Garuda ZZ Hotel

Right across from Pagaralam’s town square, this small hotel offers inexpensive but comfortable lodging. The staff were very friendly and quick to help, and the local coffee was smooth and tasty. Breakfast itself was on the salty side. The rooms are compact, but the air conditioning, TV, and toilet water all worked well. One thing I disliked was that smoking was allowed in guest rooms, leaving a cigarette smell and lots of burn marks.

The hotel is handy for food and errands: it’s near grocery stores, there are food sellers out front, and you won’t have to worry about getting hungry at night. The parking area is very small, though, and watch out for ants in the room if you leave food out. I booked a family room, but at that price it didn’t feel worth it. The standard room rate seemed more reasonable. The only complimentary items were coffee without sugar, tea, a toothbrush, and soap, with no mineral water. Breakfast usually meant tea or coffee, one kind of cake, noodles, and chicken or fish. The bathroom exhaust fan was broken, so smells lingered after using the toilet, and hot water took a few minutes to come through. The male front desk staff member was unfriendly. It’s right in central Pagaralam, across from Merdeka Square.

I only stayed here while passing through. There was an event going on, so it was really crowded. My standard room felt pretty small for two people. They provided just two towels and no amenities.

We had a great three-night stay at Hotel Garuda ZZ. Tripadvisor lists the same place as “Hotel Grand ZZ.” Our total came to IDR 800,000, about $55 or roughly $18 a night, with breakfast included. The room was quiet and we slept well all three nights. We chose the economical option, listed at IDR 175k for a cold shower; the other room types were IDR 275k with a hot shower and IDR 500k. There was air conditioning, and a kettle in the room for making tea or coffee. Breakfast was simple: Nasi Goreng, bread with a toaster, butter, jelly, noodles, and unlimited tea and coffee. The hotel also helped us get in touch with Herry, who speaks fluent English and arranged our white water rafting with “Pagaralam Rafting Wisata.” Thanks to Herry, we got to see the Elephant Megalithe in Pagaralam. He also arranges trekking on Mount Dempo.