Finding a comfortable and reasonably priced place to stay in Bajawa can make a big difference when travelling around the highlands of Flores. During our time in Bajawa, we stayed at Marcelino Homestay and found it to be a very convenient base for exploring the surrounding area.
Our room was spacious, clean and recently renovated, with a comfortable mattress and a private toilet and shower. Breakfast was included, with pancakes and fresh fruit juice, and the room rate was reasonable. What really stood out, though, was the friendliness of the owners. They were incredibly helpful, spoke enough English for us to communicate easily, and were happy to advise us about transport, sightseeing and hiring a motorbike.
In this review, I’ll share our experience staying at Marcelino Homestay, including the room, facilities, breakfast, hot shower arrangements, motorbike rental and what we thought of the owners.
🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：BajawaのMarcelino Homestay宿泊レビュー｜快適な部屋と親切なオーナー
Staying at Marcelino Homestay in Bajawa
During our time in Bajawa, Flores, we stayed at Marcelino Homestay, a small and welcoming place that turned out to be a very convenient base for exploring the area.
We were in Bajawa to visit some of the traditional Ngada villages around the region, so having somewhere comfortable to return to after a day of travelling was important to us.
Marcelino Homestay offered a good combination of reasonable prices, a clean and spacious room, breakfast and genuinely friendly hosts.
A Spacious, Clean and Recently Renovated Room
Our room was spacious and very clean.
It had clearly been renovated, and the overall condition was better than we might have expected from a reasonably priced homestay in Bajawa.
The mattress was also comfortable, which made a difference after long days travelling around Flores.
There is no air conditioning, but Bajawa’s cooler highland climate meant that this wasn’t a problem for us during our stay.
Private Bathroom and Hot Shower
The room had its own toilet and shower, which was another advantage.
If you want a hot shower, you need to let the staff know about 30 minutes beforehand so that they can prepare it.
This is worth knowing when planning your evening routine, but once arranged, having a warm shower after a day exploring Bajawa was very welcome.
Breakfast with Pancakes and Fresh Fruit Juice
Breakfast was included in our stay.
We were served pancakes, coffee/tea and fresh fruit juice, which was a simple but enjoyable way to start the day.
For travellers heading out early to explore the Ngada villages or the surrounding countryside, having breakfast at the homestay is also very convenient.
Exceptionally Friendly and Helpful Owners
One of the things we liked most about Marcelino Homestay was the owners.
It was run by a couple, and both of them were incredibly friendly and helpful throughout our stay.
They also spoke good English so communication is easy, which was particularly useful when we wanted to ask about transport, local places to visit or renting a motorbike.
They were happy to help us work out the practical details of getting around Bajawa, rather than simply providing a room and leaving us to figure everything out ourselves.
Motorbike Rental for 100,000 Rupiah a Day
We also rented a scooter through the homestay.
The price was 100,000 Indonesian rupiah per day.
Having a motorbike made it much easier for us to explore outside Bajawa, including visiting traditional villages in the surrounding area.
If you are planning to explore independently rather than relying entirely on drivers or organised tours, it is worth asking the owners about motorbike rental.
Is Marcelino Homestay a Good Place to Stay in Bajawa?
Marcelino Homestay isn’t a luxury hotel, but that isn’t what we were looking for.
What we wanted was a clean, comfortable and reasonably priced place to stay in Bajawa, with helpful people who could also assist with the practical side of travelling around the area.
For us, it delivered exactly that.
The spacious renovated room, comfortable mattress, private bathroom, breakfast and friendly owners all made our stay enjoyable. The ability to arrange a motorbike and ask the owners about local transport was an added bonus.
For travellers looking for a comfortable and friendly base for exploring Bajawa and the Ngada villages, Marcelino Homestay is a place we would happily consider again.
➡ How to Get from Ruteng to Bajawa by Travel Taxi | Our Experience
➡ Bajawa Travel Guide: Bena and Gurusina Traditional Villages by Scooter
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