Maluku Hotels and Accommodation

(Maluku / Moluccan Islands, Indonesia)

As a collection of neighbouring islands, the accommodation scene on the Maluku Islands is understandably a little spread out. Wherever you choose to stay, most hotels on Maluku are never far from the stunning white sandy beaches and dreamy coastline.

Where you choose to look for lodging on Maluku is somewhat determined by when you are planning to arrive. The central and southerly area of the islands is at its driest between October and March, while to the north, this covers the main wet season.

Where to Stay

Ambon Island (Pulau Ambon) is where most tourists choose to stay at Maluku and is where the best selection of accommodation is to be found. Hotels around Kota Ambon, Maluku's capital, are in good supply and close to the modern mosque - the Masjid Raya al-Fatah on the Jalan Sultan Babullah, where both the budget Abdulalie Hotel and the Hotel Nisma reside. Ambon's mid-range hotels feature air conditioning as standard, along with hot showers and English-speaking staff - and a little haggling is usually all that is required to secure a discount of some kind.

Accommodation around the Lease Islands of Maluku is also of note, although Haruku Island (Pulau Haruku) does not contain any hotels or lodging, and so is best visited as a day trip excursion from Ambon. The island of Saparua (Pulau Saparua) is an interesting place to stay, with its village of Kota Saparua being characterized by its imposing outer walls and beautiful beach. Here, the main hotels include the Penginapan Durstede and the Penginapan Lease Indah, which are based on the Jalan Muka Pasar.

The 'Mother Island' (Nusa Ina) of Pulau Seram is famed for its mountain interior and wild parrots. Masaohi is located on Seram and is actually the capital of Central Maluku, with some very affordable hotels being sited on the Jalan Martha Tiahahu and the Jalan Soulissa. If you wish to holiday on one of Maluku's fascinating Banda Islands, then the majority of the accommodation stands on Bandaneira, with guest houses on the Jalan Pasar, and family homes offering cheap homestay alternatives.

Beachfront accommodation in Maluku doesn't come much better than the Savana Cottages, which is based in the village of Ohoidertawun, on the Kei Islands, and is surrounded by a lush coconut grove. For more choice, head to the island of Ternate (Pulau Ternate), where hotels feature air conditioning as standard and include a number of modern amenities, such as the recently opened Surya Pagi on the Jalan Estacion.

For budget accommodation on Ternate, look around the Ahmad Yani Port. Further hotels and guest houses in Maluku reside on the islands of Tidore (Pulau Tidore), Halmahera (Pulau Halmahera), Makian (Pulau Makian), and Bacan (Pulau Bacan).