Cheap Inn by ZUZU

The room could use an upgrade and a better clean, but it was private and cost almost nothing. The service, though, was some of the best I’ve had. I needed to leave at 2 a.m. for Ijen and chose this place because it rents motorbikes, hoping to save time and sleep. They were all taken, so the operator searched around town for a third-party bike and arranged to have it waiting at the train station. That meant I could skip a taxi and get some rest. He didn’t charge me for the help, which I couldn’t believe.

We had booked two nights, but plans changed and we needed to leave early. They refunded us, which I really appreciated. The host was so nice, and the place is very cheap. Our room had a nice view from the third floor, air conditioning, clean sheets, and a clean toilet. A great place to stay in Banyuwangi, totally recommend!

I’ve never before left a bad accommodation review, but I can’t understand the high rating here. The place was very dirty, and with so many other guesthouses around, I wouldn’t want to stay even one night. We’d booked two nights online, but when we arrived nobody was expecting us and our room wasn’t ready. After 15 minutes we got the key, but there were no sheets. They agreed to provide some, then charged extra for them, and towels cost extra too. We lasted five minutes in the room. Everything felt damp and smelled damp, and I could hardly breathe even though I don’t have asthma. The person there kindly tried to find another room, but the others were the same. The bathroom also looked like it had never been cleaned. This is the first time I’ve left a paid hotel early while traveling. They refused compensation when we asked. I’m sorry I didn’t take photos. I hadn’t planned to write a review, but thought future travelers might find this useful.

Owner Noni was really kind and helpful. He rented me a bike for the Ijen tour, then arranged an executive bus to Bali and even dropped me at the bus station, making sure the conductor didn’t charge me extra. This is the cheapest place I found in Banyuwangi, with a spacious room, private bathroom, AC, free coffee, and breakfast. I’d definitely recommend this hotel and homestay to other travelers planning an Ijen tour.