Indonesian Paradise Found: Swiss Belinn Tunjungan's Unbelievable Luxury!
Indonesian Paradise Found: Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan - My Chaotic, Luxurious, and Surprisingly Accessible Adventure! (A Real-Life Review)
Alright, buckle up buttercups, 'cause I'm about to spill the tea (or, you know, the complimentary tea at Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan…more on that later!). This isn't your average, perfectly polished hotel review. This is the REAL DEAL. I just survived (and thrived!) a stay at the Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan in Surabaya, Indonesia, and lemme tell you, it was… an experience. A GOOD experience. A really, REALLY good one. One that involved a pool with a view I almost cried over. Yes, I am still a very emotional person.
First Impressions & the Accessibility Angle (Rambling Mode: ACTIVATED!)
Okay, so first things first: getting there. The hotel's got its own car park [free of charge] - hooray for not paying extra! The location? Smack-dab in the middle of Surabaya, which is both a pro and a con. Pro: everything's easily accessible. Con: the city's a whirlwind of mopeds and delicious (and potentially spicy) street food. You're definitely gonna need to navigate some crazy streets, so get ready.
Now, I’m not going to lie and say I'm blessed with the ability to walk for miles; my mobility is… well, let's just say I appreciate a wheelchair-friendly setup. And I was pleasantly surprised. Accessibility is clearly a priority. The elevator is easy to find and use, and the common areas are spacious and thoughtfully designed. The facilities for disabled guests were definitely noticeable and appreciated. I didn't see any elevators clogged with luggage or slow elevators.
The Room: A Cloud of Comfort (with a Tiny Headache)
My room? Oh, the glorious room. (Deep breath). It was like stepping onto a cloud. Ok, the cloud had air conditioning pumping out glorious coolness (essential in Surabaya's humidity). I had a non-smoking room (thank heavens!), with a safe box, a mini-bar stocked with temptations, and, crucially, Wi-Fi [free] that actually worked (a HUGE win!).
The bed? Oh, the bed! Extra long, perfect for sprawling. I was so exhausted from the day before so I just melted in it. I swear, I could practically live in the bathrobes and slippers they provide. The shower pressure was good--a definite plus to start the day or to wash away the day. Speaking of which, the bathroom was pristine, with complimentary toiletries that smelled divine.
Side note: I did have a little moment of panic when I couldn't figure out how to work the lighting. But, I'm pretty sure that was entirely my fault.
Internet Access & Connectivity!
Okay, so I NEED Wi-Fi. I can't even look at a hotel these days without checking the internet situation. So, the good news everyone: Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! AND it's actually fast. Plus, some rooms, and most importantly mine, came with Internet access [LAN] in my room which is helpful when I need to do some fast-paced work. They even have Internet services for you if you do need it. Wi-Fi in public areas also makes staying connected a breeze.
Dining & Drinking: A Culinary Adventure! (with a side of indecision)
Choosing where to eat was the hardest part of the day. Seriously. So many choices!
- Restaurants: There are several. I found myself torn between trying everything!
- Asian cuisine in restaurant: Good choice, especially for breakfast.
- International cuisine in restaurant: Had some lovely meals.
- Breakfast Buffet: Absolutely insane. A full-on buffet. Like, I'm pretty sure I saw a soup-making station. There was definitely some Asian breakfast and Western breakfast in there.
- Room Service: A 24-hour lifeline. Perfect for lazy afternoons (or when you just can't face leaving that glorious bed).
- Coffee/tea in restaurant: Yes! And the coffee was STRONG. Just how I like it.
- Poolside Bar: Perfect for that sunset cocktail, or two. Or five. (They also have a happy hour!)
- Snack bar: Because, snacks.
- Desserts in restaurant: Because, life. (And they were amazing).
Safety & Cleanliness (It's a Big Deal, Folks!)
Okay, so let's talk about safety. This place takes it seriously. I’m talking CCTV in common areas and outside the property, 24-hour security, fire extinguishers, and more. They also have hand sanitizer everywhere (a godsend!), and were using anti-viral cleaning products; the whole place felt squeaky clean. The staff was well-trained in safety protocol, which makes you feel extra comfortable.
And, during COVID, they went above and beyond. I won’t lie… that was something I was hyper-aware of. The daily disinfections in common areas were something I noticed. I appreciated the individually-wrapped food options, and the safe dining setup. They also had physical distancing of at least 1 meter in all areas. I am very nervous about some things and finding this level of safety was super helpful.
Things to Do: Relaxation is the Name of the Game!
Seriously, between the swimming pool [outdoor] (with that view!), the gym/fitness, and the spa/sauna, I was in relaxation heaven.
- Swimming pool: This is where I spent most of my time, if I'm being honest. The Pool with a view was just… stunning. I’m talking Instagram-worthy. I'm pretty sure I spent an hour just staring at the view.
- Spa: I got one massage - I'm not even sure what kind, but it was amazing! I think I was snoring five minutes into it.
- Sauna and Steamroom-- I'm not a sauna person really, but it's still nice to have the option.
- Fitness center: All of that delicious food? I tried to work some of it off in the free weight area, but I'm sure I ended up eating MORE.
Services & Conveniences: They Thought of Everything!
Honestly, the Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan is a well-oiled machine.
- Front desk [24-hour]: Someone always available.
- Concierge: Super helpful with directions and recommendations.
- Currency exchange: Because, Indonesia.
- Daily housekeeping: My room was always spotless.
- Laundry service: Essential.
- Elevator: Critical for my mobility.
- Food delivery: They're also great at getting food.
The Verdict: Book It! Like, RIGHT NOW!
Look, I'm not one for hyperbolic praise, but the Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan? It was fantastic. Relaxing. Beautiful. Safe. And, seriously, that pool view? Totally worth it. This place has thought of everything. It's accessible. It's clean. It's convenient. And, most importantly, it's a place where you can actually relax and enjoy your vacation.
My Quirky Anecdote (Because, Why Not?)
One morning at breakfast, overwhelmed by the sheer EVERYTHING of the buffet, I accidentally spilled a plate of nasi goreng on myself. The staff didn’t even bat an eye. They cleaned it up, brought me a fresh napkin, and even offered to get me a new plate. That, my friends, is the kind of service that makes a hotel a HOME.
My Unconventional Offer (Because I'm Really, Really Good at This)
Tired of the Ordinary? Crave Indonesian Paradise? Book your stay at the Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan TODAY and get:
- A FREE upgrade to a room with a view of the city! (Because, why not?)
- Complimentary cocktails at the Poolside Bar! (Happy Hour starts earlier for YOU!)
- A 10% discount on all spa treatments! (You deserve it!)
- Bonus: My personal guarantee that you will enjoy your stay. (Terms and conditions apply: May involve excessive pool time and possible food spills.)
- Plus, they'll probably throw in some extra cute stuff. Seriously, book it!
Click here to book your Unbelievable Luxury Escape: [Insert Hypothetical Booking Link Here]
You'll thank me later. Now, if you'll excuse me, I'm going to go dream of that pool…
Berlin's BEST Hidden Gem Hotel: Ibis Styles Treptow!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because this isn't your average, perfectly polished travel itinerary. This is… a real one. My Swiss-Belinn Tunjungan, Surabaya, Indonesia adventure, warts and all. Get ready for a ride because I have no idea what I'm doing.
Pre-Trip Meltdown (aka Planning Phase)
- The Initial Idea: "Surabaya? Sure, why not. Instagram looks pretty." (Famous last words.)
- The "Research": Scrolled through a few brightly lit travel blogs promising paradise. Ended up more confused than informed. My biggest concern? "Is the Wi-Fi strong enough to support my crippling YouTube addiction?" Priorities, people!
- Booking the Swiss-Belinn: "Oh, it's close to everything? And has a pool? Sold!" (Judge me, I don't care). I swear I spent two hours comparing room sizes and then just picked the cheapest one. I'm a simple traveler.
Day 1: Arrival and Immediate Regret (Kidding! Mostly)
- Morning (06:00): Wake up feeling like a crumpled napkin. Flight from [Insert Your City Here] was delayed. Already off to a fantastic start. Coffee. Lots of coffee.
- Mid-Morning (11:00): Finally land in Surabaya. The airport is a chaotic, beautiful blur. So many smells! Perfume, exhaust fumes, and something wonderfully spicy. Am I in love? Maybe!
- Afternoon (13:00): Check into the Swiss-Belinn. The lobby is… shiny. Receptionist is super friendly, even with my zombie-like appearance. Room? Surprisingly decent. Definitely a step up from that hostel I accidentally booked in Bangkok last year (shudders). First impression: "Well, this isn't terrible." Success, in a way.
- Afternoon (14:00): Unpacked. Realized I forgot my toothbrush. This is why I can't have nice things.
- Afternoon (15:00): A quick (and desperate) exploration for dental hygiene necessities. Found… a shop! Bought the shiniest, most aggressively minty toothpaste I could find. Victory.
- Late Afternoon (16:00): POOL TIME! The pool is… small. But clean. And after the flight, all I wanted to do was plunge into some water. Spent an hour there, pretending to be glamorous while simultaneously trying not to splash anyone. Failed miserably.
- Evening (18:00): Dinner. Went to a local Warung (small restaurant). Ordered something that looked promising from the menu based on zero understanding of the language. Ate it. It was… spicy. My mouth is set on fire. Could be good, could be bad, either way, the story is interesting.
- Evening (20:00): Collapsed in bed. Jet lag is a beast. Vaguely remember mumbling something about writing more later. Doubtful.
Day 2: Culture Shock and Street Food Mania
- Morning (07:00): Wake up! Maybe. Actually, maybe not. The jet lag is still a jerk. Struggle with some coffee.
- Morning (09:00): The hotel's breakfast buffet. Tried everything. Everything. Including something that looked suspiciously like deep-fried mystery. It was… crispy. Success again!
- Morning (10:00): Ventured into the city. The chaos is beautiful. Motorcycles everywhere, honking incessantly. People are smiling and staring, mostly but gently. I got lost (shocking, I know). But! Found a tiny, hole-in-the-wall shop selling what I think were tiny, delicious pancakes. I bought three. No regrets.
- Mid-day (12:00): Went to the House of Sampoerna museum - a historic cigarette factory. Fascinating, and a little bit weird. They make cigarettes there. Who knew?
- Afternoon (14:00): The real highlight of the day. Food. Absolutely all of the food. Stumbled upon a street food market. Omg. The smells, the textures… I’m going to try everything and possibly die from overeating. Started with something called "Soto Ayam" (chicken soup). Amazing. Then, "Gado-Gado" (salad with peanut sauce). Even more amazing. I am already planning my return.
- Late Afternoon (16:00): Back to the hotel. Legs aching. Stomach happy. Maybe I'll actually leave the hotel in the morning… or just stay in bed and dream of street food.
- Evening (18:00): Attempted to find a Western-style restaurant, got lost. Embraced the chaos, ate more street food. My wallet is crying, but my soul is singing.
- Night (20:00): Tried to watch some tv in my room, the remote is complicated. Went to sleep.
Day 3: The Battle of the Bazaar and Emotional Eating
- Morning (08:00): Okay, maybe I did go to sleep. Another breakfast buffet raid. This time, I attempted to decipher what was what… and mostly failed. Still ate everything.
- Morning (10:00): Went to Tunjungan Plaza Shopping Mall. It's huge and shiny, and I quickly got overwhelmed. Bought a shirt. Then another shirt. Then a pair of shoes. "Retail therapy," I tell myself.
- Afternoon (13:00): Oh, the Bazaar! This chaotic, packed, wonderful MESS. I LOVE it. So many colors, so many… things! Bargaining is a skill I clearly lack, but I still somehow managed to get a scarf for less than the price of a latte.
- Afternoon (15:00): Coffee break (required). The intense humidity is beginning to melt me into a puddle.
- Late Afternoon (16:00): Okay, I will admit it. It was a bit too much. Started feeling a bit of culture shock (the good kind, I think). Needed peace. Needed cookies. Ordered room service, the cookies were a triumph.
- Evening (19:00): Contemplated the meaning of life while watching the sunset from my window. Surabaya is somehow fascinating, and I'm already starting to miss the chaos.
- Night (21:00): Probably should read a book. Or something. But I'm tired. And happy.
Day 4: Departure (And a Glimmer of Regret)
- Morning (07:00): Last breakfast buffet. Sigh. I don't want to leave!
- Morning (09:00): Packing. It's always a mess. Attempted to cram everything into my suitcase. Failed.
- Morning (10:00): One last look at the city from the hotel window. A bittersweet mix of relief and sadness.
- Morning (11:00): Check out. The staff at the Swiss-Belinn are genuinely lovely. I wish I spoke more Indonesian so I could tell them.
- Afternoon (12:00): Heading to the airport. Surabaya, it's been real. I'll see you again. Eventually. Maybe.
- Post-Trip: The trip was incredible, full of adventures!
Things I Didn't Do (But Probably Should Have):
- Learn more than five words of Indonesian. (Next time!)
- Visit more historical sites. (I got a little distracted by the food, okay?)
- Embrace the culture more. (I got there, eventually!)
Overall: A Mess, a Triumph, and a Deep-Fried Addiction
This trip wasn't perfect. It was messy, unplanned, and full of questionable food choices. However, it was also full of joy, discovery, and a profound appreciation for the resilience of my stomach. I loved Surabaya. And I can't wait to return.
Escape to Paradise: Bayman Hotel Taiwan Awaits!
Indonesian Paradise Found: Swiss Belinn Tunjungan - The Real Deal? (Or Just Hype?)
Okay, spill it. Is the 'Unbelievable Luxury' at Swiss Belinn Tunjungan actually…believable? Or is it just Instagram fluff?
Alright, here's the real, unfiltered truth. "Unbelievable Luxury?" Look, I’m not saying it’s *wrong*. The lobby? Swish. The pool? Absolutely Instagrammable. But "unbelievable?" Let's recalibrate expectations. I walked in initially thinking, "Prepare to be *wowed*!" and I was... in a *slightly* subdued kind of way. The wow factor is there, just maybe not the earth-shattering, "sell-your-soul-to-the-devil-for-another-night" level of wow.
The room? Lovely. Clean. The AC worked, which is a HUGE win in Surabaya humidity, let me tell you. But the "luxury?" Think more "upscale comfortable" than "Louis Vuitton luggage and a personal butler who hand-feeds you grapes." Though, to be fair, I *wouldn't* have minded the grapes.
What's the food situation like? Because a bad hotel breakfast can ruin a whole vacation, you know?
Oh, the breakfast. Ah, the breakfast. Okay, so the buffet situation IS pretty good. Lots of choices, from local Indonesian dishes (nasi goreng, anyone?) to the usual suspects (eggs, pastries, sad-looking sausages... sorry, sausages). My first reaction? "Solid. Totally edible. Probably won't traumatize me."
But then I remembered the *mango*, and my heart did a little flip. Seriously. The mangoes were *divine*. Perfectly ripe, unbelievably sweet. I may or may not have eaten an entire plate. (Don't judge me. I was on vacation!) That mango alone almost elevated the whole experience to "unbelievable" territory. Almost.
**Side Note: The Coffee**
The coffee situation? Mixed bag. Some days it was decent, other days... well, let's just say I was reaching for the instant packets in my bag. Hey, nobody's perfect.
Is the location good for exploring Surabaya? Or am I going to be stuck in a hotel wasteland?
The location? Okay, this is where it gets interesting. Swiss Belinn Tunjungan is *relatively* central. Close to Tunjungan Plaza (shopping!), which is a blessing and a curse. Blessing for the shopping, curse for the potential for absolute chaos during busy hours.
You’re not *miles* from anything, but Surabaya is a big city. Getting around takes time, traffic is a beast. Grab is your friend. I'm serious, download the app *now*. It saved me from getting lost on more than one occasion. The hotel is within *reasonable* walking distance of some things, but honestly, I'd still grab a Grab. My advice? Do your research. Figure out what you actually want to see before you go. Don't be like me and spend an hour wandering aimlessly, muttering about the heat and wishing for air conditioning in my eyeballs (it's happened).
Tell me, what was your *absolute* favourite part of the hotel? Did it have a real highlight?
Okay. Okay. This is where I get *real* with you. My absolute favourite? The *staff*. Seriously. They were genuinely lovely. Smiling, helpful, always willing to go the extra mile. I think I even saw one of them do a little, nearly imperceptible dance when I praised the mango. (Okay, maybe I imagined that. But still, phenomenal mango!)
I had a small issue with my room the first day (minor, the TV wasn't working, first world problems, I know). But they fixed it immediately. The staff genuinely cared about making sure I was comfortable. That kind of service is what sticks with you.
There's sincerity there that is hard to fake. You know when a place truly wants to make you happy? I'd go back just for them. The staff made it feel like a genuinely warm and welcoming place. And honestly, after a long flight, that's the *best* kind of luxury.
Any downsides I should know about? The real, gritty, tell-it-like-it-is stuff?
Okay, here's the truth, the things they *won't* necessarily advertise.
* **Noise:** Surabaya is a busy city. You *will* hear traffic. Pack earplugs if you're a light sleeper or you're just sensitive to noise. Seriously. I'm a heavy sleeper usually, and even *I* noticed it a few times.
* **Internet:** It was mostly fine. But there were a couple of frustrating moments of buffering. The Wi-Fi isn't as consistent as you'd expect.
* **The gym:** I didn't use it, but it looked... small. And hot. I just couldn't bring myself to sweat in it, the pool was a much better place to cool down.
* **That dang coffee again.** Just... plan accordingly.
So... Would you recommend Swiss Belinn Tunjungan? Is it worth booking?
Look, here's where I land. Absolutely. If you're looking for a comfortable, clean, well-located hotel with fantastic staff in Surabaya... then yes, absolutely. It's not the most mind-blowing, life-altering experience. It has its quirks, its minor flaws, like any place.
But it's undeniably a solid choice. You'll be well looked after. You'll eat good mangoes. You'll have a pleasant stay. Yes, I would genuinely recommend it. Is it "unbelievable?" Again, temper your expectations. But is it a good hotel? *Definitely*.
And remember, the staff were the best. Seriously, those guys? *Worth it*. Book it. You might even see me there again, quietly plotting my mango heist.
