Shankara Borobudur

We were happy with our stay and would come back if we visit Magelang. The pool was fantastic, big enough for proper lap swimming, and our villa was right beside it. The room had what we needed for a short visit: it was clean and cool, the bed and pillow were comfortable, and the bathroom and toilet were clean. The staff were nice and helpful. The location is great for Borobudur, with lots of food nearby. Semolina Pizza was delicious, and breakfast was decent, especially the omelette. There was some road noise at night, and we could hear people at the pool from the villa, but it was quiet enough by bedtime for us to sleep well. On our first afternoon, the hot water wasn't working, so I had a cold shower. I called the front desk, and staff said the heater had run out of gas and went to fix it. After that, the hot water worked.

I've stayed at Shankara several times over the past 8 years, most recently for a cycling event in Borobudur. The service and cleanliness are still just as good. The building is aging, but it's well maintained, including the pool, and the location on the main road to Borobudur temple is excellent. There are a few things they could improve, like the inconsistent shower temperature and creaking doors, though neither was a major problem. No one was at the front door to welcome guests, and there wasn't a security guard present. That could be improved too.

The staff were super nice and helpful, even with small tasks, and the hotel's location near Borobodur is a real plus. I left some belongings there, and they arranged to send the package from Borobodur to Bali without hesitation. I'd definitely recommend staying here if you're visiting Borobodur.

I liked having the geckos around, but the toilet smelled of gasoline and gas. The hotel itself was nice.