BY: Rosette Obedoza  Pelabuhan ratu is another easy vacation spot from Jakarta that is popular among the locals. About three to four hours from central Jakarta with a winding segment in the road. For most foreign visitors, Cimaja is the top surf spot to visit. For spring break, we opted to check out Cimaja Beach Club after reading good things about this place. Our goal was to spend a few days of relaxation, enjoy good seafood, and try a surf camp for our kiddo. I find booking with Cimaja Beach Club (CBC) accessible and convenient as they accept major credit cards, even AMEX. The owner, Jeff is very responsive via the company’s WhatsApp number +62 821 2531 8846 (no calls, text messages only), he even helped us confirm availability, contact a surf instructor, and arrange round trip transportation from Jakarta for us. Jeff also suggested a few activities in the area such as biking and hiking. The parking area from CBC is a good five minute walk, so, prepare yourself that this is not a door-to-door drop off and as you get closer to CBC, it is not a paved, cement path but a bit rocky trek. Wear comfortable shoes, and if you cannot pack light, make sure to arrange for assistance with CBC. It was a nice little surprise to see the location of CBC – it felt like a bit of Bali with the rice paddies and the nearby surf. The accommodation is simple, our room has AC, and we love the surprise little rooftop with our bungalow. I referred to our bungalow as ‘mini house on stilts’! The pool and restaurant on site made our stay comfortable and even gave a resort-like feel to it. Our stay is also inclusive with daily breakfast and it made it easier on me to work from my laptop in the early mornings before calling it a day to go to the beach. Our family took the time to catch up on our individual choice of books instead of plugging in and internet browsing with our electronics. We even found our fave reading spots and each is a 360 degree view of surf and paddies. I am noting down here that the beach in front of CBC is not a swimmable beach rather a rocky one actually. So, for families with kids, my suggestion is to arrange with CBC a transportation to bring you to the nearby sandy beaches with a hotel day pass such as the Grand Inna Samudra Beach. The sound of the waves at night was a sure winner for me. Every Saturday, CBC hosts a BBQ seafood dinner, while we missed this event – we thoroughly enjoyed the daily grilled ‘catch of the day’ and the various offerings at the restaurant. Not to be missed is the freshest coconut juice in town! From my research there are two other places we would like to check out in Pelabuhan Ratu, these are Schitzo Hills and Villa Gamrang. Stay tuned for these two locations as we may be heading their way soon! Cimaja Beach Club’s website - https://cimajabeachclub.com/ Grand Inna Samudra Beach - http://www.grandinnasamudrabeach.com/  |
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