Karimunjawa Luxury Resort Indonesia 🏝️ Is Breve Azurine Worth The Price?
Karimunjawa—a clutch of islands scattered like discarded emeralds off the coast of Indonesia—appears on the map as the ultimate getaway. It promises pristine sands and water so clear you can count the stripes on a passing clownfish.
In our related Karimunjawa articles, we provide a comprehensive travel plan, including where to stay, what to do, and how to get there, so you can make the most of your trip to this idyllic destination.
We figured the island required a grand finale. So after spending time in more rustic lodgings, our last accommodation choice was a hotel called the Breve Azurine. The promise of deluxe bungalows, a private lagoon, and—most crucially—the ability to pay by credit card drew us in.
Spoiler alert: Life rarely hands you such convenience without a hidden invoice.
Why the Breve Azurine?
Located about a ½ hour walk from the town center, Breve Azurine is a picturesque mini-resort with individual deluxe bungalows, a private beach and lagoon… and prices to match.
We chose this place for a short taste of luxury at the end of our stay on the island. Also – importantly – this was one of the very few establishments in Karimunjawa that claims to accept credit cards.
While planning our trip several weeks earlier, we’d read that there was only 1 ATM machine on the island. Apparently, the ATM wasn’t too reliable, and was often out of order or out of money. The ATM is also a bit choosy about which Visa cards it accepts.
Breve Azurine Karimunjawa
To avoid running out of money, travellers are advised to bring enough cash with them from the mainland. Almost all the guesthouses in Karimunjawa accept cash only. This means that for a visit of more than just a few days, you will need to bring with you a ridiculous amount of local cash to stay solvent.
For a week, you’d need roughly 5 to 6 million IDR for 2 people staying in decent lodgings. If you planned to stay at the Breve Azurine for a week, you would need 14 to 15 million IDR!
No problem since they accept credit cards, right?
Wrong.
A Financial Fiasco 💳
When we checked in the first thing I enquired about was payment. I was informed that their credit card machine was in Semarang for repairs
Semarang is not, as it happens, next door.
They would accept Paypal, a bank transfer … or cash. With Paypal and bank transfers out of the question, the only way this was going to work was if I could get cash from that unpredictable ATM in town. After our experiences with ATM machines in Semarang, I was a little leery about our chances here in Karimunjawa.
Luckily, the bank was open when we paid a visit the same day. I felt a little more comfortable using the ATM machine inside the bank, with the bank staff present. To my relief, the machine accepted my Visa card, and allowed me to withdraw IDR 2,500,000.
We returned to the hotel and paid our full bill upfront in cash – and no, at their inflated prices for food and services we wouldn’t be purchasing anything else at the Breve Azurine.
Bungalow Bliss 🏠
Let’s give credit where it’s due. The bungalows themselves? Quite excellent.
- Comfort: The bed featured a proper mosquito net, which is essentially the gold standard of tropical bedding.
- Amenities: Air conditioning that actually chilled the air, a fridge, cable TV, and an outdoor bathroom that provided the sensation of showering in the jungle without the inconvenience of actual wildlife joining in.
- The View: Our private balcony looked over the bay. It provided the kind of scene that makes you want to write poetry or, more likely, just sit and stare until the sun goes down.
Our bungalow at Breve Azurine
When the television decided to stop cooperating, the staff replaced it within hours. I’ve stayed in places in London where a request for a new lightbulb takes three days and a written petition. This service level felt refreshing.
I Can’t Get Out of the Pool… 🏊
Now, about that swimming pool. It sat right below our bungalow, sparkling invitingly.
I took a plunge, only to discover a slight oversight in the design. Getting in provided no challenge at all. Getting out, however, was another matter.
There was no ladder. There were no steps. Nada. Just a sheer stone border.
My attempts to haul my frame out involved a combination of frantic splashing and undignified thrashing, which likely entertained the local seagull population. When I pointed out this architectural comedy to the manageress, she just offered a polite shrug.
Stuck in the pool (my fingers are going wrinkly)
Breakfast Included 🍳
Breakfast was included in our daily rate, and at these prices we were expecting something a little special.
Vegetable pancakes drizzled with sauce didn’t quite do it for us. There was a small buffet with very limited offerings, but no comparison to the far superior buffets we were offered in much more affordable hotels in Semarang and Jakarta.
Breakfast at Breve Azurine Karimunjawa
How About Some Snorkeling?
However, the surroundings made up for the lackluster pancakes. Borrowing complimentary masks and fins from the resort, we ventured into the shallows off the private beach. The snorkeling was genuinely decent.
You need to navigate a fair way out through the shallows, but there are plenty of small fish and colorful coral to enjoy.
Snorkeling off Karimunjawa
Jungle Treks & Plastic Realities 🥾
One of the resort’s selling points involves the proximity to jungle paths. We spent an hour wandering north, enjoying the seclusion that comes with being far from the main town. The path hugged the coastline, offering beautiful glimpses of the sea.
Karimunjawa jungle paths
Unfortunately, the environmental reality of the islands revealed itself here. Many of these remote beaches suffered from an accumulation of rubbish. Seeing plastic waste washed up on a remote shore dampens the spirit and serves as a stark reminder that even in “untouched” spots, the world’s trash finds a way.
We followed the main track through the jungle for an hour or so, until it petered out into a barely-recognizable path running further into the jungle. Time for a soak in the sea before heading back the way we came.
🎵 I’m on the road to nowhere 🎵
Verdict 🤔 Is It Worth It?
Would we stay at the Breve Azurine again? Possibly, for a night or two … but only if we won the lottery. Otherwise, our daily expenses in Indonesia would end up costing us more than the equivalent of a city-break in London.
- The Pro: Peace, quiet, and a lovely, well-equipped bungalow.
- The Cons: The lack of functional credit card facilities, the cost, and the dismal breakfast offering.
Our time at Breve Azurine functioned as a final, slightly expensive punctuation mark on an island trip. We departed for the mainland, ready to exchange the jungle humidity for the familiarity of airports & transit lounges.
We would be starting our long journey back home via Semarang and Jakarta. First, though, we needed to arrange a boat transfer to the mainland.
Karimunjawa remains a destination of extremes—stunning natural beauty marred by the realities of remote infrastructure. If you visit, bring cash. A lot of it. And perhaps a ladder for the pool.
Breve Azurine Karimunjawa
If you enjoyed Breve Azurine Karimunjawa, check out our Central Java Travel Plan. You may also like:
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