When researching where to stay in Indonesia on any social platform, there is no doubt influencer pics of the most luxe hotels will swarm your feed. Think private villas with pool decks, jungle views and a floating breakfast: the sky seems to be the limit when vacationing on, primarily, Bali. Seeing these mansions flash on your screen can make the process of picking your accommodation both exciting and daunting. The sheer number of resorts on Bali is overwhelming, while other islands in Indonesia stay under the radar.
This guide is meant to help you tackle my favorite part of your pre-trip planning, a.k.a. finding that special boutique hotel. I have ranked all the best hotels in Indonesia we have stayed at during our journey and added some interesting alternatives too, so you can make your trip just as special. You might notice my recommendations include both luxury hotels, mid-range options and homestays. These accommodation types should fit any travel purpose: whether you are looking for a relaxing holiday or an intrepid experience, you will find the place that best suits you.
If you are still trying to decide your itinerary, make sure to read my complete Indonesia guide first and come back to this one later. There are also various hotel recommendations in each of my Indonesia destination articles, so check these out after you have finished reading this one.
Best Time to Visit Indonesia
You can visit Indonesia year-round and have a great time. While the dry season runs between April and October, and the wet season coats the islands in heavy rain from November to March, both seasons can be great depending on the goal of your travels. If you want to climb the Rinjani for example, the best time will be the dry season, specifically June or July. For surfing, the dry season is great for all levels, while the wet season can be a great time for beginners.
We went in the late shoulder season and did not experience the high room rates of peak season (July and August), nor its massive crowd in most spots (Mount Bromo excluded). If we were to go again, we would go in the early shoulder season from March to June as nature looks a little lusher at the end of the wet season. However, I personally think Indonesia is great whenever you plan on going, so don’t let your schedule hold you back from visiting.
How to Get to Indonesia
There are multiple ways to get to Indonesia from various parts of the world, but the most common and easiest way is to fly. Most islands have international airports or at the least domestic ones, with ferry services in between. I always use Skyscanner to find the best routes and cheapest flights for my trips, which is how we found our tickets from Surabaya to Lombok.
If you are traveling to Indonesia from Malaysia and want to visit Sumatra, then you can catch a boat as well. Ferries run between Port Dickson, close to Kuala Lumpur, and Tanjung Balai port on Sumatra, and take about six hours. If you want to learn more about how to do this route, then read Whirled Away’s blog on how they planned their journey.
Some people have braved the seas between the Philippines and the island of Borneo. According to the internet, there is a ferry service, but taking it is not recommended. Piracy in the Sulu and Celebes Seas still happens to this day, with human trafficking being one of multiple threats in this maritime area. You will be safest flying from Manila to one of Indonesia’s larger cities.
How to Get Around
There are multiple ways to get around Indonesia. While you could fly from island to island, it is more common to take the ferry between islands. One of the most popular routes is this one between Bali and Lombok via the Gili islands, but you can get to nearly any island by boat. I always use Klook and 12Go to find the best routes and book tickets in advance.
On some islands it is possible to get around by train. The entirety of Java is connected through an extensive rail network, which is how we traveled from Yogyakarta to Malang. Sumatra, Sulawesi and Papua also have a couple of railway lines, which are a fun way to get around. For each of these connections it is important to book your tickets well in advance, as they tend to sell out. We booked our tickets through Traveloka, which is an official reseller. If there are no train connections, chances are you can get anywhere by bus and book tickets through Klook and 12Go.
For shorter rides I recommend using Grab, South-East Asia’s version of Uber. This app needs reliable data to work, however. We tried Airalo during this trip so we could book a ride whenever we wanted and loved the ease of it. The app allows you to buy an e-sim for nearly any country on the planet, offers affordable prices and set-up is super easy.
If you are spending quite some time in one place, I would recommend renting a motorbike, which is what we did on Lombok. In any larger city like Kuta, rental shops can be found on every corner. Just make sure to have a valid license and insurance, as driving these things is not without risk.
The Top 7 Best Hotels in Indonesia
1. Malang: The Shalimar Boutique Hotel
Staying at the Shalimar Boutique Hotel was a highlight of our trip to Malang and can easily be called one of the best hotels in Indonesia. This place is steeped in history: built in the 1930s as a dance hall for the Dutch colonial elite, it later became one of the headquarters of the Indonesian Republican Radio before being restored into the elegant hotel it is today. It thus tells the story of a painful colonial past, revolution and the country’s transformation into an independent nation.
Besides its historical significance, the hotel itself is beautifully designed as well. The rooms are spacious and comfortable, the pool offers a respite from the hectic city, and the décor blends traditional and modern Javanese design. What makes this hotel special, however, are its people. On our last morning, we got the hotel breakfast and met Maria, the hotel’s hostess. Excited about our interest in the hotel, she took us on a tour, did a photoshoot with us and showed us a hidden bar in the hotel. If you want to know more about the Shalimar’s history, Maria’s tour and current (secret) amenities, then you can read the full story here.
While I would strongly urge you to stay at the Shalimar Boutique Hotel, especially when you are eligible for an upgrade through your Genius status on Booking.com, Malang has many other accommodation options that are worth considering. If you like to stay in a hotel like the Shalimar, with a history but a little cheaper, then book a stay at Hotel Tugu Malang. People looking to meet other travelers are best off at Zzz Hostel Malang, while the intrepid traveler would prefer Casa de Vie Homestay or INNI Homestay.
2. Kuta Lombok: El Tropico Boutique Hotel
While in Kuta, Lombok, we stayed at the El Tropico Boutique Hotel, which was a welcome respite after struggling to climb the Rinjani volcano. Especially since our room upgrade got us a suite with a terrace, outdoor bathroom and tub, and the softest king-sized bed imaginable. The hotel itself has two pools encircled by the rooms and plenty of sunbeds. They serve food, snacks and drinks both at the restaurant and the pool, which made it hard for us to leave the hotel. Booking a stay here is thus the best thing you could do in Kuta when looking for a relaxing holiday.
What made our stay extra special, however, was the way they handled my gluten intolerance. When I asked about the hotel’s options for a gluten-free breakfast, the chef personally came to discuss my dietary needs and even mentioned the availability of gluten-free pancakes and toast. Instead of a regular buffet, the hotel offers a breakfast menu where most dishes can be made gluten-free, which was a dream come true after struggling on Gili T. For anyone who is celiac or gluten intolerant, El Tropico is an absolute must-stay.
Another great option we considered was Martas Windows when planning our trip to Kuta, which offers beautiful rooms as well as small poolside villas. Like El Tropico, the villas and rooms are set around the pool, creating a calm and cozy atmosphere. The lush Jivana Resort is another great option, where you can take a dip in their natural-style pool or book a villa complete with its own pond. If you are looking for something that is a little more budget-friendly where you can chat with locals and travelers alike, then stay at the cozy Jumbo Homestay, which still has all the comfort of a private room.
3. Senggigi Lombok: Puri Mas Boutique Resort & Spa
Our stay at Puri Mas Boutique Resort & Spa was too short. Surrounded by a tropical forest and a pool facing the sea, this hotel in Senggigi close to Bangsal Harbor was exactly what we pictured when planning our trip to Lombok. The rooms were lovely, incorporating both traditional wood carvings, elements of nature and modern design, and the food was phenomenal. Although only five minutes from Senggigi’s center, the resort was an oasis.
Puri Mas itself is a good mid-range option when traveling to Senggigi. If you want something even more luxurious, however, then opt for Kalandara Resort Lombok. This hotel offers ocean view villas, of which some even have a private pool. Another good mid-range option is Lombok Souls, which’ design resembles much of Bali’s resort’s bamboo architecture. If you want something truly budget friendly, but rich in experience, then stay at Daphne B&B. This homestay offers cooking classes which will help you learn more about Lombok’s cuisine.
4. Mount Rinjani: Bobocabin
Most people who travel to Lombok decide to climb Mount Rinjani. If that is you, then you will want to spend the night close to the start of the trek, which can either be in Sembalun or Senaru. We did the trek from Sembalun and spent the night at Bobocabin, which was simple but romantic. These cabins had blurrable windows that all faced the volcano, so as the sun set, we had some epic views from our bed. Each cabin also came with its own outdoor patio, and you could order breakfast through their app. It felt like we were glamping, which could not have been a better way to start our Rinjani adventure.
If you prefer something a bit more upscale, however, then stay at Rautani, one of the area’s many cabin-style stays. The bungalows are more spacious than those of Bobocabin, making them ideal if you plan to stay in Sembalun a little longer. If you decide to start your trek from Senaru, then stay at Rinjani Lodge, which features an infinity pool with stunning views of the mountain.
5. Movenpick Surabaya City
If you read through my Indonesia blogs, you will notice I have not written about our time in Surabaya. As we only had three weeks in Indonesia, and Lombok was at the top of our bucket list, we chose to just spend one night in Surabaya. As this city is massive (second only to Jakarta) and mainly residential, we had a hard time figuring out what to do. So, we spent most of our time at our hotel, the Movenpick Surabaya City.
This place was everything we needed for a mere sixteen hours. With a rooftop pool, friendly staff and an extremely comfortable room, we left the hotel only to find some food. Its breakfast, which had a good selection of gluten free products, was delicious as well. Granted, it is nothing special and the tall building is a bit of an eye-sore, but for a business hotel it ticked all the boxes and was close enough to the airport.
6. Yogyakarta: Adhistana
Yogyakarta was the first city we visited in Indonesia and due to a delayed flight, we had much less time to explore than initially planned and thus only had one night at Adhistana Hotel in the Prawirotaman area. Most of its rooms encircled an emerald pool and sported some beautiful woodwork. It was everything we could have expected from a low- to mid-range hotel and we slept comfortably there. However, I did put this one second to last in my rating as the breakfast did not have many gluten free options. Still, it is quite nice and would still urge you to book a stay here.
If you are looking for something a little fancier yet mid-range, I would suggest checking out The Phoenix Hotel. This one strongly resembles The Shalimar in Malang with its classic charm. The hotel even has a spa and is on walking distance from Marlioboro Street. For those travelers looking to up their luxury game even more, Garrya Bianti is the best option. Their beautifully designed rooms and private villas are spacious and comfortable, and have you seen their infinity pool and spa? This is what I would imagine the White Lotus to be in Indonesia.
7. Gili Trawangan: Hotel Lumi
If you have read my guide on what to do on Gili Trawangan then you know our stay at Hotel Lumi was a gluten free fiasco, which is why it got last place on this list. For breakfast, there was nothing except some fruit at the buffet, and each guest was only allowed one item from the breakfast menu. These items not only needed to be altered, because most of them contained gluten, but when I asked them for some extra food they tried to charge me for it. It did not matter how many times I explained that unlike the other guests, I could eat nothing from the extensive buffet, they kept saying it was their policy and they could not accommodate me.
If you are not gluten intolerant or celiac, however, you should stay here. The pool overlooking the sea is just glorious and great for days when you want to relax. The rooms were nice too but do show some wear and tear. Another great option is the Manta Dive Resort, where you can stay in a bungalow and get your PADI. Looking for a stay that’s a little more unique? Then check out Gili Treehouse, where you’ll sleep in your very own treehouse. Tucked away on the western side of the island, it’s far enough from the busy nightlife, yet perfectly positioned for incredible ocean sunsets. With a private pool included, it is the ideal spot for travelers in search of a little romance.
Final Thoughts on the Best Hotels in Indonesia
The Shalimar and El Tropico are the winners of this personal ‘Best Hotels in Indonesia’ list. From their atmosphere to the design, food and friendly people, everything made sense. However, rankings are always arbitrary and the other hotels on this list deserved the praise they got.
If you want to plan the rest of your trip to Indonesia, make sure to read up on all of my guides on Java, Lombok and Bali. Sign up to my newsletter too if you wish to receive the latest travel news, or just follow me on Instagram where I share travel tips and experiences weekly.
