Ecohome Apartments Tangerang: Luxury Living in Mekarbakti (15710)!
Ecohome Apartments Tangerang: Luxury Living in Mekarbakti (15710)!
Alright, buckle up, because this isn't your average hotel review. This is ME, spilling the beans, unfiltered, on Ecohome Apartments Tangerang: Luxury Living in Mekarbakti (15710)! And lemme tell you, it's been a JOURNEY. Prepare for some opinions, a little bit of chaos, and a whole lotta… well, you'll see.
First Impressions: The Good, the “Hmm,” and the Straight-Up WTF Moments
Okay, so, Ecohome. Sounds posh, right? And frankly? The pictures? Slick. Beautifully lit pools, gleaming interiors, promises of "luxury." My cynical self was immediately on high alert. "Luxury" often translates to "overpriced and underwhelming."
Accessibility? Well, Let’s Just Say… It’s a Mixed Bag
The website claims accessibility. That’s a good start. But I’m not just talking about a ramp; I need to know about ALL the details. Is the pool lift operational? Are the elevators reliable? I needed more concrete info, and sometimes, you got to dig. I’m talking about direct contact with the hotel staff, and hopefully a more informed answer.
Eating and Drinking: From Buffet Bliss to "Where's the Salt?"
Right, food. Crucial. They boasted multiple restaurants, including… deep breath… "Asian breakfast," "Western breakfast," "international cuisine," a "poolside bar," AND a "Vegetarian restaurant." Sounds AMAZING, right?!
The Buffet Saga (aka My Carb-Loading Adventure)
The breakfast buffet. Oh, the breakfast buffet. Listen, I love a buffet. I love the freedom, the sheer audacity of it all. Ecohome's was…big. Good. The pastries… oh, the pastries. Flakey, buttery, dangerous! I definitely indulged. And maybe, just maybe, I went back for thirds. Okay, fours. Don't judge me!
Lunchtime Disasters and Dessert Dreams
Okay, so dinner was a different story. Despite having access to a "A la carte in restaurant", the wait times for food and the quality were not the best. I could have even ordered some "Desserts in restaurant" but didn't, because I was already disappointed.
The Spa and Relaxation Zone: Finding Zen (and Arguing with My Inner Critic)
Spa, sauna, steamroom. Sounds divine, yeah? Visions of myself, wrapped in a fluffy robe, sipping herbal tea. The reality? A little less glamorous, but still pretty darn good.
The Fitness Center: Okay, so I'm not a gym bunny. Let's be honest, I prefer napping. But I did force myself to check out the "Fitness center." It was well-equipped, surprisingly clean, and, crucially, not too crowded.
The Body Scrub Debacle
So here's the deal: You want to feel pampered. You book a body scrub, envisioning smooth skin and pure bliss. And sometimes, what you get is… a slightly intense exfoliation. I'm pretty sure I left with a few red spots. But hey, maybe that's just me? I’m not gonna lie, though, it wasn’t the best experience.
The Swimming Pool - A Personal Paradise
The swimming pool, on the other hand? Amazing. The "Pool with view" was the real deal. The water was pristine, the sun was shining, and for a brief, glorious moment, I felt like I had my own private oasis. Forget the spa, I'll take the pool any day.
Cleanliness and Safety : A Relief!
Cleanliness and safety were taken seriously. I was also glad to see "Anti-viral cleaning products", "Daily disinfection in common areas", "Hand sanitizer", and "Staff trained in safety protocol".
The Rooms: Comfort, Convenience, and the Quest for the Perfect Pillow
The rooms felt clean, and the attention to detail – the "Complimentary tea", the "Free bottled water", the "Hair dryer" – was appreciated, and made my stay very comfortable.
Service and Amenities: The Good, the Bad, and the Slightly Baffling
There's a wide range of provided services: "Daily housekeeping", "Room service [24-hour]", a "Concierge", "Dry cleaning", "Laundry service", "Airport transfer", and a "Car park [free of charge]". "Babysitting service" is available.
What Makes Ecohome Worth Your While?
Look, Ecohome isn't perfect. There are a few bumps in the road, a few areas where they could up their game. BUT.
FOR YOU – The Offer of a Lifetime
Here's what's I love:
- Ecohome is a beautiful and well-maintained property.
- The staff are, on the whole, friendly and helpful.
- The swimming pool is truly a highlight.
- The rooms are comfortable, clean, and well-appointed.
- The breakfast buffet is a carb-lover's dream (with a few potential misses).
My Verdict? Go. Book a stay, dive into the pool, load up on pastries (I won't judge), and enjoy the experience. You'll have a blast.
Escape to Paradise: Pranavam Resort & Spa, Wayanad Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups. This isn't your perfectly curated, Instagram-filtered travel itinerary. This is… my trip to Ecohome Apartments in Tangerang, Indonesia, and it's gonna be a wild ride. Prepare for the mess.
Ecohome Apartments Tango: A Tangerang Tussle (Or, How I Learned to Love the Indonesian Heat – Maybe)
Day 1: Arrival and a Bathtub Epiphany (Or, Why Air Conditioning is a Gift From the Gods)
- 6:00 AM (ish): Wake up in a cold, pre-dawn haze in London. I'm leaving the dreary weather behind, right? Nope, because I have that pre-travel anxiety, the kind that makes you question your entire existence. Did I pack enough socks? Did I remember to feed the… wait, I don't have a pet. Good start.
- 9:00 AM: Heathrow. Chaos. Lines. Smell of stale coffee and desperation. I swear, the airport is just one giant holding pen for the emotionally exhausted.
- 12:00 PM (GMT +1): On the plane! Finally. My seatmate appears to be a competitive snorer. This is going to be a long flight.
- (Later - Way Later): Arrived in Jakarta! Glorious, humid, face-melting Jakarta. The airport is a beautiful cacophony of smells and sounds. The driver I booked through the app is… well, let's just say he drives like he's auditioning for a Fast & Furious movie. We make it to Ecohome Apartments. I'm sweating enough to fill a small swimming pool.
- 4:00 PM: Check-in is surprisingly smooth. The apartment… is… well, it's functional. Definitely not the "luxury oasis" the website promised (lesson learned: always read the reviews before booking).
- 5:00 PM: Air conditioning!. The glorious, life-saving air conditioning. I'm convinced I've ascended to a higher plane of existence. I could honestly sit in front of that AC the whole time…
- 6:00 PM: Attempt a shower to wash off the airport grime. Water pressure is…optimistic. And the hot water? Let's just say I've experienced more satisfying lukewarm experiences. In the bathtub, I have a thought – is it okay to love the heat? And the answer is a big NO. I am not okay. Send help (and cold water).
- 7:00 PM: Starving. Wander the nearby streets, which are a glorious assault on the senses. Food stalls everywhere! The smell of sizzling satay is intoxicating. I point and pray. End up with something that looks suspiciously like a mystery meat on a stick. It's delicious. I eat three.
- 8:00 PM: Jet lag is kicking in. I crash into bed, fully clothed, and fall into a sleep so deep I think I’ve gone into a coma.
Day 2: Culture Shock (and a Search for Decent Coffee)
- 7:00 AM: Wake up, surprisingly refreshed. The air conditioning worked! Progress.
- 8:00 AM: Breakfast at the apartment. Instant noodles. Hey, I'm on a budget. Also, pretty sure half the world survives on instant noodles.
- 9:00 AM: Decide to be a "cultured traveler" and brave the traffic to a local market. This is where things get interesting. The sheer volume of people, the smells, the sounds… It's overwhelming in the best way possible. I see everything from live chickens in tiny cages to mountains of vibrantly colored fruit I can't identify.
- 10:30 AM: Get completely and utterly lost. Wander down a narrow alley. Suddenly surrounded by a dozen small children who seem to think my sunglasses are the greatest thing they’ve ever seen. They giggle, point, and try to grab them. It’s simultaneously adorable and terrifying. I escape. Barely.
- 11:00 AM: The coffee hunt. Man, finding a decent cup of coffee is harder than finding a unicorn. After three attempts, I unearth some passable java at a small café. I drink it with a sigh of relief.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch. More mystery meat. This time it comes with rice and some kind of spicy sauce that makes my tastebuds sing.
- 1:00 PM: Attempt to navigate the public transportation. Chaos. Utter, beautiful chaos.
- 2:00 PM: Back at the apartment to collapse. The heat is still relentless. The sheer effort of existing is exhausting.
- 3:00 PM: More noodels
- 4:00 PM: The apartment building is actually very nice. The pool is inviting but I can not swim, so no.
- 5:00 PM: I am alone in the apartment. I am a little scared.
- 6:00 PM: I am okay.
- 7:00 PM: I feel like I am starting to understand the languidge.
- 8:00 PM: Sleep.
Day 3: Double Down: The Mall and the Great Food Hunt
- 9:00 AM: Okay, I'm feeling a bit more adventurous today. Decide to tackle a mega-mall (because, Indonesia!). The air conditioning in the mall is divine. It's like stepping into a cryogenic chamber after the sauna of the streets.
- 10:00 AM: This mall is HUGE. It's a city within a city. I wander for hours, getting lost amongst the shops, marveling at the sheer variety of goods on display.
- 12:00 PM: Lunch in the food court – I'm on a mission to eat ALL the Indonesian food. I order something I can't pronounce but looks amazing. The texture is… interesting. The flavor? Outstanding. Success!
- 1:00 PM: More mall wandering (and air conditioning appreciation).
- 2:00 PM: I decide to brave the street food again. I see a vendor with a bubbling pot of what looks like noodles and meat. I point. I smile. I end up with the most incredible bowl of Indonesian street food I've ever tasted. My tastebuds are having a party. Seriously, it's that good.
- 3:00 PM: I double down! Okay, maybe I'll try to explore some Indonesian culture, I did not find many local.
- 7:00 PM: Sleep? I may never wake up.
Day 4: The Departure and Existential Dread
- 8:00 AM: Pack, with all the grace and efficiency of a startled penguin on roller skates. Somehow, my suitcase is even fuller than when I arrived.
- 9:00 AM: Last-minute scramble to buy souvenirs (mostly for myself, let's be honest). Find some funky batik and regret not buying more mystery meat on a stick.
- 10:00 AM: Check out. Say a fond (and slightly relieved) farewell to Ecohome Apartments. It wasn't perfect, but it was… an experience.
- 11:00 AM: Airport. The same chaotic symphony of smells and sounds, but this time, I'm strangely… okay with it.
- 1:00 PM: On the plane. The competitive snorer returns. I try to sleep. I try to summon the memories. I try to remember what I did…
- (Later – Much later): Land back in London. Grey, cold, and… familiar. And I miss the heat and the food and even the chaos. I feel a pang of longing for Jakarta, for the small cafe, for that bowl of street food. Maybe Indonesia bit me.
Final Thoughts:
This trip was… messy. Imperfect. Sometimes terrifying. But utterly, undeniably… worth it. It wasn’t the picture-perfect, Instagram-ready vacation I’d vaguely envisioned. It was real. It was sweaty. It was full of mystery meat and near-disasters and moments of pure, unadulterated joy. And that, my friends, is what travel should be all about. Now, where can I get some instant noodles…
Unbelievable Ijen Crater Views: Ijen Kingdom Guesthouse, Banyuwangi
Okay, so, Ecohome Apartments Tangerang... Sounds posh. Is it REALLY as luxurious as the brochure claims?
Alright, buckle up buttercup. "Luxury" is a word, right? Like, my grandma's "luxury" was a good cup of kopi tubruk and a crossword. Ecohome's *tries* to be the penthouse sort, you know? They got the fancy lobby, the infinity pool that looks amazing in the photos – which, full disclosure, I haven't actually *used* because I'm more of a "read a book on my tiny balcony" kind of guy. And the apartments? Yeah, they're pretty swanky. Nice finishes, decent space... though, let's be real, the "built-in wardrobes"? My clothes overflowed into the guest room within, oh, a week. And the "smart home" features sounded futuristic, but mostly involved me yelling at my AC unit for about an hour every morning (I swear, that thing has a mind of its own...or maybe it just hates me).
What's the deal with the "Eco" part? Is this place actually green?
The "Eco" thing... right. They talk a big game. Solar panels, rainwater harvesting, the whole nine yards. Look, I *want* to be a good citizen. I recycle. I even tried composting for a week (the smell... let's just say the neighbors were not impressed). From what I can see, they're trying. The landscaping is pretty lush – lots of greenery, which is a definite plus when you're avoiding the Tangerang heat. But honestly? I'm not sure if it's *truly* eco-conscious, or just a fancy marketing buzzword. I’d need a whole environmental assessment, but the building is good. I'd give it a pass though.
Okay, Mekarbakti. Location, location, location. Is it actually convenient?
Convenient? That depends on your definition of "convenient," my friend. Mekarbakti itself... well, it's not exactly buzzing with nightlife. You get your local warungs which is pretty great, but if you're craving, say, artisanal coffee, or a good cinema? You're probably looking at a drive. Traffic in Tangerang is a *beast*. I learned that the hard way trying to get to my friend's wedding. I was late. Very, very late. But, yeah, you're relatively close to major highways. Some days, getting into Jakarta feels like an epic journey. Other days, it's perfectly manageable. I'd say it's a trade-off: peace and quiet, some minor hassles getting anywhere.
What kind of people live there? Are they all just... well, rich snobs?
Rich snobs? Well... a few, yeah. There's definitely a contingent of perfectly-coiffed people who look like they stepped straight out of a magazine. But, I've also met some pretty down-to-earth folks. There's the family across the hall with three screaming kids (bless their hearts, I can relate to their chaos), the couple who always shares their delicious rendang from that little warung (seriously, the rendang is to die for), and a few expats who are always up for a chat. So, it's a mixed bag. Mostly, they're just people trying to live their lives, like the rest of us. Though, let's be honest, I *have* judged a few people based on their choice of car. Guilty, but that's just life.
And the amenities? The pool? The gym? Are they decent?
Okay, here's the truth, I swear. The pool? Gorgeous. When I can actually get in. There's always a gaggle of teenagers doing synchronized swimming (not complaining, just... an observation). The gym? It exists. I went once. It was full of people who clearly went to the gym. I, on the other hand, clearly didn't. It was intimidating. The equipment seemed to be in good shape, though. The jogging track is nice. In fact, right now I'm thinking of giving the track a solid shot, but the sofa is beckoning. I'll probably just end up watching Netflix, honestly.
Any serious downsides I should be aware of?
Oh, yeah. Definitely. Let's start with the elevators. Sometimes they're *painfully* slow. Like, you could probably walk to the top floor faster. The internet is... spotty. I've lost count of the number of times I've been kicked off a video call at the most inopportune moment (usually when I'm supposed to, you know, *be working*). And then there's the occasional power outage. That happened a few weeks ago. I mean, it's the tropics. Things go wrong. And the security is good, but sometimes a bit *too* good. I've been locked out of my own apartment more than once because I forgot my access card. And oh yeah, the construction noise from other buildings. It’s a constant orchestra of hammering and drilling.
So, would you recommend living there? Overall?
Look, it's complicated. If you're looking for absolute perfection? No. Nothing is perfect. But, If you want a pretty comfortable, relatively safe, and decent place to live in Tangerang? Then, yeah, Ecohome is worth considering. But be prepared to deal with the quirks. The slow elevators. The occasionally dodgy internet. The traffic. But at the end of the day... it's home. And that, I guess, counts for something. I've had some great times, and some absolutely infuriating ones. If I had a choice, I'd live there again, despite everything.
The water pressure? Is it at least adequate?
Oh, the water pressure. You just *had* to ask, didn't you? Alright, here's the lowdown. It's... variable. In the mornings, it's usually decent. You can actually get a proper shower. But in the evenings, especially around dinnertime, when everyone's trying to rinse off the day's grime? Forget about it. It's like a trickle. More of a gentle caress than a shower. Honestly, some days, you're better off just sticking your head under the tap. Just kidding... mostly. It’s not a dealbreaker, but be warned: you might need to invest in a bucket and a dipper for those low-pressure days. And don't even get me started on the time the hot water heater decided to die... that was not a fun week.
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