Part 15: Majapahit Hotel, Surabaya
Deluxe King Suite, 90 EUR/night including breakfast
The last stop in Indonesia would be in Surabaya, where I opted for yet another historical hotel: the Majapahit. Like the Raffles in Singapore, this hotel was also started by the Sarkies Brothers – and you can immediately see and feel it by the old world Asian charm. It started life as the 'Hotel Oranje' in 1911. An incident surrounding a raised Dutch flag after WW II sparked a major battle here in the Indonesian War of Independence as first an Indonesian militia overran the Dutch in the hotel, only to be beaten by the worried British who hasted in and retook the hotel and the entire city from the Indonesian mob.
The hotel is located on a busy street in the centre of the city and features a lovely art deco entrance.
Check-in staff at the reception desk were very welcoming and immediately asked me to please sit down in a comfy chair in the hotel lobby while they would check me in. A waiter immediately came to bring a refreshment towel, a cold drink and some cookies. Talk about a nice welcome!
The first thing you notice of the hotel is how quiet and peaceful the grounds are. Even though the street on which the hotel is located is one of Surabaya's most traffic clogged city centre streets, there is absolutely no sound of any car traffic when walking the huuuge grounds of the hotel.
The gardens, little patios and the lovely colonnades on which the rooms are located make for one charming hotel.
I opted for a deluxe king suite, which is the middle category at this hotel. It's only a small surcharge above the standard suites – and well worth it as you have more space and the room looks more stylish – if at least you like old world charm just like me.
Upon entering the room you have a nice living room with sofa, chair, desk, TV, and a table with water boiler and tea and coffee.
The living room leads into the bedroom, with a comfortable king size bed and plenty of storage space for those who need it.
The bathroom is big – and has both a bad and separate shower, as well as a toilet behind yet another door.
Each deluxe suite also has a small patio in front of the room at the colonnade. I found this a lovely place to sip my morning coffee – you almost feel like an officer in the British or Dutch colonial army.
The view from the patio over the hotel premises was fantastic too.
The hotel features a very nice swimming pool, as well as a spa area (which I did not try out).
All of the public areas, as well as the hotel's restaurants, had tons of old world charm.
In the evening, the colonnades and buildings are beautifully lit up.
The only minor point was the breakfast buffet. Quality was decent – but I found the choices very limited, especially compared to the Hermitage in Jakarta. Also the breakfast room felt a bit small and cramped. Below pictures are basically all that was on offer.
In short: The Majapahit is a special place, there is no doubt about that. A true Sarkies Brothers-style hotel just like the Raffles in Singapore, but then for a fraction of the price. My room was absolutely lovely, the amenities in the hotel are great, the grounds are stunning and a quiet oasis in the city. Service was also excellent throughout the stay. The only minus is for the breakfast buffet – although I enjoyed the one dish I ordered from room service. I can absolutely recommend the Majapahit and it is almost a must-stay when visiting Surabaya.