Grand Harvest Resort and Villas

I can’t help wondering whether animals enjoy being kept in such tiny cages just for visitors’ entertainment. It breaks my heart and leaves me feeling helpless enough to cry. Please don’t mistreat animals! 😭 The staff seemed quite strange, too. They agreed to prepare takeaway breakfast for us, but had forgotten by morning. We left for the volcano hungry 😓

There’s plenty of breakfast, and you can ask the hotel to bring it to your room so you can rest before eating after your hike. I was sent two kinds of carbs, three kinds of protein, vegetables, sliced fruit, and two slices of cake. It was a lot, but handy when we got back around 7 or 8 am. For the Ijen hike and blue fire, the route opens at 2 am, the blue fire is visible only around 2-5 am, and the route closes at 12 am. It’s easy to reach the hike’s starting point from the hotel, which also offers blue fire tours. The room was clean, with clean sheets, hot water, a hair dryer, TV, and Wi-Fi. Service was great, and the restaurant has dinner. There’s also convenient in-room spa service. For children, activities include swimming, ATV rides, and a playground. They offer glamping style rooms too, for anyone wanting an adventurous feel.

The rooms and buildings are great, and the view is beautiful. It’s good value and recommended as a place to stay before heading to Ijen crater. The food and service still need improvement.

I chose this place because it was closer to the Ijen trek starting point than the other options in Banyuwangi. I felt good after arriving, and the stay was good overall.