Guest Hotel Manggar

Guest Hotel is a modern four-storey hotel in central Manggar, the main town of East Belitung, and is often described by visitors as the best of the town's small selection of places to stay. Its bright purple-and-pink facade makes it easy to spot near the old cinema street in Lipat Kajang.

Rooms come in three price tiers, which a recent guest put at roughly Rp400,000 to Rp600,000 a night. Mid-range rooms have a desk, satellite TV, a small fridge, bedside lamps and a bathroom with shower. Expect a simple, honest hotel rather than a resort: some reviewers mention a lift that was out of service, small maintenance issues and a limited breakfast, so check the food before tucking in and call reception if towels are missing.

The location is ideal for Manggar's famous coffee culture. The town has dozens of traditional kopi shops, and several are within a few minutes' walk, along with small shops. From here it is easy to reach Pantai Serdang, Burung Mandi's Vihara Dewi Kwan Im and, further south, Gantung's Laskar Pelangi replica school and Museum Kata Andrea Hirata. Tanjung Pandan is about 90 minutes' drive west.