The Happinezz Hills Hotel Karimunjawa

We were disappointed by several parts of our stay, especially the way problems were handled. The staff apologized, but when you’re paying a lot, you expect more courtesy. It felt like excuses were made and the issues weren’t really fixed. Some of this may be a management problem rather than the staff’s fault. We know other guests may have a different experience, but wanted to share ours so people have a more realistic idea of what to expect. There were good things too. The bed was comfortable, most of the staff were welcoming, the pool area was lovely and fairly clean, and we enjoyed the breakfast and restaurant. The view from the shared areas was stunning. We were in room 2 on the bottom floor, so our view wasn’t much, but that didn’t bother us. The island itself was stunning, which is why we chose to spend Christmas here after reading the strong reviews. The bathroom hadn’t been cleaned properly when we arrived: there were marks on the mirror and tiles near the sink and toilet. Dark black or grey marks on the toilet lid were off-putting, as in the picture. The shower area was stained with rust, and the water ran brown and smelled of iron or metal. We asked at the front desk and were told it was due to the rainy season, and that perhaps we should use bottled water to brush our teeth for hygiene. I can understand rainwater runoff, but that doesn’t explain the rusty smell or let us use the shower and tap properly to wash our faces or brush our teeth. Having to use bottled water for five days with no other solution was a real inconvenience. The Wi-Fi didn’t work on our TV or phone in the room. Staff tried several times to fix it, but the technician would go into settings, then leave saying it was fixed, and we had to keep reporting that it still didn’t work. We could hear TVs blaring in both neighboring rooms, so it seemed to be just our room. I wouldn’t mind a service being down, but staff kept giving excuses about streaming services. We had a Fire Stick, so that shouldn’t have been the problem. The night before we left, staff asked us to settle the bill. We paid and tried to explain that we still owed for the food we’d just eaten, but she didn’t understand. Since it was late and we had to be up at 5 a.m., we thought we’d sort it in the morning. Then at 9:30 p.m. they texted to say part of the bill was unpaid, and kept knocking on our door until we answered and paid. We understood that we had to pay for what we’d eaten, but with the do not disturb sign up, and nearly 10 p.m. before an early start, this could have waited until morning. We were told our taxi would come at 6 a.m., but it didn’t arrive until 6:35, with our ferry at 7. No one let us know about the delay. We’d also asked several times about return ferry tickets and were told the hotel would provide them. They only told us the tickets weren’t ready once we were in the taxi, so we had to wait 15 minutes for them. Even after a lovely stay, that was a rough end to the trip.

Traveling with family was easy because everything ran so smoothly. The private transfer and taxi boat were both arranged efficiently, and the team stayed attentive and quick to respond the whole time. A stress-free experience, highly recommend them.

We stayed in the family villa, and that was the highlight for us. It had two bedrooms and bathrooms, plus a living room and kitchen, with plenty of space and a tidy layout. The beds were comfortable, and the bathrooms were clean. The towels looked clean too, though one had a slight odor. From the patio, the sea view and sunset were right there. The kitchen had lots of equipment and utensils, but a few were stained. We tried some of the food and found the quality good. Breakfast was good as well, though a bit more variety would help. The setting is another reason to stay here. The hotel sits up in the hills, so you can watch the sunset and sea from the shared area. There are lots of places to sit, a pool, and a small playground for kids. The grounds were clean and the hotel neat. Staff were friendly and communicative, although food took a while to come and service could be quicker. Still, it was a great place to stay in Karimunjawa.

The rooms are roomy and comfortable, and the service was good. Food choices are limited. Bukti Cinta is very close, and the port and town square aren't far either.