2 Days in Sorong before Raja Ampat liveaboard. what to do

[torachen]

booked a trip to Raja Amapt liveaboard that starts Dec 24. it's my first time in Raja (many times in Indonesia)
thinking of going early as my holiday starts Dec 20. I can be on Sorong via Jarkata on Dec 21 morning.
Any suggestions on hotel/attractions for 2 or 3 days before boarding? briefly searched online. it seems Sorong is pretty small and I can only see business hotel options.
I'm bringing my full diving gear and UW camera set so prefer hassle free options.
THNAKS

 

[Cert1967]

I like to be in Sorong a day before LAB departure. Two days - maybe too much?

Sorong - not really a tourist destination.

If you are adventurous get a car/guide and visit a Papua independence minded village.

The SAGA store for stuff you may have forgotten and a dose of local life. The street market in front of the Aston hotel at night. Walking - town isn’t walk friendly for most.

The souvenir tee shirt with the Papua flag and fist? Maybe think before you wear it through airport security?

Download ‘GRAB’ app for fast easy car hail - inexpensive.

Or just hang at the pool

Stay where? The Aston, you can see the airport across the street

Don’t stay at - Swiss Bel or the Belagri

Eat?

Pizzeria TerrazzA di Sorong

Marina Restaurant

Aston - good buffet for breakfast, rooftop bar with edible pub food, main restaurant poor for lunch or dinner.

Want liquor- duty free, you can carry through domestic security.

Maybe just rest - lots of diving ahead

 

[living4experiences]

There's really nothing to do in Sorong. It's not pedestrian friendly and the motor bikes do not care if you're in the way. Nobody drives in a straight line and there are no lanes. Traffic goes in every direction at all times. I saw a lady trying to cross the street between motor bikes and she got hit. Do you think anyone stopped? Of course not. They just drove around her body.

I stayed at Swiss Bel and I would not recommend it. I'm staying at Aston for the next trip.

 

[scubayinzer412]

Wie walked around the City, wenn to a reale nice Shirt Shop: Icon Raja Ampat, also around there. Some nice Shops. Checkt Mega mal for some Bali batiks.

 

[scubayinzer412]

Check: Icon Shirts Raja ampat, mega mall for nice ones

 

[scubayinzer412]

.

 

[rmorgan]

Just checked out of the Aston, it’s fine, nice big pool. Decent food on the roof for dinner. We ate at Pizzeria Terraza, excellent food, 15min cab ride @ 150k IDR, went birdwatching in the country yesterday and saw a few good things and gorgeous jungle.

 

[chillyinCanada]

I've always stayed at the Swiss-Bel. I've never found anything wrong with it except for the food which is gross but everything was very much worse at the Meridian.

The Aston did not yet exist on my last visit.

 

[Luko]

I've always stayed at the Swiss-Bel. I've never found anything wrong with it except for the food which is gross

Tried different hotels, including the SwissBel most of the time and the Aston this year once and for the last time.

Didn't find the food was gross at SwissBel : ate SotoAyam which was good, surpringly waffles done outside were just splendid at breakfast, better than in most hotels around SEA. Guys at the reception were helpful : early check in at 10:30AM no problem, finding a driver, asking for shops, no problem as well.

Stayed a long time ago at the Royal Mamberamo, the restaurant was excellent with plenty of seafood. Rooms were average at best. Good location though walking distance to the best curios/souvenir stall in town.

Ate at the Pizza lounge rooftop at the Aston after waiting downstair at their restaurant to find out nothing was available : everything ordered on the rooftop was fried and greasy (only limited choice of small plates), probably not fresh, as a result I got really belly sick for the 2 days after. Breakfast downstairs was lame, receptionists were unuseful. Never again (like any Aston in Indonesia). The only advantages I can see are the rooftop view at night and the new rooms.

Never stayed at the Belagri.

I had noticed last year a brand new hotel was opening, downtown closer to restaurants/shops options. Can't remember the name.