Indonesian Ibis Surabaya Tidar: Unbeatable Hotel Deals You WON'T Believe!
Ibis Surabaya Tidar: My Honest Review (and, Uh, Those "Unbeatable Deals"?) - Buckle Up!
Okay, so I just got back from a whirlwind trip to Surabaya, Indonesia, and you know what that means? Hotel reviews, baby! And this time, it's the Ibis Surabaya Tidar, the one promising "Unbeatable Hotel Deals You WON'T Believe!" Right. Let's see if they delivered… or if I just got another lukewarm coffee and a slightly stained towel (spoiler alert: there was a slightly stained towel).
First Impressions & Getting There (Accessibility & Getting Around): Honestly, finding the place wasn't a problem. It’s smack-dab in the city, which is both good and… well, Indonesian traffic is a thing. Airport transfer is available which is ALWAYS a win, especially after a long flight. They had a car park [on-site] and car park [free of charge] which is important because trying to find a parking spot in a city like Surabaya can feel like a quest. So yeah, good on them for that. Accessibility-wise, I can't speak to the full wheelchair access situation (I'm lucky that I don't need it), but I did see an elevator and the facilities for disabled guests are listed. I’d recommend calling ahead if that's a priority for you.
Rooms: The Good, the Meh, and the Slightly Stained Towel… (Available in all rooms, Cleanliness, Safety & Security):
Okay, confession time. I’m a creature of habit, and when it comes to hotels, I want a clean, comfortable room. I wouldn’t say I’m overly demanding, but I do appreciate not finding surprises under the bed. Let's see, what was it like?
The Good: The room itself was… fine. Standard Ibis fare, which is to say, clean-ish. It had air conditioning, which is a MUST in Surabaya's humidity. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! The Wi-Fi [free] worked pretty well (praise the tech gods!). I had a desk, which was great because I needed to do some work (and, let's face it, update my travel blog – you’re reading it!). There was a coffee/tea maker which is crucial for a coffee addict like myself. They had complimentary tea. Free bottled water was provided (always appreciated), but the best bonus points was that Wake-up service was available.
The Meh: As mentioned earlier, there was a slight stain on one of the towels. Nothing that ruined my day, but it's a small detail that just makes you think, "Maybe the laundry service is having a bad week?". The bathroom was small and basic, with a shower, not a lot of space for your toiletries. Not terrible, but not exactly luxurious. The closet was a bit cramped, the bathroom phone didn't work, which is a little annoying if you actually need to make a call from the WC.
Safety & Security: The non-smoking rooms were a blessing. The safe box was a must! I'm all about security, and they put CCTV in common areas and outside property, alongside 24-hour security and smoke alarms. The exterior corridor also felt safe and was easy to access. And hey, the fire extinguisher was a definite plus (thankfully unused!).
Food, Glorious Food (Dining, Drinking, and Snacking):
Alright, let's talk food! This is where I can get really opinionated.
- The Breakfast: The breakfast [buffet] was included, which is always a win. It was a pretty standard spread: Asian breakfast, Western breakfast, buffet in restaurant and some local options. They offered coffee/tea in restaurant. The bacon was… well, it existed. Some of the pastries were a little dry, a sin in my book. I definitely prefer the more lavish Indonesian breakfasts, so if you like it a breakfast buffets, you'd probably do better elsewhere.
- The Other Stuff: They had a restaurant with Asian cuisine in restaurant and Western cuisine in restaurant. They also had a coffee shop if you just needed a quick caffeine fix. I didn't explore the other dining options too extensively, but those are there if you're interested. Room service was also available [24-hour].
Things to Do & Ways to Relax (Spa & Other Activities):
Okay, so this is where the Ibis Tidar… isn't exactly a resort.
- The Spa: They have a spa/sauna, and a fitness center, I think this is the "Relax" aspect of this entire review. I did find the Fitness Center to be pretty good, it's basic, but has everything you need for a basic workout.
- The "Other" Activities: Honestly, I didn't see a whole lot of recreational stuff in the hotel. There's a Swimming pool [outdoor]. So, you're not exactly coming here for the resort experience. This is more of a "grab a room, get your business done, and maybe take a dip in the pool" kind of place.
Services & Conveniences: (Services and conveniences):
This is where Ibis hotels usually shine.
- The Good: Daily housekeeping was a godsend. The concierge was helpful, though I didn’t need to lean on them too much. The laundry service and dry cleaning were available, which is always appreciated when you’re traveling.
- The Okay: Parking! The car power charging station I did not see, but I did not look for. They provide Essential condiments if you requested, so that's a score, I didn't need them myself!
- The Meh: The convenience store was… okay. They had the basics.
Cleanliness & Safety in the Age of… Well, Everything (Cleanliness and safety):
Look, I’m not a germaphobe, BUT I do appreciate a hotel that's trying.
- Check-in/out [contactless] was a plus!
- Anti-viral cleaning products are used.
- They claim to have Daily disinfection in common areas.
- Hand sanitizer was readily available.
- Staff trained in safety protocol made me feel safe.
The "Unbeatable Hotel Deals" - Did They Deliver? (SEO Stuff, aka, the "Price" Factor):
This is where it gets interesting, because the answer is a resounding… maybe. The prices are generally competitive, especially for the location. You can often find deals, but they’re not always the earth-shattering, jaw-dropping deals the marketing copy promised. I would definitely recommend checking for promotions and comparing prices with other hotels in the area. They have Cashless payment service so that's neat!
Overall Verdict & Who Should Stay Here:
The Good: Location. Clean-ish. Good for a business traveler. Decent Wi-Fi. 24-hour room service. Generally, it's an okay hotel, and if you have a trip to Surabaya, and just require a location to rest, they're good!
The Bad: The breakfast. The slightly underwhelming “things to do” aspect. That towel…
Who Should Stay Here: Business travelers. Budget-conscious travelers who want a good location. People who don't need a resort experience. Those who don't mind the slight imperfections.
My Unsolicited Advice:
- Check for deals! Don’t just assume their "Unbeatable Deals" are, well, unbeatable. Shop around.
- Bring your own pillow. Okay, maybe not, but the pillows weren’t the greatest.
- Don't expect a luxury resort. This is a functional hotel.
- Embrace the chaos of Surabaya!
Final Score: 3.5 out of 5 stars. It's a solid, reliable choice, but don’t expect to be blown away.
Now, Here's the Persuasive Offer!
Tired of boring hotel stays? Ready for an adventure? Book your stay at the Ibis Surabaya Tidar now and experience the heart of Surabaya!
Here's what you get:
- Unbeatable Location: Right in the city center, close to everything you need!
- Clean and Comfortable Rooms: Relax after a long day of exploring.
- Free Wi-Fi: Stay connected without breaking the bank.
- Delicious Breakfast Buffets (and the chance to take a risk…): Fuel your day with a variety of options.
- On-site Amenities: Fitness Center and outdoor pool.
- 24-Hour Room Service: Midnight cravings? No problem!
- **Unbeatable
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your glossy, airbrushed travel blog. This is ME, flailing my way through Surabaya, Indonesia, from the glorious (and slightly terrifying) confines of the Ibis Surabaya Tidar. Prepare for a bumpy ride.
Day 1: Arrival - And the Battle of Bandung Proves… Something.
- 8:00 AM (ish): Landed in Juanda International, sweating like a… well, like someone who’d just spent 14 hours crammed on a plane. Customs? Smooth sailing. Immigration agent? Gave me a look that said, "You look tired, lady. Get out of my face." Mission accomplished.
- 9:00 AM: Taxi to the Ibis. Traffic? Utterly chaotic, beautiful, and filled with scooters carrying entire families, bags of live chickens, and the sheer audacity to live life on two wheels. I'm already in love.
- 10:00 AM: Arrived at Ibis Tidar. Check-in. Bless the receptionist, she spoke near-perfect English. The room? Basic, clean, enough to pass. I'm a sucker for a good aircon after a long flight. Settling into a room is always a thrill for me, like a tiny, temporary kingdom to call my own.
- 11:00 AM: Attempted to nap. Failed miserably. Jet lag is that sneaky, irritating friend who shows up uninvited and ruins your plans. Instead, I found myself staring at the ceiling, wondering if Indonesian ceilings had secret languages.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a Warung (small, local eatery) across the street. Ordered something that looked vaguely like chicken and rice. It tasted like… heaven. Spicy, savory, and entirely too delicious. My stomach sighed with contentment. This is the real reason I travel: food.
- 1:00 PM: Decided to be ambitious and visit Tugu Pahlawan "Hero's Monument." Got a Grab (Southeast Asia's Uber/Lyft). The driver was a chatty guy, telling me about the traffic, which he declared, "Bandung? Worse! Much worse!" It was a bizarre and frankly, unhelpful comparison. What are we doing, grading traffic now? Whatever, I like him.
- 2:00 PM: Behold! Tugu Pahlawan. A giant, towering memorial. History stuff happened here. I read the signs, processed some of it, and then my brain decided to wander off and contemplate the best type of ice cream to have after this. (Chocolate. Definitely chocolate.)
- 2:30 PM: The heat. Oh, the heat! It's the relentless, smothering kind. I swear, my sunscreen was sweating.
- 3:00 PM: Back to the hotel for a shower, and to question the life choices that have brought me here. I love travel so much… But sometimes, it fights back.
- 4:00 PM: More food (because, obviously). Found a little shop selling Bakso (meatball soup). The broth was rich and the meatballs perfectly springy. Decided I could probably live on just bakso.
- 5:00 PM: Attempted to work. I'm a "digital nomad," which sounds cool but mostly means I sit in hotel rooms and stare at a computer. Today's productivity level: a solid zero.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner: More street food! Gosh, I can't stop. Today's fare? Sate Ayam (chicken satay). The peanut sauce was so good, I almost considered licking the plate (but I didn't. I kept it classy…ish). I am officially hooked.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the room. Watched Indonesian TV, which mostly involved loud soap operas and even louder commercials. I understood approximately zero, but it felt… authentic.
- 9:00 PM: Finally fell asleep. Dreamt I was swimming in a giant bowl of bakso, pursued by an angry chicken. Jet lag, you magnificent beast.
Day 2: The House of Sampoerna & The Coffee Crisis.
- 8:00 AM: Woke up. Alive! Victory! Breakfast at the hotel: a surprisingly decent buffet with a ton of food I couldn't identify. My inner child ordered something called "Nasi Goreng," fried rice with a fried egg on top.
- 9:00 AM: My main goal for today: House of Sampoerna. Got a Grab. The driver didn't say anything at all this time. Huh. Maybe he's judging my lack of Indonesian language skills.
- 10:00 AM: House of Sampoerna. Magnificent! A beautiful colonial building. Visited the factory where they rolled cigarettes, and now I understood the "Sampoerna" name. It's wild to see the efficiency and dexterity of the women rolling the cigarettes like a dance. Mesmerizing and slightly depressing, all at once.
- 11:00 AM: Walking around this area, I felt an urge to smoke a cigarette to complete the experience. (I don't smoke). I started imagining the smell of them. Weird.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. Went back to the warung from yesterday. Familiar comfort food, a sigh of relief. I'm becoming a regular!
- 1:00 PM: Coffee. Had to. I'd been teetering on caffeine-withdrawal all morning. Found a local coffee shop. Ordered a black coffee…And nearly burst into tears of joy. It was STRONG. Rich. Perfect. My craving satisfied, I decided to re-attempt some work.
- 2:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Work. Mostly staring. Researched "best spas in Surabaya."
- 4:00 PM: Determined to Find a Spa. Found one through a website that advertised a massage. It was located down a small, slightly unsettling alley. The place itself looked…well, shall we say "rustic"? I got a massage! It was decent, but mostly I kept thinking about all the other options I could have chosen. Next time, I'll do better research.
- 6:00 PM: Dinner. I gave in to the call of the Mall. You know when you feel like, after a long day of travel, that you can't handle one more adventure. I saw a Burger King. I bought a burger. No shame. Sometimes you need something familiar. It was… fine. Comfort food, but not the good kind.
- 7:00 PM: My friend said, the best thing in Surabaya is the "Tunjungan Plaza." It's the biggest mall in town. It was overwhelming! It felt like a different country. I wandered for an hour, and decided to go back to the Burger King.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel. Ordered room service (yes, judge me). Watched more questionable Indonesian TV.
- 9:00 PM: Collapsed into bed. Exhausted. The city's chaos is wearing on me.
- 10:00 PM: Fell asleep, but woke in the middle of the night. I had a thought, "There is no way I can eat more food."
Day 3: Departure - Surabaya, You Crazy Thing!
- 7:00 AM: Woke up, feeling surprisingly chipper. Maybe I've adjusted.
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast (More Nasi Goreng!). Last day in Surabaya, so I was trying to fit in every food I could before I left!
- 9:00 AM: Checked out of the Ibis. It was a fine hotel, but after 3 days, I was an expert on everything.
- 10:00 AM: Airport. More traffic. I've come to realize it's just part of the experience.
- 11:00 AM: Boarding the plane. Looking out the window, a wistful feeling came up.
- 12:00 PM: Departed from Surabaya. Looking out the window, everything looked brown.
Reflections:
Surabaya. What a place. Chaotic, beautiful, delicious, and exhausting. I'm still not sure if I loved it, but I definitely felt something. There were moments of utter frustration, moments of pure joy, and a whole lot of delicious food in between. Would I go back? Absolutely. Would I change anything? Besides the spa visit, maybe not. This is travel in its messy, imperfect, and utterly human glory. And that's what makes it worthwhile. Bring me the Bandung traffic!
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Indonesian Ibis Surabaya Tidar: Ask Me Anything (Because Honestly, I've *Been* There)
Okay, spill. Is the Ibis Surabaya Tidar really as cheap as everyone says? Like, *really* cheap?
Alright, alright, settle down, wallet-watchers. YES. It's basically a black hole for Indonesian Rupiah. I mean, CHEAP. I blinked, and suddenly I was booked for an entire WEEK. (Don't judge. It was a *long* trip). You can snag deals that make you question your sanity – like, am I accidentally in a time warp where prices are stuck in the 1990s? Seriously, I compared prices with hotels *across* Surabaya... and Ibis Tidar consistently emerged victorious in the frugality Olympics. Just be clever about timing, you know? Weekdays are golden, weekends... can be a bit dicier, but still, bargain territory. My advice? Sign up for their newsletter. Trust me. It’s worth it for the deals. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go check my bank account.
What's the *actual* room situation like? Photos can be deceiving…
Okay, let's be real: It's an Ibis. It's not the Ritz. But… it's surprisingly *good*. The rooms are compact, yes. (Think "efficient living" rather than "sprawling luxury.") BUT, they're clean. Crucially, CLEAN. The air conditioning works. (Surabaya heat is a *beast*). And the beds… well, they’re comfortable enough to knock you out after a long day of navigating the city. I’m a light sleeper, normally, and I slept like a baby. Mostly. (Okay, there was that one night when the AC unit sounded like a small jet engine gaining altitude…but hey! Earplugs are a thing, right?) The bathroom is… well, it's a bathroom. Functional. The shower has hot water. That's more than enough for me. And here’s a pro tip: try to snag a room NOT facing the street. The traffic in Surabaya can be… robust. Believe me.
Is the location convenient? I hate spending half my trip in taxis.
Location, location, location! That's the name of the game. It's a bit of a mixed bag. It's not smack-dab in the historical district, which, honestly, could be a good thing, because the traffic can be an absolute NIGHTMARE. But it's close to a lot of stuff. You've got good access to restaurants. A convenience store practically next door (essential for late-night snack runs). And the Tidar Road is a main artery, so you can hail a taxi or grab a Grab (that's the Indonesian Uber/Lyft) pretty easily. I used Grab all the time. Honestly? Best decision ever. It saves so much hassle negotiating with taxi drivers. It worked. I survived. I got to where I needed to go. Mission accomplished!
Food! Tell me about breakfast. Is it a tragic continental affair?
Ah, breakfast. That’s where things get… interesting. It’s included, so you can't complain too much. And I'm not going to. It's not exactly Michelin-star material, but it's *good*. They have a decent buffet. You can get your eggs, your toast, some fruit, and, crucially, some Indonesian staples. Nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), maybe some other local deliciousness depending on the day. I'm telling you, try the local stuff. Don't just stick to the toast. Seriously. Embrace the nasi goreng. It's fuel for conquering Surabaya! The coffee? Well, it's not great. (Let's be honest – that's a universal hotel breakfast problem). But it's coffee. And it wakes you up. And there's usually enough to go around, even if you show up late like I sometimes did. (Don't judge. Jet lag is a cruel mistress).
What's the Wi-Fi like? Because I need to stay connected...
Okay, the Wi-Fi. Ah, the curse of the modern traveler. It’s… okay. It's not blazing fast. It's not going to win any speed records. But is it functional? Yes. Did I manage to stream my favorite shows? Yes, eventually. Did I spend a few moments staring at a spinning circle of doom? Maybe. But look, it's free. And it's available in your room and in the lobby. It's enough to check emails, browse the internet, and stay in touch with the real world. Just don’t expect to download a movie in five minutes. (Unless you get lucky. Which I sometimes did. Praise the internet gods!) My advice? Get a local SIM card if you really *need* to be constantly connected at warp speed.
The staff… are they helpful? Friendly? Or just… present?
The staff? They're lovely! Honestly, some of the friendliest people I've ever met. They work hard. They're always smiling (or at least trying to). And they genuinely seemed eager to help. (Even when I was flailing about, trying to order something in broken Bahasa Indonesia. Which happened… a lot.) They gave me directions, they helped coordinate a taxi, they even pointed me towards a great local warung (small, local restaurant) that served the MOST amazing sate. (Seriously. Find the sate. You won’t regret it.) They're the unsung heroes of the place, really. I even saw them helping another guest who'd managed to lock themselves out of their room at 3 AM. Dedicated. Seriously, they're a massive plus point for the Ibis. You'll feel welcomed.
Would you stay there again? Be honest!
Honestly? Yes. Absolutely. Without a doubt. For the price, the Ibis Surabaya Tidar is a winner. It’s clean, it’s convenient, and the staff are fantastic. Sure, it's not a luxury resort. But it doesn't *pretend* to be. It's a solid, reliable choice that gets the job done. It's the perfect base camp for exploring Surabaya. I’d go back in a heartbeat. And I probably will. After I’ve saved up all my money (because, you know… travel). Plus, I have unfinished business with that sate… and the nasi goreng… oh, and the… you get the picture. Book it. You won't regret it. (Unless you’re expecting the Ritz. Then you’ll probably be disappointed. But you’re not, are you? Because you’re smart. Or at least thrifty.)Search Hotel Guide
