Big K Hostel — Hotel in Jepara

I extended my stay two times. It's an oasis of serenity located in the middle of the forest. You will enjoy home cooked breakfast by chef Bayu, while sitting on a terrace overlooking the lush greenery. Sometimes, while sipping your unlimited coffee, you may spot a family of monkeys above you, or a shy small comodo dragon finding its way between the trees. The vibe is very relaxed. You can trust the guys running the place with scooter rental, quick laundry services, tips and guidance on your whereabouts on the island. Here I would like to give special thanks to Anet, who helped me on many occasions and now is more a friend than a host. He also helped me progress my bahasa skills and challenged me daily to practise even more.

I stayed in one of the double bed cottages. They are very clean thanks to dedicated morning staff and located on the edge of property giving you a quiet sleep at night. The decor is great, shower hot and aircon blasts cool air just at the right temperature.

The property is just 5min scooter ride from the village square, where you can enjoy fresh seafood after sunset or sip a coffee or beer. I preferred to walk, just for the exercise. It's a 20min walk but bring a torchlight on your way back at night.

The whole area is super safe, and if you have enough willpower to wake up at 4:30, you can enjoy sunrise at one of the beaches located to the east...

The place is very cute and cozy. It's a wooden bunk bed hostel with separate toilet and bathroom. They have a mini restaurant for breakfast, chill or do some work done. Rooftop with amazing view is also available complete with yoga mats for workout.

One room has 16 beds, 8 bunks on each sides (right and left of the room). I came with 9 of my friends and hoped to get on the same sides or at least the same bunks. Unfortunately we were scattered around and ended up sleeping on top of other groups which is quite inconvenient.

Since it's a wooden house, it's very easy to make creaking sounds. The bed is okay, the blanket is quite thin and it's a bit tricky to climb the bunk stairs. You need to be careful.

The room has AC and wifi. They managed to keep the place very clean and neat. They also provide lockers to keep your precious possessions.

Overall, my experience was good and I recommend this place if you're looking for something cheap...

WORST experience ever.

1. Service: we arrived late at 7pm, and the staff was very confused when i asked for a towel & pillow, and he said they ran out of the towel because of the full capacity of the hostel. I don’t think the reason could be justified, since I booked the hostel two weeks in advance, they could’ve prevented it.

2. Cleanliness; there are COCKROACHES in my room. I woke up at 4am and found it below my bed. I panicked and called the receptionist, he did helped me to get rid of it but he didn’t say sorry or anything. Later that day my body is very itchy & full of red bump, and I suffered from a stye.

3. Location: quite far from the city center, but reachable with motorbike.

What I love about the hostel is the huge common area on the rooftop. I hope the management would train their staff better on hospitality and improve & maintain the hygiene...