Indonesia

Seventeen thousand islands, and Bali is only one of them. Temples in Java, dragons in Flores, and a forest town in the hills where the whole point is slowing down.

Where to stay

Cross Paasha Bali Seminyak

Bali · Seminyak · walk to the beach

A pool with free cabanas, between the beach and Eat Street.

See if your Seminyak dates are free

  • Ninety-nine rooms in Seminyak, close to Seminyak Square, Eat Street and the beach. The outdoor pool has free cabanas and umbrellas, there's a spa and a gym, and Kuuki Dining looks out over the ocean. Bikes are free to borrow. One thing to check before booking: the hotel closes for Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence — guests stay on the property for 24 hours, and there's no check-in or check-out that day.

    • 99 rooms in Seminyak, walk to the beach and Eat Street

    • Outdoor pool with free cabanas and umbrellas

    • Spa and fitness centre

    • Kuuki Dining restaurant with ocean views

    • Free bike hire

Bisma Eight

Bali · Ubud · forest views

An infinity pool facing straight into the forest.

See if your Ubud dates are free

  • A forest retreat in the middle of Ubud, with an infinity pool looking into tropical forest, a full spa doing massage, aromatherapy and body wraps, two restaurants and yoga classes. There's a garden that supplies the organic breakfast, plus a library and a coffee shop. It rates exceptionally well in a town with no shortage of competition, and it balances the Seminyak stay — this is the other half of Bali.

    • Infinity pool with forest views

    • Full spa — massage, aromatherapy and body wraps

    • Two restaurants and a garden supplying the breakfast

    • Yoga classes

    • Walk to the Ubud Monkey Forest and Puri Lukisan Museum

The Phoenix Hotel Yogyakarta

Java · Yogyakarta · near Malioboro Street

A colonial landmark in Yogyakarta, an hour from Borobudur.

See if your Java dates are free

  • One hundred and forty-four rooms in central Yogyakarta, near Malioboro Street and Tugu Yogyakarta. There's an outdoor pool with loungers, a full spa, a restaurant and bar, a fitness centre, a hair salon and free bikes. Yogyakarta is the cultural heart of Java and the base for Borobudur and Prambanan — this is the stay that turns an Indonesia trip into more than Bali.

    • 144 rooms in central Yogyakarta

    • Outdoor pool with sun loungers

    • Full-service spa and fitness centre

    • Restaurant, bar and hair salon

    • Free bikes; the base for Borobudur and Prambanan

Katamaran Hotel & Resort Komodo

Flores · Labuan Bajo · beachfront with its own marina

A marina of its own, for the boat out to the dragons.

See if your Flores dates are free

  • One hundred and forty-nine rooms on the beachfront at Labuan Bajo, with two outdoor pools and an indoor one, a swim-up bar, free beach cabanas, kayaking, a spa, three restaurants and its own marina. Labuan Bajo is the departure point for Komodo National Park, so having the marina attached to the hotel takes the friction out of the single thing everybody comes here to do.

    • 149 rooms, beachfront at Labuan Bajo

    • Two outdoor pools, an indoor pool and a swim-up bar

    • On-site marina and free beach cabanas

    • Spa, three restaurants and kayaking

    • Departure point for Komodo National Park

10 of the best Indonesian Tours

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The best places to stay in Indonesia

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      • Indonesia is made up of more than 17,000 islands, of which around 6,000 are inhabited.

      • It's the fourth most populous country in the world.

      • More than 700 living languages are spoken across the archipelago.

      • Borobudur, near Yogyakarta, is the largest Buddhist temple in the world.

      • Nyepi — the Balinese Day of Silence — shuts the whole island for 24 hours each March or April. The airport closes, nobody goes outside, and hotel guests stay on the property. Check the date before you book anything

  • Best time — May to September is the dry season across most of the country and the best window for Bali, Java and Komodo. October to April is wetter. Komodo boat trips are most reliable between April and October.

    Getting around — Domestic flights are the practical way between islands, with Garuda, Lion and Citilink covering most routes. On Bali, use Grab or Gojek. Ferries exist but are slow and weather-dependent.

  • Bali in particular is set up for solo travellers — yoga retreats, co-working cafés and group day trips make company easy to find when you want it and easy to avoid when you don't. Elsewhere it's quieter and you'll be more of a novelty, in a warm rather than uncomfortable way. Dress modestly away from the beach areas, especially in Java, and cover shoulders and knees at temples, where a sarong is usually provided. Be careful with scooters — Bali's roads are busy and injuries are the most common problem visitors run into. And check the Nyepi date before you book.

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