Hello, I’m SINAE, a travel writer who spends much of the year on the road, writing and taking photographs along the way.
Travel is my daily life, and in many ways, it is also my work. Still, even I make time for a proper holiday once in a while – a slower stretch of travel where I can set aside a busy schedule, stay longer in one place, and simply rest.
This summer, my holiday was a 28-night, 29-day stay in Indonesia.
Although I travel abroad frequently, most people assume every trip is purely for leisure. In reality, many of my itineraries are filled with tight shooting schedules, hotel visits, and content work. A true holiday, to me, means going where I personally want to go and eating what I genuinely feel like eating – something that is not always easy when work comes first.
Yogyakarta holds deep historical significance within Indonesia, and this was my second visit to the city.
No Longer Part of Marriott or Sheraton Since 2025
I stayed for 14 nights and 15 days at Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa.
This is a historic resort that was formerly operated as Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa. However, as of December 16, 2024, the property officially left the Marriott/Sheraton portfolio.
The rate was around USD 50 per night, which made it feel like excellent value. It is positioned as a five-star property, yet the price was closer to what I would normally expect from a three-star hotel. Considering that the resort still carries the substantial hardware and scale of its former Sheraton days, I felt the value was more than reasonable.
👉 Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa – Check rates on Agoda
👉 Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa – Check rates on Expedia
Antique Character and a Bill Bensley Design
Opened in 1997, the hotel has more than 30 years of history, and both the grounds and the overall scale are quite impressive.
What makes Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa especially interesting is that the resort bears the touch of Bill Bensley, the world-renowned hotel designer also known for JW Marriott Phu Quoc Emerald Bay.
The property reflects traditional Javanese palace-inspired architecture, and once you arrive, it immediately feels different from a standard hotel building. There is a distinctive sense of place — something rooted in local culture rather than a generic resort design.
The swimming pool is particularly memorable. It does not feel like an ordinary hotel pool; instead, it has the atmosphere of a traditional Indonesian temple complex, which gives the entire area a very unique character.
On the ground floor, there are also pool-access rooms that seem especially suitable for families with children. During the weekend, I noticed quite a number of family guests staying at the resort.
Renovated Rooms and a Very Good Breakfast
Although this is an older hotel, the rooms underwent a major renovation in 2024, so the interiors feel much more modern and refreshed than the age of the property might suggest.
You can still sense traces of the former Sheraton identity in the overall structure and design, but the renovated room interiors are clean, contemporary, and comfortably above what I would expect at this price point. For around USD 50 per night, the quality felt genuinely strong.
Breakfast is served until 10:30 AM.
The selection offers a balanced mix of Indonesian traditional dishes and Western options. One of the most memorable details is that, on a clear day, you can see Mount Merapi, an active volcano, from the area in front of the breakfast restaurant.
That kind of view adds something quietly special to the stay. It is not just about having breakfast — it becomes part of the Yogyakarta experience itself.
This is one of the main reasons I would recommend Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa for travelers visiting Yogyakarta and looking for a resort with strong value.
There is now a newer Marriott-affiliated hotel nearby, but the price difference is often more than double. Considering that this property was still a Sheraton only a couple of years ago, I personally felt that staying at Mustika Yogyakarta Resort & Spa was more than sufficient — especially for travelers who value spacious grounds, character, renovated rooms, and excellent value over simply choosing the newest hotel in town.
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