Rumah Larasati

The location was just right, with good food within walking distance, the city center nearby, tours easy to arrange, and quiet nights. The price was good too. It felt homey, and the bed and air conditioning were great. The shower could use a little fixing, but the hot water worked well. A stove and fridge in the kitchen might be useful additions. A good budget stay, recommended.

The staff communication was a mess. One person interrupted an important phone call to ask for money, but spoke little English and I couldn’t understand what it was for. I knew I’d paid for all the nights and more, so I didn’t hand over anything. He then said he’d get angry. We’d already agreed with another staff member that we’d stay an extra night and pay in the morning, but staff woke us at 4am and again at 5am, turned on the lights, pulled back the curtains, and demanded payment. On top of that, the loud singing at 3am woke us every night. If you care about getting sleep, don’t stay here. There’s also a neglected turtle living in a small tub surrounded by its own poo and mosquito larvae. It was really sad to see, and there were lots of mosquitoes at the hostel. I’ve never written a review before, but being woken at 4am felt like an invasion of privacy, and the disregard for people’s sleep pushed me to post this.

The hostel’s staff and location were fine, but the room and the rest of the place were really bad. There was mould all over, ants in the room, and a bad smell. The mattresses felt damp, and the bathroom was dirty and flooded.

Our four-bed dorm wasn’t clean, and mould on the walls made it feel stuffy. There was no mirror in the bathroom. Since shoes weren’t allowed, the bathroom floor felt like a death trap, so be careful. The Bromo sunrise trip price dropped from 650 per person to 500, but it was hard work. It was cheap, sure, but not worth it.