Jakarta - Hotels

[Member #4410]

Just looked at AirBnb and doesn't appear to be a good value now. At least for North Jakarta. Many people charging around $50, night for a 1 BR apartment usually tucked away in a small street not convenient. I think these places are targeting westerners / backpackers who don't search on hotel sites for other comparables. Also, if you are very loud and neighbors complain to the owner, you can still get dinged by AirBnb (you have to pay a deposit).

For the same price there are many decent 3/4 star hotels with daily cleaning, clean sheets, breakfast, gym / pool, security etc. I'll tip the doorman / security to avoid getting dinged for extra guests.

In over 20 years I have never been charged for extra guests (be it 1, 2 or 3), as I booked my hotel rooms without naming the number of occupants. Paying doormen was never neccessary. Nor were the girls bothered by security when they left. Comes with the choice of hotel, perhaps. I have been charged for extra breakfasts, though.

Regards,

Ko.

[Smoothy]

You might want to take note that the second and third bedrooms have to share a bathroom which can only be accessed from the common hallway passage. They also may have twin beds in the second room and just a single bed in the third. You might then fight for the master bedroom , unless of course you're going to have a "joint venture". I prefer the two bedroom or one bedroom because you get a bigger master bedroom and I'm normally staying alone (at least initially) anyway.

MD II.

Yes, that's the age old question. Who gets the master bedroom?

[PStevens999]

Thanks MD II-- will reconsider and double check the layout. Would really prefer a legit 3 br and 3 bath. Am looking at some full size apartments on Airbnb.

[Master Diver II]

Master Diver II-The Aryaduta Semanggi looks great-the Three bedroom is $122/ night on Agoda-so divided by three-very reasonable. And well located for going to CJ's or BATS.

You might want to take note that the second and third bedrooms have to share a bathroom which can only be accessed from the common hallway passage. They also may have twin beds in the second room and just a single bed in the third. You might then fight for the master bedroom , unless of course you're going to have a "joint venture". I prefer the two bedroom or one bedroom because you get a bigger master bedroom and I'm normally staying alone (at least initially) anyway.

MD II.

[PStevens999]

Master Diver II-The Aryaduta Semanggi looks great-the Three bedroom is $122/ night on Agoda-so divided by three-very reasonable. And well located for going to CJ's or BATS.

[Lost99]

Just looked at AirBnb and doesn't appear to be a good value now. At least for North Jakarta. Many people charging around $50, night for a 1 BR apartment usually tucked away in a small street not convenient. I think these places are targeting westerners / backpackers who don't search on hotel sites for other comparables. Also, if you are very loud and neighbors complain to the owner, you can still get dinged by AirBnb (you have to pay a deposit).

For the same price there are many decent 3/4 star hotels with daily cleaning, clean sheets, breakfast, gym / pool, security etc. I'll tip the doorman / security to avoid getting dinged for extra guests.

I've rented apartments in Jakarta through airbnb but primarily in the North of the City and Kuningan for 2 / 3 nighters at surprisingly reasonable rates. You get tripadvisor type reviews and photos. You can negotiate extra nights seperately with the host.

Main benefits of the apartments is you can invite multiple girls to a "party".

[UsPete]

Hi fellas,

I'm planning to visit Jakarta. Does anyone know whether Grand Mercure Jakarta Harmony is girl friendly? I read somewhere that it is family-friendly hotel. Thank in advance for the info.

Cheers,

Mike

It is a family hotel with big weddings taking place most weekends. This gives you the option of dressing up and gatecrashing the wedding for a freebie. If you are not that adventurous you can order an in room-massage (the hotel has a very large massage parlour next to the spa operated by the Sun City Group).

The price of a decent blow job is RP700 000 if you're Malaysian. If you're not Malaysian you can probably negotiate down to RP350000.

It's a big well run hotel and the treadmills at the gym have large windows overlooking the main street. From there you can see all the madness of Jakarta and about one SYT scurrying out the hotel every 5 minutes or so.

Malioboro club is a 5 minute walk. Yes walk. So a visit to Malio should be considered a compulsory part of the stay.

[Smoothy]

Does anyone know whether Grand Mercure Jakarta Harmony is girl friendly?

This has to be the best question ever. Considering that is one of the main hotels (probably THE main hotel) that gets mentioned on here time and time again as a place located convenient to the red light area where you can stay that is particularly attractive for mongering, I would reckon that it is girl friendly. Your chances of picking a hotel in Jakarta that is not girl friendly are about 1 in 10,000.

[Smoothy]

Can anyone confirm that ritz carlton pacific place is girl friendly?

Yep.

They have those special toilets that keep your ass warm too. Love those things.

[Smoothy]

A better question would be "which places in Jakarta are not girl friendly"? I think Syariah hotel is the only one and I've never heard anyone even consider staying there.

I think we should have a sticky in this thread so that people stop asking if hotels are girl friendly. It gets asked over and over and over again. Yet, anyone who has ever been to Jakarta (or who has read this forum) knows that is a redundant question.

[Cucumber]

I am choosing it because it seems to have a nice long pool for laps and not to far from blok M, BATS, CJs.

I would be grateful for any other info about it too.

[MarkIII]

Hi fellas,

I'm planning to visit Jakarta. Does anyone know whether Grand Mercure Jakarta Harmony is girl friendly? I read somewhere that it is family-friendly hotel. Thank in advance for the info.

Cheers,

Mike

Yes it is.

[MikeSgM]

Hi fellas,

I'm planning to visit Jakarta. Does anyone know whether Grand Mercure Jakarta Harmony is girl friendly? I read somewhere that it is family-friendly hotel. Thank in advance for the info.

Cheers,

Mike

[Chuday]

Hey USPete,

Did you bring any BATS / CJ's talent back to your airbnb pad? How did security / concierge? I am wondering if security / concierge in a serviced apartment (such as ascott / Grove Suites) act differently from a family friendly apartment?

Update: Figured that the best & absolute way to get my question answered will be to stay at an airbnb joint for a few days. So I went ahead and booked it. Will report back after my stay

Thanks.

Chuday.

I've rented apartments in Jakarta through airbnb but primarily in the North of the City and Kuningan for 2 / 3 nighters at surprisingly reasonable rates. You get tripadvisor type reviews and photos. You can negotiate extra nights seperately with the host.

[Master Diver II]

Too clarify MD, I've never been stopped by security / concierge at any hotels in Jakarta bringing one girl to my room. But I have occassionally when bringing two or three. I've lost my deposit a few times (accor group) by being charged for extra beds on check-out and one time for an extra room.

The Morrisssey Apartment Suite rooms (recommend requesting the upper floors) was really fantastic for a few years as it's got a pristine KRL station that speeds up to old Batavia in 15 minutes and Ya Udah restaurant across the road but I've burnt my britches and made the mistake of becoming too familiar with the floor staff (borrrowing the rooftop pool keys for night time skinny dips etc).

It's been a while since I stayed at Morrissey. Some fine memories there including the pool that was really hardly patronized (at least back then) but have been at the Aryaduta Semanggi and most recently Grove Suites. The Aryaduta gives you a lot of space if you can manage to get it at a reasonable rate. The reason I didn't stay there last time was because the price was crazy at that time. Always book the single bedroom unit though and then figure out if you want their "upgrade" to the three bedroom unit. I have always received this offer when checking in. I wouldn't take it as I prefer their one or two bedroom units. But you could hardly refuse someone bringing up more than one girl to a three bedroom apartment could you?

MD II.