Livia Homestay

For 150k, I expected to be able to shower, but there was no water at all from the shower-like fixture, and there wasn’t a sink either. After a hike, good luck trying to wash up. The bathroom is basically just a toilet. The room itself was clean and the host was friendly. There was only a simple, thin blanket on the bed, though the mattress was comfortable.

The man was friendly and helpful, and I liked the place. There’s a restaurant next door called something like lava. It has no WiFi, but the restaurant’s signal reaches the hotel with one bar, enough to check emails. The food was blah, though we didn’t get sick. The shower was hot, but the air inside wasn’t great. The floors were clean, and the location is all right for Bromo. It’s technically on national park land, so if you can avoid the booth, you can avoid the extra cost.

We were terrified that night. Around midnight, two motorbikes arrived with two men and a woman who tried to force open the homestay's main door. The owner had installed no lock, and the handle was broken. With nowhere else to go and no empty rooms, we wedged a piece of wood over it to keep visitors out. We never expected something like that to actually happen. The owner took no responsibility. We reported it and got a refund, but not the full amount. I felt we could have been robbed or killed. Please don't stay here.

The bed and bathroom were clean, and the owner was friendly, though their English was limited. There are just three rooms, plus a living room and kitchen. It's in a perfect spot to hike up on your own without a guide. Great value for the area and price. I'd stay again.