Your stay — Red Planet
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 Pekanbaru.
The Property — Red Planet
Red Planet is a no-frills, budget-friendly chain hotel in central Pekanbaru. The lobby is clean, bright and functional with a 24-hour front desk, vending machines and a small seating area. It suits independent travellers who just need a decent night's sleep without extras like a pool or restaurant.
Chronicles of Pekanbaru
Pekanbaru grew from a small trading post on the Siak River into the capital of Riau province, driven by the oil and palm oil booms of the mid-20th century. Dutch colonial architecture largely gave way to utilitarian concrete blocks after independence. Today it's a fast-expanding commercial hub, with a Malay-Indonesian character and a large Penduduk (migrant) population drawn by industry.
Best Time to Visit
Full Pekanbaru guide →Best months
May, June and July — these are the driest months, with less rain and humidity, making outdoor sightseeing more comfortable.
Peak / festival surge
July is the peak of the dry season; crowds increase during the school holidays (mid-June to mid-July). Hotel prices can rise 20-30% above average. No major festivals in July itself, but the nearby Riau Islands attract tourists.
Budget shoulder season
August and September offer a good balance: still fairly dry, smaller crowds, and hotel rates drop back to normal after the school holidays.
Weather & packing
Pekanbaru has a tropical rainforest climate with high humidity (often 85%+) and frequent heavy showers even in the 'dry' season. Pack a lightweight, quick-dry umbrella and a waterproof phone pouch.
Live City Briefing — Pekanbaru
- The new Pekanbaru City Ring Road (Jalan Lingkar Dalam) opened sections in late 2025, reducing travel time from the airport to central hotels by about 15 minutes.
- Riau Malay Cultural Park (Taman Budaya Riau) recently completed renovations and now has an evening sound-and-light show on weekends.
- July is peak haze season from Sumatra forest fires; check Air Quality Index (AQI) daily and consider an N95 mask if sensitive.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Red Planet, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing away from the main street (likely Jalan Jenderal Sudirman). These mid-floors are high enough to avoid ground-level bustle and low enough for quick lift access. If the lift is temperamental (common in budget hotels), the 3rd floor is a safe walk.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid ground-floor rooms (street noise, foot traffic) and rooms directly above the lobby or lift lobby on the 1st floor (banging doors, conversation). Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor (mechanical hum).
Best views
Request a room on floors 3-5 facing the rear or side (not the main road). The view is of adjacent buildings or a courtyard, but it’s quieter than the street-facing side which overlooks a busy dual carriageway.
Quietest floors
Floors 3 and 4 are quietest, away from street and lift noise.
🔊 Noise notes
Jalan Jenderal Sudirman runs past the hotel; it’s a main artery with motorbikes, trucks, and horns from 6am-midnight. The hotel's lift is old and audible in adjacent rooms. Service deliveries at the rear loading bay may start at 7am.
Insider tips
1. The hotel has limited parking — arrive before 7pm or use the valet fee. 2. Check-in is often slow if you arrive after 9pm; book a late-check-in online if possible. 3. Request a room with a window that opens slightly (some are sealed) for better airflow — Pekanbaru is humid.
- 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 — Red Planet
Free, unlimited Wi-Fi for all guests. Speed is fine for browsing and streaming; no login or time limit.
One elevator serving all 6 floors. No stairs-only sections.
No physical newspapers or digital newsstands. Common area TV in lobby shows local channels.
Check-in 14:00, check-out 12:00. Early bag drop is free from 10:00. Late check-out until 14:00 costs IDR 100,000; after 14:00 charges one extra night.
Free luggage storage for same-day arrivals before check-in and after check-out on request.
Step-free entrance via ramp at main door. The lift accommodates wheelchairs. No accessible rooms or grab bars in bathrooms.
On-site, uncovered self-parking for 20 cars, free for guests. Nearest public car park is at Pekanbaru Mall, 500 m away, IDR 5,000 per hour. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 11% government tax and service charge included in rate; no separate city or tourist tax.
Deposit & card hold: Full prepayment required at booking. A refundable IDR 100,000 incidental deposit taken in cash or by card hold at check-in.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Mesjid Nurul Yaqin (244 m · ~3 min walk)
- Church: Kalam Kudus (338 m · ~4 min walk)
- Mosque: Mesjid Al-Ibadah (419 m · ~5 min walk)
- Mosque: Mesjid Al Washliyah (437 m · ~5 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Senapelan Plaza — 113 m · ~1 min walk
Kompleks Masjid Raya An-Nur Provinsi Riau — 933 m · ~12 min walk
Museum Penyiaran LPP RRI Pekanbaru — 898 m · ~11 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
ATM Bank Central Asia (BCA) — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk
Kimia Farma — 369 m · ~5 min walk
Alfamart — 391 m · ~5 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Change money at banks or authorised money changers in the city centre; avoid airport counters and hotel exchange desks—rates can be 5-10% worse.
Cards accepted in mid-to-upscale hotels, larger restaurants, and modern malls; smaller warungs and street vendors are cash-only. Contactless is rare outside big chains.
Not expected but appreciated—leave 5-10% at decent restaurants if service is good, round up taxi fares, and give 10,000-20,000 IDR to hotel staff for helpful service.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Kopi tubruk (strong, unfiltered local coffee sold at street stalls): about 5,000-8,000 IDR.
Nasi padang (rice with various curries) at a local warung: around 15,000-25,000 IDR for a plate.
Mie goreng or nasi goreng (fried noodles or rice) at a simple restaurant: roughly 20,000-30,000 IDR per main.
Pekanbaru's main street food areas cluster around Jalan Sudirman and the riverfront near Pasar Bawah; stalls sell sate, pempek, and fried snacks from late afternoon.
Alfamart and Indomaret convenience stores are everywhere for basics; bigger supermarkets include Transmart and Hypermart at malls.
Pasar Bawah (Central Market) and Pasar Pagi offer cheap clothing and textiles; the mall chain Mal Pekanbaru has mid-range fashion stores.
Trans Metro Pekanbaru bus: 3,500-5,000 IDR per ride. From the airport, take the Damri airport bus (approx 20,000 IDR) rather than a taxi (around 100,000 IDR).
Eat at roadside warungs and food courts rather than restaurants; use ride-hailing apps like Gojek for motorbike taxis (Go-Ride) instead of car taxis; buy bottled water from mini-markets (5,000 IDR) instead of hotel minibars.
Good to know — Pekanbaru
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 17905.3 · IDR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Pekanbaru, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Red Planet
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · ATM Bank Central Asia (BCA) — 1.1 km · ~14 min walk — pharmacy · Kimia Farma — 369 m · ~5 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
→
💡 Pekanbaru does not have a tram system. You may consider using taxis or ride-hailing services instead.
Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport → Pekanbaru Bus Terminal
💡 From the bus terminal, take a taxi or ride-hailing to get to Hotel Toptel. The journey should take around 10-15 minutes and cost IDR 10,000 - 20,000 ( approx. $0.70-$1.40 USD).
Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport → Pekanbaru Train Station
💡 From the train station, take a taxi or ride-hailing to get to Hotel Toptel. The journey should take around 10-15 minutes and cost IDR 10,000 - 20,000 ( approx. $0.70-$1.40 USD).
Sultan Syarif Kasim II International Airport → Hotel Toptel
💡 Make sure to agree on the fare with the driver before you start your journey. You can also use ride-hailing apps like Grab or Go-Van.
About Pekanbaru
Wikipedia ↗
Pekanbaru ([pəkanˈbaru]) is the capital city of the Indonesian province of Riau, and a major economic center on the eastern side of Sumatra Island with its name derived from the Malay (Indonesian) word for 'new market' ('pekan' is market and 'baru' is new). It has an area of 632.26 km2 (244.12 sq mi...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Red Planet?
Request a room on the 3rd or 4th floor facing away from the main street (likely Jalan Jenderal Sudirman). These mid-floors are high enough to avoid ground-level bustle and low enough for quick lift access. If the lift is temperamental (common in budget hotels), the 3rd floor is a safe walk.
Which rooms should I avoid at Red Planet?
Avoid ground-floor rooms (street noise, foot traffic) and rooms directly above the lobby or lift lobby on the 1st floor (banging doors, conversation). Also skip rooms near the lift shaft on any floor (mechanical hum).
Is Red Planet noisy?
Jalan Jenderal Sudirman runs past the hotel; it’s a main artery with motorbikes, trucks, and horns from 6am-midnight. The hotel's lift is old and audible in adjacent rooms. Service deliveries at the rear loading bay may start at 7am.
Which rooms have the best views at Red Planet?
Request a room on floors 3-5 facing the rear or side (not the main road). The view is of adjacent buildings or a courtyard, but it’s quieter than the street-facing side which overlooks a busy dual carriageway.
What are insider tips for staying at Red Planet?
1. The hotel has limited parking — arrive before 7pm or use the valet fee. 2. Check-in is often slow if you arrive after 9pm; book a late-check-in online if possible. 3. Request a room with a window that opens slightly (some are sealed) for better airflow — Pekanbaru is humid.
What time is check-in at Red Planet?
Check-in at Red Planet is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Red Planet have Wi-Fi?
Free, unlimited Wi-Fi for all guests. Speed is fine for browsing and streaming; no login or time limit.
Is there a city or tourist tax at Red Planet?
11% government tax and service charge included in rate; no separate city or tourist tax.
Where can I eat cheaply near Red Planet?
Nasi padang (rice with various curries) at a local warung: around 15,000-25,000 IDR for a plate.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Red Planet?
Trans Metro Pekanbaru bus: 3,500-5,000 IDR per ride. From the airport, take the Damri airport bus (approx 20,000 IDR) rather than a taxi (around 100,000 IDR).
When is the best time to visit Pekanbaru?
May, June and July — these are the driest months, with less rain and humidity, making outdoor sightseeing more comfortable.
Top Attractions in Pekanbaru
💡 The building is particularly impressive at night, when it's illuminated and reflected in the nearby water features.
💡 The museum is located near the Grand Mosque, and visitors can take a stroll through the adjacent park for a peaceful break.
💡 The mosque is a great spot for a quiet moment of reflection, and visitors can also explore the adjacent park and museum.
💡 The museum is located in a historic building and offers a glimpse into the region's rich cultural heritage.
💡 The park is a great spot for a picnic or a leisurely walk, and visitors can also rent a bike to explore the surrounding area.