Villa Damar

A bit of a hidden gem. I wanted an affordable hotel with a bathtub, and this one fit. The room was pretty big and had a sofa, and the vintage feel gives it character even though it's in town. The ambience was really nice overall. There's a restaurant if you want to order food. No hair dryer, though.

Check-in was easy, and they let us arrive early without charging extra. The deposit was 300k per room, and the service was nice. The place was clean, though the wooden hut (saung) felt a little sticky. Breakfast wasn't included in our plan, but finding some was easy. A short walk, about 150m, gets you to a petrol station, with a park, ATM, and street food sellers nearby.

I stayed here in October 2022 and paid about IDR 650K a night. It's near Paris Van Java (PVJ) mall, and the whole place feels artsy, ethnic, homey, cool, peaceful, and clean. There aren't many rooms, but there's a garden and mini soccer field. The classic ethnic furniture didn't feel creepy at all. My room was big, with a king-size bed, Batik cushions, big pillows, and a view over the garden and small pond. It also had a balcony, TV, full AC, hot water shower, one-seat couch, safe deposit box, toiletries, two towels, two water bottles each day, two glasses, two teacups, tea bags, and an electric kettle. There was an elevator and a 24-hour reception too. I liked the wooden and rattan furniture throughout. Breakfast was tasty, with Western or Indonesian options, and the restaurant menu was pretty good. They also had wine and beer. The wifi was weak in the room, though it worked well in the common areas. There aren't any 24-hour restaurants. I'd definitely come back.

I wasn't sure about this hotel when I booked, but it turned out to be a pleasant surprise. The Balinese architecture gives it a natural feel. By reception there's a large restaurant area with a fish pond and lots of meal options. Our room was spacious, had a balcony facing the garden, and came with a tiny refrigerator and water heater. The bathroom also had a Balinese theme and water heater, and the wifi worked well. From the balcony we could see the green garden, playground, and a tree full of birds in the morning. Hearing them chirp was entertaining, especially for my child. I had no complaints about the room, and it all felt worth the price. Breakfast was a la carte, but they brought us quite a lot: fried noodles, chicken porridge, toast, and American breakfast. Everything tasted good. The hotel is right beside Rumah Mode and near PVJ supermall. I'd consider staying here again on my next visit to Bandung.