Indonesian Paradise Found: Your Dreamy Tamansari Papilio Studio Awaits!
Indonesian Paradise Found? Tamansari Papilio Studio: My Messy, Honest, and Possibly Over-the-Top Review!
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- Title: Indonesian Paradise Found? Tamansari Papilio Studio Review: Sunshine, Spas, and… Questionable Coffee? (Plus, Internet!)
- Keywords: Tamansari Papilio, Surabaya, Studio Apartment, Indonesia, Hotel Review, Accessibility, Pool, Spa, Wi-Fi, Cleanliness, Safety, Dining, Services, Value, Travel, Vacation, Review, Honest
- Description: My unfiltered take on the Tamansari Papilio Studio in Surabaya, Indonesia. From the sparkling pool to the (ahem) unique coffee, I'll cover everything - accessibility, dining, Wi-Fi, spa, and whether it truly lives up to the "paradise found" hype. Prepare for a messy, but honest, journey!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because I'm about to spill the tea (or maybe the kopi?) on my recent stay at the Tamansari Papilio Studio in Surabaya, Indonesia. "Paradise Found," they say? Well, let's find out, shall we? I'm going to break this down, section by section, but be warned: my brain works a little like a caffeinated volcano, so expect some unexpected eruptions of thought.
First Impressions and Getting Settled In:
Right off the bat, the name – Tamansari Papilio – sounded ridiculously fancy. Like, "prepare-for-a-royal-flush-of-luxury" fancy. And the website? Oh, the website. Gleaming photos, promises of sun-drenched days and nights of bliss. I was in. I’d booked Studio A, which, after a slightly confusing check-in process (more on that later), turned out to be… a studio. Shocking, I know. But a nice studio!
Available in All Rooms - The Nitty Gritty:
- The Good: Air conditioning (Hallelujah! Surabaya heat is brutal), a comfy bed with blackout curtains (essential for my vampire-like sleeping habits), a mini-bar (hello, emergency snacks!), and a decent-sized bathroom with a hair dryer that actually worked (a rarity!). They also had free Wi-Fi (see below!) and a safe, which is always a plus.
- The Not-So-Good: My room seemed a little… tired. There were a few minor scuffs on the walls, and the carpet, while clean, wasn't exactly plush. But hey, it was clean, and after a long flight, I wasn't about to start a Pinterest-worthy room re-do. The coffee/tea maker was… well, the coffee tasted like despair (more on that later). And the internet access – yes, there’s LAN access, but let’s be real, who uses that anymore?
- A Moment of Truth: I also noticed some of the amenities that were available – like the bathrobes, the complimentary tea, and the slippers – well, I didn’t see them. Maybe I had to ask, maybe they were just not there. I didn’t have the energy to fight it.
Internet - The All-Important Connection (And My Personal Hell):
- The Good: Free Wi-Fi! And it held up pretty well, actually, especially considering I’m a digital nomad who relies on it like oxygen. I could video call, stream, and doom-scroll to my heart's content. Also, they advertised Internet access – LAN. Bless you. I did not need it.
- The Bad: Okay, this is where I get real. The Wi-Fi login. It was… intricate. Took a while to get connected, and I had to call the front desk like three times. But once I was connected, it was smooth sailing.
- A Moment of Truth: This is where I realized how dependent I am on the interwebs for everything. I’m not proud.
Cleanliness and Safety - My Germaphobe's Perspective:
- The Good: Okay, this part seriously impressed me. I'm a bit of a cleanliness freak, and I was genuinely relieved. They’ve clearly prioritized safety! The room was spotless on arrival. They have anti-viral cleaning products, and there are signs everywhere about physical distancing of at least one meter. Kudos! They were also doing daily disinfection in common areas, which I love. And the hand sanitizer stations? Plentiful.
- The Not-So-Good: I had the option to opt-out of room sanitization. I didn't.
- A Moment of Truth: I saw staff actively disinfecting the elevator buttons, which brought me a weird sense of calm. Maybe I should go back?
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking - The Gastronomic Adventures (and Near-Disasters):
- The Good: They have like, a million restaurants. An A la carte restaurant, a bar, a coffee shop. Restaurants that have Asian cuisine, international cuisine, and even… a vegetarian restaurant! There’s a poolside bar (score!), and you can even get room service 24/7. Breakfast service was offered.
- The Not-So-Good: The coffee. Oh, the coffee. Let's just say it was… an experience. I strongly encourage you to bring your own instant coffee. Or maybe, wander down the street into the local community for coffee.
- A Moment of Truth: I did try the happy hour at the bar. It was… fine. The cocktails weren’t going to win any awards (or even be featured on Instagram), but hey, they were cold, and that's all that matters in the Surabaya heat.
Things to Do - R&R, Baby! (Plus, My Near-Death Experience in the Sauna):
- The Good: Pool with a view! I spent a solid afternoon there, soaking up the sun and pretending I was a glamorous movie star. (I probably looked more like a lobster, but still.) They also have a spa, sauna, steam room, and a fitness center. They’ve got a gym/fitness area and massage options!
- The Not-So-Good: The sauna. I almost cooked myself alive in the sauna. Seriously. I lasted maybe five minutes before fleeing, gasping for air. Maybe I'm just not cut out for saunas.
- A Moment of Truth: One of the most relaxing things I experienced was the foot bath. What a gift.
Services and Conveniences - Navigating the Jungle:
- The Good: They offer a ton! The concierge was super helpful, a currency exchange, a daily housekeeping service, a doorman, a dry cleaning service, facilities for disabled guests, and even an ironing service! They even offer access to the airport!
- The Not-So-Good: I never needed any of these.
- A Moment of Truth: The daily housekeeping was very appreciated.
Accessibility (My Personal Perspective):
- The Good: They advertise accessibility. The elevator (thank goodness!), and facilities for disabled guests.
- The Not-So-Good: I did not need any of these things.
For the Kids (If You Have Them):
- The Good: They have babysitting service! They are family/child friendly.
- The Not-So-Good: I did not need any of these things.
- A Moment of Truth: I did see a kid in the pool and I didn’t mind.
Getting Around:
- The Good: They offer an airport transfer, a car park (free of charge!), and taxi service.
- The Not-So-Good: I did not need any of these things.
- A Moment of Truth: The airport transfer was… fine.
The Verdict? Paradise…ish.
Look, Tamansari Papilio Studio isn't perfect. But is it a good place? Absolutely! The pool is amazing, the staff is friendly, and the cleanliness is top-notch. The questionable coffee? Well, that's just a quirky part of the experience.
Would I go back? Hmm… Possibly. If I’m ever in Surabaya again, I’d definitely consider it. But I'm packing my own coffee next time. And maybe a small fire extinguisher, just in case. Rating: 4 out of 5 stars. (Minus one star for the coffee and the sauna scare!)
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Alright, buckle up buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into my glorious, gloriously imperfect, trip to Surabaya. Forget perfectly curated Instagram feeds, this is the raw, unfiltered, "did I even remember to brush my teeth this morning?" version. This is about the Elegant Cozy Studio Tamansari Papilio By Travelio. And me. And Surabaya. Let's see where this goes…
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Luggage Tango (Because, Why Not?)
- 10:00 AM (ish): So, I landed. Surabaya airport. "Juanda International Airport" they call it. Sounds fancy. Felt…well, like any airport. Overcrowded, slightly chaotic, the usual. My brain was already on Indonesian time, which meant… I was already running late. (Surprise, surprise.) The visa process was surprisingly smooth, though. Kudos to the Indonesian immigration folks, they were actually pleasant, a welcome change from the usual grumpy passport control faces.
- 11:00 AM (ish): Pre-booked a Grab (Asia's Uber/Lyft thing) because, honestly, haggling for a taxi after a long flight just isn't my vibe. The journey to Tamansari Papilio… well, it was an experience. Traffic. Oh, sweet, sweet Surabaya traffic. Let's just say, my Grab driver, a lovely man named Joko with a surprisingly in-depth knowledge of local football, became my temporary therapist. We bonded over the shared agony of stop-and-go. Bless him.
- 12:30 PM (ish): FINALLY! Arrived at Tamansari Papilio. The building? Impressive. The lobby? Gleaming. My expectations? Pretty darn high. Then came the luggage. And the inevitable tiny elevator. And the general feeling that my suitcase and I were involved in some sort of elaborate, slow-motion dance. (Spoiler alert: the suitcase won. And I was slightly winded.)
- 1:00 PM (ish): The STUDIO. Okay. "Elegant," I'll give them that. "Cozy"? Absolutely. "Spacious"? (laughs dryly) Let's just say, it's efficiently designed. Minimalistic chic. Think tiny, but cute. The air conditioning was a lifesaver though! And the view from the window? Not bad at all. A bustling Surabaya cityscape. Instantly felt a bit more relaxed.
- 1:30 PM: Settling in. The essentials: locate the wifi password (crucial), unpack (or, at least, shove things into a drawer), and collapse on the bed for a solid 10 minutes before the inevitable jet lag hit.
- 2:00 PM: Lunch! Decided to be brave and venture out. Found a local warung (small, local eatery) nearby. Ordered nasi goreng (fried rice). And oh. My. GOD. It was heavenly. The perfect blend of sweet, spicy, salty. Seriously, my tastebuds did a little jig. This, my friends, this is why I travel.
- 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Aimed to explore the neighborhood. But after stuffing myself with rice, the jetlag hit me HARD. The studio won out. I crashed. Hard. Sleep is a godsend.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Woke up. Feeling refreshed. Found a nearby food court and got some local delicacies that I didn't even understand the names of, but they were delicious!
Day 2: History, Humidity, and the Hopes of Finding Wifi That Works
- 9:00 AM: Okay, so, the wifi at Tamansari Papilio is… inconsistent. Let's be diplomatic. "It has moments of glory, interspersed with stretches of… radio silence." Which is a polite way of saying "it's a pain in the butt."
- 10:00 AM: Headed out to explore. First stop: the House of Sampoerna, a beautiful colonial building housing a cigarette factory and a museum. Honestly, I'm not a smoker, but the history was fascinating. Learned a lot about the Sampoerna family and the role cigarettes played in Surabaya's past. Plus, the architecture was stunning. The air-conditioning a blessing (again!).
- 12:00 PM: Lunch at a nearby cafe. The humidity. Oh, the humidity. It gets you, it really gets you. I swear, I was practically glistening by the time I finished my gado-gado (Indonesian salad). Delicious, though!
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Visited the Tugu Pahlawan (Heroes Monument) and the Surabaya Submarine Monument. The Submarine Monument was particularly cool. Getting to see inside a real submarine felt pretty awesome. It was a real experience. I was able to touch the very same machinery that was used by the Indonesian Navy.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: More wifi hunting. Found a cafe. Wifi was a lie. Ordered coffee anyway. People-watching is a decent substitute for internet connectivity.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Back to the studio. More attempts at internet access. More frustration. Decided to embrace the offline life and re-read a book. Got some sleep.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Tried to get some food (again!). This time, it required a Grab. The food was a highlight of the trip.
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Watching TV to fall asleep.
Day 3: The Temple, The Market and the Great, Glorious, Nap
- 9:00 AM: Breakfast at the studio (or, rather, the tiny kitchen area of the studio). My breakfast was… toast. And instant coffee. Sigh. Need to work on my culinary skills.
- 10:00 AM: Went to the Cheng Hoo Mosque. Spectacular! It's a Chinese-style mosque with stunning architecture. The colors, the details… absolutely breathtaking. A truly spiritual experience, even for a non-religious person like me.
- 12:00 PM: Went to Pasar Atum, a massive, bustling market. The smells! (Mostly good, some… less so). The sights! The sounds! It's sensory overload in the best possible way. I bought a ridiculous amount of souvenirs. Regrets? Absolutely none. Except maybe the fact that I have to fit it all in my suitcase.
- 1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Lunch! (Yes, again). This time, at a local warung in the market. Ate something that looked suspiciously like chicken feet. Delicious. Don't judge.
- 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Back to the studio. The market took it out of me. Decided to embrace the fatigue. Took a nap. A glorious, extended nap. Woke up feeling like a new person. The power of sleep should never be underestimated.
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Decided to go up to the rooftop pool. Beautiful views of the city! And the water felt amazing in the heat. A good way to end my time at Tamansari Papilio.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Packing to get ready to head home.
- 9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Ordering food one last time.
Observations, Rambles, and Random Musings:
- Surabaya is HOT. Seriously. Prepare yourself. Drink water. Often. (Even more often than you think you need to.)
- The people are incredibly friendly. Always smiling, always helpful. Even when I was, inevitably, lost.
- The food is amazing. Did I mention the food? Seriously, go. Eat everything. Worry about the consequences later.
- The driving is… an experience. Be prepared for traffic. Embrace it. Pretend you're in a real-life video game. Makes it more bearable.
- Tamansari Papilio: A solid choice. Comfortable. Clean. The wifi situation could be improved. But overall, a good base for exploring Surabaya.
- Am I glad I came? Absolutely. Would I come back? Probably. But next time, I'm definitely bringing my own portable wifi router. And maybe extra luggage space for all the souvenirs.
So there you have it. My Surabaya adventure. A messy, glorious, imperfect journey. And I wouldn't have it any other way. Now, if you'll excuse me, I need to go find some more nasi goreng.
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Indonesian Paradise Found: Tamansari Papilio Studio - Your Dreamy (Maybe?) Escape!
Okay, spill the beans. Is this place REALLY as amazing as the photos? I'm skeptical, naturally.
Alright, alright, let's be real. The photos? Yeah, they're *pretty* good. And listen, I'm usually the first person to call out some shady Insta-filtering. But Tamansari Papilio… it's… well, it's got potential. I'll put it that way. Remember that time I booked a "luxury villa" in Bali that turned out to be next to a screaming rooster farm at 5 am? (Still have nightmares). This isn't *quite* that.
The studio itself? It's cute. The pool? Gorgeous (when it’s clean, which… sometimes it is, sometimes it isn't. Let's just say the staff works hard, but even they can't fight off the occasional rogue leaf). They do have the whole "urban oasis" vibe down, though. The lush greenery really sells the idea you're in paradise, even if a scooter horn occasionally pierces the bliss.
So, is it paradise found? Not quite. But is it a decent escape where you can pretend you're a globetrotter while also getting decent wi-fi? Yeah, absolutely.
The location? How's the actual *location*? Is it walkable? Are mosquitos going to eat me alive?
Location, location, location, right? Okay, listen up. It's in Surabaya. Which… let's be honest, isn't Bali. But! It's actually pretty good. You're *close* to stuff. I'm talking malls, restaurants, you get the gist. Walking, depends. During the day? Maybe. It's hot. Like, "melting your makeup off your face" hot. The streets are a bit… uneven in places. I took a wrong turn once and nearly tripped over a sleeping dog. (He was fine, by the way. Just judging my questionable navigational skills).
Mosquitos? *Oh, the mosquitos.* Bring the repellent. Seriously. They *will* find you. I swear, they have a sixth sense for tourists with pale skin. They’re ruthless. I swear, I’ve lost pints of blood there. So, pack the bug spray, the long sleeves for evenings, and maybe a hazmat suit (kidding… mostly).
What about the studio itself? Is it clean? Spacious? Equipped with all the essentials (and, you know, air conditioning that *works*)?
Okay, deep breath. The studio. It's… it's a studio. Let's start there. Spacious? Relatively. Don't expect a ballroom. But it's perfectly fine for a couple or a solo traveler. Cleanliness? Generally, yes. I’m a germophobe (don't judge!) and I survived. But you know how it is, sometimes there's a stray hair in the bathroom, or a tiny smudge on the mirror. Nothing that a quick wipe-down can't fix, though (which, admittedly, I did).
Air conditioning? *This is the big one.* Pray to whatever deity you believe in that it works. Mine… was a bit temperamental. Sometimes it was glorious, ice-cold bliss. Other times, it was a gentle breeze, doing approximately nothing to combat the humidity. On an especially bad day (and this is a true story), it went out completely. I spent the night fanning myself with a tourist brochure. (Glamorous, I know). So yeah, check it immediately upon entering. And if it's not working, get it fixed *immediately*. Your sanity depends on it.
The pool! You mentioned the pool. Tell me everything. Is it Instagrammable? Is it actually *swimmable*?
The pool. Ah, the pool. Instagrammable? Oh, absolutely. It's that kind of pool. The kind that looks stunning, with all the green foliage around it. The perfect backdrop for your "I'm living my best life" photo. Swimmable? Yes! Mostly. I'll be honest, I did have a brief panic the first time I went in because… a few leaves and a bug or two tend to gather. But it's cleaned fairly regularly, and the water is… refreshing.
The best part? The quiet. If you're lucky, you might have the whole place to yourself. I spent a glorious afternoon just floating around, pretending I was a mermaid and avoiding real life. Pure bliss. The worst part? Realizing how desperately I need a manicure when the sun hits my hands. So, think about that when you are packing.
What's the deal with the food? Are there restaurants nearby? Is breakfast included? (I LOVE breakfast.)
Food. The most important question. Restaurants nearby? Yes! Plenty. From local warungs (which, by the way, are amazing and cheap) to fancier places in the malls. You're spoiled for choice. Breakfast... okay, this is where things get interesting. Breakfast *can* be included, but I'd double-check with your booking.
When it *is* included, it's… serviceable. Think toast, eggs (sometimes scrambled, sometimes fried, depending on the mood of the chef), fruit (hopefully), and coffee. The coffee, again, is variable. You might strike gold. You might end up with something that tastes like brown water. I'd strongly recommend finding a good coffee shop nearby. (There are many!) Either way, if you're a breakfast fanatic like me, prepare to supplement. I always grab some instant noodles at the local supermarket to enjoy alongside the included breakfast, the noodles are better (and cheap!) than the eggs.
Anything else I should know… any hidden fees? Annoying things? Secret tips?
Alright, the nitty-gritty. Hidden fees? Not that I recall, but always double-check the fine print. Annoying things? The Wi-Fi can be spotty. You might have to wander around the complex to find a decent signal. Also, the walls aren't exactly soundproof. You *will* hear your neighbors. Try not to judge. (I failed miserably). And the elevators... let's just say, they're an experience. (If you're on a high floor, pack a book for your waits).
Secret tips? Yes! Bring earplugs. Trust me. Pack extra bug spray (seriously, trust me). Learn a few basic Indonesian phrases – it'll go a long way. Bargain politely when shopping (it's expected). And most importantly? Lower your expectations slightly. It's not a five-star resort. But it's a decent place to crash for a few days, explore Surabaya, and pretend you're on a tropical adventure. Just be prepared to embrace the imperfections. They're part of the charm (or… the chaos, depending on your perspective).
Oh! One last thing: pack your own travel adapter because the power outlets are… well, they are what they are. My phone charger wasn't very happy. Also, bring a sense of humor. You'll need it.
