Jakarta - Hotels

[MasBule]

Thanks for your suggestions gentlemen. I called Grand Mercure Harmoni, and their pool is definitely way less than 20 meters (I think they said 8). At Grand Mercure Kemayoran they couldn't give me an answer, but it looks small on the internet. Novotel Mangga Dua is too far north for my purposes. At the moment Redtop is the most promising, right by Classic. They wrote to me that their pool is 30 meters long and gave other very detailed measurements so I am assuming the information is correct. My only concern is that many reviews say Redtop has lousy wifi, which is also important for me. In the past I have stayed at the Borobodur near Monument Nasional, which has a fantastic pool set in its own park, but also weak wifi in the room. I will continue the research.

If you like the Borobodur. I don't think you will find better (north of Monas) - maybe you can ask for a room with top WiFi?

Here's a couple other suggestions. But you should research them.

- SariPan at Sarinah, I can't remember the pool size, but you can see it from the resto, its rectangle and maybe big enough?

- Aryaduta, again pool out the back on about the 5th floor, can't remember the size, but I recall its a big rectangle one? Both close to the Borobudor.

- The Media hotel in Kemayoran, was busted last year for allowing high school kids to organise an after school bikini party. They also hold regular (localised) events for pool parties, maybe worth a look? Never seen it myself.

- Frazer residence and Hotel in Cikini (menteng) has a long lap pool. Its close to the Aryaduta, but starting to get too far from Classic if that's your objective.

[Cucumber]

The grand mercure is a great location, it's pool may well be 20 m. The gym is quite good as it overlooks the street, canal and terminal which is fun to watch from. The Spa is good, clean and obviously part of the stay.

Biggest pool in North Jakarta is the Novotel Mangga Dua. It refers to itself as "olympic size" but from memory is about 40 x 30.

Thanks for your suggestions gentlemen. I called Grand Mercure Harmoni, and their pool is definitely way less than 20 meters (I think they said 8). At Grand Mercure Kemayoran they couldn't give me an answer, but it looks small on the internet. Novotel Mangga Dua is too far north for my purposes. At the moment Redtop is the most promising, right by Classic. They wrote to me that their pool is 30 meters long and gave other very detailed measurements so I am assuming the information is correct. My only concern is that many reviews say Redtop has lousy wifi, which is also important for me. In the past I have stayed at the Borobodur near Monument Nasional, which has a fantastic pool set in its own park, but also weak wifi in the room. I will continue the research.

[UsPete]

That would be the perfect hotel for me, but the pool really does not look like it is 20 meters long on any of the pictures I can find. Can you confirm that it is?

The grand mercure is a great location, it's pool may well be 20 m. The gym is quite good as it overlooks the street, canal and terminal which is fun to watch from. The Spa is good, clean and obviously part of the stay.

Biggest pool in North Jakarta is the Novotel Mangga Dua. It refers to itself as "olympic size" but from memory is about 40 x 30.

Tambora.

[Goferring]

That would be the perfect hotel for me, but the pool really does not look like it is 20 meters long on any of the pictures I can find. Can you confirm that it is?

Further away, but the Atlet Century Park has a full size pool. Its used by a lot as a training pool due to the number of athletes that stay at the hotel and its proximity to the Stadium (the real one not the disco!) and sports ovals across the road.

[Cucumber]

The nearest is grand Mercure it 10 minutes from classic.

That would be the perfect hotel for me, but the pool really does not look like it is 20 meters long on any of the pictures I can find. Can you confirm that it is?

[Blacka0]

Can anyone recommend a hotel with a long pool (minimum 20 meters) near Hotel Classic / Kota area? In the past I have stayed at the Hotel Borobodur near Monument Nasional, which has a fantastic pool set in nice large green grounds, but I would like to get even a bit closer to Classic and the Kota action.

The nearest is grand Mercure it 10 minutes from classic.

[Cucumber]

Can anyone recommend a hotel with a long pool (minimum 20 meters) near Hotel Classic / Kota area? In the past I have stayed at the Hotel Borobodur near Monument Nasional, which has a fantastic pool set in nice large green grounds, but I would like to get even a bit closer to Classic and the Kota action.

[MasBule]

Thanks! I took your tips to heart and switched into a 9 night stay in Ibis Jakarta Arcadia and a 4 night stay at D'cozie Hotel by Prasanthi!

USPete beat me to it. I was going to suggest Wahid Hasyim and I agree with Ibis Jakarta, and as late twenties guy you may even pull girls in the evening in that area, or at Beergarden next door to the hotel or Sarinah. All very close.

And the'Cozie, well it isn't the best location as its on a busy road, but its very close to the blokm bars and blokm mall, and has a nice little rooftop bar.

Both good choices.

[FlapFlap]

Hi.

G7, It's a well known short-time hotel, near a workshop I used in the past, nobody ever stays more than 2 hours in it. Trust me, most online girls wouldn't be willing to stay or visit there.

As a first timer you would probably enjoy staying in or near one of the budget hotels along Jl Wahid Hasyim, Thamrin which gives you easier access and transport to the tourist stuff, and certainly nearer the pickup malls.

I would go for 8/9 night nears Sarinah Thamrin and 4 nights South in Blok M / Melawai.

Booking.Com is more reliable than Agoda though they're owned by the same outfit..

Thanks! I took your tips to heart and switched into a 9 night stay in Ibis Jakarta Arcadia and a 4 night stay at D'cozie Hotel by Prasanthi!

[UsPete]

Hey guys,

- $100 dollar budget / day outside of the hotel.

Thanks in advance!

Hi.

G7, It's a well known short-time hotel, near a workshop I used in the past, nobody ever stays more than 2 hours in it. Trust me, most online girls wouldn't be willing to stay or visit there.

As a first timer you would probably enjoy staying in or near one of the budget hotels along Jl Wahid Hasyim, Thamrin which gives you easier access and transport to the tourist stuff, and certainly nearer the pickup malls.

I would go for 8/9 night nears Sarinah Thamrin and 4 nights South in Blok M / Melawai.

Booking.Com is more reliable than Agoda though they're owned by the same outfit.

[FlapFlap]

Hey guys,

I've booked a flight to Jakarta in mid April for the duration of 2 weeks. My eye fell across the G7 hotel, its a 10 minute walk from the national monument and appears to be in the same street as Classic Hotel (which ID like to try at least ones).

This will be my first stay in Jakarta and besides doing some sightseeing my main goal of the trip will be to monger. Planning to do most of my action via social media and mall pickups but I'm also a fan of massages.

Now for that I need a proper mall within walking distance of my hotel so I was wondering if the G7 hotel falls into this category (I've tried to RTFF and use Google but there are just too many malls for me to figure it out). And if not which area or hotel you would suggest.

The G7 hotel for 13 nights would set me back $400 and it scores a 8.1 on booking.com so I was looking for something in a similar price category.

- 6'4 guy in his late twenties from western Europe.

- I don't speak a word of the local tongue.

- $100 dollar budget / day outside of the hotel.

Thanks in advance!

[Master Diver II]

I will probably give Grove another go, and see if I can figure out a way for the taxis to get me in and out of Kuningan faster.

I normally have a local sim card in my tablet with data and use waze or google maps to check the fastest route when getting a cab. The cab drivers have appreciated me helping them find out where the traffic is and which way is fastest so far. With the current state of the traffic, I would seriously advise anyone to use waze / google maps to get around. It's also helped when the driver doesn't know your destination. I was staying at The Hermitage in Menteng and very few drivers knew their way there at all. Gorgeous hotel, great service and only spoiled by a couple of flies disturbing my breakfast. Thankfully the bill wasn't on my tab as the rooms were 2. 6 million with breakfast.

MD II.

[Ceegee]

I saw Liquid Exchange when I was walking around getting orientated, but never went in. Always had to work early the next morning, so just had girls meet me in the lobby of the hotel and then went to sleep when I was done. I had a look around the cinema, and the various floors of the mall.

Previously I had stayed at the Morrissey a lot, but getting woken up by the mosque early in the morning got on my nerves. I did like having Jaksa right there if I felt like a couple of beers, but I'm usually working so don't go out late at night much anyway.

I will probably give Grove another go, and see if I can figure out a way for the taxis to get me in and out of Kuningan faster.

That mall never became popular. But the traffic there has died down quite a bit in the last couple of years. A lot of the restaurants closed up, but a few new ones have come. I used to love the two sushi restaurants they had, but both are gone now. And they had an all you can eat buffet that was great that is now closed. The good thing is the theater isn't too crowded and neither is the karaoke. Did you happen to make it to Liquid Exchange last Wednesday? I thought the band there that night was pretty good.

[Smoothy]

Ahh crap, if I had known we were in the same hotel at the same time I would have had a beer with you. Getting to and from the airport was the worst.

So the mall used to be better? It sure is not much now, but seemed to have the essentials.

That mall never became popular. But the traffic there has died down quite a bit in the last couple of years. A lot of the restaurants closed up, but a few new ones have come. I used to love the two sushi restaurants they had, but both are gone now. And they had an all you can eat buffet that was great that is now closed. The good thing is the theater isn't too crowded and neither is the karaoke. Did you happen to make it to Liquid Exchange last Wednesday? I thought the band there that night was pretty good.

[Ceegee]

Ahh crap, if I had known we were in the same hotel at the same time I would have had a beer with you. Getting to and from the airport was the worst.

So the mall used to be better? It sure is not much now, but seemed to have the essentials.

Depends where you are going and what time. There are shortcuts you can take from that area to get to wherever you need to go. I was also at grove suites this past week. It used to be a great place to stay. Unfortunately, the mall it's attached to is dying.