Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa

Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa: A Comprehensive Review of a Michelin Key Selected Property

Nestled in the serene Menoreh Hills with the majestic Borobudur Temple as its backdrop, Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa offers an exceptional and deeply immersive Indonesian experience. As a Michelin Key Selected property, it consistently delivers on its promise of luxury, unique design, and outstanding hospitality, making it a highly acclaimed destination for discerning travelers.

1. Overall Rating & Sentiment

The general consensus for Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa is overwhelmingly positive, with guests frequently describing their stays as "wonderful" and "exceptional". Review scores are consistently high across categories, particularly for staff performance (9.9 on Booking.com) and cleanliness (9.6). Many consider it one of the nicest hotels they've ever stayed in, highlighting its ability to create a paradise-like atmosphere.

2. Key Highlights

Guests consistently rave about several aspects of the resort:

• Spectacular Location & Views: The resort's prime position offers breathtaking views of Borobudur Temple from various points, including restaurants and private villas, providing a constant and silent companion to your stay. The serene, remote area amidst beautifully landscaped gardens and teak forests adds to its allure.
• Exceptional Service & Staff: The hospitality is frequently lauded as a standout feature. Guests describe the staff as incredibly accommodating, patient, helpful, warm, sincere, and gracious – often calling them the best they've experienced anywhere. The service is noted for its thoughtful and human connection.
• Unique Design & Atmosphere: The resort blends traditional Indonesian architecture, particularly Javanese construction, with contemporary luxury. Villas are designed to reflect Indonesia's natural beauty and craftsmanship. The colonial charm, serene ambiance, and well-thought-out layout that blends into the forest are often mentioned.
• Luxurious Amenities: The resort boasts a first-rate spa (Padma Spa), multiple swimming pools (including private plunge or full-sized pools in villas), a gym, and a yoga pavilion. Complimentary afternoon tea, scheduled shuttle service to Borobudur Temple, and daily yoga sessions are also highly appreciated.

3. Room Quality

Plataran Borobudur consists entirely of villas, ensuring generous spaces and luxurious furnishings in every room. There isn't a subpar room in the house.

• Design & Comfort: Villas are spacious, comfortable, and stylish, drawing inspiration from traditional Indonesian houses. They offer a cool blend of East and West, old and new, with magnificent four-poster beds and curated pieces that give the space soul. Guests have described the rooms as beautiful and the beds as heavenly.
• Features: Every villa comes with either a plunge pool or a proper swimming pool, an outdoor terrace, and a spacious bathroom with both a rain shower and a bathtub. Some units offer views of the surrounding hills. Earplugs are provided, which can be helpful for the early calls to prayer.

4. Dining Experience

The dining experience at Plataran Borobudur is consistently praised for its quality, variety, and scenic settings.

• Restaurant Options: The resort offers several dining venues. Patio Venue provides Indonesian and International cuisine with colonial charm and views of Borobudur Temple. The open-air Stupa serves Indonesian fare under the night sky. Kastil is an indoor European-style dining room with butler service. Enam Langit by Plataran (also known as Plataran Shailendra) offers refined global and Indonesian fare with magnificent views of the Menoreh Hills and Borobudur Temple.
• Food Quality: Guests frequently highlight the tasty and excellent food, from breakfast to dinner, with a wide variety of choices presented to perfection. The culinary journey includes traditional Javanese dishes and international cuisine made from fresh local ingredients. Specific mentions include a fantastic breakfast and delicious room service. Some guests specifically recommend The Stupa restaurant.
• Afternoon Tea: Complimentary afternoon tea with snacks is a lovely touch enjoyed by many.

5. Service & Staff

The service and staff at Plataran Borobudur are consistently rated as exceptional and are often cited as the highlight of a guest's stay.

• Hospitality: Staff are described as accommodating, patient, helpful, warm, sincere, gracious, very polite, and professional. They are noted for their attention to detail and ability to make guests feel like royalty. Many guests recall genuine human connections with individual staff members.
• Efficiency: The 24-hour front desk and quick service are appreciated. Staff are also readily available to arrange bike hire and airport shuttles.

6. Location & Accessibility

Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa is strategically located for an enriching cultural and natural experience.

• Neighborhood & Attractions: Situated atop Tanjungan Village's hills in Central Java, the resort is approximately 0.6 miles (1 km) from the iconic 9th-century Buddhist Borobudur Temple. Its proximity to Borobudur Temple makes it highly convenient for temple tours, including sunrise visits. It is nestled in the central Menoreh Hills, offering a tranquil "forest fix". Other nearby attractions include Punthuk Setumbu Hill and Candi Pawon.
• Transport: The resort offers free scheduled shuttle service to Borobudur Temple. It's about a 90-minute drive from Yogyakarta Adisucipto International Airport and a 2-hour drive from Semarang Achmad Yani International Airport. Airport transfer services are also available. While the immediate area around the hotel can be quiet, making it challenging to find external dining or shops without private transportation, the resort's comprehensive offerings mitigate this.

7. Value & Pricing

While Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa is considered a luxury property and can be expensive, many guests believe it is worth the cost, often describing it as excellent value for money given the experience.

• Perceived Value: The "value for money" score on Booking.com is 8.4, and on Agoda, it's 9.3, indicating that guests generally feel the price is justified by the high quality of the accommodations, service, and amenities. One guest, despite calling it the most expensive stay they'd ever paid for in Indonesia, stated it was also the best.
• Typical Price Range: Based on recent data, room prices can start from approximately $267 per night, though this can vary significantly depending on the season and specific villa chosen. Low seasons like February and December might offer cheaper deals.

8. Common Complaints

While overwhelmingly positive, a few minor recurring issues or criticisms have been noted by some guests:

• Calls to Prayer: Due to its location, the resort is surrounded by active mosques, and some guests have found the early morning calls to prayer disruptive to sleep, even with provided earplugs.
• Smoke Smell (Plataran Heritage Borobudur): A few reviews for what appears to be a related property (Plataran Heritage Borobudur Hotel, which might be confused or sometimes associated in search results) mentioned issues with people smoking in dining areas and a smoke smell in rooms. This specific feedback does not directly apply to Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa based on other reviews, but it's worth noting.
• Spa/Food Quality Comparison: One guest mentioned the quality of food and spa being "a tad below expectation compared to other experiences we had in Java," though this was an isolated comment amidst numerous praises for both aspects.
• Limited External Options: The immediate area around the resort is quiet, which can make finding external dining or snack options difficult without private transport. However, the resort's extensive on-site dining mitigates this for most.

In conclusion, Plataran Borobudur Resort and Spa, a Michelin Key Selected property, stands out as an exceptional destination offering a luxurious and culturally rich experience. Its stunning location, unparalleled service, beautifully designed villas, and exquisite dining contribute to a truly memorable stay for those seeking a tranquil and authentic Indonesian escape.

Sources

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