Pondok Wisata Pantai Cemara

I've stayed at this place for 3 days and 2 nights and wish I could stay longer. Everything was perfect: the room, the food, the location (beach front) but above all the staff. Robbie and Mousa drove me around the island, and provided a lot of useful and interesting information. Especially Robbie who seems to know everyone in Sumba. And there was Vonny of course, who did her best to make me feel good. Robbie, Mousa and Vonny, I can't wait to come back to your place. You made me feel at home when I was so far away from home.

I recommend. Best place to stay in East Sumba. The highlight of my stay was the staff: professionally trained, the staff is extremely helpful and flexible to accommodate your needs. You can expect meals to be adjusted according to your wishes, rooms changed if you have problems with bugs, I was given free mosquito repellant on site. Was welcomed to a free special dinner after my birthday and Christmas. I was given a generous discount because this is the second time I visited here. I stayed about 30 Nights. During this time, I saw every single day the staff at work from 5 in the morning until 10 in the evening, every time at your disposal. In my country, Finland, you can pay as much as you want but you will never receive service like this, problem in western countries is people are entitled. If they get no work then government pays so no problem I lose my job. So, as a result I am used to receive pretty questionable customer service in Finland. Here in Indonesia, a waiter treats their profession as an art, people are extremely motivated to work. 24/7 at your disposal, you can never have that in Finland. Despite their extremely hard work and no free day I have seen during my stay, they always had a smile in their face and ready to help you. This is overall an excellent place to stay but there are a few things that I did NOT like: the manager’s attitude is extremely questionable. I didn’t want to write bad review about this because I want to support the hard work of the staff team, however the manager’s attitude has got to change. The manager is not involved at all in running this place, when I wrote texts directly to the manager to complain about some issues she sent staff to me, as she didn’t want to deal with me. After several complains about bugs and because I got sick with my stomach, I was told that “I complain too much”. Well, you can’t really tell a guest “you complain too much” and it is your responsibility to deal with guest complaints. My complaints were minor: I had problems with bugs, there are too many bugs. Also, if you book standard room you can expect some privacy problems. Because the rooms are right next to each other and unless you are the only guest you can expect a lot of noise if other guests are staying. If no other guests are staying then it’s very quiet. Most time I was only guest so was quiet. However I am very disappointed at the manager’s attitude, I could see she had no interest to deal with guest directly and always sent her hard working staff. Overall this is an excellent place to stay, however you need to know that there are many bugs, if you come rainy season, and if you book standard room, you will have minimum privacy. Rooms next to each other and restaurant, always have to keep curtains closed. If you book deluxe room then you will have your own place with plenty of comfort and privacy. Which is what I did when on Christmas other guests came. I am very satisfied by the staff, however you have to know what you wan

I will report misconduct from Pondok Wisata Pantai Cemara. Hostile, defensive, unwelcoming and rude attitude from the manager. Not all guests are the same, you have happy guests and you have unhappy guests. However one fundamental part of working in an accommodation business is the interaction with the guest. For several reasons this accommodation premise did not meet my expectations. Guess what I received after my complaints? The manager came to me with a very angry, unwelcoming attitude, rude and hostile, and told me that she can refund me the money and leave. She told me "I complain too much" and just wanted me to leave so she would refund my money even if it's against their policy. Well, I worked as a young in the hospitality industry and I can tell this is serious misconduct when dealing with guest and guest complaints. The guest has the right to complain and be heard, as long as you are polite of course. I filed complaints and this might be annoying, sure, but this is no way to treat guests and I will definitely take contact to report the manager. For the record, I complained about flies and insects, privacy issues with my room, stomach problems as I got sick, I felt controlled all the time in everything I did. No privacy at all. Dogs bit me, including the accommodation owner's dogs. After several of these complaints the manager turned to a very frustrated and unwelcoming attitude and told me she would refund my money even if it's against their policy. I asked for the refund and I received a great deal of price with my booking, however this is no excuse for this outrageous behavior and definitely wrong way to deal with any guest. As I could not change my flight, I have no option but stay here until January 18, and could not accept the refund. I am disgusted by the behavior of the manager and i will make sure to make it clear online, as I am very dissatisfied about my experience.

Excellent experience during my stay here - Location is perfect, in a remote spot of Sumba island which is exactly what I wanted. To get away from it all, the resort is right on one of the best beaches of the entire island, for swimming and snorkelling, it saves trips to and from the beach and allows for a more pleasant holiday experience. The staff was exceptional. The service and experience they provide to the guest is exceptional, they go out of their way to make your stay prefect and literally fall on themselves to help you with anything you need. Food was delicious, for Sumba standards this is a bit pricy, but the location more than compensates the extra price, as well as the smooth service. The only perk I could find was the room I was given , compared to the price I paid, was really very basic and the upgrade would have costed me even more. Paying this amount I was expecting more, and considering there was absolutely no one in the entire resort and was the only guest I would have appreciated a discount for upgrading my room. Because privacy was an issue, in the room I was given, since it was right next to the restaurant and you had to keep curtains closed to be “privacy”. Overall I am not a picky traveller but if you ask me this amount I expect more of course, especially from East Sumba, having stayed in many places around the island. I stayed a week here or a bit over, but apart from this the experience I have was close to perfect and cannot recommend it more!