Best Transit Hotel in Makasar Airport – The Cordia Hotel
After going through the hell on earth that was transiting in Vietnam, I was frankly blown away by not just how great things were at Makassar, but also the fabulously great value Cordia Hotel.
While most transit hotels are expensive, dingy and, well, pretty shit, this bad boy bucked the trend. Not only are the rooms human-sized, but they actually have hotel facilities. Most importantly, and like the budgie! They are so cheap!
Table of Contents
What the Makassar Airport?
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport is the main airport for Makassar and one of the most important aviation hubs in eastern Indonesia. It currently has capacity for around 15 million passengers a year, with around 30,000 passengers a day passing through during busy periods.
Domestically, it connects Makassar with pretty much everywhere that matters in Indonesia, including Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Jayapura, Timika and many other cities across the east. Internationally, there are connections to places including Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. For me this airport is particularly important as it is basically my gateway to Papua, with Makassar being the point where we connect onwards to Jayapura, Wamena and all that jazz. It is also a transit point for West Timor and Kupang if you are coning via Jayapura.
The Cordia Hotel
I actually thought it was called the “Hotel Singgah”, but it turns out that just means airport hotel. No, this is the Cordia, not to be confused with the Sky Sleep Hotel, which is shitty little pods and not that much different in price.
My room was small and cute, had an open-plan bathroom, but private toilet, as well as a decent-sized bed. There was no real office area for me to work, but hey, I paid 370,000 Rupiah ($20) for 6 hours. What more do you want?
I personally think this is phenomenal value, with the prices generally being around this range.
Room prices at the Cordia Hotel Makassar
- 3 hours: transit rate — price not published on the current hotel website
- 6 hours: transit rate — 370,000 IDR ($20), the rate I paid.
- Overnight / full stay — Queen Bed: 490,000 IDR ($28)
- Overnight / full stay — Twin Bed: 490,000 IDR ($28)
- Overnight / full stay — Bunk Bed: 565,000 IDR ($32)
- Overnight / full stay — Suite Bed: 700,000 IDR ($39), including breakfast for 2
Said prices can vary, with them offering deals based around what you need. I saw headline rates as low as $15. From what I could see this could not be booked on trip.com, with me simply doing walk in.
Cordia Hotel Services
They have two smoking areas, because smoking is still seen as a human right in Indonesia. I for one support this! They also offer a cafe, as well as a “spa service”. I’m not gonna lie, but this gave me Kenya vibes and I think the pretty ladies might give more than just a massage. This though is opinion, not fact.
They also offer a 7-hour turnaround on washing, which I think was pretty cool, although I would not want to stay in this hotel all that long. It’s good, but it is no Hong Kong either. If you did though, there are plenty of great food options both in and out of the airport pre-boarding side and you are only technically about 15 minutes from town. Although in that case you might be better, you know, staying in town, but I digress as always.
Click to read about being a digital nomad in Pyongyang។
Where the Cordia Hotel?
Cordia Hotel Makassar Airport
Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport
Terminal Utama, Keberangkatan Lantai 3
Baji Mangngai, Kecamatan Mandai
Kabupaten Maros, Sulawesi Selatan 90552
Indonesia
Phone: +62 811 4388 998
Email: reservation.makassar@cordia.id
I mean it is quite literally in the airport, 4 minutes from security. You do not get much closer than that.