Escape to Paradise: Athaya Hotel Kendari Awaits!
Escape to Paradise: Athaya Hotel Kendari Awaits! - A Messy, Honest Review (and a Plea to Book!)
Okay, so you're looking for a getaway? Somewhere to ditch the daily grind and actually relax? Good. Because the Athaya Hotel Kendari, well, it promises paradise. And frankly, after my recent trip, I'm feeling pretty convinced. Let's dive in, shall we? Strap in, because I'm about to spill the (lukewarm) tea.
First Impressions & The Accessibility Rundown (Because Real Life Isn't Always Smooth Sailing)
Right off the bat, the Athaya is handsome. A modern, clean-lined building that promises a cool escape from the Kendari heat. But let's be real, I'm not just after looks. I need to know about getting in and getting around.
Access? Thankfully, the elevator is a lifesaver. And that all-important Accessible bit? They've got it. Facilities for disabled guests are proudly listed, so at least there is a starting point and a good sign.
Internet Access: Finally! (And the Occasional Glitch)
Right, let's talk about connectivity. Because, gasp, I need internet for, uh, work. And also to share all the Instagrammable moments. Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! Yes! And, I must admit, it was mostly reliable. Wi-Fi in public areas also. I'm a big fan of not waiting around for my email to load, and the Athaya didn't let me down too often. Although, there was this one time during my morning coffee (more on that later), when I was frantically trying to conference and… poof… the Wi-Fi decided to nap. But, hey, it happens. Internet [LAN] is around too, apparently, if you’re that way inclined.
Cleanliness & Safety: Are We Surviving a Pandemic? (Mostly, Yes!)
Phew, this is a biggie. Because honestly? Traveling right now is… stressful. But Athaya seriously impressed me here. Anti-viral cleaning products were definitely working overtime. I saw staff constantly Daily disinfection in common areas. The rooms were sanitized between stays and they even offer room sanitization opt-out available (that's a good sign!). Hand sanitizer was everywhere, and they've definitely got the Hygiene certification. They were also Staff trained in safety protocol, and to my relief, were always wearing masks. They even have Physical distancing of at least 1 meter. This also applies to the Safe dining setup situation. They also have Sterilizing equipment.
The Food (Oh. My. Goodness.)
Okay, I'm a foodie. I live for a good meal. And the Athaya… well, they keep you fed.
- Restaurants: The main restaurant, with Asian cuisine in restaurant, and International cuisine in restaurant options, was a solid choice. Coffee/tea in restaurant and Coffee shop were also great, and I'm a big fan of getting up and going to a Breakfast [buffet] because I can't pick just one thing to eat in that situation! I personally, love it…
- If you're feeling something a bit lighter, the Snack bar is awesome for a quick fix.
- Poolside bar: Yes! Because cocktails and sunshine are basically mandatory on vacation.
- Room service [24-hour]: The ultimate indulgence. Because sometimes, you just want a pizza in your bathrobe.
Foodie Anecdote:
And the buffet breakfast? Phenomenal. Like, seriously. My first morning, I kind of lost control. I piled my plate high with pastries, fruit, and… well, everything. I'm not exaggerating, I must've looked like a starving tourist. I then sat there gorging myself, completely oblivious to the fact that I was also wearing my least flattering outfit. A local then came over and told me about the Asian breakfast options, and the Western breakfast options, and the Soup in restaurant and Salad in restaurant options… I swear, I ate so much I nearly had to be rolled out!
Things To Do (Besides Stuffing Your Face!)
Okay, so relaxing is the main goal, right? But sometimes, you need a little… action.
- Swimming pool [outdoor]: The pool is gorgeous. The Pool with view just felt like the cherry on top.
- Fitness center: I, uh, attempted the gym. Twice. I'm not a gym person, but this was a decent setup, if you're into that sort of thing.
- Spa/sauna: Alright, time to get pampered. Yes, there is a Spa. There are Sauna and Steamroom and they also do Body scrub and Body wrap. I'm telling you, this place knows how to chill.
- Massage: Don't miss this. Seriously. I basically melted into a puddle of bliss.
Rooms (The Real Sanctuary)
My room? Stunning. The non-smoking room was huge, with a massive window that opens. I had a perfect view of the city. The Air conditioning, Air conditioning in public area and Blackout curtains were absolute Godsends!
Now, The Messier Bits:
- The Occasional Hiccup: Let's be honest. Nothing's perfect. The in-room coffee maker once decided to take an unscheduled vacation. I managed, of course.
- Pets Allowed? Sadly, no. So, if you're a pet parent, you'll have to find some place to leave them.
- The Staff: The staff? They were phenomenal. Friendly, helpful, and always smiling. They genuinely seemed to care.
The Verdict: Book It! (Seriously!)
Look, I’ve been pretty brutal, but honestly? I loved the Athaya. It's a great place to relax, indulge, and actually escape.
SEO-Friendly Breakdown:
- Target Keywords: Hotel Kendari, Athaya Hotel Kendari, Kendari Hotel, Indonesia Hotel, Spa Hotel Kendari, Pool Hotel Kendari, Accessible Hotel Kendari, Free Wi-Fi Kendari.
- Why this review is SEO-friendly: It uses those keywords naturally, throughout the text, focusing on the features that matter most to travelers. I've used descriptive language and answered the most common questions too.
- Accessibility: I've detailed the accessibility aspects, which are crucial for a wider audience. I've also made sure to highlight other features of the hotel.
My Imperfect, Absolutely Human, Plea To You:
You deserve this getaway. You deserve the poolside cocktails, the amazing food, and the blissful massage. Don't overthink it. Book the Athaya. You'll thank me later.
Tecco's Hidden Hai Phong Gem: Vietnam's Best-Kept Secret?
Alright, buckle up buttercups, because this isn't your grandma's meticulously planned itinerary. This is my attempt to navigate the chaotic, beautiful, and potentially disastrous heart of Kendari, Indonesia, all while clinging to the (hopefully air-conditioned) sanity of the Athaya Hotel. God, I hope they have decent coffee.
Day 1: Arrival, Disorientation, and the Quest for Caffeine
- 8:00 AM (Jakarta Time, because adjusting my internal clock is obviously impossible): LANDED! Finally. After a flight that felt longer than the Indonesian War of Independence (thanks, turbulence!), I’m officially in Kendari. The air hits you like a warm, humid slap. And the airport? Let's just say it has character. ("Character" being a euphemism for "a little… rustic.")
- 9:00 AM: Taxi chaos. Negotiating a fair price feels like a sport here. I swear, I'm pretty sure I overpaid by, like, a significant amount. But hey, at least I made it to the Athaya in one piece, or at least with all my limbs attached.
- 9:30 AM: Check-in. The staff is incredibly friendly, bless their souls. First impressions: the hotel is… clean! A win already. The room? A little less "luxury suite" and a little more "functional with a view of a busy street," but hey, I'm not judging. (Okay, maybe a little.) First order of business: the coffee situation. Pray for me, people.
- 10:00 AM: Coffee procured! Turns out, the hotel's coffee shop actually brews a decent cup. Sigh Relief washed over me. I swear, I almost wept. That first sip was a taste of true life again. I feel human again.
- 10:30 AM - 12:00 PM: Staring blankly at the map. Okay, where the hell is everything? Google Maps is my new best friend and constant companion. The sheer volume of mosques is truly impressive, but I'm a bit directionless. Also, the heat feels like a physical weight.
- 12:00 PM - 1:00 PM: Lunch at the hotel restaurant. The Nasi Goreng is… good. Not mind-blowing, but perfectly acceptable. My stomach, previously rumbling with hunger, is appeased. The AC is glorious. This is the life.
- 1:00 PM - 4:00 PM: Attempting to acclimate, and a brief foray into the world of the internet. The wifi is… patchy, to put it kindly. Maybe the connection to the outside world is a good thing, though. I need a minute. The internet is a minefield.
- 4:00 PM - 6:00 PM: A wander around the neighbourhood. So, this is where things get interesting. I wandered into a local market, the sights, smells, and sounds were absolutely overwhelming. The vendors were staring at me which made me feel more conspicuous than comfortable. I bought what I think was a local snack. (It tasted suspiciously like deep-fried… something. Maybe chicken? Possibly fish? We'll see if I survive.)
- 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM: Dinner at a local warung (small, family-run restaurant). Honestly, the best food I’ve had all day. The smells… the spices! I had some sort of chicken curry, which was so good it almost brought a tear to my eye. The heat was intense, and the flies were relentless, but the taste was everything.
- 8:00 PM - 9:00 PM: Back to the hotel. I'm utterly exhausted. The noise outside is constant-- the calls to prayer, the motorbikes, the general hum of a city. But the air conditioning is working. I can at least close my eyes and imagine I’m in a quiet, peaceful place.
- 9:00 PM onwards: Bedtime, because I'm an old person in a new city, and I need to rest. Maybe I'll be less hopeless tomorrow. Maybe.
Day 2: Island Dreams (and Possible Near-Death Experiences)
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast. They have a delicious spread of Indonesian food, and that's encouraging. I had some weird fried things, I think it was cassava maybe?
- 9:00 AM: Arrange a day trip to an island. The hotel staff are very helpful, which is a huge relief. They're setting me up with a boat and a driver, and I pay a small fortune.
- 10:00 AM: Departure. The car ride is long and bumpy. The traffic in Kendari is…well, it's something. My driver is a chatty fellow, and I'm grateful for the company, even if I don't understand most of what he's saying.
- 11:00 AM: Arrived at the port to take a boat to the island. The port is a little rough around the edges. There is no safety talk on the boat. The water is incredibly blue, and the scenery is stunning, and I'm trying not to think about the potential disaster of being stranded on a deserted island with no supplies.
- 12:00 PM - 3:00 PM: Island time! Okay, this is the good stuff. This is the picture-postcard beauty I dreamed of. The water is crystal clear, the sand is white, and the sun is baking. I’m snorkeling, and the coral is teeming with colorful fish. I am so grateful for this.
- 3:00 PM: The tide begins to turn, the beautiful water turns into waves, my driver says we should go back. I feel a small tremor of fear. We're a ways out.
- 3:30 PM: The storm hits. The boat is rocking wildly. The sky turns an ominous grey. The water starts to chop. Rain is pouring down in sheets. I think I might die!
- 4:00 PM: We arrive back on the mainland, soaking wet and utterly terrified. The driver seems unfazed, which I either admire or find utterly terrifying.
- 5:00 PM: I'm still in shock, but I'm alive. I've survived a near-death experience at sea.
- 6:00 PM: The hotel. I need a shower, a change of clothes, and a strong drink. I need to try to forget about the fear and appreciate the fact that I'm alive.
- 7:00 PM: Dinner at a nicer restaurant. I cannot eat food from a street vendor. I am not a survivor. I order the most expensive seafood dish on the menu and toast to being alive.
- 8:00 PM: Back to the hotel bar for a nightcap. I need some time to think.
Day 3: Culture Shock, Sundown and Departure
- 9:00 AM: Slept like the dead! Possibly from near-drowning.
- 10:00 AM: Decide to take a walk, a cultural experience. The local market, a different one. I want to feel what it's like to be a part of this city.
- 11:00 AM: I get completely lost. Google maps is an ass. I feel vulnerable and alone.
- 12:00 PM: Trying to get back to the hotel. I ask for help, people are very nice. I'm incredibly grateful.
- 1:00 PM: Lunch. I order room service. I'm having a comfort day.
- 2:00 PM: I'm lying on my bed thinking about how different it is here and how much there is left to see.
- 5:00 PM: I watch the sunset from the balcony of the hotel. It's a spectacular display of colors and clouds.
- 6:00 PM: I eat dinner at the hotel, maybe a bit more adventurous.
- 7:00 PM: Time to pack. My flight leaves in the morning.
- 8:00 PM: I have one last drink at the bar.
- 9:00 PM: Bedtime.
Day 4: Departure and Reflections
- 6:00 AM: Wake up.
- 7:00 AM: Breakfast.
- 8:00 AM: Check out.
- 9:00 AM: Airport, flight home.
- 10:00 AM: Departure.
- 11:00 AM: The flight home. I am grateful to be going home.
- 12:00 PM: I reflect; this trip was an adventure! I'm glad they have coffee at the hotel.
- Anytime after: I'm back home, writing this. I'm exhausted, dirty, slightly traumatized, and strangely invigorated. Kendari? It was… something. Would I go back? Maybe. After a very long nap. And definitely with a better travel insurance policy. And a stronger stomach. And a waterproof
Escape to Paradise: Athaya Hotel Kendari Awaits! Let's Be Real...ish.
Okay, so...Kendari? Why even *Athaya*? Isn't it just... *Kendari*?
Alright, let's rip the band-aid off. Kendari. Yeah, the name doesn't exactly scream "tropical getaway" like, say, Maldives. Honestly, before I looked this up, I thought it was some type of Indonesian noodle. Athaya (apparently meaning "gift from God," *gulp*). So the name tries to be fancy, promising something more than just a dusty Indonesian seaside city. And you know what? The hotel *almost* pulls it off.
I went in with SUPER low expectations, I’m not going to lie. I’d been stuck on a layover in some godforsaken airport for hours, and thought I was gonna spend a night sleeping on those awful plastic airport chairs. So, when I finally got to the Athaya, it was already a win, you know? It had AC. And a bed. And no screaming babies (unusually!).
The REAL reason for Athaya? Probably the view. More on that later, my friends, more on that glorious, blue, soul-feeding view.
What's the *vibe*? Is it all couples canoodling or am I safe solo with a book (and questionable taste in reality TV)?
Listen, the "vibe" is…relaxed. It's definitely not a raging party. Think "chill beach holiday" minus the actual, you know, beach *right there*. It's more like "refined Kendari." There were families, some couples (yes, some canoodling, but thankfully, not *too* much), and a few business travelers looking supremely bored.
I was SOLO, happily devouring the entire run of "Vanderpump Rules" (don't judge!), and I felt totally comfortable. Nobody side-eyed me for my questionable life choices (both the show and solo travel, I suppose!). The hotel's more about quiet enjoyment. The only wild party scene you’ll get is the inevitable battle with the mosquito army at dusk .
So, yes, you're safe with your book and trashy TV. You are *totally* safe.
The Rooms: Spill. Are they actually *nice*? Or are we talking "stained carpets" and "questionable plumbing"?
Okay, let's be real. The rooms are…pretty good. Not five-star luxury, but definitely above "budget backpacker hostel disaster." The carpet wasn't *pristine*, mind you, but no ominous stains. I'm a bit of a germaphobe so I immediately checked the sheets - clean! Yay! (I'd brought wipes just in case, but didn’t need them). The plumbing…worked! (This is Southeast Asia, friends, take it as a win).
The décor? Modern-ish. Clean lines, neutral colours. The kind of room that's trying hard to look trendy but isn't quite there. You get a mini-fridge (essential for the Bintangs!), a decent-sized TV, and… the view. Oh, the view. I’m getting ahead of myself.
One thing to note: Ask for a room facing the ocean. Trust me. The city view? Probably not the selling point.
The Pool: Is it a refreshing oasis..or a glorified bathtub?
The pool... I’m torn. On the one hand, IT’S A POOL! And after a day sweating in the Kendari sun, a pool is a godsend. It's a decent size and was clean when I was there. The water was cool and refreshing. There are some sun loungers and, dare I say it, they were actually comfy (and not all plastic and broken!).
But it *is* a bit… exposed. Meaning not much shade. I'm fair-skinned and burn like a vampire in the sun, so I was a little bit restricted. Also, you definitely get the feeling you're being watched by the city... you know, they can see you!
So: Good pool. Needs more shade. Bring your sunscreen, your hat, and maybe a towel to drape over your head while you soak, if, like me, you prefer to avoid a lobster look.
Okay, the Food. Honestly, is it just bland hotel food? Or are we talking actual Indonesian deliciousness?
This is where things get… interesting. The buffet breakfast? Okay, in the usual hotel way. You get your standard eggs, toast, some fruit (mostly watermelon, which is fine), and a few local dishes. Nothing truly mind-blowing, but it filled the hole. And they did a decent coffee, which is essential for me, or else I’ll turn into a total gremlin.
The lunch and dinner menus were… a bit mixed. They had some international options (burgers, pasta – yawn) but *also* some Indonesian dishes. And the Indonesian food? Could be GREAT. One day, AMAZING, spicy Rendang, another, a slightly sad, bland version. It was like the chef had decided, "I'll give it my all, then… maybe not."
So, my advice? Stick to the Indonesian options. And if the Rendang is good, order seconds. You might get lucky. Or, wander out of the hotel. Kendari has some great local warungs (small, local restaurants) with some seriously delicious and authentic food.
Let's talk about the view. You mentioned it... Was it worth the hype?
Okay, the view. Here's where Athaya *absolutely* earns its keep. From my room, it was… breathtaking. Like, legit, "stop what you're doing and stare" breathtaking. Panoramic views of the sea, the islands, the city lights twinkling at night… It was gorgeous. I could sit there for ages just watching the boats, the sunrise, the dramatic, moody skies.
Seriously, it's the reason to go. The reason I'd probably go back. The reason I didn't mind the slightly dodgy breakfast. The reason I overlooked the questionable carpets. The reason the whole experience felt a little bit magical.
It’s that view that really sells the “Escape to Paradise” part. It really is just… *chef’s kiss*. Absolutely. Worth. It.
Any tips for making the most of Athaya and Kendari?
Absolutely! First off, bring bug spray. The mosquitos are brutal. Second, explore! Kendari isn't on theHotel Hop Now
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