Unbelievable Tebing Tinggi Hideaway: OYO 90773 Shine Guest House Syariah!
Alright, strap yourselves in, because we're diving headfirst into the Unbelievable Tebing Tinggi Hideaway: OYO 90773 Shine Guest House Syariah! – and let me tell you, the name alone is already a mouthful. Forget your polished travel brochure prose; this is a real-life, no-holds-barred review. I walked in expecting…well, I honestly didn't know what to expect. But let's break this down, category by freaking category, because that’s what the internet demands. And you, my friend, are the reason I write.
Accessibility (or, the Great Staircase of Tebing Tinggi)
So, accessibility. This is where my inner cynic starts to grumble. The website says they’ve got facilities for disabled guests. Fine. But navigating Tebing Tinggi in general? Let's just say cobblestones and a general disregard for ramps are the norm. The elevator situation? Well, let's keep it vague and move on. Verdict: Potentially tricky for those with mobility issues. Call ahead and ask specific questions. Don't just trust the brochure.
On-Site Restaurants & Lounges: Fueling the Adventure (or, Avoiding the Street Food)
Alright, food glorious food. This is where things get interesting. Let's be honest, I'm a sucker for a good meal. There are:
- Restaurants: Yep. Plural.
- A la carte and Buffet: The buffet? I'm intrigued, though the buffet experience can be a dice roll.
- Asian Cuisine: If they do a proper Nasi Goreng, I'm in.
- Western Cuisine: I guess they have to cater to all tastes.
- Coffee Shop: Essential.
- Poolside Bar: (Eye roll. I'll be real, I hate the poolside bar idea in principle. But I'll probably order a drink there)
- Happy Hour: (I'm already smiling, I'm a happy camper)
- Snack Bar: (I might have to take a nap)
- Desserts: Oh lord, here we go.
- Coffee/Tea: (I'll drink a coffee and have a tea.)
Verdict: Sounds promising. A variety of options. My stomach is quietly optimistic. I'll report back with the details on the food itself.
(Here's a little side note: The idea of a 'vegetarian restaurant' specifically listed makes me giggle. I love vegetarian food, but it's a bit like saying 'oxygen-only restaurant.' It's a given these days.)
Wheelchair Accessibility
See above. Sigh. This is one thing I don't have to experience firsthand, lucky me. But I cannot stress enough to double-check specifics with the hotel if this is a concern. Verdict: Inquire thoroughly.
Internet Access & The Wi-Fi Saga
"Free Wi-Fi in all rooms!" is what they scream (in excited capital letters). Bless their heart, they also offer Internet [LAN] (remember LAN cables?). A small mercy of the past. I'll probably still use my phone's hotspot, because I'm paranoid. Verdict: Promising, but always have a backup plan. Because, as we know, hotel Wi-Fi is like a box of chocolates…you never know what you're gonna get.
Things to Do & Ways to Relax: Spa Day Dreams (and Maybe Not)
- (Takes a deep breath) The Spa. Okay. Let's break down this section for a bit.
- Spa/Sauna/Steamroom: These are listed together, which already brings down my hopes by a lot.
- Body Wrap/Scrub/Massage: Oh my god, yes. All of them. The Body Scrub, the Body Wrap…I don't care if it's in an underground bunker.
- Foot Bath: Okay, now we're talking!
- Pool with a View: (I have to pause to wonder if the pool has a nice view)
- Gym/Fitness Center… Well, I will pretend to use it.
- Swimming Pool/Swimming Pool [Outdoor]: Okay! Okay, I'm already imagining the pool!
Verdict: I am a sucker for a spa. And a pool. and a foot bath. The gym can stay.
Body scrub/wrap? Ooh, sign me up. I need to get rid of the grime of the road.
Cleanliness and Safety: Germaphobe Survival Tips
This is the stuff that really matters these days.
- Anti-viral cleaning products! YES!
- Breakfast in Room/Breakfast takeaway: Breakfast in room sounds luxurious, especially if I'm hungover. Breakfast takeaway…practical.
- Daily disinfection in common areas: Good. Very good.
- Hand sanitizer: A given. I use more than they provide.
- Hygiene certification: Check! Check!
- Room sanitization opt-out available: Good to know!
- Rooms sanitized between stays: Excellent.
- Safe dining setup: Necessary.
- Shared stationery removed: Thank God.
- Staff trained in safety protocol: Hope this is accurate.
- Sterilizing equipment: I hope they have it.
Verdict: Sounds like they’re taking it seriously. But I'm still bringing my own wipes. Always.
Dining, Drinking, and Snacking: The Food Coma Anticipation
I've already covered a lot of this, but let's reiterate: restaurants, a la carte, buffet, Asian, Western, coffee shop, desserts, poolside bar, snack bar…it's a lot. I need to know:
- Breakfast Buffet: How extensive is it?
- Asian Cuisine: Nasi Goreng is the ultimate test.
- Coffee Quality: I'm a coffee snob. Don't judge.
- Poolside Bar Drinks: Are they strong? (Important question.)
Verdict: Promising. My stomach is already making excited noises.
Services and Conveniences: The Little Things That Matter
- Air conditioning in public area: A must.
- Business facilities: Not really my thing, but good to know.
- Cash withdrawal: Always handy.
- Concierge: Helpful.
- Daily housekeeping: Essential.
- Elevator: (Praying for this one)
- Facilities for disabled guests: (See accessibility)
- Food delivery: Yay!
- Laundry service/dry cleaning: This is a life saver.
- Luggage storage: Always appreciated.
- Safety deposit boxes: Smart.
Verdict: Seems like they cover the basics well.
For The Kids: If you need a babysitter
- Babysitting service: If you're bringing the kids, good.
- Family/child friendly: (Does that mean the pool is kid-friendly? I hope for a shallow area!)
- Kids meal: If you don't want to give your kid an entire steak.
Verdict: Seems to cover the needs of the little ones.
Access: Security
- CCTV, Fire Extinguisher, Smoke Alarm.. these are important. And the hotel lists all this.
Verdict: You get this. Safety is a consideration.
Getting Around: The Airport Shuffle and more
- Airport transfer: This is crucial for me, and I want to know if it's reliable. Good.
- Car park [free of charge]: Always a bonus
- Taxi service: Okay.
Verdict: Sounds reasonable.
Available in all rooms: Room by Room Assessment
Okay, this is the fun part. This is what really matters.
- Air conditioning: Yes, please.
- Alarm clock: (For those mornings you wish you'd stayed in bed)
- Blackout curtains: Essential.
- Coffee/tea maker: Needed for me and my morning-tea loving self.
- Free bottled water: Always a good touch.
- Hair dryer: I'll make use of it.
- Internet access – wireless: Check.
- Ironing facilities: For the wrinkle-averse.
- Mini bar: Temptation central.
- Non-smoking: (Thank. Goodness.)
- Private bathroom: I expect nothing less.
- Refrigerator: Cool.
- Satellite/cable channels: Perfect for a lazy afternoon.
- Seating area: Nice. But I'm probably going to sit on the bed.
- Separate shower/bathtub: I'm a sucker for a bathtub, but I hate those hybrid showers, where the water runs everywhere.
- Slippers: Luxurious.
- Towels: Hopefully fluffy.
- Wake-up service:
Okay, buckle up buttercup, because this ain't your cookie-cutter travel itinerary. This is a baptism-by-fire into the sweaty, glorious, and sometimes utterly baffling world of solo travel in the Indonesian heartland. Specifically, at OYO 90773 Shine Guest House Syariah Tebing Tinggi. And trust me, "shine" is… well, we'll get to that.
Pre-Trip Panic & Airport Lunacy (Because that's how it always starts)
- Day -1 (or, When Did I Agree To This Again?): The existential dread sets in. Did I pack enough anti-diarrheal? Should I have learned more Bahasa Indonesia than "terima kasih" (thank you)? Staring at a blank passport photo and wondering if I look more like a confused tourist or a wanted fugitive. I end up watching way too many YouTube videos about Indonesian street food and convince myself I need to try everything. Including the durian. God help me.
- Day 0 - (The morning of the flight): Wake up at 8 AM to get ready for the flight. But I end up waking up at 11 AM, frantically threw everything into my backpack, which is suspiciously heavy. Taxi ride to the airport: The driver's blasting dangdut music at top volume, he keeps looking back at me, and my luggage is definitely going to fall off. I try to smile the whole way there, praying my Indonesian phrasebook is useful.
- Day 0 (The Airport From Hell): Check-in is a chaotic dance of paperwork, questionable weighing scales, and a near-miss collision with a trolley full of duty-free cigarettes. The security queue is an endurance test, and I spend a good ten minutes trying to explain why my tiny bottle of hand sanitizer is not the harbinger of a terrorist plot. Finally get through and buy a horrifically overpriced coffee because I am running on pure adrenaline. Find out my flight is delayed by two hours. Cue internal screaming.
Days 1-3: Tebing Tinggi Tumbleweed & Guest House Shenanigans
- Day 1 (Arrival and Guest House Glow-Up… or Lack Thereof): Arrive at Medan Airport (it's hot, okay? Sweltering hot). The airport is an assault on the senses – the noise, the smells, the sheer presence of a million people bustling around. I’m immediately regretting my decision to wear linen. Find my pre-booked taxi, which is, thankfully, not a rickety old bus. The drive to Tebing Tinggi is a blur of palm trees, rice paddies, and a very loud horn-honking symphony. Arrive at OYO 90773 Shine Guest House Syariah. "Shine"? More like "faintly hum by the light of a dim bulb." The lobby is clean enough, but the reception lady seems incredibly bored. The room? Well, it's… basic. Like, minimalist to the point of monastic. I start to unpack, then get distracted by a gecko that's decided to make the ceiling its home. It's kinda cute, but also a constant reminder that I am very far from home. The air conditioning is, thankfully, functional. The Wi-Fi? Non-existent. This could be a problem. The rest of the day is a blur of trying to find a decent warung (small local eatery) for dinner (mission accomplished! Found some delicious Nasi Goreng). And after a long sleep, I'm now ready to explore the city.
- Day 2 (Tebing Tinggi's Charm…or Lack Thereof): I decided to go for a stroll in the city, I wanted to see some temples, but I did not find any. I found a small park with some random people sitting. The heat is intense, like someone forgot to turn the sun down. I walk around, trying to look like I know where I'm going, but I'm fairly sure I'm just aimlessly wandering. The streets are a chaotic ballet of motorbikes, stray dogs, and the tantalizing aroma of street food. I buy some kind of fried pastry from a street vendor. Have zero clue what it is, but it tastes surprisingly good. Later, I try to buy some toiletries at a local store, a lady behind the counter is very patient. She has no English, and I have about three words of Bahasa Indonesia, but we somehow manage to communicate through a combination of hand gestures and Google Translate. It takes 15 minutes, but I walk out triumphant with some shampoo. I try to find a decent cafe, but I failed. I'm starting to wonder if I'm going to be able to survive this trip without internet access.
- Day 3 (The Quest for Quiet & Street Food Glory): This is the day I decide to properly tackle the local food scene. Breakfast? Satay. Lunch? Gado-Gado. Dinner? I'm going full-blown glutton and order EVERYTHING. It's a delicious, greasy, explosion of flavors. (And, thankfully, my stomach doesn't betray me). The afternoon is spent trying to embrace the "slow travel" vibe. I spend an hour just watching the world go by from a rickety old chair outside a small coffee shop. The people-watching is phenomenal. Kids playing football in the street, old men gossiping, women skillfully navigating the chaos on their motorbikes with their babies.
Days 4-5: The Grand Departure & The Aftermath of adventure
Day 4 (Saying Goodbye to the Guest House): Checked out of the amazing Guest House, a little sad to leave the relative peace. I meet a local who ends up taking me to a coffee plantation deep in the jungle. It's a long and bumpy ride. This country is full of surprises. The plantation is incredible. The coffee is wonderful. I feel like a new person.
Day 5 (Post-Trip Trauma & the Promise of a Next Time): Back in that comfy airplane seat. Flying over from the city, while I try to process everything that happened. The good, the bad, and the downright weird. I spent hours thinking about the best moment of my trip. I start to feel a little melancholy. Did it really happen? Did I just…do that? The answer is yes. And despite every moment of doubt, the overwhelming feeling is one of gratitude. For the experience, the people, the food, the unexpected detours.
So yeah, OYO 90773 Shine Guest House Syariah, you may not have "shone" in the traditional sense. But you gave me a place to rest my weary head, a base for the chaos, and a reminder that sometimes, the most memorable adventures are the ones you least expect. Will I come back? Probably. Because even though it was messy, imperfect, and at times, a total train wreck, it was my adventure. And that, my friends, is all that matters.
Now, where's that durian? gulp
Unbelievable Tebing Tinggi Hideaway: OYO 90773 Shine Guest House Syariah! - Frequently Asked... Questions? More Like Rants and Revelations!
Okay, Seriously, What *Is* This Place?
Is it actually *hidden*? Like, do I need a sherpa and a compass?
The Reviews Mention "Basic" - Does "Basic" Mean "Slightly Creepy"?
And the Staff? Were they… *there*?
Did you eat? Was it edible?
Okay, spill the beans. What was the ABSOLUTE WORST part? Don't hold back.
Did anything… good… happen? Anything?
So, Would You Recommend This Gem?
