Solo Paragon's BEST RedDoorz Syariah? (Near Mall!)
Solo Paragon's BEST RedDoorz Syariah (Near Mall!?): My Honest (and Slightly Messy) Review
Okay, folks, buckle up. Because this isn't your typical, perfectly-manicured hotel review. This is me, after a recent stay at the Solo Paragon RedDoorz Syariah (Near Mall! - their words, not mine… though, they're right). And let me tell you, it's a whole thing.
First, the Basics (and the Unavoidable Syariah Tag):
Let's get this out of the way: "Syariah." Yes, it's there. Think modest. Think no booze. Think… well, we'll get to the "think" part in a minute. The location? Spot on. Right near Solo Paragon Mall. Perfect for a shopping spree (or, let's be real, a quick escape from the hotel). Accessibility? More on that later, because, frankly, it's a bit of a mixed bag.
Accessibility – The Staircase to… Somewhere?
Look, I'm not disabled, but I am lazy. And even I noticed the potential issues. There's an elevator, thank god. But the signage… well, let's just say it takes a bit of detective work. I got the feeling if I were in a wheelchair, navigating this place might be a proper adventure.
Internet – Wi-Fi is (Mostly) Your Friend
Okay, internet. The lifeblood of the modern traveler. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms? Praise be! And, generally, it works. Mostly. I had a few agonizing moments trying to upload a picture of my breakfast (priorities, people!) but for work and just generally browsing, it was pretty solid. They also have wired internet (LAN) if you're that dedicated to a stable connection.
Cleanliness and Safety – Feeling (Mostly) Secure
This is where things get interesting. The anti-viral cleaning products were mentioned in their marketing. They certainly looked like they'd been busy. I saw staff constantly wiping down surfaces. And the room? Pretty darn spotless. Room sanitization opt-out? Not an option that I'm aware of. Good, because I want my room sanitized!
The security felt good. CCTV everywhere, security guards… the works. The fact that the staff were trained in safety protocols was reassuring. The smoke alarms, the fire extinguishers, everything was there. Plus, a doctor/nurse on call if needed. Okay, I felt reasonably safe here.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking (The "Syariah" Factor Reared its Head)
Right, the food. This is where the "Syariah" thing really kicked in. No bar, obviously. No happy hour of boozy cocktails. Instead, you've got… well, more coffee. And a surprising amount of Asian cuisine. The restaurant, while offering buffet-style breakfast, also had an à la carte menu. International cuisine? Yes, in the form of pretty standard Indonesian dishes. The breakfast… it was edible, but not exactly a culinary masterpiece. There were definitely some highlights, like the local "gado-gado," a satisfying salad with peanut sauce.
Services and Conveniences – A Bit of Everything (and a Bit More Messiness)
This is where a few minor issues arose. The "facilities for disabled guests" was a little vague. The concierge was lovely, but sometimes a bit swamped. The elevators are okay, but I could've used a little more help with getting around. I had laundry done, and it came back clean and neatly folded, so that was a win. The daily housekeeping was excellent.
For the Kids – Family Friendly? (Maybe.)
I didn't see any actual children. The hotel did offer babysitting, but I can't say how good it is. Their kids' meals are something I didn't see.
Rooms – Where I Spent Most of My Time (and Had a Few Thoughts)
The rooms are… decent. Air conditioning? Check. Free bottled water? Yes! That was a lifesaver. I had a comfortable bed, and a decent-sized window for natural light. I particularly loved the blackout curtains - important for blocking out the sun to enable maximum sleep time. The in-room safe box was also useful.
Okay, the "Aha!" Moment: Breakfast Bliss (and Bottled Water)
So, I woke up one morning, craving… well, something simple. And the breakfast buffet. I wasn't expecting a culinary revelation. And that's when it happened. The buffet had a bottle of cold water (a staple). That was the first sign that I took for granted. The second was when I was eating the simple nasi goreng, a classic fried rice dish from the hotel. And in that moment, I had an epiphany. It was… good. Comforting. Simple. And, somehow, perfect. It wasn't some Michelin-starred experience, but it was exactly what I needed. It was a humble dish from a modest hotel. And it was a moment of pure, uncomplicated joy. (Yes, I'm a bit dramatic).
My Overall Verdict:
Solo Paragon RedDoorz Syariah? It's… fine. Really, it is. Considering how affordable it is, it delivers. There's nothing incredibly fancy or groundbreaking. It is clean, and the location is great. It's a good base for exploring Solo. Just keep your expectations in check, pack your tolerance for slightly-quirky signage, and embrace the simple pleasures. And definitely grab a bottle of water with your nasi goreng. You'll thank me later.
Miyakojima's Hidden Gem: Uncover Minnkayado's Untouched Paradise!
Okay, buckle up buttercups, because this is going to be less a pristine itinerary and more a chaotic, caffeine-fueled love letter to Central Java from the perspective of someone who’s pretty good at traveling, but even better at messing things up. We’re aiming for honesty, laughs, and a serious case of wanderlust… all starting from the sacred RedDoorz Syariah near Solo Paragon Mall 2.
Day 1: Arrival and the Javanese Jitters (and Noodles)
14:00 - Arrive at Adi Soemarmo International Airport (SOC). Oh boy, my flight was brutal. You know when you’re crammed into a seat and the person next to you is simultaneously hogging the armrest and making guttural eating noises? Yeah, that was my vibe. Anyway, finally made it! Airport pickup arranged (thank GOD, public transport is a mystery I'm not ready to tackle yet). The air hit me like a warm hug (or maybe it was the jet lag).
15:00 - Check-in at RedDoorz Syariah near Solo Paragon Mall 2. Okay, first impressions: the room is clean, the AC is blasting, the obligatory prayer mat is in the corner, and it smells faintly of jasmine and… something else completely unidentifiable. I'm going to call that "Indonesian Charm." The receptionist, barely older than my niece, gave me a look that translated roughly to "Are you sure you're ready for this?" I think I looked as frazzled as I felt.
16:00 - Solo Paragon Mall - Adventure Begins? Right, gotta get my bearings. Apparently, Solo Paragon is the local hotspot. This place is a maze. Okay, let's be honest, it's a beautiful maze, with bright lights, bustling crowds, and enough food options to send my stomach into overdrive. I'm immediately overwhelmed. This is the point where I know I'm probably gonna get lost.
17:00 - Noodle Nirvana at a Street Stall. Found a seemingly innocuous-looking warung (small, local restaurant) outside the mall, and BAM! Best Mie Ayam (chicken noodle soup) of my LIFE. Seriously. This stuff was a revelation. The broth, the noodles, the tender chicken, the chili… I practically inhaled it. I’m pretty sure I didn't bother with proper chopstick etiquette, I just ate. The grumpy ol' lady running the warung looked at me like I was insane. Worth it.
18:00 - Wandering and Wondering. Okay, full of noodles, feeling slightly less like a lost tourist. I wandered the mall until I was exhausted and wanted to curl up in a shopping cart. I managed to find maybe two things I really wanted to buy, and then promptly lost interest. People were nice here, smiling, trying to help, pointing me toward stalls, and trying to sell me everything from colorful batik shirts to rubber ducks. One guy even tried to convince me to buy a durian. (Yeah, no.)
19:00 - Back to RedDoorz, Bed, and an Unholy Amount of Mosquito Spray. Jet lag is real. I crashed. Like, face-plant, lights-out, wake up occasionally to swat at mosquitoes (thanks, Indonesia!) levels of crashing. I slathered myself in mosquito spray and prayed to the air conditioning gods.
Day 2: Temples, Batik, and a Near-Disaster with Gamelan
07:00 - Breakfast, Sort Of. The hotel breakfast was… yeah. Instant coffee and something vaguely resembling toast. I opted for a banana from a street vendor instead. Much better.
08:00 - Candi Sukuh (Sukuh Temple). Oh. My. God. This place. It's a massive Hindu temple, perched high on a mountainside, and the views are breathtaking. It's a bit of a drive, but totally worth it. I stumbled my way through the intricate carvings (lost my guidebook somewhere, typical me) and really tried to absorb the history and significance. It was all beautiful and mind-boggling. I spent far too long just wandering around, imagining the rituals and people who populated the place centuries ago. It gave me the chills, in a good way.
09:00 - A Journey That Cost Me My Phone. While I was enjoying the view, I realized my phone had fallen out of my pocket. I spent a good twenty minutes running back and forth between the front gate and the main courtyard, I asked the guards and a bunch of other tourists, but no one saw anything. My phone was gone. And with it, ALL OF MY PHOTOS. I was furious, but also, what could I do? Besides scream a bit in the parking lot. I bought some new sunglasses. And I decided to move the photos.
11:00 - Batik Lesson. Time to embrace my inner artist…or not. I found a batik workshop. The instructor was a very patient woman with a thousand-watt smile who didn't bat an eyelid at my chaotic approach to wax and dye. I ended up with something that, at best, looks like a Jackson Pollock knock-off. But, honestly, I had so much fun, and honestly, that's all that mattered!
13:00 - Lunch at a Local Warung (again!). Okay, I’m officially addicted to warung food. Today: Nasi Goreng (fried rice) with a fried egg on top. Pure bliss. I ordered it without knowing what it was.
15:00 - Briefly Contemplating Joining a Gamelan Orchestra. I was wandering through the mall (again, I know) and stumbled upon a music store. I heard the beautiful, complex sounds of gamelan music (traditional Javanese percussion orchestra): gongs, metallophones, drums… It called to me… I’m very tone-deaf, but I wanted to join the party. I spent an hour in there listening, and got the guts to go and even touch some instruments. I wanted to have a go, but my innate clumsiness and artistic uselessness saved me the embarrassment.
17:00 - Sunset at the Park. I'm not sure what it's called, but there's a gorgeous park nearby. I watched the sunset over Solo, and felt a real sense of peace after the near-disaster with my phone.
18:00 - Dinner and a Deep Dive into Indonesian Pop Culture. I found a street food stall, I had some more Mie Ayam. I found a local coffee shop. I spent the evening in trying to understand what the locals were into.
Day 3: Farewell Solo (And a Whole Lot of Laundry)
07:00 - The Breakfast Blues (Revisited). Same breakfast, different day. I'm starting to crave real coffee.
08:00 - Laundry Mayhem. I spent the morning trying to figure out how to get my clothes washed. Let's just say, my attempts at hand-washing in the hotel sink were… less than successful.
09:00 - Last-Minute Souvenir Shopping. I braved the mall one last time to pick up a few souvenirs (buddhas, mainly). Of course, I got completely lost again, because, well, me.
11:00 - Goodbye Solo, It’s Been Real. Time to head back to the airport, with a suitcase full of batik, the taste of mie ayam still on my tongue, and a deep appreciation for the chaos and beauty of Solo. I've got a feeling this isn't goodbye forever.
This is just a taste of what Solo has to offer, of course, and this itinerary is just a starting point. The truth is, the best experiences are often the unexpected ones. So embrace the wanderlust, get lost, eat the noodles, and don’t be afraid to make a glorious mess of it all. Embrace the chaos. You'll have a story or two. And that, my friends, is what traveling is all about.
Unbelievable Japan Getaway: Mu Nanki Shirahama's Hidden Gem!
Solo Paragon's BEST RedDoorz Syariah (Near Mall!) - The Truth, The Whole Truth, and Nothing But the Unfiltered Truth (Probably)
Okay, so… "BEST" RedDoorz Syariah? Really? What’s the Deal? Is It Actually Halal-Compliant? Because, you know, *priorities*.
Alright, let's get this out of the way. "Best" is a relative term, right? I mean, I’ve stayed in places that make you question the very fabric of reality (ahem, *that* hostel in Bali… don’t even get me started). This RedDoorz near Solo Paragon Mall… well, it's *trying*. The "Syariah" part? They say it’s halal-compliant. I *think* they have prayer mats and the little arrow pointing to Mecca. I didn't see any evidence of… you know… *questionable* things (like, say, a bar or a whole bunch of unapproved snacks like, in a convenience store situation). But, let's be real, how are you *truly* sure unless you know the staff's family and their history? It's faith, but with a side of cautious optimism. You're taking a bit of a leap. It's closer than some places but not necessarily the gold standard. Still, better than the dodgy place I got stuck in last month that smelled faintly of… well, let's just say something involving a lot of cooking and a very closed-off bathroom.
The Mall! Is it actually *near* the mall? Because sometimes "near" means a brisk hour-long walk in the Indonesian heat...
Yes! YES!!! Thank the gods! It’s *close*. Like, "stroll-in-your-sandals-after-a-big-meal" close. We're talking maybe a five-minute walk, tops. Which is *huge*. Especially when you’re craving that post-shopping bubble tea or need to escape the oppressive humidity by diving into air-conditioned heaven. I mean, I get it; some places *lie*. "Near" is a cruel mistress. This one, though? It delivers. You can practically smell the fried food emanating from the food court. And trust me, after a day of haggling for batik and dodging scooters, the allure of a quick escape to a mall is *irresistible*. One time… (deep breath) I was so deliriously exhausted from bargain-hunting, that I ended up buying three identical t-shirts. ALL the SAME SIZE! And nearly made the same mistake with a souvenir keychain. I think the RedDoorz proximity saved me from myself that day.
The Rooms! What are the rooms actually *like*? Are we talking sterile, or… cozy? Or just… functional?
Okay, let's set expectations. We're not talking the Ritz-Carlton, people. This is a RedDoorz. Functional. It's… fine. Clean enough, usually. The bed? Okay. My back didn't scream bloody murder the next morning. The AC? A lifesaver. A *literal* lifesaver in Solo. The WiFi? Sometimes a little… patchy. I may or may not have stood near the window for an hour trying to upload a photo of my nasi goreng. But hey, you get what you pay for. The bathrooms… well, they *are* Indonesian bathrooms. Expect the "wet room" concept – meaning the entire space is basically the shower. It works! But don’t expect a plush robe and a rain shower. I've definitely had worse, trust me. I once stayed in a place where the shower was basically a trickle of water, and I’m pretty sure the towels were older than my grandmother. At least this place has hot water. Hot! Water! That’s a win in my book.
Breakfast? Is there breakfast? And is it any good? Because I need my morning coffee. Desperately.
Okay, here’s the deal with breakfast. Technically, yes, there *is* usually a breakfast option. Often it's included in the price, or you can add it on. But… and this is a big but…don't get your hopes up too high. Think… simple. Rice, maybe some noodles, occasionally a sad piece of toast with some questionable jam. The coffee, usually instant. The best bet? Head to the mall! There are a ton of the typical restaurants that most likely will suit your tastes more. Personally, I always bring my own instant coffee and a stash of those little instant oatmeal packets. It's a lifesaver. Plus, the mall is literally *right there*. Grab a proper coffee and a decent pastry. It's a small price to pay for a happy tummy. If you don't, well, may as well just sleep the day away.
The Staff: Are they friendly? Helpful? Or just… there? Because sometimes a smile can make or break a stay.
The staff… this is a mixed bag. Generally, they're *trying*. Indonesian hospitality is usually excellent, and they’re typically polite. But, you know, sometimes they're clearly overwhelmed. Language can be a barrier, of course. Don’t expect fluent English, so brush up on your basic Indonesian phrases. "Terima kasih" (thank you) goes a long way. I had one experience where I desperately needed help with a taxi (a very specific one, to a very specific spot!), and it took a while, but the staff eventually got it sorted out. There was a lot of frantic phone calls, and they even had to rope in the security guard who spoke more English than the front desk (bless him!). But they did it. They got me where I needed to be. Some staff members are really lovely! But don't go expecting five-star service because, again, it's a RedDoorz!
Value for Money: Is it actually worth the price you’re paying? Because I'm on a budget! I'm basically a budget traveler!
Alright, the crucial question. Value for money? Yeah, I'd say it mostly is. It's usually pretty cheap. Especially if you time it during a promotion. You're paying for convenience, clean-ish-ness, and a place to sleep that's not a cockroach-infested nightmare. Plus, the location near the mall is a HUGE bonus. Let's face it, budget accommodation in Solo isn't exactly the lap of luxury. You could do *worse*. Way worse. I once stayed in a place that had a shared bathroom that was… well, let’s just say, a biohazard zone. This RedDoorz, though? It's generally clean enough, safe enough, and conveniently located enough to make the price tag worthwhile. Remember, it’s budget travel. Manage your expectations. I am always glad to go there, even knowing the possible shortcomings. I recommend. But do not expect more than you are paying for, you will be disappointed for sure!
Coastal Inns
