Villa Pondok Terra

We ended up cutting our planned three-day stay short and stayed for two days. The nearby mosques meant it wasn’t quiet, and on the first night the AC noise kept me awake. The pool was dirty, with grass cuttings in it, and I saw a dead gecko in there the next day. The microwave wasn’t ready to use, and the TV wasn’t connected. There were mosquitoes too, so be careful, I woke up with five bites on my face. It was a problem and a waste of time.

The huge bed was a highlight, and we enjoyed the roomy bedroom and spacious bathroom. The private pool is nice, though pretty cold in the morning. The water was very cloudy, and ants could easily get to food left on the table. The water heater barely worked, and although we complained, the staff couldn’t do much about it.

These traditional villas have private pools and sit along alleyways near Yogyakarta’s old centre, which made a great base for exploring the ancient city. The hosts were great, and the accommodation was lovely, quiet, and tucked away. The only interruption was a children’s karaoke workout at the nearby neighbourhood centre at 7am on Sunday. Otherwise, everything was perfect.

I’d come back in a heartbeat. The staff were friendly, the place was clean, and the pool was great for relaxing. There’s enough garden space to lie in the sun, and some good restaurants with delicious food nearby. You can shut the door to the rest of the compound and have your own little space with a private pool.