11 Best Hotels in Indonesia

Chatty backpackers, couples and families meet in Ayu Lili's lush garden. The grounds at this cottage-style hotel include a small swimming pool and a covered terrace for outdoor lounging. Each room has Balinese furnishings and a small verandah, and the more expensive ones also have air-conditioning. The central location, about five minutes walk from the beach, puts the best of Kuta within easy reach, and the price makes it affordable.

On Samosir Island on volcanic Lake Toba, you'll find these friendly thatched-roof cottages, built in local Batak-style, in the little town of Tuk-Tuk. Though they aren't the newest accommodations, they are clean, cosy, and full of charm, and some have amazing views of the lake; spend a little extra for a beach room to fully appreciate the scenery. The ferry from Parapat drops you right in front of the hotel.

Don't expect luxury, but you will find an oasis of comfort here, smack on what most consider to be the nicest beach on Pulau Weh. The hotel's 11 bungalows overlook the turquoise sea; some are right on the beach, with outdoor showers, and some up on the hills with awesome views, and all have mosquito nets and balconies with hammocks. Enjoy delicious fresh fish dishes at the hotel restaurant, or relax and watch the sunset from the cozy beach bar; if you're lucky, the genial owners will throw a bonfire on the beach during your stay. You'll also find good snorkeling just off the beach in front of the hotel.

Large, new (in 2012), and attached to the largest shopping mall in central Java, the Crown Plaza is among the luxury hotels in Semarang. Guest rooms aim for contemporary elegance, with dark wood furniture contrasting the walls and carpets in paler earth tones, modern lighting, and large marble baths. The handsome 11th-floor lounge with stunning views over the city is a good place for a drink, and a large, beautifully designed restaurant serves a mix of high-end European and Indonesian fare.

In the rainforest, a 10-minute walk from the Bukit Lawang Orangutan Centre, the cottages offer simple but clean lodgings surrounded by pretty landscaped gardens and wandering monkeys. Rooms come with mosquito nets and outdoor bathrooms, some with no roofs (not so great when it rains) and traditional Indonesian mandi baths, where you pour water over yourself from a bucket; note that there is no hot water at all here, which is typical for the area. You can walk on a path directly into the national park to start your trek.

South African Freddie Rousseau owns and manages these basic but sparkling clean bamboo cabins on a lovely beach, all recently renovated and overlooking the water. They have ceiling fans and balconies, and the variety of cabin sizes attracts a varied clientele, from backpackers staying for a month to couples to families with children. The highly regarded Indonesian–Western fusion food is served buffet style at dinner, and there is also a beach restaurant serving a la carte dishes for both lunch and dinner.

More a villa than conventional hotel, the spectacular hilltop location overlooking the ocean offers premium sunset views from your own flowery terrace (especially from room 8 at the top) or the hotel's picturesque pool. Only 1.5 km (1 mile) from Labuan Bajo, you're close to the amenities of a sizeable town and the airport, but still remote enough for that away-from-it-all feeling. While the interior design is nothing special, rooms are spotlessly clean and functional, with large bathrooms, ceiling fans, comfortable beds, and mosquito netting. Convenient to all Komodo's other islands and attractions, the hotel willingly assists with boating, diving, or wildlife excursions.

What this new, contemporary hotel offers in comfort, amenities, and value far outweighs the fact that it isn't smack dab in the center of town (but it's close enough). Despite being a chain hotel, gleaming common spaces and ample, streamlined rooms make for youthfully stylish interiors—think huge black-and-white cityscapes—without sacrificing the comforts seasoned traveler's appreciate. Bathrooms are small, but very clean and well-equipped. The downstairs coffee shop is a pleasant place for a meal or snack.

At Iboih Beach, about 40 minutes from Sabang port, these seaview bungalows have something many other Pulah Weh bungalows lack: rooms with air conditioning (though some still have only fans). Each room comes with a hammock on the terrace where you can while away the hours listening to the waves, and the crystal-clear water off of the private beach invites snorkeling or diving. Though there's no Wi-Fi in the rooms, it's free and fairly fast in the restaurant.

Down the road from the area's original surfer hangout, Su's Cottages II offers more rooms and a bit more comfort while matching the friendly feel and strategic location of Su's Cottages I. Standard rooms have TVs with international channels, refrigerators, and balconies overlooking the inviting swimming pool. The hotel is a short walk to the beach and within easy reach of shops, restaurants, and nightspots. Su's retains its helpful, hospitable vibe.

For a no-frills, clean, centrally located hotel, Tune Hotel Pasar Baru plays your song. Affiliated with budget carrier Air Asia, Tune shares its solid-value business DNA and its no smoking policy. Bathed in company colors white and red, this branch of the chain features quality spring mattresses and bedding plus private bathrooms with high-pressure, hot-water showers—not too shabby for a room that, all in, costs less than US$25. Pasar Baru is an older area of Jakarta, near historic retail areas and national monuments.