Lombok event accommodation was the hidden story of MotoGP week. The race drew a record crowd, and with it came steep price jumps around Kuta and at least one spectator who says the homestay he paid for simply wasn’t there. With more big events on the calendar, it’s worth looking at what happened and how to avoid the same headaches next time.
Lombok event accommodation prices during MotoGP week
Prices around the circuit climbed sharply. Transportasi Media reported on October 12 that the manager of Mango Room Mandalika, in Kuta, said a room that normally costs about Rp600,000 a night went for Rp2 million during race week, and it still sold out. The owner of another Kuta guesthouse said occupancy shot up even though October is normally low season. That report leans heavily on material from Pertamina, the race’s title sponsor, so read it as one snapshot rather than a full survey.
Part of the context is that the province scrapped its hotel price-cap regulation in September, ahead of the race. The governor argued the old rules had become a license to overprice, and room rates now follow the market. Our earlier pieces on MotoGP Mandalika hotel occupancy and the Central Lombok price task force cover how that played out before the race.
The homestay that could not be found
The more worrying story came from NTBSatu on October 13. A spectator named Alip said on Instagram that he booked and paid in full for a homestay in Kuta for Saturday, October 10, through Traveloka, then couldn’t find the property at all. It didn’t show up on Google Maps or Waze, and he said the app told him the booking couldn’t be cancelled or refunded. He also said prices in the area went from around Rp500,000 to Rp5 million a night.
We want to be fair about what this is and isn’t. It’s one traveler’s account, taken from social media. The report didn’t include a response from Traveloka, the police or the tourism office, didn’t say whether a complaint was filed, and nobody independently confirmed the listing was fake. Still, it’s a useful warning, because the same thing can happen on any platform when demand is high and listings are created in a hurry.
How to book safely for the next big event
None of this is official guidance, just practical habits that make a bad surprise much less likely.
Check the place exists. Before you pay, look the property up on a map app and on street-level imagery where available, and search its name separately. A real guesthouse usually leaves a trail: reviews over time, photos from guests, a phone number that answers.
Be wary of new listings with no history. A property with no reviews, appearing only in the weeks before a sold-out event, deserves extra questions. Message the host and ask for the exact address and a contact number before you pay.
Choose rates you can cancel. During big events, non-refundable rates are tempting because they’re cheaper, but they leave you with no way out if something goes wrong. Free cancellation is worth paying a little more for.
Pay in a way that protects you. Avoid direct bank transfers to individuals for deposits, and keep screenshots of the listing, your payment and every message.
If something goes wrong, act fast. Contact the platform’s customer service immediately, keep every record, and ask for a refund in writing. If you think it’s fraud, report it to the police as well.
Book early, and look a bit further out. The closest rooms go first and cost the most. Staying further from the venue and using organized shuttles can be calmer and cheaper, as long as you plan the travel time honestly.
The next events to plan for
Mandalika’s next race weekend is the Mandalika Racing Series on November 6 to 8, and the Mandalika International Festival is now scheduled for December 10 to 13. Our Lombok events calendar keeps track of what’s confirmed.
If you’d rather skip the guesswork altogether, an established beachfront resort you can contact directly on the Senggigi to Mangsit coast is one way to know exactly where you’re sleeping, even if it means a longer drive on race day.
This article draws on reporting from NTBSatu and Transportasi Media.
How much did accommodation prices rise in Kuta during MotoGP 2026?
One Kuta guesthouse manager said a room that normally costs about Rp600,000 a night went for Rp2 million during race week. A spectator claimed rates in the area rose from about Rp500,000 to Rp5 million, but prices varied widely.
How can I check that a Lombok listing is real?
Look the property up on a map app, search its name separately, check for reviews over time, and ask the host for the exact address and a phone number before paying.
What should I do if my booked accommodation does not exist?
Contact the booking platform customer service immediately, keep screenshots of the listing, payment and messages, request a refund in writing, and report suspected fraud to the police.