The editor of Indonesia Expat had the chance to spend three days and two nights at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo, which is the second property under IHG’s premium brand, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, to open in Indonesia. This is his story.
It took only an hour for me to reach Terminal 2 of Soekarno-Hatta International Airport from my residence in Bogor, which was unusual. I was bracing for congested traffic, but it seemed as though the universe had immensely wanted me to have the most enjoyable experience possible for this particular trip. After all, before that very Tuesday, I had never had a stay at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo before. Above all else, however, before that very Tuesday, I had never visited Labuan Bajo or Flores Island before.
Until this trip, all I knew about Labuan Bajo basically originated from second-hand information. Almost all travel-focused media and travel influencers out there had made their respective observations regarding Labuan Bajo publicly known—that it is a virgin paradise, a secret sanctuary to enjoy what is left of Earth’s natural enchantment. And of course, visiting Labuan Bajo—at least according to all the second-hand information that I managed to retrieve before my trip—would be even more worthwhile if the traveller in question also visited the small islands around its horizon. This seemed like an imaginable good idea, though in reality, I decided to harbour a degree of scepticism. The weather in the past couple of days—and the past couple of months—had not exactly been summery.
Once my fellow invitees and I landed at Labuan Bajo’s Komodo International Airport, a chauffeur from Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo immediately picked us up and drove us to the hotel. To my surprise, the hotel is situated, quite literally, next to the airport’s landing site. If you are lucky, you could get to stay in a suite whose scenery from the window would be airplanes, landing and soaring under Flores’ baby-blue sky. (But no worries, as the window is especially soundproofed so that the noise coming from the airplanes’ engines would not disturb one’s peaceful evening rest.)
The hotel staff at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo received us in such a warm fashion. Speaking of warmth, the weather in Labuan Bajo that day was unseasonably sunny with mild clouds—to my delight and relief. That summery feeling that is supposed to charm one’s soul during a tropical sojourn was both unmissable and undeniable. Afterwards, time to check in and settle myself, as well as my belongings, in my suite.
Solo travelling can be tricky, one of the reasons being the hotel in which one would stay might most likely ‘assign’ what feels like the most cramped room in the most secluded and isolated corner of the hotel premises. There were plenty of times in the past when I decided to travel solo, but once I settled into my room, it was so underwhelming to the point where I couldn’t help but feel as though I was being judged for wanting to enjoy some me-time.
Fortunately, no such concerns were needed at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo.
The first thing that caught my eye once I entered my suite was the handwritten greeting message on the mirror, as well as the handwritten note on the bed, accompanied by cleverly-folded hand towels that looked like a white puppy. As a proud sweet tooth myself, I was also especially touched by the complementary snacks and pastries that were presented on the table. The suite in which I stayed was spacious, its interior was heavily characterised by soft, yet cool colour tones and hued illumination that did not skimp on natural lighting. The cobalt-blue walls deftly harmonise with the white sheet of the bed, the slate-grey couch cushions and the dark bronze carpet. None of the suite’s accents and features felt either artificial or kitschy. I immediately knew that I would definitely enjoy a good night’s rest.
Later on, the hotel staff at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo, accompanied by the incredible team of publicists from PRess COMMunications who helped arrange our itinerary, gave us a tour around the hotel premises. The first of the hotel’s facilities that immediately blew my mind was the swimming pool—crystal clear and shimmering under a sunny sky in shamrock green. Of course, I eventually managed to squeeze some time to have a dip and sunbathe. As a cherry on top, the staff always stood by in case I needed some assistance and such.
Another element that made Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo stand out is how the hotel can deliver both a relaxing, equatorial staycation and a picturesque collective experience. The hotel’s ballroom, for instance, can hold up to 180 people for gatherings or festivities. For planners, guests and attendees alike, the hotel’s new Meetings & Events Concierge guarantees smooth coordination as well as individualised care at every touchpoint. And then there is the Studio: a distinctive area that provides a laid-back atmosphere for gatherings, artistic endeavours or relaxation without the formalities of a conventional meeting room.
On top of that, if the guests at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo are in the mood for some brief downtime and a warm breeze, the Uluwae Lobby Bar keeps things relaxed with drinks and refreshments made from local ingredients.
Turns out, they were right: you’ve got to embark on an island-hopping voyage if you are in Labuan Bajo. On a Wednesday, my fellow staycationers and I got up early, left the hotel at around 6 AM, headed for the port and started witnessing for ourselves whether the beauty of Flores waters was indeed worth the hype. Our first destination was Padar Island in the Komodo archipelago, situated between the islands of Komodo and Rinca. The island has been famous for its 800-step hiking trail—and the more steps the hiker could conquer, the higher the peak being reached and, subsequently, the more breathtaking the view. In fact, you could see, quite literally, the whole Komodo archipelago on the 800th step. (At one point, we also encountered a tiny green snake relaxing amid the bush.)
Our next island-hopping stop? The Pink Beach. It is one of the few pink-sanded beaches in the world, renowned for the unique pink colour produced by the merging of white sand and pieces of red coral—and boy, oh, boy, the colour of the sand is indeed pink while the seawater is pure aquamarine. Funny enough, what ended up making my visit to the Pink Beach was the sightings of wild deers which were surprisingly friendly and mild-mannered, so much so that I, along with my fellow travellers, couldn’t help but feed them oranges while making some adorable content.
Next up: Komodo National Park. Long story short—we encountered more komodo dragons than expected. (And, if you are not careful, due to this ancient wildlife’s skin pigmentation, you could easily mistake a komodo dragon for a hardwood oak.)
Last but not least, massive kudos for the hotel staff at Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo and the PRess COMMunications team who decided Taka Makassar as our final stop of our island-hopping saga. The name “Taka” means “shallow”, whereas “Makassar” comes from the name of the sailor who discovered the island, who originated from Makassar, South Sulawesi. Only by actually visiting Taka Makassar did I truly realise that it is not so much an island as a sandbar (or a shoal) which is only visible at low tide. However, turquoise waters manage to surround the shores of Taka Makassar, where the mix of white and pink sands adds to the beauty of the scenery. No wonder Taka Makassar is praised by the locals and foreign visitors alike for being a little slice of paradise.
I am neither a highly capable snorkeller nor a consummate swimmer. That said, when you are in a place as naturally magical as Taka Makassar, you should never be too shy to grab the snorkelling goggles, plunge into the turquoise waters, and, if you are lucky, encounter a passing baby shark or two.
All good things, however, must come to an end. On the following Thursday, it was time for me to bid adieu to Labuan Bajo and return to Jakarta. Still and all, I privately preferred to say “see you later” as opposed to “goodbye”. Work-related or not, I must return to Labuan Bajo someday—hopefully sooner than later. And, when that day comes, I will know exactly which hotel I will be staying at.
All images are courtesy of Felix Martua. For more information about Crowne Plaza Labuan Bajo, visit its Instagram page.