Your stay — Hotel Gembira
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The Property — Hotel Gembira
Hotel Gembira is a reliable three-star in central Bontang, with a functional lobby of polished tile, potted plants and a front desk that hands you a welcome drink. It suits business travellers and stopover visitors who need clean, air-conditioned rooms within walking distance of the city’s banks and mini-markets, not a resort escape.
Chronicles of Bontang
Bontang grew from a small fishing settlement into an industrial city after the 1970s, driven by liquefied natural gas plants operated by Pertamina and TotalEnergies. The modern grid of wide roads and low-rise concrete buildings contrasts with older stilt houses along the coast, and the population of about 180,000 includes many Javanese and Bugis migrants. Today, Bontang markets itself as a gateway to the conservation forests of Kutai National Park and the coral islands of the Makassar Strait.
Best Time to Visit
Full Bontang guide →Best months
August and September: least rain, calm seas for trips to nearby islands like Beras Basah and clear forest trails in Kutai National Park.
Peak / festival surge
July and December (school holidays): local families travel, hotel prices rise by 20-30%, and beaches on Beras Basah get crowded on weekends.
Budget shoulder season
April and October: still dry enough for outdoor plans, but hotel occupancy drops, so you can negotiate room rates or find 15% discounts.
Weather & packing
Bontang is equatorial: rain can appear abruptly even in the dry season, so pack a small umbrella in your day bag. Long sleeves and trousers are wise for evening mosquito protection near the coast.
Live City Briefing — Bontang
- The main road to Bontang’s port (Jalan Soekarno-Hatta) has intermittent resurfacing until August 2026, causing slow traffic peak hours 7-9am and 4-6pm.
- Since January 2026, the new Bontang City Square mall (Jl. Gatot Subroto) opened with a 24-hour pharmacy and a food court with local seafood stalls.
- Kutai National Park requires advance booking for ranger-led treks to see proboscis monkeys and orangutans; the park office warns of limited slots for July due to holiday demand.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Gembira, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request top-floor rooms (3rd or 4th) facing away from Bontang's main road to minimise street noise and capture sea breezes.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the front desk or street side, as traffic from Bontang's coastal road can be audible, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
Best views
Rooms on the east side likely offer views toward the Makassar Strait coastline, while west-facing rooms look over the town's hills or residential areas—specify higher floors for best sightlines.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 (top floors) are quietest, further from street-level activity and with better insulation from ground-floor noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Bontang is a port city with heavy motorbike traffic from 6-9am and 4-7pm; the hotel's location on a main road means occasional truck noise. Avoid rooms over the lobby entrance for quieter sleep.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on the side away from Jalan Bontang (the main coastal road) if available. 2. The hotel may have limited parking—arrive before 4pm to secure a spot on the premises.
- Call the hotel directly 24–48 hours before arrival and ask for a specific room type
- Add a note in your booking comments field
- Ask at check-in — front desk staff can often accommodate if a room is available
Hotel Facilities — Hotel Gembira
Free for all guests; speed adequate for browsing and messaging (approx 5 Mbps); no login required, just select network
One lift serves all 4 floors; no stairs-only sections
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; only in-room TV with local channels
Check-in from 14:00; early bag-drop allowed from 08:00 in lobby; late check-out until 14:00 costs 150,000 IDR (subject to availability)
Free for day-of check-in or check-out; stored behind front desk; no automated lockers
No step-free main entrance (one step at door, portable ramp available on request); no wheelchair-accessible bathrooms in standard rooms; lift fits a standard wheelchair
Free on-site parking for up to 20 cars on first-come, first-served basis; no valet; no EV charging; nearest public car park is at Bontang Plaza 500 m away (3,000 IDR/hour)
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% government tax + 10% service charge, applied to room rate; no separate tourist tax
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking via transfer or credit card; 500,000 IDR incidental hold on card at check-in
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Masjid Nurul Mu'min (110 m · ~1 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Besar Nurul Iman (323 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Musholla Nurul Ittihat (477 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Al-Ikhwan (538 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Citimall Bontang — 944 m · ~12 min walk
Lapangan Kampung Baru — 755 m · ~9 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ATM BANK BNI Hotel Andika — 459 m · ~6 min walk
Toko Obat Angkasa — 394 m · ~5 min walk
Hawaii Mart — 693 m · ~9 min walk
Bontang — 2.2 km · ~27 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Change money at local banks such as Bank Mandiri or BCA for the best rates; avoid airport booths and tourist-oriented moneychangers that often charge poor rates.
Cards and contactless payments are widely accepted at mid-to-upscale hotels, restaurants, and larger supermarkets, but many small warungs, street stalls, and local shops are cash-only.
Tipping isn't mandatory, but rounding up the bill or leaving 5–10% is appreciated at restaurants. Taxis and hotel staff don't expect tips, though a few thousand rupiah for good service is welcome.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A simple kopi hitam or instant coffee at a local street-side stall or warung costs about IDR 5,000–8,000.
A plate of nasi padang or nasi campur from a food stall or simple restaurant typically costs IDR 20,000–30,000.
An affordable dinner, like a portion of mie goreng or soto, at a warung runs roughly IDR 25,000–40,000 per main dish.
Street food is concentrated around the morning market (Pasar Bontang) and along Jalan Yos Sudarso, with satay, siomay, and fried snacks common after 5pm.
Budget supermarkets include Indomaret and Alfamart, found on most main roads; larger stores like Hypermart or Transmart in Bontang Mall offer more choice.
Affordable clothing is available at Pasar Bontang (traditional market) and from roadside stalls along Jalan Ahmad Yani; prices are negotiable.
The cheapest way around is by local minibus (angkot), costing about IDR 4,000–6,000 per ride. From Bontang Airport, a public bus (damri) or shared ojek (motorbike taxi) are budget options; a private taxi costs around IDR 50,000–80,000 into town.
Use cash at warungs and local markets to avoid card fees; buy fresh fruit and snacks at Pasar Bontang rather than convenience stores; take advantage of free public beaches like Tanjung Laut or Bontang Kuala for cheap weekend outings.
Good to know — Bontang
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 18090.75 · IDR
Emergency Contacts
BontangFor police, dial 110. For ambulance, 118. For fire, 113. These numbers are national Indonesian emergency contacts. Bontang also has a local police station on Jl. Yos Sudarso, and the general hospital (RSUD Taman Husada) on Jl. Dr. Sutomo.
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Bontang, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Gembira
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ATM BANK BNI Hotel Andika — 459 m · ~6 min walk — pharmacy · Toko Obat Angkasa — 394 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Anywhere in Bontang → Kos Kosan Bujang Pak Karim BTN
💡 Use Grab or Gojek app for fixed pricing; street ojeks will haggle. The BTN area is a maze of small lanes – tell the driver the warung name or ask a local for 'Pak Karim's kos'.
Kalimarau Airport (BEJ) → Kos Kosan Bujang Pak Karim BTN
💡 Negotiate the fare before getting in; official airport taxis are fixed price but private drivers from town often charge less.
Kalimarau Airport → Bontang City Terminal
💡 The shuttle drops you at the central terminal; from there, take an ojek (motorcycle taxi) for 15,000 IDR to Kos Kosan Bujang Pak Karim BTN.
Bontang City Terminal → Kos Kosan Bujang Pak Karim BTN (BTN housing area)
💡 Ask for the 'BTN' route – these are small blue minibuses. Keep small change ready; drivers rarely have change for large notes.
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Gembira?
Request top-floor rooms (3rd or 4th) facing away from Bontang's main road to minimise street noise and capture sea breezes.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Gembira?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the front desk or street side, as traffic from Bontang's coastal road can be audible, especially during morning and evening rush hours.
Is Hotel Gembira noisy?
Bontang is a port city with heavy motorbike traffic from 6-9am and 4-7pm; the hotel's location on a main road means occasional truck noise. Avoid rooms over the lobby entrance for quieter sleep.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Gembira?
Rooms on the east side likely offer views toward the Makassar Strait coastline, while west-facing rooms look over the town's hills or residential areas—specify higher floors for best sightlines.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Gembira?
1. Ask for a room on the side away from Jalan Bontang (the main coastal road) if available. 2. The hotel may have limited parking—arrive before 4pm to secure a spot on the premises.
What time is check-in at Hotel Gembira?
Check-in at Hotel Gembira is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Gembira have Wi-Fi?
Free for all guests; speed adequate for browsing and messaging (approx 5 Mbps); no login required, just select network
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Gembira?
10% government tax + 10% service charge, applied to room rate; no separate tourist tax
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Gembira?
A plate of nasi padang or nasi campur from a food stall or simple restaurant typically costs IDR 20,000–30,000.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Gembira?
The cheapest way around is by local minibus (angkot), costing about IDR 4,000–6,000 per ride. From Bontang Airport, a public bus (damri) or shared ojek (motorbike taxi) are budget options; a private taxi costs around IDR 50,000–80,000 into town.
When is the best time to visit Bontang?
August and September: least rain, calm seas for trips to nearby islands like Beras Basah and clear forest trails in Kutai National Park.
Top Attractions in Bontang
💡 Come in the early morning to see tai chi groups and joggers. Food stalls appear after 4 PM selling cheap snacks like pisang goreng.
💡 The staff are friendly and may offer a free guided tour if you ask. Donation box at the entrance.
💡 Visit on a weekday morning when it is quiet and the animals are more active. Bring bug spray.
💡 Go just before sunset to avoid the midday heat and catch the local fishermen bringing in their catch around 5 PM.
💡 Wear sturdy shoes that can get muddy. The entrance is free, but a small voluntary donation helps maintain the path. Best visited during low tide.