“Big Dose of 3rd world”

Surabaya Plaza Hotel is mosquito ridden, poorly maintained, and not very clean. However, the breakfast buffet is quite good and plentiful. The gym and pool are both large. The gym also has a staff member who helps you with your exercise routine if you are so inclined. Because I found it unpleasant and dangerous to walk around in Surabaya, I spent most of my free time at the pool or in the gym. They tended to be empty of guests except for me. The hotel was reluctant to exchange dollars for rupiahs so it was hard for me to shop. The hotel experience will be long remembered but not in a particularly pleasant way. If you go, it makes sense to use bug spray every evening. Get your rupiahs elsewhere. Enjoy the breakfast buffet, the gym and the pool. Don't expect any sight-seeing pleasures. You will be overcome by smog and soot just about everywhere. Pedestrians will have great difficulty crossing most streets. Stay alert and be ready to run if you try ambling around the streets. Motor scooters outnumber pedestrians 30 to 1 or more. Cars, trucks, and scooters have complete domination of all streets. I did walk and got home without injury but close calls were frequent. Find crosswalks manned by policemen. They will help you cross. Drivers ignore the red lights.