First Timer Liveaboard in Raja Ampat - Help Needed
- Thread starter scuba_kate
- Start date
Please register or login
Welcome to ScubaBoard, the world's largest scuba diving community. Registration is not required to read the forums, but we encourage you to join. Joining has its benefits and enables you to participate in the discussions.
Benefits of registering include
- Ability to post and comment on topics and discussions.
- A Free photo gallery to share your dive photos with the world.
- You can make this box go away
I've read others say the complete opposite
And same with the food.
My guess is that on a good day, either one is going to be good or bad.
I'm careful what I eat at Swiss-Bel and I'd be equally careful what I eat at Aston.
Myself, I'd like to stay at whichever hotel will let me get to bed ASAP when I arrive at 6 a.m. Swiss-Bel has lots of comfy seating as one waits hours before being allowed to check in. I started to book a paid night for the day before of my arrival and advise of a late checkin. For example, liveaboard departing on Dec 3, I'd be on a flight out of Jakarta departing on Dec. 2 at 12:30 a.m. arriving at Sorong also on Dec 2, near 6 a.m. For this, I'd book my hotel room for Dec 1 with late check-in and Dec 3 checkout. I'd remind them by email 2 or 3 times that I'd be checking in late and explain the situation. They have always acknowledged. Thus was marginally successful a time or two and on my last trip, I just stuck it out in the lobby until they began letting people check in.
If Aston has an earlier checkin procedure that would make them the winner in my book.
It may come down to which hotel is available. I just booked for next March/April. Was able to get the Aston for the night before but was not available the night after the LOB so we are in the Swiss Bel that night.
They both listed the same check in times.
They both listed the same check in times.
I’m doing the same and booking the night before for an early check-in.I've read others say the complete opposite
And same with the food.
My guess is that on a good day, either one is going to be good or bad.
I'm careful what I eat at Swiss-Bel and I'd be equally careful what I eat at Aston.
Myself, I'd like to stay at whichever hotel will let me get to bed ASAP when I arrive at 6 a.m. Swiss-Bel has lots of comfy seating as one waits hours before being allowed to check in. I started to book a paid night for the day before of my arrival and advise of a late checkin. For example, liveaboard departing on Dec 3, I'd be on a flight out of Jakarta departing on Dec. 2 at 12:30 a.m. arriving at Sorong also on Dec 2, near 6 a.m. For this, I'd book my hotel room for Dec 1 with late check-in and Dec 3 checkout. I'd remind them by email 2 or 3 times that I'd be checking in late and explain the situation. They have always acknowledged. Thus was marginally successful a time or two and on my last trip, I just stuck it out in the lobby until they began letting people check in.
If Aston has an earlier checkin procedure that would make them the winner in my book.
Best of luck. I hope that it goes well for you.
The hotels in Sorong are cheap enough that there's no question it's just easier to book an extra day before. I did that last year at the Swiss Bel. I checked in at 9 a.m. while the lobby was full of divers waiting to check in later in the afternoon. The lobby is not air conditioned and the mosquitoes are fierce.
The breakfast buffet at the Swiss Bel is gross, with very unsanitary conditions. People put their hands in the food instead of using a serving utensil. The room is ultra tiny. The Muslim moaning of prayers is about every 4 hours all day long and it's very loud.
I'm staying at the Aston in February. It's got to be better than the Swiss Bel...I hope.
The breakfast buffet at the Swiss Bel is gross, with very unsanitary conditions. People put their hands in the food instead of using a serving utensil. The room is ultra tiny. The Muslim moaning of prayers is about every 4 hours all day long and it's very loud.
I'm staying at the Aston in February. It's got to be better than the Swiss Bel...I hope.
The mosque is right by the airport, ergo, right by the Aston. I can't imagine that makes it any more quiet.
Maybe the food is better at the Aston, though.
Similar threads
