Balikpapan's BEST Syariah Hotel? Urbanview Citra Nusantara Review!
Balikpapan's BEST Syariah Hotel? Urbanview Citra Nusantara Review!
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the shimmering, sometimes awkward, often delicious world of Urbanview Citra Nusantara in Balikpapan – allegedly, the BEST Syariah Hotel. And let me tell you, I've been through some stuff in hotels, from questionable stains to conversations with the ceiling fan (don't judge me, jet lag is a beast). So, let's break this down, Balikpapan-style.
(SEO ALERT: Keywords are COMING. I'm weaving them in like a particularly enthusiastic weaver.)
First Impressions & Accessibility – Can You Even Get There? & Wheelchair?
Okay, the first hurdle? The accessibility itself. Listen, I am not wheelchair-bound but I do have mobility issues so getting around is super important. From what I can glean from their info, they seem to have figured some of this out. Elevator is a huge plus (thank GOD, I hate dragging luggage up stairs!), and they list "facilities for disabled guests." But, and it's a HUGE but, I'd still call the front desk [24-hour] and confirm. Specifically ask about ramp access to the restaurants, the pool, and the lobby (crucial for that Insta-worthy check-in pic, obviously). Check-in/out is listed as Check-in/out [express] which is great if you are in a hurry but also Check-in/out [private] which would be a bonus in a busy setting. And for the love of clean sheets, ask about the distance from the airport transfer – because hauling your baggage from the airport is NOT a fun way to start your "relaxing" vacation. The CCTV in the common areas and CCTV outside the property is a nice touch in terms of safety.
Internet & Tech Stuff – Because We Live Online
Alright, let's talk digital life. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! YES! A sigh of relief, especially if you're working on the go (I am, often, and it's a curse). Internet Access – Wireless (Wi-Fi) in public areas is also a huge win for all the people who need to be attached to a screen constantly. Internet [LAN] is listed which is good, though a bit old school. They also list Internet Services which could be helpful if you were coming out of the stone ages. Wi-Fi for special events – potential bonus for the business travelers I guess.
Cleanliness & Safety – Feeling Safe (and Germ-Free?)
Okay, COVID times. Let’s see how they're handling it. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Individually-wrapped food options, Physical distancing of at least 1 meter, Rooms sanitized between stays, and Staff trained in safety protocol… these are all good signs. I’m seeing a lot of Professional-grade sanitizing services, and what looks like a pretty solid commitment to cleanliness. The Safe dining setup is also a good thing. I'm digging the Hand sanitizer, but let's be real, I always bring my own. And the Hygiene certification is what you want to hear. Room sanitization opt-out available is a good thing, too. I mean, you want to feel taken care of, but you don’t want to be hovered over. The First aid kit and Doctor/nurse on call are also a big plus.
Rooms – Where the Magic Happens (or Where You Sleep… Mostly) – Urbanview Citra Nusantara Room Review
Alright, let's peep the digs. I am a sucker for a good room. Let's get down to the nitty-gritty of the Available in all rooms:
- Air conditioning: Obvious. Necessary.
- Alarm clock: Helpful, for when the time zones are off.
- Bathrobes: Swoon. Yes, please.
- Bathroom phone: This feels a bit retro, no?
- Bathtub: Always a win.
- Blackout curtains: Essential for me to sleep.
- Carpeting: Okay, it's a hotel. It's probably there.
- Closet: Gotta have space for the shopping!
- Coffee/tea maker: Good for me. Not so good for the next guest.
- Complimentary tea: Score!
- Daily housekeeping: Very necessary.
- Desk: Work space; very important.
- Extra long bed: Yes. Give me space.
- Free bottled water: Essential. Hydrate, people!
- Hair dryer: Amen. I am not traveling with one.
- High floor: Always good, but again, check the view.
- In-room safe box: You know, for your… valuables.
- Interconnecting room(s) available: Nice for families.
- Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless: covered already.
- Ironing facilities: Necessary.
- Laptop workspace: Yes.
- Linens: Hopefully clean.
- Mini bar: Be careful with the prices…
- Mirror: Very handy.
- Non-smoking: Yes.
- On-demand movies: Nice, if you can relax.
- Private bathroom: Essential.
- Reading light: Smart.
- Refrigerator: Useful for drinks.
- Safety/security feature: Good to know.
- Satellite/cable channels: Yes.
- Scale: Gulp.
- Seating area: Nice, if you want a place to sit.
- Separate shower/bathtub: Good.
- Shower: Necessary.
- Slippers: Nice touch.
- Smoke detector: Excellent.
- Socket near the bed: Yes.
- Sofa: Okay.
- Soundproofing: Hopefully.
- Telephone: Who uses them?
- Toiletries: Nice to have.
- Towels: Don't be cheap. Fresh towels!
- Umbrella: Smart.
- Visual alarm: Nice.
- Wake-up service: Useful.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Score!
- Window that opens: Fresh air FTW.
Oh, and let's not forget Additional toilet, Additional toilet (double checked!), Additional toilet (just in case), Additional toilet (just for kicks). Okay, maybe there are some doubles. Okay, maybe the list is a little…unfocused..
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – The Food, the Food, the Food!
Ah, now we're talking. Food is important. VERY important. The Asian breakfast, Asian cuisine in restaurant, Western breakfast, Western cuisine in restaurant and Vegetarian restaurant indicates a focus on a very broad range of food. The Breakfast [buffet] and A la carte in restaurant are all options. Desserts in restaurant indicate something wonderful. Snack bar helps in between meals. They have a Poolside bar, which is crucial. And hopefully a Coffee/tea in restaurant to help me get through the day.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax – Spa Day! (Maybe?)
Okay, time for some pampering. Body scrub, Body wrap, Massage, Spa, Sauna, Steamroom, Foot bath are listed, which is a great sign, but I WANT DETAILS. How is the massage? Is the spa ACTUAL spa or just a room with a masseuse? Does the Spa/sauna require pre-booking? Also, if you’re a pool person (Swimming pool is listed, and Swimming pool [outdoor], and there’s even a Pool with view – YES, PLEASE!), check the hours and the dress code. A Gym/fitness is included too.
Anecdote Time:
Okay, I had a terrible experience at a "luxury spa" once where the "body wrap" involved a lukewarm mud bath and an aggressive sheet-wrapping session. Legitimately, I walked out smelling like a swamp monster. So, question everything. Ask about the products, the therapist's experience, and maybe even get a peek at the treatment rooms before you commit. Otherwise, you're just paying for a fancy, swampy snooze.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
Now for all the extras: Cash withdrawal, Concierge, Currency exchange, and Laundry service, are all excellent. And a Convenience store is ALWAYS a win. The Baby sitting service is also good, if you have children! Luggage storage is handy. Elevator is great.
"For the Kids" Section - A Note on Family Friendliness
The hotel lists Family/child friendly and Kids facilities, Kids meal, which is good. This indicates a good place for kids but not necessarily a playground. The Babysitting service is also a bonus if you
Discover Paradise: Unforgettable Houseboat Stays in Srinagar's Hunza GroupOkay, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's carefully curated travel itinerary. This is a raw, unfiltered, probably-sleep-deprived journey through the heart of Balikpapan, Indonesia. And we're starting at the… deep breath …Urbanview Hotel Syariah Citra Nusantara. Let's go!
Balikpapan Blowout: A Mostly Successful Adventure (with a Side of Laundry)
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Airport Taxi Debacle (and a Prayer)
7:00 AM (ish): Landed in Balikpapan after what felt like an eternity in the cramped, airplane purgatory. Smelling of recycled air and desperation. Immediately hit with that heavy, humid Indonesian air. Ah, home. (Kidding! Sort of.) My hair instantly decided to achieve maximum frizz. That’s always a great start.
7:20 AM: Airport's a hive of activity. Immediately get bombarded by taxi touts. This is where my Bahasa Indonesia, currently existing solely as "terima kasih" and "satu bir," fails me. Negotiating felt like a contact sport. Finally settle on a guy whose smile seemed semi-genuine, praying the meter wasn't rigged.
8:00 AM: The taxi (a surprisingly clean and air-conditioned one!) actually made it to the Urbanview Hotel Syariah. Yay! It’s… well, it's a hotel. Clean enough, I guess. The lobby had that slightly sterile, "don't-make-a-mess" vibe common to hotels with "Syariah" in the name. No giant, brass Buddha statues here, which… is fine. I think.
8:30 AM: Check-in… another adventure. My reservation, apparently, was "a little confusing." (The irony is not lost on me.) After some frantic email checking, and a very apologetic desk clerk, I finally got a room. Victory!
9:00 AM - 12:00 PM: Room assessment. Decent. Clean. Definitely a "no-nonsense" vibe. The aircon works, thank the gods. Plonk down all my luggage, unpack and go downstairs in search for a cup of strong Indonesian coffee before I collapse.
12:00 PM - 2:00 PM: Lunch! Found a warung (small, local eatery) a block away. Ordered… something. The language barrier is REALLY a thing. Pointed at a plate featuring some fried things and smiled a lot. Turns out, it was delicious. Spicy, cheap, and utterly unidentifiable. Success! The best kind of food.
2:00 PM - 5:00 PM: The Great Nap of 2024. Jet lag is a beast. Slept like the dead. Woke up feeling marginally human.
5:00 PM - 7:00 PM Quick stroll around the neighborhood. Balikpapan is… bustling, shall we say. The traffic is a ballet of horns and scooters. The air smells of spices and… something else I couldn't quite put my finger on. Enjoyed it.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner at a restaurant that was highly rated on Google (which, in retrospect, might have been a mistake). Ordered something I thought was chicken but looked suspiciously like… something else. Ate it anyway. (See: "Adventure" above.)
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM Attempted laundry. The hotel's laundry service is a bit… slow. Found a spot that looks promising. Left my clothes. Let's hope they didn't turn my underwear pink.
10:00 PM (ish): Passed out on the bed, utterly defeated by the day.
Day 2: Markets, Monkeys, and the Mystery of the Missing Shirt
8:00 AM: Wake up! Feeling… slightly better. (Maybe the sleep helped.)
8:30 AM: Breakfast at the hotel. Surprisingly good. Simple, but tasty. The free coffee is a lifesaver.
9:30 AM - 12:00 PM: A visit to Pasar Klandasan. (Market.) Oh. My. Goodness. The sensory overload is REAL. Smells, sights, sounds…it was a glorious cacophony. I got absolutely lost in the maze of stalls, haggling for a few souvenirs. Bought way too many spices and am now convinced I'll be able to recreate Indonesian cuisine in my tiny kitchen back home. (Don’t hold me to this, I am terrible at cooking.)
1:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Lunch. Found another warung. This time, I knew what I was doing! Ordered nasi goreng (fried rice). It was heavenly.
3:00 PM - 5:00 PM: A trip to the Margomulyo Mangrove Park. This was a gamble. Nature and I don't always get along. But it was surprisingly beautiful! Saw some monkeys (they were surprisingly chill). Enjoyed the peace and quiet. Until a mosquito decided my ankle was a buffet. (Rage!)
5:00 PM - 6:00 PM: Attempted to retrieve my laundry. It's… not ready. Apparently, "sometime tomorrow" is the best they can do. Sigh.
7:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Dinner. This time, I decided to be brave and try something new. It was spicy… again. But good! (And, thankfully, not made of anything questionable.)
9:00 PM - 10:00 PM: Started writing this. Trying to be a good travel blogger… but honestly, I just want my clean clothes. (And a giant ice cream sundae.)
Day 3: (Likely) Still Shirtless, And Goodbye
8:00 AM: Woke up early. Still no laundry. Seriously, what is going on with that shirt?
8:30 AM: Breakfast. Contemplating my life choices. Maybe I should have packed more shirts?
9:30 AM - 11:00 AM: Panic laundry hunting.
11:00 AM: Check-out. Said goodbye to the hotel.
12:00 PM: Depart from Balikpapan.
Final Thoughts:
Balikpapan is… a whirlwind. A sensory overload. A place where the language barrier is a constant challenge. And where my laundry might still be somewhere in the ether. But it's also beautiful, fascinating, and delicious. I'm leaving covered in mosquito bites, sun-kissed, and with a suitcase full of spices. And, hey, at least I got a story out of it. And that, my friends, is what travel is all about. Even when you're potentially going home shirtless.
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Urbanview Citra Nusantara, Balikpapan: The (Sometimes) Blissful, (Often) Chaotic Truth – A Messy Review!
Okay, spill the tea. Is Urbanview Citra Nusantara *actually* the “BEST Syariah Hotel” in Balikpapan as all the reviews claim?
Whew, that's a loaded question! "Best" is subjective, right? Look, it's good. Like, a solid 7 out of 10. It ticks all the Syariah boxes – which, let's be honest, is a huge plus for peace of mind if you're after that. No booze, no questionable activities... you get it. But "best"? Nah. There's room for improvement. The reality is a little... messier.
I went in with REALLY high expectations, reading all these glowing reviews. Then I had to deal with a leaky faucet the first night and the internet went out for a whole afternoon! But the staff handled it with such genuine smiles and quick responses that it was hard to stay annoyed. They weren't perfect, but they were definitely *trying*.
What's the vibe like? Is it all, like, super-formal and stiff?
Not at all! Well, mostly not. It's definitely got that Syariah *vibe*, you know? Modest, welcoming, and respectful. I saw families, couples, and people on business trips. The lobby is bright, the staff are friendly, and there's a general sense of calm. BUT (and this is a BIG BUT), it's not a sterile, robotic experience. People chatting, kids running around (occasionally), and the staff cracks jokes. It felt more like a place where real people live, and that's important to me -- a little mess is okay!
My favorite moment? The security guard, bless his heart, trying to sell me durian outside the hotel at 10 PM. I didn't buy any, but it was a hilarious, very Balikpapan experience.
The Rooms! Tell me about the rooms! Clean? Spacious? What's the deal?
Okay, the rooms are... well, let's call them functional. Clean? Yes! They scrub those rooms meticulously, I swear! They could eat off the floors. Spacious? Depends on the room you get. I went for the standard, and it was cozy, let's put it that way. Not a ballroom. Bed was comfy enough, the aircon worked (thank goodness!), and the bathroom was basic, but clean and well-stocked with toiletries. A little bit of a cramped feeling but, for the price, you can't complain.
One thing I loved: they provide prayer mats and qibla directions in every room. HUGE plus. And the constant, soft, gentle sound of the call to prayer from the nearby mosque -- it really added to the mood. It's a detail that made me feel at peace, and very much in the right place. (Okay, except for that leaky faucet... grrr!).
Food! Is the breakfast any good? Please tell me it's worth getting out of bed for.
Okay, breakfast. Here's the thing: it's included, which is fantastic. Its buffet style which is also great! There are *plenty* of options -- nasi goreng, mie goreng, some yummy local dishes, fruit (fresh, always a plus!), and the usual continental suspects (toast, cereal, etc.). It's not Michelin-star quality, but it's definitely filling and a good way to start the day. Nothing super exciting, but good fuel.
I have a confession: I *might* have accidentally taken a few extra pastries to my room. Don't judge me! They were so flaky and delicious, and I had a very early morning.
Location, location, location! Is it convenient? Easy to get around?
It's pretty decent! It's not smack-bang in the middle of everything, but close enough. Grab rides are plentiful, and getting to the main shopping areas and restaurants is easy. There's a little warung (local eatery) just around the corner where I ate the best, spiciest pepes ikan (grilled fish in banana leaves) I've ever had. I should have taken a picture! (Pro-tip: if you're in Balikpapan, try the pepes ikan. You won't regret it.).
Getting to the airport was straightforward, too, which is always a relief, but the traffic, oh boy! Be prepared for some delays.
Staff! Are they helpful? Friendly? Annoying?
The staff are the *best* thing about this hotel. Seriously. They are genuinely friendly, always smiling, and eager to help. Remember the leaky faucet? They were on it immediately and while, yes it was annoying, the kindness of the staff completely erased any annoyance I may have had. They made me feel welcome from the second I arrived!
One time I was feeling a bit under the weather, and one of the receptionists, without me asking, brought me some ginger tea. That's the kind of service you just can't fake. It was a small gesture, but it made a world of difference.
Any drawbacks? What are the things that weren't so great?
Okay, let's be honest. There are a few things. The internet, as mentioned, can be a bit patchy. The walls aren't exactly soundproof; I could hear a bit of noise from the hallway – nothing too drastic, but if you're a light sleeper, bring earplugs. And, as I keep referencing, the leaky faucet in my room was a minor nuisance.
Parking can sometimes be a bit tricky, too, if the hotel is busy, and the elevator is a bit slow. But honestly those are small prices to pay for the overall experience.
Would you recommend this hotel? And if so, who is it *really* for?
Yes, I would recommend it! But with a few caveats. Urbanview Citra Nusantara is perfect for you if you're looking for a comfortable, affordable, and genuinely welcoming hotel with a strong Syariah focus. It's excellent for families, and for budget travelers. It's for people who value kindness and good hospitality over absolute perfection.
If you're expecting a five-star experience with all the bells and whistles, maybe look elsewhere. But if you want a solid, reliable, and pleasant stay in Balikpapan with staff who genuinely care...book it. Seriously. You might even get some durian! (Just kiddingOcean By H10 Hotels
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