Escape to Paradise: Unbeatable Family Suites in Banten, Indonesia!
Escape to Paradise: Unbeatable Family Suites in Banten, Indonesia!
Escape to Paradise: Unbeatable Family Suites in Banten? Hold My Bintang! (A Review That's More Honest Than Your Aunt Gertrude)
Okay, okay, so Escape to Paradise in Banten. The name already screams, "We hope you like sunsets and Instagram filters." But, let's cut the pretense. I’m here to spill the tropical tea, and let you know if this place actually delivers on the promise of… you know… Paradise. And, hey, if it doesn’t, well, there’s always the beach, right? (Spoiler alert: We did spend a lot of time at the beach.)
First Impressions – The Arrival (And the Slight Panic About Accessibility)
Getting there was… an adventure, to say the least. The airport transfer? Smooth, thank goodness. The car park, thankfully, free of charge. Phew. My biggest concern? Accessibility. My grandma has mobility issues, and while the website says facilities for disabled guests are available, I was praying it wasn't just a polite suggestion.
- Accessibility: Okay, the elevator was a lifesaver. And honestly, they did a pretty decent job with ramps and wider doorways. BUT, and this is a big but, some of the pathways were a little uneven, and navigating with a wheelchair could be tricky. Thankfully, they were very accommodating and helped Granny navigate. Thank goodness. Still - needs a little work.
- Facilities for Disabled Guests: Check, but with a caveat. Definitely ask for clarification and specifics beforehand!
The Suite Life (Or, How Much Can You Really Love a Room?)
We booked one of those "Unbeatable Family Suites" they advertise. And honestly? Pretty darn good.
- Available in all rooms: You get all the usual suspects: air conditioning (thank GOD), a mini-bar stocked with… well, mostly water (smart!), a hair dryer (a MUST for me), a safe (I actually used it!), and the glorious, glorious Free Wi-Fi in all rooms! The internet was… actually decent! Which is a miracle.
- Internet: And here's where I get really critical. The website boasts “Internet access – LAN” and “Internet access – wireless,” and “Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!” Fine, great! But I actually tried to use the LAN, and the jack didn't work. Minor detail… until you're trying to get some work done. Sigh.
- Room Amenities: The Blackout curtains were a godsend for sleeping in. I loved that they had extra long beds. I also enjoyed the complimentary tea when I first arrived.
- The Room Experience: The Seating area was super comfy, and the separate Shower and Bathtub were a nice touch (although, honestly, I only used the shower. Time is of the essence on vacation!). The Interconnecting room(s) available was a HUGE plus as my family and I love being close to each other. Speaking of family, the Family/child friendly atmosphere was great to see.
- Things to Look Out for: The lack of a Laptop workspace was a bit of a bummer, because I actually did need to do some work.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking – Where the Calories, and the Memories, Bloom
Let's talk food, because, let's face it, that's a huge part of any vacation.
- Restaurants: The Restaurants were plentiful! We got to enjoy the A la carte in restaurant and the Buffet in restaurant.
- Food: The Asian cuisine in restaurant was actually surprisingly delicious. I mean, I'm a Western food kind of person but I loved the Asian breakfast. The Breakfast [buffet] had a good variety, but don’t expect Michelin-star quality. Although, I did thoroughly enjoy the Coffee/tea in restaurant. The Desserts in restaurant were a delight. And the Salad in restaurant was pretty good.
- Other Dining Options: They had a Poolside bar, which was perfect for those sunset cocktails. The Room service [24-hour] was a lifesaver at 2 AM when the kids suddenly decided they were starving. There was a Snack bar available as well.
- Hygiene: Sanitized kitchen and tableware items was a huge relief, as well as the Safe dining setup.
Relaxation Station – Because Even Paradise Can Be Stressful
This is where Escape to Paradise started to really shine.
- Spa & Wellness: The Spa was incredible. I'm talking pure bliss. I got a Body scrub, followed by a Body wrap (I felt like a pampered burrito!), and then a Massage. Seriously, if nothing else, go for the spa. It's worth the price of admission.
- Pampering: I also enjoyed taking advantage of the Foot bath and the Sauna.
- Fitness: The Fitness center was, well, it was there. Nothing fancy, but it had the basics.
- Pools: The Swimming pool [outdoor] was gorgeous, especially the Pool with view.
Cleanliness and Safety – Because We Still Live in a Pandemic World
They definitely take this seriously.
- COVID Considerations: Lots of hand sanitizer everywhere, staff masked up, and they actually do Daily disinfection in common areas. They also had Anti-viral cleaning products and Rooms sanitized between stays. The Physical distancing of at least 1 meter was also enforced, in the dining room, for example.
- Safety Features: The Fire extinguisher was probably a good thing to have around. The Smoke alarms also made me feel a little more safe.
Services and Conveniences – The Little Things That Matter
- Service: The Concierge was super helpful with everything from booking excursions to just finding me a decent cup of coffee (a major priority). The Daily housekeeping was also efficient.
- Other Conveniences: A Convenience store on-site was handy for snacks and essentials. There was also a Cash withdrawal machine – again, very useful. The Laundry service, however, was a bit pricey, but hey, sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do.
- Extras: They provided Invoice provided and the Breakfast takeaway service.
For the Kids – Happy Kids, Happy Parents
This is where Escape to Paradise really earns its name.
- Kids Facilities: They had a dedicated kids' pool, a playground, and a Babysitting service which was a life-saver (seriously, getting a couple of hours to yourself is PRICELESS!).
- Food: The Kids meal options were kid-friendly and kept the little monsters happy.
Getting Around – Smooth Sailing… Mostly
- Transportation: The Airport transfer was flawless. They had Car park [free of charge], which was great. You could also call for a Taxi service if you needed.
The Quirks, The Imperfections, The Honest Truth
- The Good: The spa, the pools, the genuinely friendly staff. The sunsets. The sheer relaxation factor. It’s a beautiful place, undeniably.
- The Not-So-Good: The Wi-Fi gremlins, the occasional uneven path. The slightly impersonal vibe sometimes.
- The Random Observation: Do you know that feeling when you're trying to relax by the pool, and the sun is beating down, and you’re just… sweaty? Yeah. That. Maybe a few more strategically placed fans wouldn't hurt.
- The Honest Truth: It's not perfect, but it's pretty darn close.
Final Verdict – Escape to Paradise? Worth the Trip (With a Few Caveats!)
Would I recommend Escape to Paradise? Absolutely. Especially for families. The kids will have a blast, you can relax, and the spa is worth its weight in gold. Just go in with realistic expectations, pack your patience (for the Wi-Fi), and be prepared to soak up the sun and enjoy the moment. And maybe bring your own LAN cable! ;)
Escape to Paradise: Your Unforgettable Cherating Beach Getaway Awaits!
Alright, buckle up, buttercups, because we're about to dive headfirst into the glorious, messy, glorious reality of a family vacation in… checks notes… a Hawaiian Resort Family Suite in Banten, Indonesia. Yeah, that's right. Hawaii in Indonesia. Let's see how THIS goes. This is gonna be a journey, folks.
Day 1: Arrival and First Impressions (Mostly Surprised Face)
- Morning (5:00 AM - The Dawn of Sleep Deprivation): Ugh. The pre-dawn alarm. I swear, packing for a family vacation is akin to herding cats… except the cats are tiny humans who actively try to thwart your every move. Suitcases overflowing, snacks (because, you know, emergencies), and a healthy dose of caffeine coursing through my veins. We're talking early flight, people. Real early.
- Mid-Morning (9:00 AM - Planes, Trains, and (hopefully) no Automobiles): The flight was… well, it was a flight. Little Timmy decided to discover the joys of kicking the seat in front of him, little Lily spent an hour screaming about a lack of gummy bears, and I, well, I was just praying to the travel gods that the plane wouldn't fall out of the sky. The things we do for family, eh?
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - The Banten Blitz): We landed! And emerged into the glorious humidity of… Banten. I mean, the resort looked nice online, but in reality? Picture a slightly-too-enthusiastic tropical theme park. The "Hawaiian" part? Well, there were… some palm trees. And a surprisingly effective attempt at a volcano-themed water slide. The kids, bless their chaotic little hearts, were OBSESSED. I was mostly wondering when the giant inflatable flamingo would arrive.
- Late Afternoon/Evening (4:00 PM - Room Service Roulette): Our "Family Suite" was… spacious. Very spacious. Like, I think we could actually get lost in it. The decor was a questionable mix of "tropical paradise" and "thrift store chic." Let's just say the floral print was… intense. Dinner? Room service. Because after a day of travel, and unpacking I just wanted to rest. The food was… fine. The kids were thrilled. I was just hoping no one got food poisoning. (Fingers crossed!)
- Evening (7:00 PM - Bedtime Battle Royale): Bedtime. The bane of every parent’s existence. This involved negotiation, bribery (the promise of ice cream the next day), and a near-breakdown on my part. Eventually, peace was declared (for now). Ah, the sweet, sweet silence. Time for a cold Bintang (or two) on the balcony and a moment of blissful, fleeting peace.
Day 2: Watery Wonders and Sunburn Shenanigans
- Morning (8:00 AM - Pool Pandemonium): Breakfast buffet! Which meant a battle for the last croissant and a near-miss with the scrambled eggs. Then, the pool! The kids went CRAZY for the volcano water slide. Literally screamed and climbed to go again. I, on the other hand, decided to embrace the "relax" part of "vacation" and found a shady spot with a book. (Until, of course, I was interrupted by every five minutes.)
- Mid-Morning (10:00 AM - Skin-Melting Moments): Sunscreen. Apply. Reapply. Reapply again. Did I mention reapply? Because I swear, I applied enough sunscreen to save a small whale, and still, I felt the creeping burn of sunburn on my shoulders. Note to self: invest in a gigantic sun hat. And maybe a full-body suit.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - Beach Bonanza (Sort Of)): Okay, the beach. The brochures promised pristine white sand and crystal-clear water. The reality? Well, it was… there. The sand was fine, but the water wasn't exactly "crystal-clear." More like "murky-with-a-hint-of-seaweed." The kids still loved it. Which is all that matters, right? (Said with a weary sigh). The sandcastles, however, were triumphs of engineering (if I say so myself).
- Late Afternoon (3:00 PM - Nap Time (For Me, At Least)): Exhaustion had set in. The kids were finally passed out, and I was ready to embrace a power nap. It, however, was a short-lived paradise. Sigh.
- Evening (6:00 PM - Dinner Date (with Chaos)): A slightly more upscale dinner at the resort restaurant. I attempted to wear something that approximated "stylish." The kids, however, were more interested in launching their noodles into the air and generally wreaking havoc. At least the food was good (ish), and there was live music, even if it was drowned out by a chorus of children.
- Evening (8:00 PM - The Great Escape (To the Balcony)): Another night, another Bintang on the balcony. The darkness, the quiet… truly blissful. I'm pretty sure I had a mini-existential crisis about what I was doing with my life but I didn't mind.
Day 3: Deep Dive, and Deep Thoughts
- Morning (9:00 AM - Snorkeling Struggle): The morning began with the grand plan of a snorkeling trip! Sounds amazing, right? Well, getting the kids to actually wear the snorkel masks was a battle worthy of the Iliad. Little Timmy was convinced he was going to drown. Little Lily declared that she preferred the "pool water." I, however, had a moment of sublime peace when I finally got into the water and saw the coral and all the fish. Ahhh, it's perfect. Until a wave nearly swallowed me whole.
- Mid-Morning (11:00 AM - The Resort Retreat; Re-thinking Snorkeling): Back to the pool. The kids were happy so I was happy. I spent the rest of the day pretending to read. It's hard work, you know? Being a parent.
- Afternoon (2:00 PM - The Spa… Maybe?): I attempted a spa visit. Key word: attempted. The kids, naturally, were not fans of the "quiet and relaxation" concept. I lasted about 15 minutes before I had to extract myself. The massage was… non-existent. The tension was immense.
- Late Afternoon (4:00 PM - Sunset Stroll (With a Side of Meltdown)): We attempted a sunset stroll on the beach. It started well, with the kids running ahead, making sandcastles and the sky painted with the most amazing colors… until the inevitable arguments started. Tears, tantrums, the whole shebang. The sun dipped below the horizon, and so did my mood a bit.
- Evening (7:00 PM - Desperate Measures): Pizza night! Pizza is a reliable child-pleaser. It worked, mostly. Though the argument about the toppings was fierce. Ah well.
- Evening (9:00 PM- Quiet Time?: Yes! For real, It was. I found myself staring at the ocean, drinking my little Bintang, feeling overwhelmed.
Day 4: Farewell and Fragments (Hopefully, No Regrets)
- Morning (8:00 AM - Last Breakfast Frenzy): The buffet. Again. One last scramble for the croissants, one last battle over the fruit. I loaded up on coffee. So. Much. Coffee.
- Mid-Morning (10:00 AM - Pool, Pool, Pool): One last swim. The volcano slide was still a hit. And I, miraculously, didn't get burned to a crisp.
- Afternoon (1:00 PM - Packing (The Nightmare Returns)): Packing. The true test of parental sanity. Do I even own these things? The suitcases. The little humans. The chaos of the beach supplies.
- Late Afternoon (3:00 PM - Leaving (With a Heavy Heart)): The taxi ride was a blur of traffic and wistful glances back at the resort (and its questionable decor, I must admit). Did we have fun? Absolutely. Will I remember this trip as a vacation? Maybe not, but it was something.
- Evening (6:00 PM - The Long Flight Home): Another flight. Another round of kicks, snacks and prayers.
- Evening (10:00 PM - Home. Sweet, Messy Home.)
- We Are Home! The house looked like it had been robbed, but it’s home. Sleep soon.
- The end of the trip. Ahhh… vacation. I could use another one already!
Final Thoughts:
Would I recommend a family vacation like this? Absolutely. It's exhausting, it's messy, and sometimes, you'll want to run screaming into the ocean. But it's also filled with moments of pure joy, laughter, and connection. And even the imperfections become the memories. Just remember to pack extra sunscreen… and maybe a therapist. And a LOT of wine. (For you, not the kids.)
This is my
Luxury Shell Hotel Suqian: Unforgettable Stay Awaits!
Okay, "Escape to Paradise: Unbeatable Family Suites"? Sounds *slightly* dramatic. Is it REALLY unbeatable? Like, are we talking about *actual* paradise?
Look, the marketing department probably went a *little* wild on the "unbeatable" thing. Paradise? Depends. If your idea of paradise involves screaming toddlers and questionable beach snacks (I'm looking at you, mystery meat on a stick), then yes! Seriously though, it's a solid family-friendly resort. The *suites*? Pretty darn close to a paradise I can handle. Spacious, clean, and the air conditioning actually *worked*. (Huge win, trust me, after sweating buckets in the lobby during check-in.)
My kids? They're miniature whirlwinds of chaos. They gave it a solid "thumbs up" (which is basically five stars in toddler review language). We're talking a pretty decent sand castle building opportunity - my husband learned the hard way that trying to build a moat gets you covered in sand from head to toe.
Family Suites... are they *actually* big enough for a family of, say, four? Or is it just a slightly bigger hotel room with a pull-out couch? Because I've been burned before.
Okay, so listen. I was skeptical too. The words "family suite" can mean anything from a shoebox to a small mansion. These suites? Surprisingly spacious. I had to stop myself from doing cartwheels (okay, maybe a *small* cartwheel) when I saw the layout. Real, actual bedrooms. Not just a glorified curtain separating the kids' sleeping area. And a living room! We could spread out, the kids could play, and my husband and I could (occasionally) find some peace. It's a huge stress reducer to have space. We actually brought a board game, and could play it without tripping over toys. This is my definition of luxury.
The food... let's be honest. Resort food can be a crapshoot. Is it edible? And more importantly, is there stuff my picky eaters will actually touch?
Oh, the food. Buckle up, because this is where things get interesting. The main buffet? Look, I’m not going to lie, it was a buffet, so expect a bit of the "pile-it-high" mentality. There was a pasta station (a lifesaver, honestly, for the picky eaters), and the breakfast pastries were surprisingly good. The fruit? Mostly fresh (which is saying something in Indonesia). The *biggest* win? The kids actually *liked* the mini-pancakes. I'm not proud, but it kept them quiet for at least 15 minutes. The more upscale restaurant onsite was a lovely, romantic treat, and the food was divine. Which meant, however, I had to entertain the kids while the adults ate.
Okay, But What's the Beach *Really* Like? Is it clean? Is the water swimmable? And are there, like, a million jellyfish waiting to sting me?
The beach... Okay, so here's the honest truth. It's not the blindingly white sand and crystal-clear turquoise water you see in the brochures. But it *is* decent. The sand is fine (no volcanic rock surprises), and the water is generally calm. We spent a lot of time building sandcastles, having a good time, and generally forgetting the outside world. There weren't any massive jellyfish swarms (thank the gods!). A definite plus. I mean, the water wasn't exactly bathwater temperature - it was refreshing. Which is good!
What about activities? Are there things to do besides, you know, just sitting on the beach and trying not to get sunburned? (Because *that* can get old fast.)
Activities are a *mixed bag*. There's a kids' club, which is great if you need a break (and let's be real, you *do*). My kids bounced between the kids' club and the pool. The pool was good too - with a little slide for the little ones, and a slightly deeper area for the older kids. There's also water sports, which my husband loved. There's stuff to keep you occupied. Be prepared to negotiate bribes to get the kids *out* of the pool.
Speaking of Kids' Club, is it any good? My littlest one would probably cling to my leg the entire time...
Right, the kids' club. This is where things got a little...interesting. My kids are polar opposites: one dives headfirst into everything; the other clings to my leg like a barnacle. The staff were lovely and patient, and the activities included stuff like arts, crafts, and the inevitable "movie time". I think the staff could tell when I needed to sit down in a quiet room and just listen to the ocean. My younger child *did* cry a little bit the first time, then when I came to pick her up, she didn't want to leave!
What about mosquitos? And other creepy crawlies? Should I pack a hazmat suit?
Mosquitos? Yes, they exist. Embrace the bug spray (or, better yet, spray it *before* they find you). I'm reasonably sure I got bit at least once. Hazmat suit? Probably not necessary, but bring some good repellent. And maybe a can of that stuff that smells like burnt citronella candles – it always seems to work! Other creepy crawlies? I didn’t really run into any horrifying encounters with anything like a scorpion.
Is it easy to get to from Jakarta? I don't want a logistical nightmare before I've even reached the beach...
Getting *to* the resort wasn't as terrible as I feared. I'd read horror stories about bumpy roads and endless traffic. The drive? Not bad. A couple of hours tops, depending on Jakarta traffic. We hired a driver, which made it a *lot* easier (especially with tired kids in tow). The journey itself was an easy drive, however, once we actually arrived at the resort, the check in and check out were a pain. I think there was a mix-up with some paperwork.
What's the overall vibe? Relaxed? Over-the-top? More cheesy than cheddar?
The vibe? Relaxed, but in a "family-friendly-chaos" kind of way. Think a slightly elevated level of happy clamor, with a side of sand-covered everything. It's definitely not overly fancy, or pretentious. There'sSeoul's HOTTEST Private Studio: Hongdae Wifi Egg w/Bathroom!
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