Indonesian Getaway: Uncover Madiun's Hidden Gem - Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel
Okay, buckle up buttercups! Because this review of Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel in Madiun is gonna be… well, it’s gonna be me. Forget polished brochures, you’re getting the real, slightly chaotic deal. So, here we GO!
Indonesian Getaway: Uncover Madiun's Hidden Gem - Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel - The Honest Truth (and a Few Tangents)
First off, Madiun. Let’s be real, it's not Bali. It's… Madiun. Which, for a weary traveler looking for something different, is actually a HUGE plus. And that's where Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel comes in. It's a solid basecamp for exploring this part of Java. But is it a gem? Let's dive in, shall we?
Accessibility: A Mixed Bag (But Mostly Okay!)
Okay, accessibility is always a big one for me. And Votel Kartika Abadi? Well, they try. Wheelchair accessible is listed, and I saw an elevator, which is an absolute necessity. But, I'm not sure about the hallways; they seemed a little tight for a larger wheelchair. It's definitely worth calling ahead to confirm and get specifics if you have mobility concerns. And, of course, having the Facilities for disabled guests is a good start.
On-site accessible restaurants / lounges: I didn't see a dedicated accessible restaurant/lounge per se, but the main restaurant and lobby are fairly open, which is a positive.
Cleanliness and Safety: Feeling Secure (and Disinfected!)
This is HUGE right now, right? And Votel Kartika Abadi, bless their little hearts, REALLY take it seriously. Anti-viral cleaning products, Daily disinfection in common areas, Hand sanitizer EVERYWHERE, and Staff trained in safety protocol. I even saw the Professional-grade sanitizing services guy at work. Honestly, I felt safer there than I sometimes do at home! They even have Rooms sanitized between stays and the option to opt out of Room sanitization opt-out available. They've got their act together. Plus, they've got CCTV in common areas and CCTV outside property, not to mention Safety/security feature included. First aid kit is also available. Whew!
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: Eat Your Heart Out (Literally?)
Okay, the food. This is where things get…interesting. They offer a Breakfast [buffet] with Asian breakfast and Western breakfast. I’m not usually a buffet person in general (germs, you know?), but their buffet was surprisingly well-organized (and, thankfully, not swarming with people). The Coffee/tea in restaurant was decent. But the real winner? The Poolside bar. Yes, you can sip a drink while looking out into the pool and thinking, “Hey, this isn’t Paris, but it's…pretty okay." They also have Restaurants, and a Coffee shop but I didn't try them all. Room service [24-hour] is a lifesaver, especially after a long day of… well, of being in Madiun. They also have a Snack bar and offer Alternative meal arrangement, which is great for vegetarians/vegans, but I didn't get to test that one out. They also have Desserts in restaurant and include Soup in restaurant, Salad in restaurant, Bottle of water. They also have Happy hour at the bar which is good. They also offer Asian cuisine in restaurant, International cuisine in restaurant, and Vegetarian restaurant options.
Things to Do, Ways to Relax: Get Away From It All… Or Not!
Listen. Madiun isn’t exactly known for its nightlife. But the hotel REALLY tries to cater to the chill crowd. They have a Swimming pool [outdoor] which, while not infinity-edged with stunning views (again, Madiun), is perfectly fine for a refreshing dip. The Pool with view is a good feature. The Sauna, Spa, Spa/sauna, Steamroom, Gym/fitness, Fitness center and the Massage gave me some serious pause, though. I'm not sure how much of this area is accessible, but it's available. They offer Body scrub, Body wrap, Foot bath and Sauna.
Internet Access: Wi-Fi Warrior
This is a win! Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! (Yes, that deserves the exclamation point!) The Internet access – wireless was also decent. They also have Internet access – LAN if you're old-school. And they offer Wi-Fi in public areas as well.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things Matter
Let's run down some of the stuff that matters when you're away from home. They have Air conditioning in public area and Air conditioning available in the rooms. There is Cash withdrawal and Concierge and available Daily housekeeping. They have a Doorman and Elevator, which I mentioned earlier. They also offer Laundry service and also offer Luggage storage if you need help. They offer Ironing service and Non-smoking rooms. They have Safety deposit boxes included. They offer Smoking area for those interested. They also have a Terrace for those who like the outdoors. They also have Facilities for disabled guests. They even have Taxi service and offer Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site].
Rooms: Functionality Over Flair
The rooms themselves are… functional. Clean, which gets a HUGE gold star. They have the Air conditioning – vital in the Indonesian heat. They have Bathroom phone, Bathrobes, and Wake-up service. You'll find Additional toilet, Alarm clock, Bathrobes, Bathtub, Blackout curtains, Carpeting, Closet, Coffee/tea maker, Complimentary tea, Daily housekeeping, Desk, Extra long bed, Free bottled water, Hair dryer, High floor, In-room safe box, Interconnecting room(s) available, Internet access – LAN, Internet access – wireless, Ironing facilities, Laptop workspace, Linens, Mini bar, Mirror, Non-smoking, On-demand movies, Private bathroom, Reading light, Refrigerator, Safety/security feature, Satellite/cable channels, Scale, Seating area, Separate shower/bathtub, Shower, Slippers, Smoke detector, Socket near the bed, Sofa, Soundproofing, Telephone, Toiletries, Towels, Umbrella, Visual alarm, Wake-up service, Wi-Fi [free], and Window that opens. They're not going to blow your mind with design, but they're comfortable and well-equipped. I especially appreciated the Blackout curtains – essential for sleeping in! And the Hot water linen and laundry washing made me feel slightly less gross. This feature is huge.
For the Kids: Not a Kid-Focused Hotel, But…
I didn’t travel with kids, so I can't give a definitive assessment. But they do have Babysitting service, and they are Family/child friendly. They also offer Kids facilities, Kids meal.
Getting Around: Easy Peasy
Getting to and from the hotel is a breeze, if you're using the Airport transfer. They also offer Bicycle parking, Car park [free of charge], Car park [on-site], Car power charging station, Taxi service, Valet parking.
The Anecdote: The Bathroom Phone
Okay, here's a little gem. In my room, there was a Bathroom phone. Yes, a phone IN the bathroom. I mean, who are you calling?! "Hello, front desk? Yes, I seem to have misplaced my bar of soap… again." Honestly, it made me laugh. It's those little quirks that make a place memorable.
The Verdict: Is it a Gem? Maybe. But It's a Solid Choice.
Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel isn’t the Ritz. It’s not trying to be. But it is a clean, safe, comfortable, and reasonably well-equipped basecamp for exploring Madiun. If you're looking for luxury, maybe look elsewhere. But if you're looking for a reliable hotel with good hygiene standards, friendly staff, and decent amenities, Votel Kartika Abadi is a solid choice. It's certainly no palace, but as a hotel, it's good as it needs to be.
Indonesian Getaway: Your Madiun Adventure Awaits!
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Escape to Paradise: Stunning Townhouses in Almuñécar, Spain!
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's perfectly-planned itinerary. We're diving headfirst into the glorious, messy, and utterly unpredictable adventure that is… Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel in Madiun, Indonesia! Get ready for a rollercoaster of emotions, questionable food choices, and enough mosquito bites to make you question your life choices. Let's do this!
The "Maybe This Was a Bad Idea" Itinerary: Madiun Edition
Day 1: Arrival… and Existential Dread (and Sambal!)
- 14:00 - Arrival at Surabaya's Juanda International Airport (SUB): Okay, first challenge: surviving the Surabaya airport. It's a glorious chaos of taxi hustlers, questionable coffee vendors, and a general air of "are you sure you know what you're doing?" I'm pretty sure I don't. Finding a reputable driver to take me the roughly 140 km to Madiun. Pray for me; the traffic in East Java is notoriously bonkers.
- Anecdote: Found a taxi driver who claimed he knew the "secret back roads" to Madiun. Thought I was being clever. Turns out, "secret back roads" translates to bumpy dirt tracks and the faint scent of something… farm-related. Still, we made it. Barely.
- 17:00 - Check-in at Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel: Finally! Escape from the heat, the road, and the questionable back-road route. The lobby is… well, it's got air conditioning, which is a win in my book. Check-in was surprisingly smooth, which makes me suspicious. Is this a trap? Is this where my vacation turns into a low-budget horror movie?
- 18:00 - Room Reconnaissance: Okay, let's inspect the room. Clean sheets? Check. AC that kinda works? Big check. View of some rooftops and, uh, a water tower? Meh, acceptable. The bathroom is… let's just say it has character. Shower pressure is a trickle, but hey, at least it's water.
- Quirky Observation: I swear, the walls are slightly damp. I think I'm absorbing the humidity of Java through osmosis. I'll be a walking sponge by the end of this trip.
- 19:00 - Dinner at the Hotel Restaurant: Alright, time to fuel up. The menu is… extensive. Everything from Indonesian classics to something that looks suspiciously like spaghetti. I bravely (or foolishly) order Nasi Goreng (fried rice). Hope for the best… Expect the worst. Oh. My. God. It was fantastic. Seriously, maybe I've underestimated this place. And the sambal (chili paste)? Fire. Tears-streaming-down-my-face fire. Worth. Every. Bite.
- Emotional Reaction: Initially terrified. Totally, completely wrong. Bliss. Pure, spicy, carb-filled bliss.
- 20:30 - The Great Mosquito Hunt: Time to wage war. This hotel room has been invaded. I swear, they're breeding in the corners. Armed with the provided mosquito spray (which smells vaguely of burning plastic), I embark on a nightly game of whack-a-bug. I’m losing. Terribly.
- 21:30 - Crash and Burn (and Swat): Fall into bed. Exhausted. Praying for sleep. And for the mosquito gods to spare me…
Day 2: Temples, Trepidation, and Tummy Troubles
- 07:00 - Wake Up (or, More Accurately, be Awoken by the Sunrise and the Mosquitos): Ugh. My body feels like it’s been through a blender. And there's one mosquito buzzing around my ear. Grr.
- 08:00 - Breakfast - A Questionable Gamble: I stumble down to the buffet, eyeing the suspicious-looking scrambled eggs and the… questionable fruit selection. I opt for the toast. Always go for the toast. Plus some black coffee, the strong and kind.
- Opinionated Language: The coffee, though, could strip paint. But, hey, I need the caffeine to face the day.
- 09:00 - Exploring: The hotel provides a driver. I decide to visit:
- A temple called "Candi Plaosan" located 13 km from Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel, I've heard the architecture is amazing
- Enjoying the local park in Madiun, called "Alun Alun Madiun".
- 12:00 - Lunch Fiasco: I saw a street food vendor. "Chicken with rice". Sounds fantastic. It wasn’t. I should have known better. It was… well, let's just say my stomach is staging a protest.
- Emotional Reaction: Regret. Pure, unadulterated regret. I hobble back to the hotel, clutching my stomach, praying for the sweet, sweet mercy of the toilet.
- 14:00 - The Great Room Exodus: I have to go. Now.
- 16:00 - Rest and Reread: My tummy is still upset. I spend a few hours in the room, rereading some books and relaxing in the air conditioner.
- Anecdote: I tried to watch some Indonesian TV, but I think my brain has reached the maximum level of Indonesian.
- 19:00 - Dinner (Cautiously): I play is safe. Rice. Plain rice. I'm not taking any chances.
- 20:00 - Mosquito Round 2: More swatting. More losing.
- 21:00 - Bedtime: Wish me luck… and an endless supply of bug spray.
Day 3: The Deep Dive (into Blandness and Self-Reflection)
- 08:00 - Breakfast (Still Cautious): Toast. Toast is the answer.
- 09:00 - Poolside Relaxation: The hotel has a pool that looks clean, so that's a plus. Spend some time lounging by the pool, pretending to be a sophisticated traveler.
- 12:00 - Lunch: At the hotel restaurant, you know, the one with the Nasi Goreng of the gods. I'm thinking I can try my luck with a safe dish, a soup maybe?
- 14:00 - Exploring:
1.Visiting "Punden Watu Gede", the local tourist spot
- Shopping in "Madiun Square".
- 18:00 - Dinner: At the hotel restaurant again (so comfortable).
- 20:00 - Mosquito Round 3: I'm starting to understand the meaning of the existential mosquito swarm.
Day 4: Departure (and a Sigh of Relief)
- 08:00 - Breakfast (Goodbye Toast, You Were Good): One last toast. A bittersweet farewell.
- 09:00 - Final Inspection: Check out, and ensure I haven't left any crucial belongings.
- 10:00 - Departure to Juanda International Airport (SUB): Time to leave this city. Farewell, Madiun. You were… an experience.
- Ongoing - Reflection (Years Later): Looking back, it was one of the most challenging trips I ever took. But also, some of the best meals I’ve ever eaten. The mosquito bites, the questionable food, the existential dread… all of it somehow made for a truly unforgettable adventure. I’d do it all again in a heartbeat. Disclaimer: This itinerary is a dramatic exaggeration of events. Actual experiences may vary. Please consult a doctor before consuming questionable street food. And for the love of all that is holy, bring extra bug spray.
Indonesian Getaway: Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel - Madiun Edition (The Honestly Messy FAQs)
Okay, So Madiun? *Why* Madiun? Isn't it... just a small town?
Alright, real talk. Madiun wasn't exactly on my "must-see" list. Let's be honest, it's not Bali. It's... a place. But! Life, as they say, throws you curveballs (and sometimes, cheap flights). I was in a *mood* for adventure, a need to escape the everyday grind, and the only thing that fit the budget was a little exploration of East Java. Madiun… here I come, probably with a frown. But you know what? That frown slowly – *slowly* – started to turn upside down. Madiun's got a certain charm, a low-key vibe that sneaks up on you. It’s like… the travel equivalent of a comfortable pair of old jeans. Not glamorous, but reliable and ultimately, kinda lovable. Plus, that Votel Kartika Abadi Hotel? That's a whole other story.
The hotel. Votel Kartika Abadi. What's the deal? Is it, like, a palace?
Palace? Nah. More like… a reliable, clean, and surprisingly charming… place to crash. It's not the glitz and glam of a five-star resort, folks. It leans towards the "comfortable and clean" side of things, which, honestly, after a long day of navigating the Madiun streets (more on that later), it's *exactly* what you need. The staff are genuinely lovely, always smiling, always helpful. One evening, I was desperately trying to figure out the local sim card (my phone's a dinosaur, okay?) and this sweet young lady at the front desk, without batting an eyelid, helped me through the whole process. It's those little things that make a difference, you know? And the pool? Okay, the pool is a definite highlight. Perfect for a refreshing dip when the East Javan sun starts to bake you. It's NOT sparkling turquoise; think more… refreshing and inviting. And that's all that matters when you're drenched in sweat from the market.
Food, Glorious Food! What are the options around the hotel? Did you live off instant noodles?!
Instant noodles? Ugh, *shudders*. Look, I'm a foodie, even when I'm slumming it in a "small town." The good news: Madiun is a hidden gem for food lovers (seriously, write that down). Forget the fancy restaurants you get back home - this is where you find the *real* Indonesian food. Right near the Votel, you've got some amazing warungs (small, family-run eateries). The *soto ayam* (chicken soup) is a must-try – the broth is like a warm hug on a rainy day. And the satay? Oh. My. Goodness. Grilled skewers of marinated meat, usually chicken or goat (beware of the goat; it's not for the faint-hearted!), served with a peanut sauce that’s so good, I almost licked the plate. *Almost*. There's a market nearby too, and the fruit? Juicy mangos, pineapples you wouldn't believe... My bank balance took a hit. (It always does.) The hotel buffet was… fine. Perfectly edible, safe in a pinch, but nothing compared to the real deal outside. Trust me, wander out! The best food experiences were often the ones I stumbled upon, lost and wandering (always with a slightly panicked look on my face!).
Okay, so *what* did you actually *do* in Madiun? Beyond the food coma, I mean…
Right, the activities. Here's where I admit, I wasn't exactly a super-planner. I'm more of a "wing it and hope for the best" kind of traveler, which sometimes works, and sometimes… well, let’s just say I made a few wrong turns. But! There are a few things I *did* manage to do. The local markets are a MUST. The sights, the *smells*, the sheer chaos… It's a sensory overload in the best possible way. I haggled (badly) for a batik shirt that I *swear* I'll wear one day. I visited the Bantarangin Temple - really intriguing. I rode a scooter (rental, of course) and nearly had a heart attack when I encountered the traffic (traffic in Madiun is… an adventure!). I really just enjoyed the simplicity of wandering, discovering hidden gems, and actually *talking* to people. That’s the real magic of travel, isn’t it? The unexpected connections, the shared laughter, the little moments you'll never forget. The worst part? Not being able to perfectly recall the name of the most incredible nasi goreng I ate. It's a tragedy, I tell you. *A tragedy!* And then the rain poured - I hid under a tree for an hour.
Transportation? How did you *get around*?! Scooters? Taxi? Or... are you telling me you walked everywhere?
Scooters! Yes! (And, yes, I’m still alive to tell the tale). It's the *only* way to see Madiun, honestly. Public transport? Good luck. Taxis? Possible, but not always readily available. Scooters are cheap, readily available (rent one when you get there), and give you the freedom to explore at your own pace. Just… be careful. The traffic is, shall we say, *dynamic*. There’s a lot of beeping. A lot of weaving. A lot of… well, let's just say I had to take some deep breaths and channel my inner zen master. (I might have closed my eyes a few times too, but don't tell anyone). The roads are mostly fine, but can quickly become chaotic. Then the rain and chaos, and you just hope. Definitely wear a helmet! The hotel did help me rent one, thankfully (I'm not sure I'd have attempted this without the help). Just embrace the adrenaline rush, and you’ll be fine! (Probably).
Any regrets? Would you go back? Spill the tea!
Regrets? Hmm… I regret not taking even *more* photos. I regret not being braver with the spicy food (my stomach, sadly, has its limits). I regret not learning more Bahasa Indonesia before I went – speaking even a little bit makes a huge difference. And I definitely regret not getting the *name* of that damn nasi goreng! But would I go back? Absolutely. In a heartbeat. Madiun, and the Votel Kartika Abadi, offered me a genuine escape, a chance to disconnect from the usual and reconnect with myself. It’s not for everyone, sure, but if you're looking for an authentic experience, a bit of adventure, and a whole lot of delicious food (AND, you're on a budget!), then Madiun is definitely worth a look. It's a place that surprises you, that challenges you, and that, in its own quirky way, steals a little piece of your heart. And I'm already planning my return trip… hopefully with better navigation skills (and a better grip on spicy food resistance!). So pack your bags. Be prepared to get lost. And prepare to be pleasantly surprised. Seriously. Go. What are you waiting for? Just, maybe, brush up on your scooter skills first...
