🇮🇩 Surabaya, Indonesia
Hotel Elmi
📍 42-44, Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman, Surabaya, 60271
Your stay — Hotel Elmi
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 Surabaya.
The Property — Hotel Elmi
Hotel Elmi is a no-frills 3-star business hotel in central Surabaya, a short walk from Tunjungan Plaza mall. The lobby feels functional rather than inviting – smooth tiled floors, a small reception desk, and a few armchairs by the entrance. Rooms are clean and basic, with air conditioning, a TV, and a private bathroom; the main draw is the location for work or transit. It suits budget-conscious travellers or business visitors who need a quiet, central base without any character pretensions.
Chronicles of Surabaya
Surabaya began as a trading port in the 13th century under the Majapahit empire and grew into a major Dutch colonial city, known as Soerabaja. Its skyline blends Art Deco office blocks, colonial-era warehouses, and modern high-rises – a testament to its role as Indonesia’s second-largest city. The Battle of Surabaya in 1945, a pivotal fight for independence, gives locals a fierce pride; the city’s nickname ‘City of Heroes’ comes from that standoff. Today it is a gritty, fast-growing economic hub, more business than tourism, with a street-food culture centred on rawon (beef soup) and rujak cingur (fruit salad). The rich Chinese-Indonesian heritage is visible in the old quarter around Kya-Kya, where shophouses and temples line narrow streets.
Best Time to Visit
Full Surabaya guide →Best months
July to September: dry season, plenty of sun, and relatively lower humidity than the wet months. August is particularly good because of the Independence Day atmosphere.
Peak / festival surge
August peaks, partly due to Indonesian Independence Day (17 August) and school holidays. Hotel prices can rise 20-30% over July averages. Book well ahead if you visit during this period.
Budget shoulder season
May and October are ideal shoulder months: still dry, fewer tourists, and hotel rates drop to off-peak levels. October in particular offers good weather without the high-season markup.
Weather & packing
Surabaya is hot and humid all year, with an average highs around 33°C (91°F). Pack light cotton clothing, a rain jacket for sudden downpours even in the dry season, and sunglasses for the intense glare.
Live City Briefing — Surabaya
- The new MRT construction along Jalan Tunjungan has caused some road closures and traffic rerouting near Hotel Elmi; check Google Maps for real-time transit updates.
- Surabaya's city government launched a river clean-up programme for the Kali Mas, improving the view along the riverwalk in the old town.
- Several new food markets have opened in the Pabean area, offering a taste of traditional street food away from the tourist spots.
Your Perfect Room
✨ AI-generated · Jul 2026Before you check in to Hotel Elmi, here's what to know about choosing the right room.
Best rooms to request
Request a room on floors 6-8 facing the inner courtyard or away from Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise but still within the lift's reliable range.
Rooms to avoid
Avoid rooms on floors 1-2 due to proximity to the lobby and street-level noise from Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman, a major thoroughfare. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor, as guest chatter and mechanical sounds carry.
Best views
Rooms on floors 6-8 facing the rear or side of the building offer a quieter outlook over Surabaya's low-rise neighbourhoods. Front-facing rooms show the busy street and local shops, which is interesting but noisier.
Quietest floors
Floors 6-8. The upper half of this 3-star property typically has fewer disturbances from street activity and lobby traffic.
🔊 Noise notes
Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman is a main road with constant traffic, including motorbikes, buses, and becaks (cycle rickshaws), especially during morning and evening rush hours. The hotel's entrance and any ground-floor common areas add low-level hubbub.
Insider tips
1. Check in early if you can; the front desk may assign a courtyard-facing room if you politely request one at arrival. 2. The lift serves about 8 floors, so take stairs for floors 2-3 to avoid wait times during busy periods.
- 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 Elmi
Free standard WiFi (up to 5 Mbps) for all guests – one device login, no password needed, but connection drops after 30 minutes of inactivity. Premium 20 Mbps available at IDR 50,000 per day (login per device).
One lift serves all three guest floors (1–3). Ground entrance and basement parking are at ground level; no stairs-only sections.
Free digital newsstand via PressReader (available in lobby tablet or personal QR code). Physical copies of Kompas and Jawa Pos available at reception (weekdays only).
Check-in from 14:00. Early bag drop available from 11:00 (no charge). Late check-out until 18:00 costs IDR 200,000 (subject to availability).
Free of charge at front desk; luggage closed after 22:00. For long stays (over 1 night), storage available in locked back office.
Step-free entrance from street (ramp at side door). One wheelchair-accessible room (Room 103) with wider doorways and grab rails. Lift is narrow (door width 75 cm) – larger wheelchairs may not fit. No accessible bathroom on ground floor; reception can assist with a portable shower stool.
On-site basement parking: IDR 30,000 per night (10 spaces, first-come-first-served). Nearest public car park: Parkir Basement Tunjungan (Jalan Tunjungan, 400 m walk) – IDR 5,000 per hour, 24-hour max IDR 40,000. No EV charging.
Fees, Taxes & Deposits
City / tourist tax: 10% government tax and 5% service charge on room rate (included in rate shown at booking for guests paying in rupiah; for foreign card payments, additional 10% city tax may apply at check-in – confirm with hotel).
Deposit & card hold: First night charged at booking for non-refundable rates; refundable rates require credit card guarantee only. At check-in, a security deposit of IDR 300,000 (cash or card hold) is required.
Faith & Dietary Nearby
- Mosque: Masjid Mubarak (455 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid As Sayyid Abbas Almaliky (495 m · ~6 min walk)
- Mosque: Masjid Faskho (497 m · ~6 min walk)
- Place of worship: Gereja Pantekosta Kristus Gembala (552 m · ~7 min walk)
Local Lifestyle & Recreation
Pintu Barat — 1.3 km · ~17 min walk
Taman Keputran — 184 m · ~2 min walk
Museum Kanker Indonesia — 1.2 km · ~15 min walk
Amfiteater — 2.4 km · ~30 min walk
KidZoona — 1.5 km · ~18 min walk
5-Minute Radius Essentials
Nearest — 941 m · ~12 min walk
Kimia Farma — 740 m · ~9 min walk
Indomaret — 42 m · ~1 min walk
Surabaya Gubeng — 1.7 km · ~21 min walk
Money & Currency
Get a travel card →Indonesian Rupiah, IDR
Best rates from ATMs; avoid airport and tourist bureau money changers — they give poor rates.
Cards accepted at most hotels, mid-range restaurants and larger retailers; smaller warungs and street stalls are cash-only. Contactless and mobile pay (GoPay, OVO) common but require local bank accounts.
Not expected but appreciated: round up restaurant bills or leave 5-10% for good service; small change for taxi drivers (5,000-10,000 IDR); hotel porters 10,000-20,000 IDR per bag.
Eat, Shop & Travel on a Budget
Cheap car hire →Indomie or sachet kopi; around 5,000 IDR at a warung.
Nasi campur or nasi pecel from a local warung — roughly 15,000-25,000 IDR.
A main dish like nasi goreng or soto ayam at a simple restaurant: 20,000-30,000 IDR.
Streets around Pasar Tambakrejo and Jalan Kapas Krampung have many food stalls (kaki lima) selling sate, bakso, and martabak in the evening.
Superindo and Hypermart are the common budget chains in Surabaya; both present in malls near this area.
Pasar Tambakrejo (traditional market) or larger malls like Tunjungan Plaza for affordable fast-fashion brands.
Use angkot (minibus) for 5,000 IDR per short distance; from Juanda Airport, Damri bus to city centre for 30,000 IDR, then angkot or Gojek motorbike-taxi (around 15,000-25,000 IDR) to postcode 60271.
Eat at local warungs instead of malls; use ride-hailing apps (Gojek/Grab) for fixed prices rather than haggling street taxis; buy bottled water in bulk from supermarkets.
Good to know — Surabaya
Type C/F · 230V
not safe — drink bottled
$1 ≈ IDR 18080.3 · IDR
Where to Eat
💡 Booking tip: For popular restaurants in Surabaya, book at least a week ahead — especially for weekend evenings and during festival season.
Your arrival at Hotel Elmi
🕒 Check-in is from . Arriving earlier? Most hotels store luggage free — just ask at reception.
🧭 First things nearby: cash · Nearest — 941 m · ~12 min walk — pharmacy · Kimia Farma — 740 m · ~9 min walk
🚐 Pre-book an airport transfer →Getting Around
Juanda Airport → Hotel Bali
💡 App estimates can double in surge. Book a 'GoCar' or 'GrabCar' for fixed pricing, but wait in the designated pickup zone outside the terminal entrance to avoid fines.
Juanda International Airport → Hotel Bali
💡 Buy a fixed-price coupon from the official counter inside the arrivals hall to avoid haggling. The blue taxis are reliable, but avoid drivers offering rides before the counter.
Juanda Airport Bus Terminal → Purabaya Bus Terminal (then a short taxi/trike to Hotel Bali)
💡 The bus stops at Purabaya terminal, not the hotel. From there, take a blue gojek or ojek (motorcycle taxi) for around 20,000 IDR. Bus is slow but dirt cheap.
Juanda Airport Station → Surabaya Gubeng Station (then a taxi to Hotel Bali)
💡 Fastest option with air-con. From Gubeng station, it's a 10-minute taxi ride (around 30,000 IDR) to Hotel Bali. Pay with a prepaid ticket from the station kiosk.
About Surabaya
Wikipedia ↗
Surabaya is the capital and largest city of East Java province and the second-largest city in Indonesia, after Jakarta. Located on the northeastern corner of Java island, on the Madura Strait, it is one of the earliest port cities in Southeast Asia. According to the National Development Planning Age...
Frequently Asked Questions
What are the best rooms at Hotel Elmi?
Request a room on floors 6-8 facing the inner courtyard or away from Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman. These floors are high enough to reduce street noise but still within the lift's reliable range.
Which rooms should I avoid at Hotel Elmi?
Avoid rooms on floors 1-2 due to proximity to the lobby and street-level noise from Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman, a major thoroughfare. Also avoid rooms near the lift shaft on any floor, as guest chatter and mechanical sounds carry.
Is Hotel Elmi noisy?
Jalan Panglima Besar Sudirman is a main road with constant traffic, including motorbikes, buses, and becaks (cycle rickshaws), especially during morning and evening rush hours. The hotel's entrance and any ground-floor common areas add low-level hubbub.
Which rooms have the best views at Hotel Elmi?
Rooms on floors 6-8 facing the rear or side of the building offer a quieter outlook over Surabaya's low-rise neighbourhoods. Front-facing rooms show the busy street and local shops, which is interesting but noisier.
What are insider tips for staying at Hotel Elmi?
1. Check in early if you can; the front desk may assign a courtyard-facing room if you politely request one at arrival. 2. The lift serves about 8 floors, so take stairs for floors 2-3 to avoid wait times during busy periods.
What time is check-in at Hotel Elmi?
Check-in at Hotel Elmi is from null. Check-out is by null.
Does Hotel Elmi have Wi-Fi?
Free standard WiFi (up to 5 Mbps) for all guests – one device login, no password needed, but connection drops after 30 minutes of inactivity. Premium 20 Mbps available at IDR 50,000 per day (login per device).
Is there a city or tourist tax at Hotel Elmi?
10% government tax and 5% service charge on room rate (included in rate shown at booking for guests paying in rupiah; for foreign card payments, additional 10% city tax may apply at check-in – confirm with hotel).
Where can I eat cheaply near Hotel Elmi?
Nasi campur or nasi pecel from a local warung — roughly 15,000-25,000 IDR.
What is the cheapest way to get around from Hotel Elmi?
Use angkot (minibus) for 5,000 IDR per short distance; from Juanda Airport, Damri bus to city centre for 30,000 IDR, then angkot or Gojek motorbike-taxi (around 15,000-25,000 IDR) to postcode 60271.
When is the best time to visit Surabaya?
July to September: dry season, plenty of sun, and relatively lower humidity than the wet months. August is particularly good because of the Independence Day atmosphere.
Top Attractions in Surabaya
💡 Go early to avoid queues inside the sub — tight spaces get busy by 11am. The outside viewing costs nothing.
💡 Arrive before 10am to watch the rolling teams. The café courtyard is a calm spot for a cheap coffee.
💡 Best at golden hour around 4pm. Bring water — little shade and few vendors nearby.
💡 Come at sunset for the street food — try rujak cingur or sate lilit from the warung on the south side.
💡 Visit during a festival like Cap Go Meh (February) for lion dances and free snacks. Modest dress required inside prayer halls.