Escape to Paradise: Hotel Marco Polo, Bandar Lampung
Okay, buckle up, buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into the swirling, sometimes chaotic, but ultimately pretty darn good world of Escape to Paradise: Hotel Marco Polo in Bandar Lampung. Get ready for a review that's less "corporate brochure" and more "friend rambling over a post-vacation coffee."
First Impressions (and a Slight Panic):
Right off the bat, getting to Bandar Lampung can be a trip. Accessibility, right? Ugh, sometimes it's the getting there that’s the real adventure, ain't it? Thank goodness for the airport transfer - that was a lifesaver. Definitely a must-have after a long flight, especially when you arrive with a little, uh, 'enthusiasm' for Indonesian cuisine (let's just say it did not agree with my digestive system on day one).
The Good Stuff – And Boy, There’s a Lot!
- Wow, the Freedom from Boredom! Forget the usual "sitting around doing nothing". This place has Things to do like you wouldn't believe! A Fitness center, a Swimming pool [outdoor] that's seriously Instagram-worthy (seriously, I spent a solid hour just staring at the view), and a Gym/fitness, so you can work off all those amazing meals (more on those later).
- Spa-tacular Bliss: Okay, listen up. The Spa is where dreams are made. I spent three hours there one afternoon. Three glorious hours. Started with a Body scrub, then a Foot bath, then a Massage. My shoulders were so tense from, well, everything… and they practically melted. The Sauna and Steam-room were the icing on the cake!
- Restaurant Roundup - Prepare to Eat (and Eat Well): Alright, let's talk food. The hotel’s restaurants have it all. I’m talking Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, and a Vegetarian restaurant. Even I, the resident carnivore, was blown away by the veggie options. The Breakfast [buffet]? Forget about it! It's a feast! And for those mornings you just can't get out of bed, the Breakfast in room option is a lifesaver. Coffee/tea in restaurant? Yes please! Honestly, it was hard not to just camp out at the Coffee shop all day. The Poolside bar? Perfect for a cheeky cocktail. And the Happy hour? Let's just say, things got interesting.
- Rooms That Rock (and the Wi-Fi That Doesn't Suck): The air-conditioned rooms were a godsend. I'm talkin' absolute heaven after a day exploring. They're well-equipped ( Coffee/tea maker and Refrigerator were clutch). The Wi-Fi [free] in the rooms? YES! And the Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! is a must.
- Cleanliness and Safety – Seriously Impressive: Look, I’m one of those people who eyeballs the bathroom. And I can tell you, this place takes hygiene seriously. The Rooms sanitized between stays stuff? Amazing. Hand sanitizer everywhere. The Daily disinfection in common areas and Anti-viral cleaning products made me feel safe enough to actually relax.
The "Could Be Better" Zone (Because No Place Is Perfect):
- Wheelchair Accessibility – A Little Hit and Miss: While the hotel does have Facilities for disabled guests, it wasn't perfectly smooth everywhere. Some areas could be a bit tight. The elevator was great - but a few of the paths to the restaurants? A little bit of a challenge.
- Internet [LAN]: I tried to use the Internet [LAN] once back at the room, but it didn't quite work. The Internet, Internet services are good overall, but just don't rely on the LAN.
- Getting Around - Needs More Clarity: The hotel does have Car park [free of charge] and Car park [on-site]. Taxi service is also available.
My Standout Moment:
You know what really sold me? The service. Not just polite staff. It was the little things. I have a huge problem with allergies, and everyone went above and beyond to make sure I was taken care of. They even make sure there is a doctor/nurse on call, which is a big boost of confidence, especially when you are traveling in a new place.
The Offer: Escape to Paradise – Your Bandar Lampung Adventure Awaits!
Okay, folks, here's the deal. I'm calling it – you need a vacation. And I'm calling it again: You need this vacation. At Escape to Paradise: Hotel Marco Polo, you're not just booking a room; you're buying an experience. An escape.
Here’s what you get:
- Luxurious Rooms with free Wi-fi!
- World-Class Spa for Relaxation and Rejuvenation
- Multiple Restaurants serve up some amazing food
- On-site event hosting
Book now and get a complimentary upgrade to a room with a view!
This offer is available for a limited time only, so don’t miss out. Trust me, your stressed-out self will thank you.
Aloft Austin South Austin: Your Epic South Austin Getaway Awaits!
Hotel Marcopolo Mayhem: A Lampung Romp (Or, My Attempt At Vacationing)
Okay, deep breaths. This is supposed to be a "travel itinerary." More like a mental map of the chaos I'm about to inflict on Lampung, Indonesia. And on myself, probably. Hotel Marcopolo is the base camp, bless its air-conditioned heart. Here we go…
Day 1: Arrival and the Great Noodle Hunt (and a near-miss with a cockroach)
- Morning (Jakarta to Lampung, aka "The Great Escape"):
- Transportation: Flight from Jakarta. Thought I was being clever by booking a morning flight. Turns out, "morning" in Jakarta means "mass of humanity slowly shuffling through airport security." My flight was delayed an hour. Already questioning all my life choices.
- Arrival at Radin Inten II Airport: Smog. And heat. Welcome to Lampung! Grabbed the pre-booked taxi (thank god, no haggling required yet). The driver’s name was… I’ve already forgotten. He looked like he’d seen a ghost, but maybe that's just the heat getting to me.
- Check-in at Hotel Marcopolo: Ah, sweet, blessed air conditioning. The room is… well, it’s a room. Clean enough, but the carpet has a slight, indefinable… smell. You know, that "hotel smell." The bathroom is a testament to the power of tile grout.
- Afternoon: The Noodle Quest and Near-Apocalypse:
- Lunch: Goal: authentic Indonesian food. Mission: Bakso! (meatball soup). Armed with Google Maps and a reckless sense of adventure, I set off on foot. This is where my genius plan went sideways. The streets are a relentless assault on the senses: motorbikes, hawkers, smells of everything, and a general air of organized chaos.
- The Bakso Restaurant (almost): Found a place that seemed promising. Ordered bakso… and just as the delicious aroma hit my nose, I saw it. A cockroach. A big, shiny, menacing cockroach. It scurried across the floor, under a table… I think I might have yelped and jumped onto a chair. People stared. I fled. Empty stomach, bruised ego.
- Back to Hotel Marcopolo, defeated, to re-group. Ordered room service nasi goreng. It was… okay.
- Evening: The Hotel's "Entertainment" (and My Existential Crisis):
- Decided to brave the hotel’s "live music." Found a band playing… well, I don’t know what they were playing. Indonesian covers of 80s power ballads? The lead singer had a voice like a rusty hinge. Good thing I bought a Bintang beer.
- Realization: After the third song, a wave of existential dread washed over me. Am I really doing this? Did I pack enough sunscreen? Is my life just a series of awkward encounters and questionable karaoke? Sigh…
Day 2: The Beach Bliss (and the Burn That Burned Me)
- Morning: The (Hopefully) Beach-y Morning:
- Transportation: Hired a car and driver. Yes, I chickened out on public transport. Judge away.
- Destination: Tanjung Setia Beach! Pictures looked amazing: white sand, turquoise water. I'm picturing myself as a tanned goddess, lounging on a beach.
- Afternoon: The Burn and the Reality Check:
- Tanjung Setia: It was… beautiful. Truly. The waves were perfect for surfing (though I’m more of a "sit and watch" type). The sand was white. The water… well, it was a bit murkier than the pictures suggested, but still divine.
- The Burn: I forgot sunscreen on my back. Idiot. Now I look like a lobster. Every time I sat down on the sand, I winced. Every time the breeze touched my back, I wanted to cry.
- Lunch on the Beach: Found a little warung (small local restaurant) and gorged on grilled fish. Ate too much. The fish was amazing, but I regretted it later when the tummy disagreed with me.
- The Reality Check: Spent some time just watching the locals. Kids playing in the surf, smiling. Life feels more simple here.
- Evening: Back to the Hotel and the Sweetest Sleep:
- Back at the hotel: Jumped in the pool to cool off my burn (a mistake, probably). Now I'm all pruney and red.
- Dinner and early bedtime: ordered room service and passed out.
Day 3: Exploring the City… And Maybe Learning Some Bahasa Indonesia?
- Morning: City exploration: Decided to embrace the chaos.
- Transportation: Taxi.
- Destination: The Pasar (market) and local museums
- Adventure Level: High! Attempting to buy some souvenirs… I am certain the haggling will be epic.
- Afternoon: The Struggle is Real:
- Museums: I can't read Indonesian. Everything is just… words. But the pictures are nice.
- Bahasa Indonesia: Switched on the language learning app. Realized I am terrible at pronouncing the sounds.
- Lunch: Found a small warung away from the main street. The food was amazing. It took me nearly 30 minutes to figure out what my order was (I'm pretty sure I accidentally pointed to something).
- Evening: Hotel, Room Service, and a Final Verdict:
- Final Reflections: Lampung is… interesting. Messy, beautiful, and a little bit bonkers. The Hotel Marcopolo has been home. The smells, the cockroach near-miss, the sunburn… all a part of the experience (I think).
- Final Meal: Sat in my room. Wrote this. Ordered nasi goreng, again.
Day 4: Departure and the Promise of a Future Return
- Morning:
- Transportation Airport.
- Departure: Leaving Lampung with a mix of relief (goodbye heat, goodbye possible cockroach encounters) and a strange sense of… fondness. It wasn’t perfect, it wasn’t always pleasant, but it was real.
- Final words: "See ya later, Lampung. I'll be back, probably with more sunscreen and a cockroach-proof plan."
