RedDoorz near Taman Rejomulyo

We picked this place before driving on to Surabaya, and for the price the room was better than I expected. The check-in was quick, with a choice of leaving an ID or paying a 50K deposit. The container-style room was a first for us, and it was surprisingly roomy, with a desk and a two-door wardrobe. I asked for the first floor since there’s no elevator. Our window looked out onto the parking lot; it was heavily tinted, though at night it’s best to draw the curtains. The bed was fine, while the bathroom felt a little tight, maybe just for me. There’s a smart TV with YouTube, Netflix, and Amazon Prime. The water heater worked well right away, and the AC got cold but took a while to cool the whole room. It’s inside a housing complex, so traffic is minimal. Restaurants are only a few minutes’ walk away, and there’s an angkringan and pecel stand across from the accommodation, though neither stays open around the clock. Service was great. Just keep in mind this is budget lodging, not Ritz-Carlton service or facilities.

I won’t be staying here again. We booked four rooms, and three were fine, but one was dirty. My friends found poo in the toilet and the floor was dirty too. They called the front desk for help, but the man who came just stood there until my friend asked him again to clean it. The receptionist also came across as impolite. When I checked out, I tried to suggest keeping the rooms clean so guests wouldn’t be upset, but he didn’t respond or even smile, and didn’t say a simple thank you. Then he returned my KTP by tossing it onto the table. Please treat customers with respect and don’t upset your boss with that kind of manner.

I’d booked well in advance and had already told the hotel I would arrive at 9 pm. When I got there, reception said my booking had been cancelled because it was the weekend. Completely unacceptable. I’d tell people to stay away.

Clean and functional inside, with a normal hotel setup. The outside is an unusual arrangement of old shipping containers, placed almost like Lego. It’s not where I’d usually stay in Semarang, but it was handy for getting to the immigration office for a visa renewal.