Hotel Barbara — Hotel in Samosir Island

Hotel Barbara is one of the lake-facing hotel at Samosir Island, Lake Toba. It is just a simple hotel with standard facilities. The building maybe looked old but well maintained. If you are looking for just bed and breakfast, it is a choice for you. Pricing wise, Hotel Barbara offers affordable room rates.

The room was yet simple, clean and quite spacious. The room was non-airconditioned. No tea/coffee making facility was available. Free WiFi was available. The bedsheet was clean. The bathroom was clean. Breakfast was fried rice with so so taste.

The hotel did not have a proper lobby and reception. It was combined with the restaurant. The check in was manually done. Payment can be done by cash and transfer to local bank account.

The crew member offered hospitable service. Visitors might not expect a proper hotel's service as this hotel was family-style managed. But, they provided a warm and helpful service.

There is a small beach at the front of the hotel which guests may directly access. It is also a good place for photo/video taking, especially the sunrise moment. Parking space was spacious at the hotel's compound so visitors might not need to...

The location is great. The room was not expensive, but it was also not clean from not being used for some time. The food was very disappointing. The first night there was some kind of party going on in the hotel next door, with very loud karaoke which lasted till two at night. I understand that the owner can't change that, but this would have been a different review if he had told us. We asked whether there would also be a party going on the next day, and the answer was no. Since the location was great we decided to stay for one more night. The next afternoon at around five somebody came and asked if we could pay for the two nights. Which of course wasn't a problem. We joked that they were asking now because they expected lots of noise till deep in the night again, and were afraid we wouldn't pay or something. I don't know if that was the reason, but at around eleven at night five cars arrived with lots of people who were in a good mood and not sleepy for a long time. So I guess that I feel being lied to. Don't know if it's true, but that's the feeling...

My stay in Barbara was really pleasant. The owners and personal were very nice and friendly, the rooms clean and the service excellent. Everybody is really helpful. ||The guest house is just outside tuk tuk, but if you want to rent a scooter, you only have to say it, and it is coming to the guest house (and picked up at the end of the rental period). ||||A releave after a couple of weeks traveling...