Merapi Residence by RedDoorz

I stayed here on a Semarang holiday around the start of 2020 or 2021, during the COVID-19 pandemic. The rooms are spacious, and the surroundings are beautiful and cool. Getting food is a little inconvenient since you have to leave the residential area.

The grounds are green and attractive, the facilities are complete, and the place felt clean and distinctive. The rates also seemed affordable. My main concern is the poor lighting at the front, which made it hard to find the entrance and bell as someone new to the location. I went to Merapi Residence after work one evening to look around, since I was searching for a new boarding house and liked the advertisement. I enjoy moving and finding a different atmosphere. I work at a hotel in Semarang in a decent position, but I won’t say which one because I don’t want this to sound like a promotion. I know a bit about evaluating hotels, lodging, and guest houses. My uncle’s younger brother, who studies at Undip, drove me there. I took a motorcycle because Semarang gets congested after Maghrib, around office closing time. I arrived without much trouble, but the dim lighting made it difficult to enter and locate the bell. The building was large, and after walking around for about 15 minutes I found a guard. I also had a chance to speak with the owner. The guard’s manner made me uncomfortable from the start. Before I could ask much, he said there was an empty room, but it wasn’t free, which struck me as strange. I wasn’t looking to live with anyone or asking for a free room; I wanted a place for myself. I tried to stay calm and get along, though I felt he was judging me and assuming I couldn’t afford it because I arrived by motorcycle. He showed me an empty room, then said most residents were doctors, lecturers, and other accomplished people. I wondered if he thought I didn’t belong because I wore flip-flops and came on a motorcycle. I told him I also worked and managed a hotel in Semarang, and that there was no need to exaggerate. I felt he was judging people by their appearance instead of who they were. I’d been ready to rent a room, but the interaction changed my mind. I told the owner I was cancelling because I didn’t feel comfortable with the guard, then left feeling disappointed and telling myself to be patient. I hope Merapi Residence continues to do well in the future.

It’s a bit like being back in nature here. There’s an ob-gyn consultation and a mosque nearby, though you have to drive out to find food.

A handy location, hot water, free Wi-Fi, clean rooms, and friendly service. The setting is lovely and shaded by trees.