🇮🇩 Manado, Indonesia
Bastianos Dive Resort
📍 Manado
Photo: official website
Your stay — Bastianos Dive Resort
Live forecast for your dates · what's on · air quality & pollen📅 Pick your check-in & check-out above to unlock your day-by-day forecast, what's on during your stay, and live air quality & pollen for Manado.
The Property — Bastianos Dive Resort
A concrete-box dive lodge on the Bunaken harbourfront, with a sun-bleached deck where you check in over the smell of salt and diesel. Rooms are basic but clean, aimed squarely at underwater photographers and backpackers who rate location over luxury. You’ll be suiting up for the reef within 15 minutes of dropping your bag.
Chronicles of Manado
Manado began as a fortified Dutch trading post in the 17th century, later growing into a spice port for nutmeg and cloves. The old town still holds colonial churches like the 1850s Katedral St. Yoseph, but most of the city centre was rebuilt after heavy Allied bombing in 1945. Today it’s a hybrid of Chinese shop-houses, humming karaoke bars and the regional gateway to Bunaken Marine Park.
Best Time to Visit
Full Manado guide →Best months
July, August and September offer calm seas and minimal rain, perfect for diving when visibility can reach 40 metres. Crowds are moderate outside the European summer rush.
Peak / festival surge
Peak runs July to August when European dive groups flood Bunaken; hotel rates rise 20-30% and last-minute rooms vanish. The Manado Fiesta in late June adds a surge for cultural shows and street food.
Budget shoulder season
October and November keep dryish weather with 30% lower prices and half the divers. November can still get good viz before the monsoon proper sets in.
Weather & packing
Manado sits off the Sulawesi coast where the trade winds start reversing from June, so July afternoons often bring a sharp squall. Pack a lightweight windproof shell and leave the umbrella; you’ll use a towel more than an umbrella.
Live City Briefing — Manado
- The Sam Ratulangi International Airport terminal reopened in March 2023 after major structural repairs, so the baggage claim and departures hall now feel modern. Check-in still moves slowly during peak hours.
- A new breakwater at Molas Beach (10 min east) finished in late 2025, giving more sheltered boat access for day trippers heading out to Siladen Island. Motorbikes and ojeks now queue at the extended jetty.
- July 2026 starts peak anchovy season in the Manado Bay, so expect a fishy aroma around the harbour — especially on the west side near Pasar 45. Not unpleasant if you like seafood, but worth knowing if you’re sensitive to smell.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Bastianos Dive Resort, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request rooms on floors 3 or 4, facing away from the main road (likely Jalan Raya) to minimise street noise. These upper floors reduce ground-level disturbances and offer better ventilation.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or restaurant (common in 3-star dive resorts) where morning prep noise and foot traffic start early. Also skip rooms facing directly onto the street if the address is on a main road.
Best views
Rooms on the sea-facing side (if the resort is coastal) give views of Bunaken Marine Park or Manado Bay. If inland, hillside orientation offers jungle and mountain views. Confirm at booking.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are typically quietest, above street-level bustle but below any rooftop activity.
🔊 Noise notes
Street noise from local traffic (motorbikes, bemo buses) is common in Manado, especially during morning (6-8am) and evening (4-6pm). Dive groups returning at 3-4pm also add chatter and gear clatter. The resort bar or restaurant may have evening social noise until 10pm.
Insider tips
1. Check if the resort offers a room away from the dive equipment washing area—it can be noisy from 6am when divers prep. 2. Request a room with a fan or openable window, as AC units can be old at 3-star level, and sea breezes are better.
- 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 — Bastianos Dive Resort
Free WiFi in lobby and restaurant; room WiFi is patchy and slow (2-3 Mbps). No paid upgrade available. Login via room number and surname
No lift. Two-storey resort with stairs-only access to all rooms; ground-floor rooms available on request
No digital newsstand; one copy of Kompas newspaper in the lobby each morning. No physical delivery to rooms
Check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 (no charge). Late checkout until 12:00 (no fee); after 12:00 subject to 50% nightly rate depending on availability
Free storage for early arrival or late departure; ask reception to lock in luggage room
No wheelchair access; steps at entrance and no ground-floor rooms with wide doors. Not suitable for guests with mobility impairments
Free on-site parking for 12 cars (first-come, first-served). Nearest public car park is 500 m west at Manado Town Square (IDR 5,000/hour). No EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: IDR 10,000 per person per night, collected at check-in
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking; IDR 200,000 incidental hold on credit card at check-in
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Best to withdraw from ATMs on the main streets; avoid moneychangers at the airport or near tourist spots due to poor rates.
Cards are accepted in larger hotels and mid-range restaurants, but many smaller warungs and market stalls are cash only; mobile pay is not common.
Not expected but appreciated — round up taxi fares or leave a few thousand rupiah for good service; hotels and restaurants often add a service charge.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Local kopi tubruk or instant coffee from a basic warung costs around IDR 10,000.
Nasi campur or bakso at a roadside stall runs about IDR 20,000.
Ikan bakar with rice and sambal at a local eatery is roughly IDR 35,000 for a main.
Jalan Piere Tendean and the area around Pasar Bersehati are full of night vendors selling sate, martabak, and fried noodles.
Hypermart and Transmart are the budget supermarket chains found in Manado.
Lapangan basket market (Pasar 45) and the shops on Jalan Sam Ratulangi offer cheap clothing and local batik.
Bemo (shared minibus) costs IDR 5,000–10,000 per ride; from Sam Ratulangi Airport, take a blue Damri bus to the city centre for IDR 20,000.
Eat at local warungs instead of tourist spots; use bemos or walk for short trips; haggle at markets but keep it friendly.
Good to know — Manado
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17905.3 · IDR
Emergency Contacts
ManadoWhere to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Manado, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Bastianos Dive Resort
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Sam Ratulangi International Airport → M. C. Cottage Bunaken (Bunaken Island jetty, Manado)
💡 Pre-book through hotel for fixed rate; local taxis at arrivals often hike prices. Bargain if paying cash.
Anywhere in Manado city → Bunaken jetty (Pasar 45 area)
💡 Can pay cash or app. Works best in city centre; airport pickups often rejected by drivers. Use with local SIM for reliable data.
Bunaken terminal (Manado) → Kawangkoan (regional routes)
💡 Only useful for out-of-city trips, not for hotel. Single route covers main road. Air-conditioned and reliable, but stops before 6pm. Don't use for jetty runs.
Terminal Malalayang → Pasar 45 (Manado city centre near Bunaken jetty)
💡 Route code 'B' or 'T' covers city centre. Confusing if you don't know Manado—ask driver to drop at 'Pasar 45' for jetty. Expect squashed seating.
About Manado
Wikipedia ↗
Manado (Indonesian pronunciation: [maˈnado], Minahasan: Wenang) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of North Sulawesi. It is the second largest city in Sulawesi after Makassar, with the 2020 census giving a population of 451,916, and the official estimates for mid 2025 showing 462,658 in...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Bastianos Dive Resort?
Request rooms on floors 3 or 4, facing away from the main road (likely Jalan Raya) to minimise street noise. These upper floors reduce ground-level disturbances and offer better ventilation.
Which rooms should I avoid at Bastianos Dive Resort?
Avoid ground-floor rooms near the reception or restaurant (common in 3-star dive resorts) where morning prep noise and foot traffic start early. Also skip rooms facing directly onto the street if the address is on a main road.
Is Bastianos Dive Resort noisy?
Street noise from local traffic (motorbikes, bemo buses) is common in Manado, especially during morning (6-8am) and evening (4-6pm). Dive groups returning at 3-4pm also add chatter and gear clatter. The resort bar or restaurant may have evening social noise until 10pm.
Which rooms have the best views at Bastianos Dive Resort?
Rooms on the sea-facing side (if the resort is coastal) give views of Bunaken Marine Park or Manado Bay. If inland, hillside orientation offers jungle and mountain views. Confirm at booking.
What are insider tips for staying at Bastianos Dive Resort?
1. Check if the resort offers a room away from the dive equipment washing area—it can be noisy from 6am when divers prep. 2. Request a room with a fan or openable window, as AC units can be old at 3-star level, and sea breezes are better.
What time is check-in at Bastianos Dive Resort?
Check-in at Bastianos Dive Resort is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Bastianos Dive Resort have Wi-Fi?
Free WiFi in lobby and restaurant; room WiFi is patchy and slow (2-3 Mbps). No paid upgrade available. Login via room number and surname
Is there a city or tourist tax at Bastianos Dive Resort?
IDR 10,000 per person per night, collected at check-in
Where can I eat cheaply near Bastianos Dive Resort?
Nasi campur or bakso at a roadside stall runs about IDR 20,000.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Bastianos Dive Resort?
Bemo (shared minibus) costs IDR 5,000–10,000 per ride; from Sam Ratulangi Airport, take a blue Damri bus to the city centre for IDR 20,000.
When is the best time to visit Manado?
July, August and September offer calm seas and minimal rain, perfect for diving when visibility can reach 40 metres. Crowds are moderate outside the European summer rush.
Top Attractions in Manado
💡 Come at sunrise (around 5:30 AM) to see local joggers and the sun rise behind the mountains. Avoid after 8 AM as it gets hot and crowded.
💡 Visit late afternoon when fishermen return with their catch. The light is good for photos, and you can buy grilled fish cheaply from street vendors.
💡 The statue is better viewed from a distance. Combine it with a walk through the nearby Kampung Jawa market, where you can buy cheap fried bananas.
💡 The hike to the crater rim takes about 2 hours. Bring water and sturdy shoes; the trail is steep and muddy after rain.
💡 Bring your own snorkel gear from town; rental on site is poor quality. Go early morning to avoid crowds and spot dugongs.