Grand Aston Yogyakarta Hotel, Indonesia

Picture credit to the hotel's webpage

Rocker 57 and I stayed here from 28 Nov - 1 Dec 2013. We were visiting Borobudur, or Barabudur, is a 9th century Mahayana Buddhist Temple in Magelang, Central Jaya, Indonesia. More about our Borobudur trip in the next blog.

For more information on Borobudur, click here

Following our Phuket stay at the Ayara Hilltops Boutique Resort & Spa in late August 2013, this 5 star hotel is also worth a special mention. Why? Simply because the entire hotel is smoke free and provides excellent hospitality, similar to that of Ayara.  Smokers caught smoking in the premises will be asked to pay a substantial amount of fine.

Blogger & Rocker57 at entrance to Grand Aston.

We were pampered from the time we set foot into the hotel. Immediately upon arrival, we were given refreshments and attended to promptly.

The room was spacious, warm and cozy.

We ate most of our meals in the hotel as we weren't so comfortable with what we saw outside of the hotel.

We particularly liked the special touch added to the hotel. Four swings just outside the hotel's coffee house cum restaurant and a cosy corner.

Cosy corner where Rocker57 & I enjoyed a cuppa each & watched a musician played the grand piano as well as a 4 piece live band on different days.

The restaurant has a wide spread of food & drinks for breakfast. We liked the indoor as well as the outdoor theme.

Awesome view from inside the coffee house. You can choose to dine outside.

Night view

The waffle & pancake section on the left, juices straight ahead. 

Main course section.

Ever smiling host that serves freshly made locally blended drinks. She explains what each drink is good for our health.

Of course I had to try. Not one but two as Rocker57 doesn't like the smell nor taste of both. I liked both and had them for breakfast the next two days. The one on the left is Kunyit Asam and the one on the right was Brotowali. 

Just to appease many palates, they serve 4 different types of sambal or as wikipedia puts it : 

(in oriental cookery) hot relish made with vegetables or fruit and spices.

I was particularly drawn to this local dish : 

After a small sample trial, I was hooked! Had it daily together with the locally blended drink. And, yes....this dish is called Bubur ( congee or porridge) Gudeg. It is pronounced as "goo dirk". So, what actually is Gudeg?

Our handsome Bubur Gudeg server.

According to him, a normal Gudeg consists of jackfruit, tempeh or fermented soybean compressed into cake-like and then sliced into smaller pieces (optional), krecek (beef skin), coconut milk or santan, ayam opor (Opor chicken is braised chicken in coconut milk) and half boiled egg. It is really a delectable delight. LOVE it!. 

And for the rest of the hotel....

The lobby with the unique stone sofa seats. 

Lovely fresh welcoming sight as you enter the lobby.

The facade as you get down from your taxi ride.

The lap pool is on the same floor as the gym & the wellness spa

I had a wonderful spa in there. Aaaaahhhh...

Flight and accommodations for two persons with Air Asia was only RM1,563.87 or USD421.90 based on today's exchange rate. Breakfast inclusive. With the right ambiance and commendable hospitality, it is worth every sen. (as in Malaysian Ringgit and sen). Travel time is approximately 2 Hours and 25mins from LCCT (now moved to KLIA2).

Do check out this hotel and be pleasantly pampered.

Grand Aston Yogyakarta Hotel
Jl Urip Sumoharjo no 37
Kec. Gondokusuman
Kota Yogyakarta
Special Region 55222
Indonesia

Tel : +62 274 566999

Remember to log in again on our trip to Borobudur soon. Until then....

Live life full & stay happy always. Take care!