Escape to Paradise: Halal Hotel Near Taman Rozeline, Penajam!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because we're diving headfirst into Escape to Paradise: Halal Hotel Near Taman Rozeline, Penajam!. And let me tell you, after wrangling this review, I need to be whisked away somewhere with a pool and a strong cocktail. This place, on paper, sounds AMAZING. Let's see if it lives up to the hype, shall we?
First, the SEO Stuff (because, you know, Google):
Keywords: Halal Hotel Penajam, Taman Rozeline, Accessible Hotel, Spa Hotel, Family-Friendly Penajam, Pet-Friendly Hotel (well, almost), Swimming Pool Penajam, Restaurant Penajam, Wi-Fi Penajam, Hotel Review, Escape to Paradise Penajam.
Now, the REAL deal.
Accessibility (OMG, important for me):
Okay, I'm gonna be brutally honest upfront. I NEED accessibility information because, frankly, my knees are about as reliable as a politician's promise. Escape to Paradise appears to have "Facilities for disabled guests" and an "Elevator." That's a massive plus. The devil is in the details though, isn't it? Are the hallways wide enough? Are the bathrooms truly accessible? Sadly, the review I'm looking at doesn't give us that level of detail. Ugh. So, I’m tentatively giving a ‘maybe’ on this until I can get concrete info. This is something I would need to call and grill them about before booking. Very frustrating.
On-site Restaurants/Lounges (Fueling the Fun!):
Alright, the food and drink situation is where things get interesting (and a little confusing, I’ll be honest!). We've got:
- Restaurants: Plural! Promising!
- Coffee Shop: Essential. I'm a caffeine fiend.
- Poolside Bar: Sigh. Necessary. Because vacation.
- Snack Bar: For those sneaky midnight cravings.
- Bar: Yep, and you'd better have happy hour.
- Buffet in Restaurant: Good for options but a little… meh sometimes.
- Café: Good for something or other, but the review doesn't go into depth.
The variety is good! Plus, we're promised Asian, International, Vegetarian, and Western cuisine, with A la carte, and Buffet options. And Breakfast is Buffet! (but also available as a Breakfast takeaway service and Breakfast in Room). They’ve got the options. I seriously hope the coffee is good. I'm picturing myself with a plate piled high, a strong cup of joe, and feeling gloriously lazy.
Now, because it's a halal hotel, I assume all the offerings are halal-certified. Because if not… awkward. The review doesn't scream it, so a direct question to the hotel is probably needed.
Things to Do/Ways to Relax (This is the Good Stuff):
Right, this is where "Escape to Paradise" should shine. And, well, it kinda does.
- Swimming pool: A must. Preferably with a view.
- Pool with view: Crosses fingers. YES PLEASE!
- Spa: HELL YES.
- Spa/sauna: Double the relaxation, baby!
- Sauna and Steamroom: Okay, now we’re talking serious pampering.
- Fitness Center: Ugh. Necessary evil. I probably should use it.
- Gym/fitness: See above.
- Massage: Sign. Me. Up.
- Body scrub, Body wrap: Oh, yes. Take me away to a land of buttery skin and blissful ignorance.
- Foot bath: This sounds delightfully odd… and I'm in.
Okay, so the potential for SERIOUS chill time is high. Forget the gym; I'm headed straight for the spa. I need it. Really, really need it.
Cleanliness and Safety (Gotta be honest, COVID kinda scarred me.):
The review says this place is taking things seriously. We see:
- Anti-viral cleaning products: Good.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Excellent.
- Hand sanitizer: Phew. Breathe.
- Individually-wrapped food options: Smart.
- Physical distancing of at least 1 meter: Necessary.
- Professional-grade sanitizing services: Puts my mind at ease.
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Nice touch.
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Standard now, but appreciated.
- Safe dining setup: I hope so.
- Sanitized kitchen and tableware items: Essential.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Because nobody wants an untrained sneeze-slinger.
- Sterilizing equipment: Good lord, it's a fortress! - which is comforting.
They seem to be on top of their game, though I'd want to witness this first-hand to confirm.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (Let's break it down!)
I already covered the restaurants, but the detail is in the nuance, right? I’m particularly interested in the Poolside bar. I'm picturing a frozen margarita, a gorgeous sunset… Sigh. And the Coffee/tea in restaurant, because, again, caffeination is key.
Oh, and the Bottle of water. Always appreciated.
Services and Conveniences (The little things that make a difference):
- 24-hour Room Service? Bless you, Escape to Paradise.
- Air conditioning in public area: Always a win, especially in the tropics.
- Business facilities: Fine, for the workaholics.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Currency exchange: Smart.
- Daily housekeeping: HELL YES. I'm on vacation; I'm not cleaning!
- Dry cleaning/Laundry service/Ironing service: Victory.
- Elevator: Again, a massive win for accessibility.
- Baby sitting service: A must, but only if they know what they are doing.
- Family/child friendly: Good for families.
- Luggage storage: Always a good thing.
- Safety deposit boxes: Standard, but important for peace of mind.
- Wi-Fi in Public Areas: Important for the gram.
This place seems to have thought of everything.
For the Kids (Keeping the little monsters happy):
- Babysitting service: If you trust them.
- Family/child friendly: Seems to lean that way.
- Kids facilities: Details needed!
- Kids meal: Wonderful.
Access (Getting In and Out, and Being Seen):
- CCTV in common areas/outside property: Reassuring.
- Check-in/out [express]: Fast.
- Check-in/out [private]: Nice touch for privacy.
- 24-hour front desk/security: Essential.
- Fire extinguisher/Smoke alarms: Thank goodness.
- Exterior corridor: Not ideal, but depends on where you are, as long as it gives an open, airy feeling.
Getting Around (How Do We Get There?!):
- Airport transfer: YES!
- Car park [free of charge]/Car park [on-site]/Valet parking: Good options.
Available in All Rooms (The Nitty Gritty of the Room Itself):
- Air conditioning: Praise be.
- Alarm clock: Fine.
- Bathrobes/Slippers: YES to the bathrobes. And the slippers. I want to feel like a pampered emperor.
- Blackout curtains: Sleep is essential.
- Coffee/tea maker/Complimentary tea: Always a win.
- Daily housekeeping: Glorious.
- Desk/Desk with laptop space: Useful.
- Extra long bed/high floor: Love it.
- Internet access – wireless/internet access – lan: Need my internet.
- In-room safe box: Necessary.
- Mini bar/Refrigerator: Essential to cool the beer!
- Non-smoking: Fine - I need fresh air
- Private bathroom/Separate shower/bathtub: Perfect. Perfect.
- Satellite/cable channels/on-demand movies: Good for late nights.
- Seating area/sofa: Gotta have somewhere to chill.
- Soundproofing: Wonderful.
- Telephone: I still have one.
- Toiletries: Fine.
- Wake-up service: Meh. I'm probably going to oversleep anyway.
- Wi-Fi [free]: Yes! (Did I mention
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your average, sterile travel itinerary. This is a RedDoorz Syariah adventure near Taman Rozeline in Penajam, Indonesia, and it's gonna be… well, it's gonna be something. Let's see if I can survive this tropical heat and my own questionable planning skills.
Day 1: Arrival and the Existential Crisis of the Bathroom
- 08:00 – 10:00: Landed in Balikpapan (finally!), and the air hit me like a warm, humid hug. Which, frankly, isn't always pleasant. Taxi to the ferry terminal. Praying to the travel gods the luggage makes it (it almost always doesn't).
- 10:00 – 12:00: Ferry to Penajam. Staring out at the water, vaguely contemplating the vastness of the ocean and my very small life. Got slightly seasick. Ate some mystery crackers that tasted suspiciously like cardboard.
- 12:00 – 13:00: Arrived in Penajam! Woohoo! Found the RedDoorz Syariah (crossing my fingers it's not haunted - again). Check-in was a bit of a comedy routine. The receptionist, bless her heart, spoke about three words of English. She probably thought I was an idiot.
- 13:00 – 15:00: The Room. Okay, it's basic. Really basic. The bedspread has a suspicious stain (is that… mustard?). The aircon is a temperamental beast that alternates between Antarctic blast and Saharan heat. But the major problem? The bathroom. Oh, the bathroom. It’s… rustic. The squat toilet situation gives me a serious case of the jitters, and the shower is a tap-water-only situation. I’m seriously debating whether I can survive a week without Western-style plumbing. I take a deep breath, look around, and mutter, "Welcome to the jungle, baby."
- 15:00 – 17:00: The quest for lunch! Wandered the streets, dodging scooters and the intense stares of the locals. Eventually stumbled upon a Warung (small local restaurant) and ordered what I hoped was chicken rice. Turns out, it was spicy, and I mean, spicy spicy. My mouth is on fire, but it's a good fire. A fire of authentic Indonesian flavor! Or maybe I'm just delirious from the heat.
- 17:00 – 19:00: Attempted a nap. Failed miserably. The street dogs are having a vocal competition about something. The aircon has decided to give up the ghost completely. Managed to find a second wind and started to feel like I'm finally here.
- 19:00 – 21:00: Dinner at the Warung again, this time with a little less chili. Found some instant noodles in my bag, just in case. Contemplated a movie, but the internet is doing the dial-up dance, making streaming a no-go. It's a good problem. I mean, I'm on vacation, right?
- 21:00 Onward: Trying to sleep. Praying for a miracle regarding the bathroom situation. Send help… or at least, a roll of good toilet paper.
Day 2: Taman Rozeline and the Search for Serenity (or at Least, Some Shade)
- 08:00 – 10:00: Breakfast! Found some banana fritters from a local stall. Delicious! But also, possibly, the reason I’ll be frequenting the questionable RedDoorz bathroom all day.
- 10:00 – 12:00: Taman Rozeline! Finally! It's… a park. A very green park. I'm not gonna lie, it's not exactly the Taj Mahal, but the trees offer some much-needed shade, a valuable lesson I learned in the blazing heat of the tropics. The main thing I remember is being slightly obsessed with the local kids playing around.
- 12:00 – 14:00: Lunch, back at the Warung. This time, with a healthy dose of rice and the same amount of hope. I am starting to feel like a local!
- 14:00 – 16:00: Back to the RedDoorz. Found there was no toilet paper.
- 16:00 – 18:00: Decided to go to the supermarket to buy some toilet paper. The supermarket! It's a cultural experience in itself. I’m pretty sure I was the only tourist in sight, which is probably a good thing.
- 18:00 – 20:00: Evening stroll. The sunset over the water is undeniably pretty. Almost made me forget the bathroom situation. Almost. Managed to snag some street food snacks (sate ayam, yum!).
- 20:00 Onward: Back in the room. Deciding whether or not to brave the bathroom one last time. This is a journey for another day.
Day 3: That Water and the Deepest Fear
- 08:00 - 10:00: The Water. This turned into one of the most important decisions I have ever made. There was the ocean, a river of sorts, and a few tiny patches of water (the RedDoorz bathroom definitely comes to mind). I decided to explore the ocean. The sun was scorching, and my skin started to burn within minutes. I knew I would need to get back to the RedDoorz to get some rest, but this was not the end!
- 10:00 - 12:00: The Deepest Fear. I'm not talking about the ocean, no, I'm talking about the bathroom.
This is where my writing ends. I got caught up in the moment and my feelings took over.
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Escape to Paradise: Halal Hotel Near Taman Rozeline - Your Burning Questions (and My Messy Answers!)
So, is this *really* a Halal hotel? Like, *actually*? Because I've been burned before...
Okay, listen. I'm a stickler for this. Like, I once walked out of a supposedly "Halal" restaurant because the waiter coughed suspiciously near my satay. But yes! Escape to Paradise *claims* to be Halal, and from what I saw... it was. The food was definitely on that side of the spectrum - no pork in sight, no questionable "mystery meats." They had a proper prayer room, and the staff were super respectful of prayer times. They even provided prayer mats! I mean, I didn't crawl into the kitchen and demand a butchering certificate, but it *felt* legit. And my gut, which is usually right about this stuff, felt good. So, yeah, probably Halal. Unless a rogue pig farmer is secretly running the whole operation... hopefully not!
Is the hotel actually *near* Taman Rozeline? Or is "near" Indonesian for "a three-hour bumpy bus ride"?
Okay, here's the deal. "Near" is... relative. It's not *right* on the doorstep. You're probably looking at a short taxi ride, or maybe a slightly longer walk if you're feeling adventurous and the humidity isn't trying to liquefy you. (Let's be honest, I took a cab. I'm not built for "adventurous" when it comes to Penajam heat.) But it's definitely accessible. Think of it like... you know how sometimes your favorite coffee shop is "near" your house, but you can't just *smell* the coffee brewing from your bed? Same idea. It's close enough to enjoy Taman Rozeline, but not so close you can hear the kids screaming at dawn. Which, honestly, might be a good thing.
What did you *actually* think of the hotel? Be honest!
Alright, *this* is where things get interesting. Look, it's not the Ritz. Let's be crystal clear. It's a comfortable, clean, and perfectly functional hotel. The air conditioning worked, which is a HUGE win in Penajam. The staff were super friendly – always a smile and a "Selamat Pagi!" (though sometimes I felt like I was interrupting their karaoke practice, which I secretly wasn't complaining about, the songs were catchy I swear). The rooms are pretty basic. No fancy spa tubs or anything. But the beds were comfy enough. The breakfast... (deep breath)... the breakfast was... well, it was breakfast. Rice, some questionable scrambled eggs, and maybe a piece of fruit if you got there early enough. Don't go expecting a Michelin-star experience. Go expecting a place to recharge after a day of exploring. And honestly? For the price, it's a steal. I'd go back. (Maybe with a box of instant oatmeal, just in case.)
Okay, but the food *really* is a big deal. Any tips on what to eat *besides* the hotel breakfast?
Oh, the food! Right, aside from the breakfast... okay, so there are some AMAZING local warungs (small, family-run restaurants) nearby. Ask the hotel staff for recommendations – they know all the secret spots. I had some of the BEST *nasi goreng* (fried rice) of my LIFE at this little place tucked away down a side street. It was so cheap I almost felt guilty. And the *sate ayam* (chicken satay) was melt-in-your-mouth delicious. Just… be prepared for some chili. Indonesians love their spice. My tongue was on fire at one point, but I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Also, I highly recommend trying the local fresh juices. They're a life-saver when the heat kicks in. And go with a local friend to get the best food, or learn Bahasa Indonesian phrases to use to get the most authentic experience!
What's the Wi-Fi like? Because, you know, Instagram. And work... maybe.
The Wi-Fi... ah, the eternal traveler's struggle. It was... functional. Let's just say it wasn't blazing fast. I wouldn't recommend trying to stream a movie. (Unless you’re patient. Very patient.) Upload speeds were... well, maybe you're better off just taking pictures. The signal did cut out sometimes, especially during peak hours when everyone was desperately trying to share their holiday photos. But I mostly got my emails sent, and I did manage to post a few embarrassingly filtered selfies. So yeah, you can probably do Instagram. Work... well, that depends on how important your work is (and how good your boss is at not noticing you're lagging during the video call) . Try to keep your demands low. Enjoy the peace and quiet, instead.
Tell me about your "worst" experience. Or, more specifically, the one thing that *really* bugged you.
Okay, buckle up, because this is a good one. It wasn't actually a "worst" experience, more like a hilarious (in retrospect) situation. One night, I was STARVING after a long day of exploring, and I decided to order room service. They had this amazing looking *gado-gado* (Indonesian salad with peanut sauce) on the menu. Perfect, right? WRONG. I waited, and I waited, and I waited. An hour passed. Then another. Finally, a very apologetic young man arrived at my door, holding... a plate of plain white rice. "Maaf, sir," he said (the equivalent of "I'm sorry"), "the gado-gado... no more. But we have rice!" I just stared at him. Plain white rice. It was like something out of a comedy sketch. I think I laughed for a solid five minutes. I ended up eating the rice with some crackers I had stashed in my bag. The point is, always have snacks. And be prepared for the unexpected. That's Indonesia in a nutshell, really.
Would you recommend this hotel to a friend? Seriously, yes or no?
Hmm. That depends on the friend. If they're a high-maintenance person who expects five-star luxury and doesn't appreciate a bit of character (and a bit of imperfection), then, no. Definitely not. They’d whine the whole time. But, if they're adventurous, open-minded, and looking for a clean, comfortable, and affordable base of operations while exploring Penajam? Absolutely! Unreservedly. I'd say "go" do it, go! Just make sure they pack some instant coffee, and maybe a box of their favorite cereal just in case. Oh, and tell them to be prepared for white rice and pure, unadulterated joy.
