Hotel Melati Kalabahi Review: A Convenient Hotel Just 3 Minutes from the Pelni Port

Finding accommodation close to the port can make a big difference when travelling around Indonesia by Pelni ferry.

We chose Hotel Melati in Kalabahi because it is only about a three-minute walk from the port, which was particularly useful as our ferry was due to arrive at around 2am. We stayed in an air-conditioned VIP twin room that was spacious and clean. There was no shower, only a cold-water mandi, but this was perfectly fine for us in the warm climate of Kalabahi.

Here is our first-hand review of Hotel Melati, including our late-night arrival, breakfast and what to expect from the location.

🇯🇵 この記事を日本語で読む：Hotel Melati Kalabahi 宿泊レビュー｜ペルニ港から徒歩3分の便利なホテル

Why We Chose Hotel Melati in Kalabahi

When we arrived in Kalabahi, Alor, we wanted somewhere that was as close as possible to the Pelni ferry port.

Hotel Melati immediately stood out because it is only about three minutes on foot from the port.

Our Pelni ferry was scheduled to arrive at around 2am, so being able to walk straight from the ship to our accommodation was a major consideration.

After staying there, we were glad we had prioritised location. Being so close to the port made arriving in Kalabahi in the middle of the night much easier.

Just Three Minutes from the Pelni Port

The biggest advantage of Hotel Melati is undoubtedly its location.

The hotel is around a three-minute walk from the port used by Pelni ferries in Kalabahi. After getting off the ship, we did not need to arrange a taxi or find another form of transport in the middle of the night.

For travellers arriving in Kalabahi by Pelni, particularly on a late-night or early-morning sailing, this is extremely convenient.

After a long ferry journey, being able to reach your hotel within a few minutes and go straight to bed is a real advantage.

Our Air-Conditioned VIP Twin Room

We stayed in an air-conditioned twin room, which was one of the hotel’s VIP rooms.

The room was spacious and clean, with plenty of room for two people and two separate beds.

It was a simple room rather than a luxury hotel room, but it gave us the space and comfort we needed after travelling by ferry.

For a short stay in Kalabahi, it worked well for us.

No Shower, but a Cold-Water Mandi

One thing to be aware of is that our room did not have a shower.

Instead, there was a traditional cold-water mandi.

This was not a problem for us. Kalabahi was warm during our stay, so having a cold-water mandi was perfectly acceptable.

If you specifically need a conventional shower, this is something to check before booking. However, if you are comfortable with a mandi, we found it perfectly manageable.

Arriving at 2am: WhatsApp Made Things Easy

One of the most useful things about our stay was how the hotel handled our late arrival.

Because our Pelni ferry was expected to arrive at around 2am, we had already told the hotel that we would be arriving in the middle of the night.

The staff asked us to contact them on WhatsApp when we arrived.

Once we reached the hotel, we sent the message as requested. A member of staff came out almost immediately and opened the gate for us.

That made the late-night arrival very straightforward.

When travelling by Pelni, arrival times can sometimes be very early or very late, so having a simple WhatsApp arrangement with the hotel was particularly useful.

Breakfast Delivered to Our Room

Breakfast was brought to our room at around 7am.

On the morning of our stay, breakfast was nasi goreng, Indonesian fried rice.

It was convenient not having to go out looking for somewhere to eat first thing in the morning, particularly after arriving at 2am.

Being able to have breakfast in the room and take the morning at our own pace was a nice touch.

The Trade-Off: Being Close to the Port Can Mean Noise

There is one potential downside to the hotel’s excellent location.

Our air-conditioned VIP room was towards the part of the property that was closer to the road.

Because of this, I would expect the area to be noisier when a Pelni ferry is arriving or departing, with passengers and vehicles moving around the port area.

For us, the location was more important than having complete silence, especially because we specifically chose Hotel Melati for its proximity to the port.

However, if you are a light sleeper or want a particularly quiet room, this is something worth considering when booking.

Our Overall Experience at Hotel Melati Kalabahi

Hotel Melati is not the sort of place we would describe as a luxury hotel. Its main strength is much more practical: the location is extremely convenient for Pelni passengers arriving in Kalabahi.

During our stay, we had:

• A location around three minutes’ walk from the Pelni port
• An air-conditioned VIP twin room
• A spacious and clean room
• A cold-water mandi instead of a shower
• Helpful staff who responded to our WhatsApp message at around 2am
• Breakfast delivered to our room at 7am
• Nasi goreng for breakfast

For us, the standout feature was definitely the location.

After arriving in Kalabahi by Pelni in the middle of the night, being able to walk for just a few minutes and reach our spotless hotel was exactly what we needed.

The facilities are simple, but for travellers using Pelni and looking for a convenient place to stay before or after a ferry journey, Hotel Melati was a clean, good value and practical choice for our trip to Alor.

➡ Kupang to Alor (Kalabahi) by PELNI Wilis: Our Overnight Ferry Experience