Accommodation can be one of the biggest expenses when traveling, and if you’re looking for the best deals, you might end up spending a lot of time searching for the perfect place.
This article will focus on the most popular platforms for booking accommodation in Indonesia, their advantages, and how to use them effectively to save both time and money.
Booking.com
Booking.com is my go-to platform. I start by searching based on the area, either using the map or typing in a specific location, and then I sort the results by user ratings and filters.
You’ll find a wide range of accommodations on Booking.com, from budget hostels to luxury resorts, including apartments and villas. The filters make it easy to narrow down your preferences, whether it’s the type of stay or the overall review score. Personally, I never settle for anything below an 8.2 rating, especially when staying in Jakarta. I’m also cautious about photos—what really matters to me are the reviews, particularly those with traveler-uploaded photos. I tend to ignore reviews that are more than a few months old; if I don’t find anything recent, I simply keep searching.
One of the best things about Booking.com is its global reach, which means there are plenty of authentic reviews from travelers all over the world. Another bonus is the Genius loyalty program, which rewards frequent travelers with discounts. The program has several levels, but funny enough, you might even score a better deal at Genius level 1 than at level 3!
Traveloka
Traveloka is an Indonesian platform and a serious competitor to Booking.com across Southeast Asia. It offers a similar selection of hotels, hostels, apartments, and luxury stays, sometimes even at better prices.
Traveloka also has a handy app where you can buy train tickets, bus tickets, and other travel-related services throughout Indonesia. But fair warning—once you download the app, expect to be bombarded with offers, discounts, and promo codes. What starts off as exciting often turns into frustration, as you’ll soon find that many promo codes don’t work, daily quotas are already filled, or there are hidden conditions you didn’t anticipate.
Another downside for me is the hidden fees that often show up at the very last step before confirming your reservation. This doesn’t happen as much with accommodation bookings, where you’ll often see offers with no service fees. However, when booking train tickets, for example, the service fees can go as high as 20,000 IDR (around 1 USD).
Tiket.com
Tiket.com is another Indonesian platform where you can search for accommodation. It’s quite similar to Traveloka, offering the ability to buy tickets, rent cars, or book experiences.
The differences between these two platforms are minimal, so it really comes down to personal preference. I suggest picking one and sticking with it for all your bookings throughout your trip.
Airbnb
I’ve recently become a big fan of Airbnb, especially for longer stays or when traveling with a group. Renting an entire house for six people, complete with a kitchen and laundry, turned out to be cheaper during peak season than booking three separate hotel rooms. Plus, we had the privacy, flexibility, and comfort that a hotel just couldn’t offer.
But, just like with other booking platforms, don’t forget to carefully check the reviews and photos to ensure the listing is accurate and matches the description.
Agoda
Agoda is another popular platform, but I personally avoid using it. I’ve had a few negative experiences that made me write it off completely. On several occasions, I booked accommodation through Agoda only to discover that the property didn’t even exist—the platform didn’t actually have a contract with them.
This resulted in my reservation (and payment) being canceled, and by the time I searched for alternatives, the prices had skyrocketed. I also frequently encountered extra fees when paying by card, or unfavorable exchange rates that made what seemed like a good deal turn out to be not so great after all.
Searching for Accommodation in Indonesia: Practical Tips
Once you’ve found a place to stay on any platform or through a recommendation, I suggest Googling it to compare prices across various platforms and check reviews.
For most accommodations, Google will conveniently display a price comparison table from different platforms, allowing you to choose the best deal. You can also use comparison sites like HotelsCombined.
Personally, I prefer Booking.com’s interface, so it’s always my first stop. After that, I compare the offers with Traveloka and Tiket.com, which sometimes feature listings that are exclusive to those platforms.
How Long Should You Book Accommodation For?
If you’re traveling during peak season (June-September) with family or staying at a luxury property, it’s best to book your entire stay in advance. However, if you plan on staying in one place for an extended period, I recommend booking just the first two or three nights to get a feel for the accommodation. After that, you can decide whether to extend your stay or find somewhere else.
In Bali, especially, avoid booking long-term accommodation without seeing it in person first. Even if it looks amazing in the photos, there’s no guarantee it’ll live up to expectations. Plus, you might end up with noisy construction going on next door from dawn until dusk.
Booking Through Platforms or Directly with the Accommodation?
Booking platforms charge hotels a commission for each reservation. Some people believe it’s cheaper to book directly with the hotel, bypassing intermediaries like Booking.com or Traveloka. However, in practice, I’ve often found the opposite to be true. More often than not, accommodation is actually more expensive on-site than when booked through an online platform.
In Conclusion
Whether you go with Booking.com, Traveloka, or Airbnb, be sure to compare prices and make the most of any available discounts. With these platforms, traveling through Indonesia has never been easier or more affordable!
