Sometimes when I say something is the best in a city it is less a compliment and more like winning gold at the spastic Olympics. And in this case Kupang and this hotel truly get a gold.
Why is this? Well while the Neo Hotel is very much OK, let’s just say the hotel and nightlife scene here is a little bit, and that Kupang could well be in the running for a Shit City Award.
What the Kupang?
Kupang is the kind of place that makes you question both your life choices and your travel plans. Perched on the arid edge of West Timor, this is the provincial capital of East Nusa Tenggara – a name that suggests tropical vibes and exotic adventures, but delivers more dust than dreams. With a population somewhere between “small Indonesian city” and “could all fit on a cruise ship,” Kupang is a melting pot of Timorese, Chinese, and Bugis folk, all of whom seem equally confused as to why you’re here.
Religiously it’s a cocktail of Catholic guilt, Protestant stoicism, and a dash of Islamic restraint – meaning you won’t find a pub, but you might find a church choir competition at 3am. Historically, Kupang was an important Dutch outpost, which explains the lingering colonial architecture and the absolutely pointless roundabouts.
What the Neo Hotels?
The Neo Hotel group is owned by Archipelago International, who also run such upper-mid establishments as FaveHotels and Aston – or as I like to call them: Travel Lodge with sambal. The Neo brand is meant to be “hip and trendy” but in practice feels like a 2008 Facebook user tried designing a hotel while high on MSG and Bintang.
They’ve got a few dozen properties dotted across Indonesia – from Jakarta to Jayapura – and even one rogue outpost in Malaysia, probably just to say they’re “international.” If you’ve ever dreamed of staying in a hotel where the wifi doesn’t quite work and the decor looks like an abandoned Google office, then Neo is your guy. Honestly, they’re not the worst… unless you’ve stayed anywhere else.
What The Hotel Scene and Nightlife of Kupang
The Neo Hotel basically is the only hotel of any salts within Kupang, representing the very fact that this is not a place meant for tourism, but more a launching pad for places you’d actually want to go. Most other listings on Trip.com and similar sites are little more than roadside guesthouses, the kind where you’re more likely to share a mattress with a gecko than get a decent night’s sleep.
As for nightlife? You’d have more fun drinking cough syrup behind a Circle K. Beer is almost impossible to find, even in the so-called hotel bar – a reflection of Indonesia’s curious blend of religious conservatism and good old-fashioned moral panic. This is the kind of place where Muslims frown on alcohol, the Christians are too shy to ask for it, and everyone pretends this is totally normal. Want a night out? Tough luck. Want a beer? Better bring your own. Want to escape? Tick tock, Timor Overland….
And the Neo Hotel By Aston Kupang
Facilities-wise, the Neo Hotel punches gently above its weight. It’s got around 137 rooms, with nightly rates ranging from a very reasonable $25 to $40 USD depending on how desperate they are to fill it. The rooms are clean-ish, the air con works most of the time, and the WiFi is more of a suggestion than a service.
There is a bar, but let’s not get excited – it serves beer only, and sometimes not even that. The pool closes at 6pm, because nothing says vacation like rules about fun. As for the breakfast buffet, it’s a grim parade of cold rice, synthetic sausages, and what I suspect is an egg that’s seen things so bad it now has a thousand yard stare. Did I mention Indonesian cuisine?
Still, it’s got beds, it’s got doors, and it’s not a wooden shack. So… gold medal?
Address:
Neo Eltari Kupang
Jl. Piet A. Tallo, Liliba, Kota Kupang, Nusa Tenggara Tim., Indonesia
Phone: +62 380 8589888
Email: kupanginfo@neohotels.com
Instagram: @neohotels
Website: www.neohotels.com