service, Laundry service, Luggage storage, Meeting/banquet facilities, Meetings, Meeting stationery, On-site event hosting, Outdoor venue for special events, Projector/LED display, Safety deposit boxes, Seminars, Shrine, Smoking area, Terrace, Wi-Fi for special events, Xerox/fax in business center: They have quite a few amenities. The Concierge service was incredibly helpful, securing a taxi to the airport and assisting with some local sightseeing. The Daily housekeeping was a godsend. The Elevator was essential, the Safety deposit boxes were good, and the Cash withdrawal was also great.
- Cleanliness and safety, Anti-viral cleaning products, Breakfast in room, Breakfast takeaway service, Cashless payment service, Daily disinfection in common areas, Doctor/nurse on call, First aid kit, Hand sanitizer, Hot water linen and laundry washing, Hygiene certification, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Professional-grade sanitizing services, Room sanitization opt-out available, Rooms sanitized between stays, Safe dining setup, Sanitized kitchen and tableware items, Shared stationery removed, Staff trained in safety protocol, Sterilizing equipment: I felt pretty safe. They’re clearly trying to maintain good hygiene. Anti-viral cleaning products, hand santizer literally everywhere, and the staff wearing masks. They also have Rooms sanitized between stays policy, which provides more comfort.
Things to Do (Beyond My Spa-ocalypse):
- Things to do, ways to relax, Babysitting service, Family/child friendly, Kids facilities, Kids meal, CCTV in common areas, CCTV outside property, Check-in/out [express], Check-in/out [private], Couple's room, Exterior corridor, Fire extinguisher, Front desk [24-hour], Hotel chain, Non-smoking rooms, Pets allowed unavailablePets allowed, Proposal spot, Room decorations, Safety/security feature, Security [24-hour], Smoke alarms, Soundproof rooms: There's a lot of things to do around the hotel, but I mainly
Alright, buckle up, buttercups! This isn't your meticulously planned, GPS-guided trip. This is my attempt at a trip to the Urbanview Hotel Nimara Ngawi by RedDoorz in Indonesia. Prepare for beautiful chaos.
Day 1: Arrival & (The Great) Room Reconnaissance
9:00 AM (ish): Alarm blares. Ugh. Travel days always start with a fight with my alarm clock. Finally drag myself out of bed in Jakarta. Gotta grab that pre-booked GrabCar to the airport – praying it's on time. (Pro Tip: Book a GrabCar the night before. Trust me.)
12:00 PM (give or take an hour): Flight… landed! Ngawi airport… tiny. Like, walk-off-the-plane-straight-into-a-taxi-rank tiny. The air is thick with the smell of… something delicious. (Hope that's not just my imagination).
1:30 PM: Arrive at the glorious (hopefully) Urbanview Hotel. First impressions? Well, RedDoorz always promise a certain level of efficiency, right? Let's see if this one delivers. The lobby is… clean! Okay, points already. It's not exactly the Ritz, but hey, I'm not the Ritz!
2:00 PM: THE RUMBLE OF THE ROOM: The moment of truth! Unlock the door to my room. Deep breath. Okay…it's functional. The bed looks…sleepable. The bathroom… well, it exists. (I can't be too picky, right? This is Indonesia!) The AC is cranking… thankfully. The Wi-Fi is… praying to the Indonesian internet gods it works. (Momentary panic as I fumble for my phone charger)
- Anecdote time: Let’s say a rogue mosquito had managed to infiltrate the room. The battle that ensued was epic. Me vs. the mosquito, a tiny war of wills. Guess who won? Let's just say, the red dots on my arm served as a memento of that encounter.
3:00 PM: Food! Starving. The hotel has a cafe, but I'm feeling adventurous. Question is, where to go in Ngawi?
- Rant time: This is where the trip planning fell down. I foolishly left a lot of my research till the last minute. Scrolling through the internet, I was looking for places to have a meal. Some options were offered, but they were all too far. Note to self: plan properly next time!
4:00 PM: Back in the room because of the tiredness of the trip. Thinking of taking a nap.
6:00 PM: Decided to go out and look for food.
7.00 PM: Stumble upon the nearest warung. (A local eatery) Ordered Nasi Goreng. Deliciously greasy goodness. A perfect introduction to Indonesian cuisine. (And ridiculously cheap!)
8:00 PM: Back in the room, internet is (miraculously) working. Check emails. Decide to binge-watch a random series on my phone.
9:00 PM: Crash. Travel exhaustion wins.
Day 2: Exploring (or Failing to Explore) Ngawi
7:00 AM: Wake up. Actually feeling pretty good! (Miracle #2). This is a good sign.
8:00 AM: Breakfast at the hotel cafe. Standard fare. Eggs, toast, coffee so strong it can probably wake the dead. Fueling up.
9:00 AM: Okay, time to actually see Ngawi. The plan? (And I use that word loosely) To find a local tourist spot. The reality? Well, it’s hot!
10:00 AM: Decided to give up any kind of serious exploring. I decided to just walk through the streets, taking in the sights. The motorbikes whizzing by, the vibrant colors of the shops. This is where I felt most alive.
11:00 AM: Found a local market. The sights, the sounds, the smells… it's a sensory overload in the best possible way. Trying out some street food. (Taking my chances, but hey, YOLO, right?)
12.00 PM: Stumbled upon a beautiful mosque. (The details of the mosque are very nice, the architecture, and the atmosphere)
1:00 PM: Lunch is a repeat of the previous day. This time, it's the chicken noodle soup. Simple, satisfying… perfect.
2:00 PM: Back in the room. I'm basically a professional napper at this point. (It’s a skill, I assure you.)
4:00 PM: A quick shower.
5:00 PM: One last walk through the streets.
7:00 PM: Dinner, same warung, different dish. I've become a regular! The staff is friendly, the food is comforting, and the price is right.
8:00 PM: Back at the hotel, checking out.
9:00 PM: Heading back to Jakarta.
Day 3: Departure & Reflections (aka, The Post-Trip Mess)
All Day: Travel back to Jakarta.
The Verdict: The Urbanview Hotel Nimara Ngawi? Perfectly adequate. Not the lap of luxury, but it kept me alive and provided a (mostly) clean place to sleep. Ngawi itself? A genuinely authentic experience. Definitely not a place overrun with tourists, which is exactly what I needed. The food? Amazing. The people? Friendly. My navigation skills? Questionable. My ability to plan ahead? Non-existent.
Final Thought: This trip wasn't perfect. It was messy, spontaneous, and full of those little moments that will become the best travel stories. I learned a bit about Indonesia, a lot about myself, and that sometimes, the best adventures are the ones you don't plan. Now, time to start planning the next one! (And this time, I promise to do SOME research!)
Escape to Paradise: Urbanview Hotel Nimara Ngawi - Your Indonesian Getaway! ... Or Is It? (FAQ Edition)
Okay, so… Is this place ACTUALLY paradise? Like, should I pack my halo and everything?
Paradise? Whoa there, slow down, sunshine. Let's not get ahead of ourselves. Nimara Ngawi, yeah, it's pleasant. I mean, *pleasant* for Ngawi. Which is, you know… Ngawi. It's Indonesia, the staff is lovely, they definitely try. But halo? Maybe keep it packed in your luggage, just in case. Honestly, the "paradise" hype is a bit much. I went expecting, you know, white sand beaches and monkeys serving cocktails. Got… a perfectly adequate hotel in a perfectly adequate Indonesian town. Still, the free breakfast? That’s a definite perk.
What are the rooms like? Seriously, are we talking "falling apart and cockroaches" level, or...? Because my travel partner has a *severe* aversion…
Okay, deep breath. Rooms. The rooms are… decent. They're clean. They're air-conditioned (thank the heavens!). Now, "falling apart and cockroaches" is a bit dramatic. I saw... maybe a small ant? Okay, okay, *two* ants. But definitely no cockroach infestation. The beds? Comfy-ish. My back felt… okay. Let's go with "not bad". The shower? Water pressure was… adequate. Definitely not a pressure washer situation, but hot water? Yes! Glorious, life-saving hot water. I'm already missing it. Seriously though, tell your travel partner to pack a decent bug spray, anyway. Better safe than sorry. And maybe some earplugs. That rooster... he's got stamina.
The food. Tell me about the food. Is it… edible? Because I’m a picky eater with a delicate stomach.
Ah, the food. This is where things get… interesting. Breakfast? Included! This is a HUGE win. Rendang (beef stew) was... well, it was there. Some of the fruit was incredible! The pineapples were sweet and juicy. The coffee... let's just say it's "Indonesian coffee." Strong. Maybe a bit… gritty. Lunch and dinner aren't included, but there are plenty of warungs (local restaurants) nearby. Warning: if you're super picky, pack your own snacks. I, personally, ate EVERYTHING. And, I am now feeling amazing, the flavors were so authentic, I learned that the secret ingredient for the local foods is love.
Is there Wi-Fi? Because, you know, gotta stay connected to the *real* world (a.k.a. Instagram). And will it actually WORK?
Wi-Fi... Ah, the bane of the modern traveler's existence. Yes, there *is* Wi-Fi. Technically. It's free. And it *works*. Sometimes. Expect it to be… a little spotty. Like, you might get a solid connection for five minutes, then it sputters out. Then, back in business, then it fails after you were just about to send out the perfect Boomerang... that kind of thing. It’s like the hotel is possessed by a disgruntled router ghost. I’m a travel blogger, so it was a nightmare. I ended up using my phone's hotspot more often than not. So, plan accordingly. Download your Instagram stories *before* you leave the room. Or, you know, embrace the digital detox. Up to you.
What is there to DO in Ngawi? Besides, you know, existing? I get bored easily.
Okay, this is where things get… specific. Listen, Ngawi isn't exactly Ibiza. It's more… authentically Indonesian. Things to *do*? Hmm… there's the Trinil Museum, which houses some interesting fossils. You can visit a local market (great for souvenirs and experiencing the local culture!). And, for the more adventurous types, there are volcanic landscapes. The truth is, Ngawi is about experiencing the *real* Indonesia. It’s not built for tourists, so you actually get to *live* in the culture. I spent a day just wandering around, getting lost, and eating things I couldn't pronounce. Honestly, that was one of the best days of my trip. But, if you're looking for constant entertainment, maybe this isn’t the best place. Go with an open mind. And a phrasebook.
The Staff - Are they helpful? Do they speak English? Because I am a complete language moron.
The staff? Absolutely lovely. Seriously, some of the kindest people I've ever met. Their English? Limited, but perfectly adequate. They'll try their best, and they're always smiling. There might be a bit of a language barrier, so be patient. (And brush up on basic Indonesian phrases! "Terima kasih" – thank you – goes a LONG way.) I remember one instance where I managed to lock myself out of my room (I am not proud) and the staff rushed to my rescue, even though I'm sure I was adding to their already busy day. It was great! Their willingness to assist really does wonders for the whole experience.
Is it a family-friendly hotel? I'm traveling with kids who think "adventure" means "staying in a hotel with a pool AND room service".
Family-friendly, hmm… It’s *fine*. It wasn't like they had a kids' club, nor a swimming pool (the "hotel with a pool" part is completely out of the question, I'm afraid), or room service (except for the very basics)... but children were definitely welcome. The hotel might not have the bells and whistles your kids are expecting, but its friendly atmosphere and proximity to local life are ideal for making a vacation a learning experience for your children. It’s not like the hotel is *unfriendly* to kids, but it's more geared towards people who are looking for a quiet retreat. Make sure your kids understand what they're getting into!
Okay, so, the REAL question… Would you go back?
Would I go back? You know, that’s a complicated question. It wasn’t a perfect vacation. I got a bit homesick. The Wi-Fi almost drove me to madness. But… there was something about the place. Something… real. And the price? Ridiculously reasonable. So, yeah. I probably would. I mean, maybe not *immediately*. But in a year orFindelicious Hotels
