Your stay — Hotel Mulia
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The Property — Hotel Mulia
Hotel Mulia in Kendari feels like a solid, no-frills base for exploring Southeast Sulawesi. The lobby is clean, tiled, and air-conditioned with a small front desk and a lounge area that gets busy at check-in. It’s a 3-star property that suits budget-conscious travellers, business visitors, or anyone needing a reliable night’s sleep near the city centre. The USP is its central location and the fact it’s one of the older established hotels in town, so staff know the area well.
Chronicles of Kendari
Kendari was founded in the early 20th century as a Dutch colonial outpost and grew as a port for shipping timber and nickel. The city saw rapid expansion after Indonesian independence and became the capital of Southeast Sulawesi province in 1964. Architecturally, it mixes low-rise colonial-era buildings with modern concrete blocks and stilted traditional houses (rumah panggung) by the coast. Today, Kendari is a busy trading hub and gateway to the Wakatobi marine park and Moramo waterfalls, with a strong Bugis and Tolaki cultural influence.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kendari guide →Best months
September and October for the driest weather, plus lower humidity than the wet season. November is also good, with fewer tourists than peak June–August.
Peak / festival surge
July and August are peak months because of school holidays and domestic travel. Hotel prices can jump 20–30% during these months. No major festivals drive the crowd, but the dry season attracts travellers to nearby islands.
Budget shoulder season
March and April offer lower room rates, milder rain, and less competition for tours. You’ll get decent weather without the peak-season surcharges.
Weather & packing
Kendari has a tropical monsoon climate, with heavy rain from December to February and a distinct dry season June–October. Pack a lightweight rain jacket even in July – sudden downpours are common – and always carry insect repellent for mosquitoes, especially near the coast.
Live City Briefing — Kendari
- The Kendari–Bau-Bau ferry route has reduced schedules due to engine maintenance on the KM Dharma Rucitra VII; check with ASDP for updates before travelling.
- A new food market, Pasar Sentral Kendari, opened in 2025 near the main port, offering local street food and fresh seafood daily until late evening.
- Road widening on Jalan Suharto near the hotel may cause minor traffic delays until September 2026; allow extra time for airport transfers.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Mulia, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 at the back side of the building, away from the main road. These floors balance lift access with quieter conditions, as the street-facing front rooms can pick up traffic noise from Kendari's busy roads.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floor 1 near the lift lobby or reception, as foot traffic and check-in activity create morning and evening noise. Also skip rooms facing the front street directly; given the address on a main Kendari road, motorbikes and trucks run late.
Best views
Back-side rooms offer a view of the city skyline and hills around Kendari; front rooms look out over the main road and possibly the bay in the distance, but with traffic noise as a trade-off.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 to 4 are the quietest – high enough to reduce street rumble but not close to any rooftop plant or bar if present.
🔊 Noise notes
The main source is street traffic on the front road – motorbikes, shared taxis (ojek), and small buses. Also, the lift mechanism can hum on adjacent rooms, so avoid rooms directly beside the lift shaft.
Insider tips
Arrive before 2pm to request a back-side room, as these go fast. The hotel has a small parking area – if you drive, ask for a spot near the side entrance to avoid early-morning car noise.
- 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 Mulia
Free Wi-Fi in rooms and lobby. Speed sufficient for browsing and email; inconsistent for video streaming. No login; direct connect after accepting terms.
One lift serving all 5 guest floors. No stairs-only sections.
No complimentary digital newsstand. Physical newspaper available on request at front desk (mainly local Koran Kendari). No notable building quirks.
Standard check-in 14:00, check-out 12:00. Early bag drop allowed from 07:00. Late check-out until 18:00 costs 50% of night rate; after 18:00 full night charged.
Free for day of check-in or check-out at front desk. No long-term storage.
Step-free entrance from street level. No dedicated wheelchair-accessible rooms. Lift fits standard wheelchair. No grab bars in standard bathrooms.
Free on-site open parking for guests (approx 30 spaces, first-come basis). No valet. Nearest public parking: Pelabuhan Nusantara car park 500 m away, IDR 5,000/hour. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% government tax added to room rate (included in quoted price at booking). No separate tourist tax.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required for non-refundable rates; flexible rates need credit card guarantee. Incidental hold of IDR 200,000 at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Masjid Al Jaariyah (138 m · ~2 min walk)
- Church: Gereja Mawar Sharon Kendari (354 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Baitur Ridwan (435 m · ~5 min walk)
- Church: Gereja GKII Kendari (524 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Kendari Town Square — 585 m · ~7 min walk
Tugu MTQ Kendari — 1.3 km · ~16 min walk
Museum Negeri Provinsi Sulawesi Tenggara — 1.4 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
BRI — 410 m · ~5 min walk
Apotek Anika Farma — 553 m · ~7 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Change money at banks or authorised money changers in the city centre; avoid the airport and hotel exchanges for poor rates.
Cards accepted in larger hotels, supermarkets, and some restaurants; many local shops and warungs are cash-only. Contactless is rare.
Not expected but appreciated: leave small change (2,000–5,000 IDR) at warungs, round up taxi fares, and give 5,000–10,000 IDR for hotel housekeeping.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Kopi hitam from a street-side stall or warung – about 5,000–8,000 IDR.
Nasi campur or mie goreng from a local warung – roughly 15,000–25,000 IDR.
Ikan bakar (grilled fish) with rice and sambal – around 25,000–40,000 IDR for a main.
Along Jalan La Ode Siambo and near Pasar Sentral Kendari, look for sate, pisang goreng, and bakso stalls.
Hypermart and Transmart are common supermarkets; also Pasar Sentral for fresh produce.
Pasar Sentral and Pasar Wua-Wua for cheap clothes; some factory outlets on Jalan Sultan Hasanuddin.
Angkot (shared minibus) – 5,000 IDR per ride. From the airport, take a Damri bus to the city terminal (~20,000 IDR) or share a taxi (50,000 IDR total).
Eat at warung instead of restaurants; use GrabGojek motorbike taxis instead of taxis; buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets.
Good to know — Kendari
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17905.3 · IDR
Emergency Contacts
KendariFor general emergencies, call 112. English-speaking operators are not guaranteed. Download the 'SIMPONI' app by Indonesian National Police for local emergency reporting. Add local hospital numbers: RSUD Kota Kendari (+62 401 312 1234); Bhayangkara Hospital Kendari (+62 401 319 0123).
💡 Save these numbers in your phone. In life-threatening emergencies, call immediately.
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Kendari, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Mulia
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · BRI — 410 m · ~5 min walk — pharmacy · Apotek Anika Farma — 553 m · ~7 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Anywhere in Kendari → Penginapan Ilham
💡 Car availability drops after 9pm – stick to Gojek for speed. Use 'drop pin' at the hotel's side lane, as the main road has no clear address. Cash is safer than card here.
Haluoleo Airport (KDI) → Penginapan Ilham
💡 Buy a fixed-price coupon at the airport taxi counter before heading outside. Drivers near arrivals sometimes quote double. Expect a motorcycle-heavy route through Mandonga.
Terminal Baruga → Jalan Chairil Anwar (0.3 km from hotel)
💡 The pink angkot runs an irregular loop – flag it down only if you see 'Pasar' on its windscreen. Pay the conductor directly. Avoid this for luggage; it's standing-room only.
Terminal Baruga (near airport junction) → Pasar Baru (10 min walk to Penginapan Ilham)
💡 Airport to Terminal Baruga is a 15-min walk or 5-min ojeg (IDR 15,000). The bus is cramped by 7am. Get off at the blue mosque near Pasar Baru.
About Kendari
Wikipedia ↗
Kendari is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Southeast Sulawesi. It had a population of 289,966 at the 2010 Census and 345,107 at the 2020 census, making it the most populous city in the province, and the fourth most on Sulawesi. The official estimate as at mid 2025 was 375,829 (compris...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Mulia?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 at the back side of the building, away from the main road. These floors balance lift access with quieter conditions, as the street-facing front rooms can pick up traffic noise from Kendari's busy roads.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Mulia?
Avoid rooms on floor 1 near the lift lobby or reception, as foot traffic and check-in activity create morning and evening noise. Also skip rooms facing the front street directly; given the address on a main Kendari road, motorbikes and trucks run late.
Is Hotel Mulia noisy?
The main source is street traffic on the front road – motorbikes, shared taxis (ojek), and small buses. Also, the lift mechanism can hum on adjacent rooms, so avoid rooms directly beside the lift shaft.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Mulia?
Back-side rooms offer a view of the city skyline and hills around Kendari; front rooms look out over the main road and possibly the bay in the distance, but with traffic noise as a trade-off.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Mulia?
Arrive before 2pm to request a back-side room, as these go fast. The hotel has a small parking area – if you drive, ask for a spot near the side entrance to avoid early-morning car noise.
What time is check-in at Hotel Mulia?
Check-in at Hotel Mulia is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Mulia have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi in rooms and lobby. Speed sufficient for browsing and email; inconsistent for video streaming. No login; direct connect after accepting terms.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Mulia?
10% government tax added to room rate (included in quoted price at booking). No separate tourist tax.
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Mulia?
Nasi campur or mie goreng from a local warung – roughly 15,000–25,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Mulia?
Angkot (shared minibus) – 5,000 IDR per ride. From the airport, take a Damri bus to the city terminal (~20,000 IDR) or share a taxi (50,000 IDR total).
When is the best time to visit Kendari?
September and October for the driest weather, plus lower humidity than the wet season. November is also good, with fewer tourists than peak June–August.
Top Attractions in Kendari
💡 Come at sunset for the best light. The fish market at the east end is worth a quick look in the morning.
💡 Dress modestly (cover shoulders and knees). Women should bring a headscarf. Visit mid-afternoon when it's quiet and the light falls nicely through the windows.
💡 No entry fee, but a donation of 5,000-10,000 IDR is appreciated. Allow 30-45 minutes. Closed on Mondays.
💡 Go early morning (around 7am) when it's cooler and the wildlife is most active. Take insect repellent.
💡 Bring swimwear and water shoes. Path gets slippery after rain. No entrance fee, but parking costs 2,000 IDR. Best visited in the morning.