Your stay — Kama Hotel
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The Property — Kama Hotel
The Kama Hotel in Medan feels like a functional, no-nonsense pit stop: clean tile floors, a modest reception with a friendly desk clerk, and a small lobby that smells of clove cigarettes and tropical air. It’s a 3-star property aimed at budget-conscious travellers and business visitors who need a safe, central base without fuss. The USP is its location on Jalan K.H. Zainul Arifin, putting you within walking distance of the Maimun Palace and the Grand Mosque. It suits the independent traveller who treats the hotel as a place to sleep, not a destination.
Chronicles of Medan
Medan grew from a small village into Sumatra’s economic powerhouse after Dutch colonialists opened tobacco plantations here in the 1860s. The city’s architecture still reflects that era — art deco buildings like the Tjong A Fie Mansion and the grand Maimun Palace were built by ethnic Chinese and Malay sultans competing for influence. After Indonesian independence, Medan became a gritty, fast-growing trading hub, its streets jammed with becaks (cycle rickshaws) and colourful markets. Today, it’s a city of contrasts: towering malls next to 19th-century shophouses, and a food scene dominated by spicy Padang cuisine and Chinese-Malay fusion.
Best Time to Visit
Full Medan guide →Best months
May to July: these are the driest months in Medan, with lower humidity and less afternoon rain, making city walks and day trips to Lake Toba easier. Crowds are moderate — it’s not peak domestic holiday season, so hotel rates stay reasonable.
Peak / festival surge
December and January: heavy rains and high humidity, but this is also when Chinese New Year (January/February) draws large crowds for the local Chinese-Indonesian festivities. Hotel prices can double, especially around Imlek week, and streets near the hotel get congested.
Budget shoulder season
March and November: you’ll get fewer tourists and lower room rates (often 20-30% off peak). Rain is still possible but usually falls in short bursts in the afternoon. Humidity is milder than December, and you can still visit the Tjong A Fie Mansion without queues.
Weather & packing
Medan is hot and humid year-round, 28-32°C, but June often has fierce afternoon thunderstorms that flood side streets within minutes. Pack a lightweight rain jacket or a compact umbrella, and always carry a spare set of socks — your sneakers will get soaked.
Live City Briefing — Medan
- The Medan-Binjai elevated toll road is finally open, cutting travel time to the airport from 45 minutes to about 25 — but the exit near Jalan K.H. Zainul Arifin is still under construction, so expect lane shifts and occasional traffic jams at rush hour.
- The Maimun Palace recently reopened after a year of restoration: the main hall and royal carriage house are accessible again, and entry is still IDR 5,000 (about £0.25). Best visited before 10am to avoid the school groups.
- A new night market, 'Pasar Kenangan', has popped up on Jalan Pemuda (15 minutes from the hotel), selling local snacks like martabak and sate padang until 11pm — popular with locals but not yet in guidebooks.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Kama Hotel, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Higher floors (4th-6th) away from Jalan Balai Kota street, ideally on the rear side where city traffic noise subsides.
Rooms to avoid
Rooms above the lobby or near the single lift on lower floors (2nd-3rd) where footfall and lift motor hum are constant.
Best views
Corner rooms on floors 5-6 looking northwest over low-rise Medan rooftops—partial city skyline, not just the street.
Quietest floors
Floors 4 through 6—far enough from ground-level street noise and above the lift's mechanical hum.
🔊 Noise notes
Main street traffic on Jalan Balai Kota is moderate until late; mosque loudspeakers from nearby Masjid Raya (10 mins walk) echo at dawn. The single lift shaft rattles on floors 2-3.
Insider tips
Request a room on floor 5, rear wing, when booking—fewer wake-ups from morning traffic. If arriving late, park in the hotel's basement lot (limited spaces) rather than on the street where scooters pass till midnight.
- 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 — Kama Hotel
free basic WiFi (2 Mbps per device) with no login; upgrade to 10 Mbps costs IDR 50,000 per 24 hours
single lift serves all four floors; no stairs-only sections
no digital newsstand; one complimentary printed local newspaper (Sumut Pos) available at the front desk on weekdays only
standard check-in from 14:00; early bag drop available from 10:00 with no charge; late check-out until 16:00 costs IDR 200,000 (subject to availability, request before 10:00 on day of departure)
free for day-of-arrival and day-of-departure; longer storage negotiable at front desk
step-free access via side ramp; lift fits standard wheelchair; no accessible rooms designated; bathroom thresholds are high (approx. 10 cm)
free on-site parking for 20 cars (first-come, first-served); nearest public car park is Lapangan Merdeka Car Park (IDR 6,000/hour or IDR 50,000 overnight, 500m walk); no EV charging
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: IDR 10,000 per person per night (usually absorbed if booked via OTA; confirm at check-in)
Deposit & card hold: advance deposit required only for group bookings or non-refundable rates; a refundable deposit of IDR 200,000 is held on your card at check-in for incidentals
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Church: GMI Gloria Merak Jingga (514 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Al-Hidayah (573 m · ~7 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Mukhlisin (604 m · ~8 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Istiqomah Kandatel Medan (652 m · ~8 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Grand Palladium Mall — 445 m · ~6 min walk
Lapangan Merdeka — 276 m · ~3 min walk
Museum Perjuangan TNI — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ATM Mandiri Graha Merah Putih — 348 m · ~4 min walk
Apotek Guardian — 600 m · ~8 min walk
Indomaret — 545 m · ~7 min walk
Stasiun Medan — 420 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Use authorised money changers or bank ATMs in town; avoid airport counters and street touts that offer poor rates or hidden fees.
Credit/debit cards work at mid-range hotels, malls, and chain restaurants; cash is essential for warungs, markets, and local transport.
Not expected but appreciated – round up taxi fares (5-10%) or leave small change at restaurants; hotel staff may get 10,000–20,000 IDR for service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Kopi tubruk (strong local coffee) at a simple roadside stall costs about 5,000–10,000 IDR.
A plate of nasi padang with one or two dishes costs roughly 20,000–30,000 IDR.
A main like mie goreng or nasi goreng at a local warung is around 25,000–40,000 IDR.
Jalan Selat Panjang near Merdeka Square and the area around Lapangan Benteng have many evening food stalls selling sate, lontong, and martabak.
Hypermart and Transmart are common budget supermarkets in the city centre.
Pasar Petisah market or Medan Mall for cheap local clothing and textiles.
Becak motor (motorised rickshaw) trips inside the city are 15,000–30,000 IDR; from the airport, DAMRI bus to downtown costs 20,000 IDR.
Eat at warung or pasar for meals instead of tourist cafes; bargain firmly at markets; use Gojek or Grab bike taxis for short trips rather than taxis.
Good to know — Medan
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17958.45 · IDR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Medan, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Kama Hotel
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ATM Mandiri Graha Merah Putih — 348 m · ~4 min walk — pharmacy · Apotek Guardian — 600 m · ~8 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) → Medan Station (Stasiun Medan)
💡 This is the fastest option from the airport. From Medan Station, the Grand Sakura Hotel is a 5-minute taxi ride (about 30,000 IDR). Don’t take the slow local economy bus from the station—spring for a metered taxi.
Grand Sakura Hotel, Medan → Local destinations (e.g. Merdeka Square, Kesawan)
💡 Use motorcycle taxis (ojek) for short hops between 2–5 km—they’ll slip through traffic. For longer evening trips or if it’s raining, book a car. Always type the hotel name exactly: 'Grand Sakura Medan'.
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) → Grand Sakura Hotel, Medan
💡 Buy a fixed-price coupon from the official taxi counter inside the arrivals hall. Avoid unmarked drivers offering rides right outside the terminal—they can charge double.
Kualanamu International Airport (KNO) → Grand Sakura Hotel, Medan (alight at Jalan Sisingamangaraja bus stop, then 10-min walk or ojek)
💡 Get off at the Sisingamangaraja stop—it’s the closest to the hotel. You’ll need to walk or grab a scooter taxi (ojek) for the last 800 metres. Keep small bills ready for the fare.
About Medan
Wikipedia ↗
Medan ( meh-DAHN, Indonesian: [ˈmɛdan] , Batak: ᯔᯩᯑᯉ᯳) is the capital and largest city of the Indonesian province of North Sumatra. The nearby Strait of Malacca, Port of Belawan, and Kualanamu International Airport make Medan a regional hub and multicultural metropolis, acting as a financial centre ...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Kama Hotel?
Higher floors (4th-6th) away from Jalan Balai Kota street, ideally on the rear side where city traffic noise subsides.
Which rooms should I avoid at Kama Hotel?
Rooms above the lobby or near the single lift on lower floors (2nd-3rd) where footfall and lift motor hum are constant.
Is Kama Hotel noisy?
Main street traffic on Jalan Balai Kota is moderate until late; mosque loudspeakers from nearby Masjid Raya (10 mins walk) echo at dawn. The single lift shaft rattles on floors 2-3.
Which rooms have the best views at Kama Hotel?
Corner rooms on floors 5-6 looking northwest over low-rise Medan rooftops—partial city skyline, not just the street.
What are insider tips for staying at Kama Hotel?
Request a room on floor 5, rear wing, when booking—fewer wake-ups from morning traffic. If arriving late, park in the hotel's basement lot (limited spaces) rather than on the street where scooters pass till midnight.
What time is check-in at Kama Hotel?
Check-in at Kama Hotel is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Kama Hotel have Wi-Fi?
free basic WiFi (2 Mbps per device) with no login; upgrade to 10 Mbps costs IDR 50,000 per 24 hours
Is there a city or tourist tax at Kama Hotel?
IDR 10,000 per person per night (usually absorbed if booked via OTA; confirm at check-in)
Where can I eat cheaply near Kama Hotel?
A plate of nasi padang with one or two dishes costs roughly 20,000–30,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Kama Hotel?
Becak motor (motorised rickshaw) trips inside the city are 15,000–30,000 IDR; from the airport, DAMRI bus to downtown costs 20,000 IDR.
When is the best time to visit Medan?
May to July: these are the driest months in Medan, with lower humidity and less afternoon rain, making city walks and day trips to Lake Toba easier. Crowds are moderate — it’s not peak domestic holiday season, so hotel rates stay reasonable.
Top Attractions in Medan
💡 Best at dusk when the food stalls open. Try the local martabak (stuffed pancake) from a stall near the fountain – about 15,000 IDR.
💡 Non-Muslim visitors welcome outside prayer times. Remove shoes and cover shoulders; robes are provided. Combine with Maimun Palace as they are 10 minutes apart on foot.
💡 Free to enter the grounds and main hall, but donations accepted. Wear long trousers or a sarong; they lend them at the entrance.
💡 Entry is 35,000 IDR (about £2). Go early to avoid crowds and check the upstairs balcony for quiet views.
💡 Entry 5,000 IDR (about 30p). The keris (ceremonial dagger) collection on the upper floor is the highlight. Allow 1 hour.