Must-see hotels in Sumatra

  • Tintin Losmen

    West Sumatra

    Tintin Losmen is a small, quiet, family-run losmen on Pantai Bungus offering basic, mosquito-netted rooms a couple of kilometres from the port. It’s run…

  • New Marjoly Beach

    Pulau Bintan

    This laid-back boutiquey resort consists of spacious thatched bungalows cooled by ocean breezes. There’s a decent restaurant on site, however, be sure to…

  • Hotel Mirasa

    Sumatra

    Along the main Pagaralam thoroughfare is this run-down roadside motel with a range of rather musty rooms to choose from. You'll need to bring your own…

  • Grand Inna Medan

    Medan

    Most noteworthy for being the former De Boer Hotel, built in 1909, today the Grand Inna has subtle reminders of its former glory but its ugly high-rise…

  • Hotel Fortuna

    Sumatra

    A reasonable budget choice, Fortuna has simple and sparsely furnished rooms, but its main advantage is the central location, concealed in a quiet retail…

  • Munca Indah

    Sumatra

    This fairly scrappy property is one of the few options for staying in Canti, with overpriced villa-style rooms that cater more to the needs of local…

  • Banyak Island Lodge

    Banyak Islands

    The only land-based accommodation on Pulau Tuangku is this surf lodge situated in the so-called Bay of Plenty. Rates include transfers and full board…

  • Hotel Rumoh PMI

    Banda Aceh

    This hotel is in a residential area southwest of Banda Aceh's centre, 15 minutes' walk from the Tsunami Museum. Rooms could use some sprucing up, but on…

  • Guesthouse Talitha

    North Sumatra

    A 15-minute walk north of Berastagi's centre in a quiet residential neighbourhood, this family-run guesthouse has a handful of motley rooms fronting a…

  • Savali Hotel

    Padang

    The centrally located Savali is just a short stroll from the beach and good restaurants. The hotel’s 23 rooms are set around a Zen-style garden, the…

  • Green Lodge

    North Sumatra

    While it's well placed for Tangkahan's elephant activities, in reality this scenic riverside guesthouse is a bit of a mixed bag. The only recommendable…

  • D’Prima Hotel

    Medan

    This hotel is in an odd location occupying the top floors of the Medan train station, so you'd expect it would be noisy and drab, but it's not. Rooms are…

  • Homestay Lae Kombih

    Banyak Islands

    This guesthouse overlooks the water and has hot and stuffy rooms, but what do you expect at these prices? It also has passable air-con rooms.The owner is…

  • Monkeys Resort

    Sumatra

    Overlooking its namesake break (one of the island's best right-handers) in the far south of Telos is this idyllic Aussie-run resort with modern-fitted A…

  • Orchid Hotel

    West Sumatra

    This long-established budget inn has a good travel desk, helpful staff and a sociable downstairs space. Rooms on three levels are pretty basic, but all…

  • Losmen Sibayak Guesthouse

    North Sumatra

    Behind Sibayak Trans Tour & Travel, this long-standing cheapie has rooms that have a lot of Indonesian personality, making the place feel more like a…

  • Home Stay & Resort Family

    West Sumatra

    The southernmost homestay in Kersik Tua is found uphill next to the tea plantation and then left along the football field. It's a solid choice, with cosy…

  • Sam’s Bungalows

    Bukit Lawang

    There’s an excellent range of wooden tree houses here, as well as more solidly built rooms painted in sunny Mediterranean colours. Rooms have four-poster…

  • Hotel Vista

    Sumatra

    Recommendable only for its price tag is this dirt-cheap hotel with a choice of fan or air-con rooms. The cheapest rooms with shared mandi are grim, but…

  • Family Losmen

    Sumatra

    One of Tanjung Setia’s longest-established losmen is still one of the area’s best, with stylish concrete bungalows with private verandahs, and a terrific…

  • Hotel Prapat

    Banda Aceh

    In a town full of pricey accommodation, this downtown hotel offers one of the better budget choices. You'll get a balcony and private bathroom, but keep…

  • Wisma Soliga Resort Hotel

    Sumatra

    Located 4km south of Gunung Sitoli, this place has spacious, motel-style rooms. The service is friendly but erratic and the mattresses uncomfortable, but…

  • Hotel Santika

    Sumatra

    Here at one of Bengkulu’s smartest hotels you can expect clean, simple lines and contemporary design, complemented by such perks as a gym, pool and…

  • Hotel Medan

    Banda Aceh

    One of Banda Aceh's most established midrange options, Hotel Medan has a good central location in the happening market area north of the river. Rooms are…

  • Red Planet Palembang

    Sumatra

    Red Planet is sleek, contemporary and minimalist, with plenty of crimson accents and mod cons. Its main road location is convenient for overnight stays en…

  • Hotel Dina Amalia

    Aceh

    On the main road as you enter town is this solid choice featuring comfortable rooms with air-con and wi-fi, but local-style bathrooms (with squat toilets…

  • Grand Kartini Hotel

    West Sumatra

    White is the predominant colour at this smart, central hotel, the most upmarket on this little Bukittinggi hotel strip. Rooms are compact yet comfortable…

  • Nyang Nyang Surf Camp

    Mentawai Islands

    This cute little cottage on the beach boasts a prime location in the heart of Nyang Nyang village. It only has two rooms, which are very basic affairs,…

  • Nala Seaside Hotel

    Sumatra

    Just across the street from Panjang Beach, in the southern part of Bengkulu, this quiet hotel lets you choose between rather dated bungalow rooms with…

  • Homestay Paiman

    West Sumatra

    Located above an outdoor adventure store in the heart of Kersik Tua, this friendly homestay is popular with local climbers. It's pretty bare-bones though,…

  • Rajawali Homestay

    West Sumatra

    The seven rooms at this friendly but very basic homestay come with Indonesian bathrooms and creaky beds. Owner Yanna is good for a chat.

  • Atsari Hotel

    North Sumatra

    One of Parapat's upmarket choices, the Atsari Hotel is close to the lakefront and has clean, spacious rooms, a cafe and a pool.

  • Samosir Cottages

    Danau Toba

    Samosir Cottages has undergone a dramatic transformation from backpacker guesthouse into one of the more upmarket resorts on the Toba lakefront. Rooms are…

  • Sibayak Multinational Resthouse

    North Sumatra

    Set in immaculate gardens and with a hill-country vibe (as long as the dogs aren’t barking), the vast, modern rooms here are a decent, if overpriced, bet…

  • Gandhi Inn

    Medan

    Decked out in sedate creams and browns, rooms here are compact and comfortable. Gandhi Inn is just a short walk from Thamrin Plaza Mall and the Pasar…

  • Residence Hotel

    Medan

    The lime-green Residence, down a side street across from the Mesjid Raya (Grand Mosque), has a wide variety of budget rooms, but they're uniformly dull…

  • Hotel Yani

    West Sumatra

    This fairly grim hotel is strictly for penny-pinchers, with its cold bucket showers, narrow, short beds and water stains on the walls. It's in a central…

  • Siwah Hotel

    Banda Aceh

    In Banda Aceh's market area just north of the river, Siwah has well-priced rooms and is centrally located, although it's a bit dark and institutional…

  • Mr Bean Resort

    Aceh

    Mr Bean bucks the trend of Iboih huts with its boxlike waterfront cottages with floor-to-ceiling windows, air-con and TV. More budget hotel than beach…

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