Jakarta

[Smoothy]

Thanks for the heads-up. I did, in fact, remind several girls that my visit was during Ramadan and all replied to me, "No problem".

But you reminded me to check with the other top prospects as well.

One things for sure, *planning ahead* has little meaning in Indonesia. Best to have a triple backup.

Personally, I think you should just cancel the trip and make other plans. Indonesia has banned tourist arrival visas for at least the next month. Who knows if you will even be able to come to Indonesia until this coronavirus panic if over?

[WombatEd2]

Kucing hitam dan putih!

Wrong kind of pussy for this forum?

[Goferring]

Kucing hitam dan putih! (one of the first phrases I have learned. Not so useful for our sphere of interest, but I'm expecting to get there).

Actually, you are pretty close to the mark. Rather than asking a girl for a kucing hitam, much better to ask for a mandi kucing. 😁.

Enjoy. G.

[Cucumber]

I bought Pimsleur's language lessons. Not cheap, but works much better than the "memorize this" approach taken by all the usual websites.

I am using the app Duolingo to learn Indonesian on my phone. It makes learning a language a bit like a game. Quite pedagogical, ok algorithms and lots of repetition. Starts real easy, then gets more difficult, and you can choose your own pace. I find it is quite effective. I mostly do while commuting to work. It's a freemium setup, so you can use it as much as you like entirely for free with a few limitations and then see whether you want to get rid of those limitations later on.

Kucing hitam dan putih! (one of the first phrases I have learned. Not so useful for our sphere of interest, but I'm expecting to get there).

[SeaTraveler]

I knew a guy a couple of years ago who said he struggled on Tinder to find girls during Ramadan.

Thanks for the heads-up. I did, in fact, remind several girls that my visit was during Ramadan and all replied to me, "No problem".

But you reminded me to check with the other top prospects as well.

One things for sure, *planning ahead* has little meaning in Indonesia. Best to have a triple backup.

[Charm City Dave]

I knew a guy a couple of years ago who said he struggled on Tinder to find girls during Ramadan. But I think that was because he had just been in Jakarta a couple of months earlier for his very first trip and had already matched a lot of the girls so it just seemed it was slow. Last year I had no trouble finding girls on Tinder during Ramadan. But I actually prefer going to BATS because the girls did drop their price at Ramadan.

I am the guy I think Smoothy may be talking about. I was in Ramadan for all of the summer 2018 and have been in Jakarta other times of year. I decided I would not return again for Ramadan. I got laid by a mix of regulars I knew from before and as well as a few new contacts made on Tinder. Unlike Smoothy I prefer meeting regular girls on Tinder over pros at Bats. Though the times I went to Bats, pickings were slimmer even if prices were lower. My Tinder traffic was significantly down (as compared to before and after). I was in Jakarta again a few months later and things picked up significantly.

Past that so many things are closed in the city and the energy level in the city is so much lower, just not as fun a time to be in the city. IMOP so many better times of year to go. Only up side is traffic is much lighter and pollution a bit better.

Add in this year CV isn't going to be near over by Ramadan, I'd strongly advise against going this year.

[SeaTraveler]

To Whom It May Concern.

I booked 6 days at Shangri-La in January and "lucked out" at $92 a day plus tax.

My stay is May 12 to 18.

I emailed the hotel today to see if I could get a refund; or at least rebook at a later date due to the Cornavirus. I received confirmation today that they will allow either a refund or rebooking; which is good news and leaves me with options.

Thumbs up,

Traveler.

[Smoothy]

I would like to add. YET.

And you are going during Ramadhan. The girls always drop their price during Ramadan. I think that's just because it's a tradition for them to always drop it at Ramadan when there are so few guys there. This coronavirus is to new to them, they haven't come to terms yet that they need to drop their price.

I knew a guy a couple of years ago who said he struggled on Tinder to find girls during Ramadan. But I think that was because he had just been in Jakarta a couple of months earlier for his very first trip and had already matched a lot of the girls so it just seemed it was slow. Last year I had no trouble finding girls on Tinder during Ramadan. But I actually prefer going to BATS because the girls did drop their price at Ramadan.

Although you can get cheaper prices during Ramadan because the girls are desperate, it's still not as fun as going any time when it's not Ramadan.

[SeaTraveler]

When it comes to price, it depends on the girl (as always).

So the answer to your question is NO. They are not dropping their price due to coronavirus.

I would like to add. YET.

Thanks for the comprehensive report.

Time will tell, when the rent comes due and they have little to no money things will change. Eventually market forces will come to bear. It will just take longer.

Keeping my fingers crossed.

Like you, I refuse to pay anyone above 1. 5. I don't care who or how beautiful they are.

Last November, I was there for 10 days and even stayed at Mulia for 3 days. I only took I girl from CJ'S. Amy (a non-pro) for 1. 5. She's now working in the Netherlands.

Cheers, Traveler.

[SeaTraveler]

Ramadan falls on May 25 , bit early this year. You would be in mid Ramadan BTW. IMHO, tinder and Indonesian cupid could be better sources.

I found out this was mid-Ramadan after I booked the trip, but this was the only time I could go.

As you suggested, I already have 3 times the number of girls I could ever hope to see thru Tinder.

So Ramadan doesn't matter to me and the decreased traffic is actually a blessing.

A few nights at BATS or CJS will be a diversion if needed. Long live the Internet. LOL.

Cheers, Traveler.

[Smoothy]

has anyone seen a downward trend in pricing at places like CJ's & BAT'S?

When it comes to price, it depends on the girl (as always). If you can find a girl who is a non-regular, you have a chance (as always) of getting her price down. I normally don't even talk to the best looking hard core (hard core meaning they are there close to every night) CJs and BATS girls because they are spoiled as hell and will not come down on their price.

Right now, the girls drastically outnumber the guys in those places. It seems the coronavirus has decreased the number of customers, but it hasn't done much to keep the girls away. Although the girls now outnumber the guys by a lot due to far less guys coming out due to this coronavirus, the girls who are hard core CJs and BATS girls are still sticking to their absurd price. I have found that the better looking girls will still go home alone with zero money rather than take less than 2 million. Of course, this is a small sample of girls because I have only tried talking two of them down in price and both wanted 2 and a half million at first then came down to 2 million, but no less than 2 million. I will not pay that much, so they went home alone. I then had to call a regular and have her meet me at my place for one million. Before calling that girl, I did offer them 1 and a half million in the bar and they refused. It seems to me stupid business sense to refuse 1 and a half million for short time and go home alone with zero. But "face" is all important for these girls. God forbid they take less than what other girls might possibly be getting. For them to refuse that tells me how little the other guys visiting that place care about money. If we all stuck together and refused to pay more than 1 and a half, they would drop their price to that. That is over 100 usd and very fair. Hell, it appears that many guys are still giving these girls 2 and a half or even 3 million rupiah. Insane if you ask me. 3 million is about 215 USD. 2 and a half million is around 180 USD. That's just too damn much for Indonesia. I know some guys say they are not in Jakarta long and they are desperate, so they will pay that price regardless to avoid missing a night of sex. I just can't bring myself to do that. Point of principle. Same point of principle the girls have sticking to their price I guess. I do find it sad that guys are willing to go that high seemingly on a regular basis since these girls are there every night.

So the answer to your question is NO. They are not dropping their price due to coronavirus.

[Nazgylg15]

I have tickets and a hotel reservation for May 12 - 18. I am praying Corona is under control by then. But I have my doubts.

There has been a lack of good trip reports the past few months, so I am wondering, has anyone seen a downward trend in pricing at places like CJ's & BAT'S?

Cheers, Traveler.

Ramadan falls on May 25 , bit early this year. You would be in mid Ramadan BTW. I heard either in BATS or CJs, they have lights on during the Ramadan. IMHO, tinder and Indonesian cupid could be better sources. I am also looking for a trip early June, a week after Ramadan. Indonesia is suspected by many countries for low number of corona cases they have reported. There was'nt much talk until the Singaporean tourist got infected after Indonesia visit. The numbers have been in low in tropics in Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, in the 100's while the cases in Europe and states are starting to get over 1000's. My only worry is a late surge in corona cases or cancellation of visa for visitors. Still waiting to book tickets. With the info I read in other forum online recently, prices in CJ's and BATS have been around 1.5 M to 3 M. There have reports of downward prices in Manila though which I consider as alternative.

[SeaTraveler]

I have tickets and a hotel reservation for May 12 - 18. I am praying Corona is under control by then. But I have my doubts.

There has been a lack of good trip reports the past few months, so I am wondering, has anyone seen a downward trend in pricing at places like CJ's & BAT'S?

Cheers, Traveler.

[Turgid]

Everyone I know learnt from the girls. Grab your favourite and take her somewhere for a week (end) but tell her not to use English for the whole trip. You will be surprised how quickly you will learn. ...........

Excellent idea, I must give it a try in my international destinations. Cheaper than going to language classes and with a reward not available in these classes.

[CodeName47]

I bought Pimsleur's language lessons. Not cheap, but works much better than the "memorize this" approach taken by all the usual websites.

I am going to take up this lesson. Thanks for the suggesion.