Your stay — PONDOK SAMI
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The Property — PONDOK SAMI
Pondok Sami is a no-frills budget hotel a short walk from Pantai Losari, Makassar's seaside promenade. You'll find a basic but clean lobby with tile floors, a small reception desk and a few chairs — nothing fancy, but it's practical and well-located for exploring the city's waterfront and food stalls. The rooms are simple with air-con and private bathrooms; the USP is its proximity to the shoreline and the nightly street-food scene. It suits backpackers or short-stay travellers who want a cheap bed near the action, not luxury.
Chronicles of Makassar
Makassar, formerly Ujung Pandang, dates back to the 14th century as the capital of the Gowa Sultanate, a major spice-trading port. The Dutch East India Company took control in the 1600s, building Fort Rotterdam, a key colonial fortress that still stands. After Indonesian independence, the city grew rapidly as a hub for eastern Indonesia, blending Bugis, Makassarese, Chinese and Dutch influences. Today its identity is shaped by the busy harbour, the iconic Losari sunset strip and a lively cafe culture, with modern high-rises sitting alongside traditional stilt villages.
Best Time to Visit
Full Makassar guide →Best months
July–September: dry season with less humidity, sunshine and fewer rain interruptions. Ideal for beach walks and outdoor dining.
Peak / festival surge
August–September during the Makassar International Festival of Culture and Arts (events at Fort Rotterdam). Hotels can be full or pricier. Also busy around Idul Fitri (dates vary) when domestic tourists flood the city.
Budget shoulder season
May and October: still dry, lower hotel rates, and thinner crowds. Good for a relaxed visit without peak-season markups.
Weather & packing
Makassar's climate is consistently hot and humid year-round, with a brief dry spell July–October. Pack light cotton clothes, a sun hat, and a compact umbrella for sudden tropical showers even in the dry season.
Live City Briefing — Makassar
- The new elevated toll road connecting Makassar to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport (opened 2024) cuts travel time to under 30 minutes, easing a previously congested route.
- A major renovation of Pantai Losari's pedestrian area finished in mid-2025, adding wider walkways and more food kiosks — ideal for evening strolls.
- Seasonal note: July 2026 coincides with the Makassar Cultural Festival (end of July), so expect larger crowds and slightly higher rates around Losari.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to PONDOK SAMI, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on floors 2-3 facing the inner courtyard (away from Jalan Dg Tata) to minimise street noise while keeping easy stair access. Upper floors (4+) may be quieter from street level but could have lift machinery hum.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms at the front directly facing Jalan Dg Tata (especially floors 1-2) due to scooter and traffic noise from this busy arterial road. Steer clear of rooms next to the ground-floor lift lobby or staircase.
Best views
The best view is from upper floors on the courtyard side, offering a glimpse of local rooftops and greenery rather than the busy street. No sea or landmark views are typical from this address.
Quietest floors
Floors 2-4 tend to be quieter, with floors 2-3 as the sweet spot between street noise and lift traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Jalan Dg Tata is a main city road with heavy scooter and car traffic from early morning until late evening. The hotel's 3-star rating and location in a dense commercial-residential area mean nearby mosques may broadcast calls to prayer. Internal noise from the lift and communal areas on floor 1.
Insider tips
1) Request a room on the second floor to avoid both street noise and any dampness or insects common on the ground floor. 2) Bring earplugs for the call to prayer; no hotel can control this, but top-floor rooms on the street side are loudest.
- 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 — PONDOK SAMI
Free basic Wi-Fi in rooms and lobby; speed sufficient for email and browsing but not streaming.
Single lift serves all three floors; no stairs-only sections.
No complimentary newspapers or digital newsstand; lobby TV shows local news.
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 07:00 at no charge. Late check-out until 12:00 costs 50% of nightly rate; after 12:00 full night charged.
Free luggage storage in front lobby during your stay or on departure day until 21:00.
Step-free entry at main door; lift serves floors but corridors narrow. No adapted bathrooms or hearing loops.
Free on-site parking for up to 6 cars on a first-come basis; overflow parking at P3 Rutan Makassar (IDR 10,000 per day). No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% government tax + 10% service charge applied at checkout
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; IDR 200,000 incidental hold upon check-in via card or cash
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Masjid Nur Ikhlas Andi Tonro (227 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Nurul Muhammad (262 m · ~3 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Hj.Ibrahim (359 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Yasin Jongaya (471 m · ~6 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
RUMAH CENDANA MAKASSAR — 513 m · ~6 min walk
Baruga Colliq Pudjie — 1.9 km · ~23 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk
HALAL MART HNI BONTO DURI — 676 m · ~8 min walk
Indomaret — 433 m · ~5 min walk
Halte Bus MTSN 1 Makasaar — 1.6 km · ~20 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Use ATMs for the best rates; avoid money changers at airports or tourist areas as they offer poor rates.
Credit cards accepted in larger shops, hotels, and restaurants; smaller warungs and street stalls cash only. Contactless is rare.
Not expected but appreciated; round up taxi fares or leave 5-10% at nicer restaurants; small change for hotel staff is fine.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →A cup of local kopi tubruk or kopi susu at a roadside kiosk: around IDR 5,000-10,000.
Nasi campur or mie goreng from a local warung: roughly IDR 15,000-25,000.
A main dish of grilled fish or ayam penyet with rice: about IDR 25,000-40,000.
Along Jalan Dg Tata and nearby Pasar Butung area for cheap sate, pisang epe, and coto Makassar.
Hypermart or Transmart are common in nearby malls; also local minimarkets like Indomaret or Alfamart.
Pasar Butung (central market) for cheap clothing; also malls like Ratu Indah or Panakkukang Square for affordable brands.
Local angkot (minibus) fare around IDR 5,000 per ride; from airport take Damri bus to town for IDR 20,000-30,000.
Eat at local warungs (not tourist spots); use ojek online (Gojek/Grab) instead of taxis; buy water and snacks at minimarkets, not hotels.
Good to know — Makassar
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17905.3 · IDR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Makassar, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at PONDOK SAMI
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 1.1 km · ~13 min walk — pharmacy · HALAL MART HNI BONTO DURI — 676 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport → Hotel Denpasar
💡 Book via app after exiting arrivals to avoid surge pricing. Use the official ride-hailing pickup zone outside terminal 1.
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport → Hotel Denpasar
💡 Use the official airport taxi counter inside the arrivals hall. Street-hailing can double the price.
Jl. Perintis Kemerdekaan (near airport) → Terminal Mall Panakkukang
💡 Cheapest option but requires a 15-min walk from airport to the bus stop. From Panakkukang, take a Gojek (IDR 10k) for the last 2 km to Hotel Denpasar.
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport → Terminal Regional Daya
💡 Get off at Jl. AP Pettarani stop, then a short ojol (motorcycle taxi) ride to Hotel Denpasar—saves about IDR 100k.
About Makassar
Wikipedia ↗
Makassar, formerly Ujung Pandang, is the capital of the Indonesian province of South Sulawesi. It is the largest city in the region of Eastern Indonesia and the country's fifth-largest urban center after Jakarta, Surabaya, Medan, and Bandung. The city is located on the southwest coast of the island ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at PONDOK SAMI?
Request rooms on floors 2-3 facing the inner courtyard (away from Jalan Dg Tata) to minimise street noise while keeping easy stair access. Upper floors (4+) may be quieter from street level but could have lift machinery hum.
Which rooms should I avoid at PONDOK SAMI?
Avoid rooms at the front directly facing Jalan Dg Tata (especially floors 1-2) due to scooter and traffic noise from this busy arterial road. Steer clear of rooms next to the ground-floor lift lobby or staircase.
Is PONDOK SAMI noisy?
Jalan Dg Tata is a main city road with heavy scooter and car traffic from early morning until late evening. The hotel's 3-star rating and location in a dense commercial-residential area mean nearby mosques may broadcast calls to prayer. Internal noise from the lift and communal areas on floor 1.
Which rooms have the best views at PONDOK SAMI?
The best view is from upper floors on the courtyard side, offering a glimpse of local rooftops and greenery rather than the busy street. No sea or landmark views are typical from this address.
What are insider tips for staying at PONDOK SAMI?
1) Request a room on the second floor to avoid both street noise and any dampness or insects common on the ground floor. 2) Bring earplugs for the call to prayer; no hotel can control this, but top-floor rooms on the street side are loudest.
What time is check-in at PONDOK SAMI?
Check-in at PONDOK SAMI is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does PONDOK SAMI have Wi-Fi?
Free basic Wi-Fi in rooms and lobby; speed sufficient for email and browsing but not streaming.
Is there a city or tourist tax at PONDOK SAMI?
10% government tax + 10% service charge applied at checkout
Where can I eat cheaply near PONDOK SAMI?
Nasi campur or mie goreng from a local warung: roughly IDR 15,000-25,000.
What is the cheapest way to get around from PONDOK SAMI?
Local angkot (minibus) fare around IDR 5,000 per ride; from airport take Damri bus to town for IDR 20,000-30,000.
When is the best time to visit Makassar?
July–September: dry season with less humidity, sunshine and fewer rain interruptions. Ideal for beach walks and outdoor dining.
Top Attractions in Makassar
💡 Visit late afternoon to avoid heat; the courtyards are quiet then.
💡 Go early morning (6-8am) to see fishermen unload catch; no security hassle.
💡 Come for sunset and buy pisang epe (grilled banana) from a street vendor.
💡 Entrance is IDR 5,000. Ask for the English pamphlet at the front desk.
💡 Entry to the actual park costs IDR 150k; skip it and just enjoy the free plaza.