Sonosewu Guesthouse Syariah

The location was inconvenient for me, farther from the centre and with few places to eat nearby. The room had a dirty, unwashed floor, and the shared kitchen wasn’t very clean either. Breakfast was self-service, just white toast and cheap jam. This is very basic accommodation, and I wouldn’t recommend it to Western tourists unless they’re experienced backpackers with low expectations and a tight budget.

The people at the front desk, teenage boys, were aggressive and threatening. They offered no services and were hateful toward guests. My wife and I both ended up with scratches after sleeping there, and we left after just one night. The bed was awful, with rusty springs sticking out, and the building had mosquitoes and ants everywhere. I’ve travelled around Southeast Asia for years, and this was honestly one of the worst places I’ve stayed. Don’t stay here, save your money. Only come if you want malaria and tetanus.

There are several room types and prices to choose from, and this is a good place to stay in Yogyakarta for work or travel if you want somewhere calm in the city. In the morning, there’s bread and jam, with tea and coffee available without limit. You can take as much bread and jam as you can eat, just remember there are other guests. The shared kitchen is there for making ramen or other instant food. Overall, a great lodging.

Our room was small, but the bed was large, and the price for two nights was very good. There was no air con, and mosquitoes and other insects got in, probably because the bathroom was partly open-air. The gardens outside were lovely, with fish in little streams, plus chickens and cute cats wandering around. Everything looked well maintained. Shops were nearby, and most attractions were about a 20-30 minute walk away. The staff weren’t all fluent in English, but they were helpful, and the food and drinks they sell are reasonably priced. The chickens woke us very early, though we were able to get back to sleep. Nice stay, I’d recommend it.