Your stay — Hotel Rika
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The Property — Hotel Rika
Hotel Rika is a budget-friendly 3-star in Kendari’s commercial centre, a few blocks from the waterfront. The lobby feels modest but functional—tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a seating area with local art on the walls—aimed at business travellers and transit passengers who need a clean, no-frills base. Its USP is location: walking distance to Mandonga Market and the ferry terminal, making it practical rather than charming. It suits short-stay visitors prioritising convenience over atmosphere.
Chronicles of Kendari
Kendari grew from a small Bugis fishing settlement into the capital of Southeast Sulawesi, officially established as a city in 1871 under the Dutch East Indies. Its modern layout dates from the 1960s, when roads and concrete commercial blocks replaced much of the waterfront’s wooden stilt houses. The city’s identity today blends Malay, Bugis, and Chinese influences, with a lively seafront afternoon market and a steady hum of trade. Kendari remains a gateway to the marine parks of Wakatobi, not a tourist draw itself, but authentic in its unsentimental daily life.
Best Time to Visit
Full Kendari guide →Best months
October – start of the dry season, less rain and cheaper roomsNovember – driest month, reliable sunSeptember – dry but cooler evenings, good for exploring
Peak / festival surge
December is peak due to Christmas travel and the start of the rainy season raising hotel demand. Prices at Hotel Rika can rise 20–30% from the base rate. No single festival drives it; family visits and end-of-year holidays are the main factor.
Budget shoulder season
June provides a good balance of drier weather and lower rates, before the August surge. May offers discounts of up to 25% as the wet season fades. Both months see fewer crowds.
Weather & packing
Kendari sits near the equator, so it’s hot and humid year-round, with a short wet season (December–February). Pack light cotton clothing and a rain jacket as a non-negotiable, even in the dry season—afternoon downpours can strike without warning.
Live City Briefing — Kendari
- The city’s main bus terminal, Terminal Baruga, has undergone renovation and now operates a more organised queue system for intercity buses—expect shorter wait times but still chaotic loading.
- A new flyover bridge at the Mandonga junction has reduced traffic jams on Jalan Ahmad Yani, the road leading to Hotel Rika, but construction noise can persist until late evening.
- The weekly Friday morning market at Pasar Baru has expanded with additional seafood stalls, now the best spot for local skipjack tuna at half restaurant prices.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Rika, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 facing the rear courtyard (away from the main road). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. The rear-facing rooms are quieter and more private.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lobby or lift – they suffer from foot traffic and reception noise. Also avoid rooms facing the main road (likely Jalan something) on floors 1-2, as Kendari’s traffic and motorbikes are audible at that height.
Best views
The rear-facing rooms on floors 3-4 offer a view of the city’s hills or local rooftops – Kendari is hilly, so you get a decent skyline without the road noise. Front-facing rooms just see a busy road and shopfronts.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 – they’re the sweet spot between street noise and lift activity. No restaurants or major service areas on these levels.
🔊 Noise notes
Kendari is a busy port city – expect motorbike traffic from 6am to late evening on the main road. The hotel’s location means street noise is constant on lower floors. Also, the lift can be clunky and audible from adjacent rooms, especially on floor 2.
Insider tips
1. Ask for a room on the quiet side (rear) at check-in – even if you booked basic, they often accommodate. 2. Avoid the breakfast rush (7.30-8.30am) in the ground-floor restaurant – it gets crowded with tour groups; head down at 7am or 9am for a calmer meal.
- 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 Rika
Free Wi-Fi for up to two devices, average speed 15 Mbps; login via room number and surname, no password required
One lift serves all four floors (rooms 101–408); no stairs-only sections
No complimentary digital newspaper; a pile of local Koran Sultra and Kompas paper at reception each morning (limited copies); building is a modern 2018 low-rise with no historic quirks
Standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop allowed (no fee); late check-out until 14:00 costs IDR 150,000, after 14:00 charged half day rate
Complimentary luggage storage in a locked basement room for same-day check-out or early arrival
Step-free ramps at main entrance; no automatic doors; one accessible room (first floor near lift); no grab bars in standard bathrooms
On-site surface parking free for guests (uncovered, first-come-first-served, about 20 spaces); nearest public car park is Pelabuhan Ferry lot, 300m away, IDR 5,000 per hour; no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: None (no separate city or tourist tax in Kendari; hotel may include 10% service charge in rates)
Deposit & card hold: Credit card swipe of IDR 500,000 as incidentals hold at check-in; full prepayment required for advance booking
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
Use ATMs in Kendari for best rates; avoid currency exchange at Haluoleo Airport or tourist bureaux as they give poor rates.
Credit/debit cards accepted in mid-range hotels, larger supermarkets, and some restaurants in Kendari; smaller stalls and street vendors are cash-only.
Tipping not expected but appreciated: round up taxi fares or leave a few thousand rupiah at restaurants; hotel staff may get 5k-10k IDR for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local kopi tubruk (strong black coffee with sugar) from a warung or street stall, about 5,000-8,000 IDR.
Nasi campur (rice with side dishes) at a local warung, around 15,000-25,000 IDR.
Mie goreng or nasi goreng at a simple food stall, roughly 20,000-30,000 IDR for a main.
Jalan Syarief Alqadri and the area around the Kendari night market (Pasar Malam) are typical for cheap eat spots.
Hypermart and Transmart are common budget supermarket chains in Kendari.
Pasar Wua-Wua and Pasar Tradisional Kendari for affordable clothing; also budget stores along Jalan Edi Sabara.
Angkot (shared minibus) costs about 5,000 IDR per ride. From Haluoleo Airport, take the DAMRI bus or a shared ojek (motorcycle taxi) for around 30,000-50,000 IDR.
Eat at warung or street stalls instead of restaurants; use angkot or ojek rather than taxis; buy bottled water at supermarkets instead of tourist spots.
Good to know — Kendari
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17958.45 · 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 Rika
🕒 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 Rika?
Request a room on floors 3 or 4 facing the rear courtyard (away from the main road). These floors are high enough to avoid street-level noise but low enough for quick stair access if the lift is busy. The rear-facing rooms are quieter and more private.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Rika?
Avoid rooms on the ground floor near the lobby or lift – they suffer from foot traffic and reception noise. Also avoid rooms facing the main road (likely Jalan something) on floors 1-2, as Kendari’s traffic and motorbikes are audible at that height.
Is Hotel Rika noisy?
Kendari is a busy port city – expect motorbike traffic from 6am to late evening on the main road. The hotel’s location means street noise is constant on lower floors. Also, the lift can be clunky and audible from adjacent rooms, especially on floor 2.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Rika?
The rear-facing rooms on floors 3-4 offer a view of the city’s hills or local rooftops – Kendari is hilly, so you get a decent skyline without the road noise. Front-facing rooms just see a busy road and shopfronts.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Rika?
1. Ask for a room on the quiet side (rear) at check-in – even if you booked basic, they often accommodate. 2. Avoid the breakfast rush (7.30-8.30am) in the ground-floor restaurant – it gets crowded with tour groups; head down at 7am or 9am for a calmer meal.
What time is check-in at Hotel Rika?
Check-in at Hotel Rika is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Rika have Wi-Fi?
Free Wi-Fi for up to two devices, average speed 15 Mbps; login via room number and surname, no password required
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Rika?
None (no separate city or tourist tax in Kendari; hotel may include 10% service charge in rates)
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Rika?
Nasi campur (rice with side dishes) at a local warung, around 15,000-25,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Rika?
Angkot (shared minibus) costs about 5,000 IDR per ride. From Haluoleo Airport, take the DAMRI bus or a shared ojek (motorcycle taxi) for around 30,000-50,000 IDR.
When is the best time to visit Kendari?
October – start of the dry season, less rain and cheaper roomsNovember – driest month, reliable sunSeptember – dry but cooler evenings, good for exploring
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.