Isn't it nice when things go better than expected?
If you know me you would know that I usually post under the name 
However, I'm using this account to post things I don't normally post on my regular blog....and track progress if I work the Hive system if I just make one post daily.
Yesterday I stayed at the Aloft Hotel in Surabaya. For the price it is a great value and overall a very good hotel. If you are curious you can see the post here
But today I'm staying at a different hotel located at a different mall. The Four Points hotel at the Tunjungan mall in Surabaya. Did I go into the mall? Nah. I've been there before. It is big, it is bright and shiny, and if you need something it is probably there. Except right now I don't need anything so why bother going in?
First impressions
Now first impressions matter. When the taxi dropped me off at the hotel there was good signage so I knew I was at the right place. Unlike most other hotels the door didn't take me into the lobby. That confused me. There was a small room with a couple guys in it and no "Marriot Bonvoy" plaque that lets me know where the front desk is.
Confused I looked around. Then I see a "Four Points" sign with an arrow going down a hallway. I dutifully follow the hallway and I'm thinking...sure doesn't feel like a Marriott. I turn left and there is a room ahead. Yeah. But it has a bunch of guys in orange clothes sitting around chatting. Really doesn't feel like a Marriot. I see an elevator with a sign "Four Point push "L".
Three elevators and one was "down for maintenance". Ok, now I'm nervous
But I have a reservation and even its odd I've been in far far sketchier places. It actually wasn't bad just ... different and you kind of get used to a vibe after a while.
When I reached the Lobby everything made sense.
Let me show you why.
This hotel is sitting on TOP of the mall. So the lower floors are all mall. In fact you can enter the mall right from the hotel elevator! So convenient. Just means you have to go up 8 or so floors before you actually get to the hotel lobby. Mystery solved.
I snuck a picture of the front desk from one floor above. They are very efficient and got everything taken care of very quickly.
Many thanks to Friska looking out for me on check-in. Even better I got a room upgrade from two twin beds to junior suite. I love being Platinum. Asked about a 4pm late checkout which is really useful for me this time. Asked about points or free breakfast. Usually a silly question: $5 worth of points or a free buffet breakfast.. Yes, I chose the food.
(it really is a neat and clean lobby)
Then the part that confused me just a little. They mentioned that they didn't have an executive lounge. My mind goes: Of course they don't. Four Points never have an executive lounge. Then they said but we can offer you a free afternoon tea in our restaurant. 😁 .. Free food, horray! They point me to the restaurant for the free afternoon tea and I'm looking. I'm confused. Where do I go. There are a lot of tables, an area that looks like its for drinks. Another area that looks like its for pastries but no "tea area". I must have looked confused because someone approached me quickly and when I showed them the voucher things got easy quick.
They said I could sit anywhere and they would bring the "Afternoon tea" but I could only stay until 5:30pm because of Iftar. Since it was 2PM I'm thinking...how long do people take to drink some tea and snacks? Now being Afternoon tea I wasn't surprised when the beverage options were Coffee or Tea. Except I dislike coffee and don't drink hot tea. Bummer. Juice? Sorry, no. Water? Sure. Okay. Afternoon tea with water instead :)
(food area without all the people)
I sat quietly and watched. They were very very busy staff members bustling around moving tables and setting things up. Then my snack arrived. They ask about Coffee or Tea again because water is kind of bland. I mentioned I didn't like Coffee or Tea and they didn't have juice so I'm happy with water. This time they offered juice... Woohoo! I got a nice orange juice to go along with my snacks.
And they were awesome
Okay, I can be a little picky and not everything was perfect but it was all very good and considering it was free and unexpected? Awesome!
And why were they so busy when I was having my tea/snack?
The evening got very busy.
About the room
Did it meet minimum standards?
Absolutely.
- Very clean
- No stains or mold
- No bugs
- AC worked (quietly)
- Comfortable bed
How about the extra's?
Honestly? I was more impressed with room than any others I'd been in during my stay in Surabaya.
It wasn't the fanciest room
It didn't have the coolest decor
But it was big, bright, functional ... and came with more snacks.
But let me show some pictures and tell you about the room.
A big comfy king sized bed.
Big comfy couch.
So many rooms just have a bed. I love a good bed but sometimes its better to watch TV or lounge on a couch and save the bed for sleeping.
A Big comfy workdesk
Oh I missed my desk so much when I'm writing articles. Having a desk with comfy chair to sit at, plug in for my computer, space for me to put my work stuff. Loved it.
Welcome snack :)
Okay. I am on a diet. I felt a little guilty eating the high tea. Now I have more goodies. I felt even guiltier...but they were certainly yummy :) Well, except for the pear. They are OK, but not my favorite and a bit hard to cut without a decent knife and cutting board. Not worth the mess.
A big beautiful view window
Ok. Surabaya isn't the most picturesque cityview and I'd way prefer a nature view but having a gigantic view window to let in light is great. It was also really cool when we had thunder and lightning because I got a great view of the lightning strikes.
Spacious bathroom with bathtub
Okay there is a perfectly good shower with adjustable showerhead, hot and cold water (yes that's a feature in some hotels), and good shower pressure. Shampoo, Conditioner and Body wash (although I'm thinking the shampoo and body wash may be the same thing but it works).
There is a very nice sink with lots of space for stuff around it. The light behind the mirror is nice AND the label where the lever is to drain the sink. Sounds silly but it totally confused my wife in a different hotel :)
Of course there is a toilet (it would be an awful room without one) and like many other better hotels it has a built in bidet..seems to be common in Surabaya.
Cool included amenities.
Okay, it may not sound like much but it includes all the usual Marriott amenities like toothbrush, shaving kit, vanity kit, sanitary bag, lotion but it also includes.... mouthwash. Horray! Okay for some people it means nothing but when I'm on a diet my breath becomes...harsh. The mouthwash? A lifesaver.
The wardrobe
Having somewhere to store clothes is nice. A place to sit while dressing is nice. A clothes iron and ironing board? Okay sometimes useful but arguably less useful than in the past. Emergency flashlight. Useful but only in the right place. A room safe? Good for peace of mind. Slippers? My wife loves them but me, not as much. Still...They all add up to the room feeling premium.
The TV stand.
I fell in love with this one!
First there are two nice big TV's. On facing the bed and the other facing the couch. Cool. Second the HDMI ports are accessible so with an HDMI cable I can watch video's or I can use them while I'm working on my computer. Even better I was able to borrow a big long HDMI cable, horray! But I had to sign that I'll pay $40 HBD for the cable if I don't return it note self: don't forget the cable :)
But they also hide a fridge in the TV stand, the kettle/coffee maker, and the coffee, tea, sugar and such along with some extra storage. Whoever designed this was really thinking and I really like it.
How about the property itself?
The Mushola area
Not overly useful for me but if you have need of it they have one area for the men, another for the women, and two handwashing stations beside it.
The gym
I really liked the gym. A few machines. Free weights. Treadmills and other cardio equipment. A washroom right in the gym. Also for some reason they have a sitting area in the gym area. Odd but I suppose if you are working out with a buddy it could be useful :)
Sitting area
If you want a machine
Or carido equipment
Other than that? Hot/Cold water dispenser with disposable cups. Nice. Clean workout towels. Nice. Weighing scale. Nice (and if I knew there would be one in many of the Marriot gyms I wouldn't have bought one when I arrived in Surabaya).
The pool
Nice pool for splashing around in. Not great if you wanted to do laps for exercise. Nice lounging area with excellent tropical decor (well landscaped). If you want to hang out at the pool with the family I'm sure they will enjoy it.
The Food
Let me start by saying that all the Marriott in Surabaya tend to follow the same script. However, while they are all singing the same song some sing it better than others.
What they all have
I've found that all of the hotels have an excellent breakfast. If you go to any one of them in Surabaya you won't have a lack of choice or a sub-standard buffet. Here is a quick list of what is pretty universal.
Western food
Chinese food
Indonesian food
Coffee, Tea, Juice (regular), Juice (fresh squeezed) and special Indonesian drinks
Regular drinks
Indonesian drinks: Strong flavour.. drink at your own risk :)
Noodle bar
Fruit station
Salad station
Bread station
Cereal station (with milk but sometimes things like soy milk and other varieties)
Pastries and desserts
Pancakes and waffles
An Egg station, noodle station and soup station.
You really won't be lacking for options at ANY Marriott buffet.
# However, this one stood out in one notable way against the rest. The chef prepared options.
If you are going around the buffet you will find some really tasty looking food hiding under glass with a note "just for display". However, that also means if you ask nicely the chef on site will cook it for you. Really a step up from the buffet food and that is what I focused on today.
This was my choice. Not large but very tasty. Thanks chef!
Special noodles
Beef or Squid (yum)
I know I've been away from home too long when oatmeal seems enticing. As for the other options? Nope. Don't know what they are ;)
A few extra's in the food station.
While the stations were all the same here as in other Marriott hotels it seemed to be a little "more full" with a few more options in each station. That was nice. However in addition to the regular stations they also had:
An ice cream station (some others also have this but its hit and miss)
End Result?
Was this hotel more expensive that the Aloft from yesterday? Absolutely. But at 1402K IDR ($83.40 HBD) it is about 50% more expensive but still inexpensive by world standards. Is it worth the extra? Quite possibly yes. If I had the money and needed to do work in the room this hotel is excellent. The overall feel is good, the breakfast is the best I've had in a Marriott in Surabaya (and that's saying something as they are all excellent here!).
The staff really was excellent also. Special shout out to Swara from the F&B crew who brightened my morning meal.
Thanks to anyone who made it this far. If you are ever in Surabaya and want to go to a well run, very central, clean and classy hotel this one is certainly worth a visit.
A sushi bar!
- I don't know who eats sushi for breakfast but it looks very tasty.