Jakarta Indonesia – Best Tips on Accommodation
If you are visiting Jakarta then you will be happy to know that there are a huge amount of different kinds of accommodation available which includes cheap and cheerful backpacker hubs as well as large, upscale international hotel chains and whatever you budget and preference you will find something that suits you.
Budget
The main backpacker area in Jakarta is known as Jalan Jaksa which is famous for being crowded with hostels and cheap hotels, so if you are looking for the best bargains in the city then this is the place to come. This part of the city is characterized by its young crowd and there are also cafes and restaurants dotted all along the road.
One of the most famous places to stay here is called Wisma Delima which is the original backpacker hostel in the city and you can find clean but basic rooms here. We loved the friendly staff here and at USD10 for a shared room it can’t be beaten on price. Expect cold water showers in some rooms and rooms that also come with fans or air conditioning depending on what you choose.
Another good choice is Kamar Kamar For Backpackers which is located in Kemang and you can get a dorm bed here for USD10. This comes with air conditioning and a shared bathroom and they also have free Wi-Fi throughout which is very fast and efficient so this is also a good place if you need to get online for work purposes or similar. This is one of the best known backpacker places in Jakarta and the dorms are clean and modern.
Alternatively you can try Six Degrees which is on Jalan Cikini Raya and has rooms from USD11. These come with clean bathrooms and we liked the ambiance here as they have a pool table and also serve beer on their roof garden. We liked this hostel as it is also a good spot to meet other backpackers if you want to share some of the best places to go in Jakarta and the staff are also very friendly and they will go out of their way to share tips on some of the best bars and nightclubs in the city.
If you want to explore a different part of town you can try Hotel Fortuna on Jalan Pintu Besar Selatan which has rooms from USD16 per night and is located in Chinatown. Rooms here have their own bathrooms and air conditioning and while we found the hotel a little old fashioned we loved being in the heart of Chinatown so that we could explore the shops and museums in the area. There are also some gorgeous temples close by which make this a cheap and cheerful choice.
Mid-range
When it comes to mid-range accommodation in Jakarta you will have a huge range of options to choose from and you can find places for between USD50 and USD150 all over the city.
One option is the Oakwood Premier Cozmo Apartment Hotel in Kuningan in the heart of the city, and we loved this option as it came with a kitchen and dining area which is perfect if you have been on the road for some time and want to feel more at home. Suites are around IDR2,000,000.
Another option is the Harris Vertu Hotel Harmoni in Gambir which is a mid range hotel that we liked as it was so conveniently located in the centre of the city. We also enjoyed the outdoor pools here and this is a great choice for people with a larger budget who want a room in a convenient location. Rooms are around IDR900,000. Harris Hotels are also part of a chain across Indonesia so you can expect a kind of low range business hotel kind of atmosphere here which makes it worth it if you have a larger budget and want a little more comfort as part of your stay.
If you are only in Jakarta for a short time and you think that you may want to stay close to the airport then the Swiss-Belinn Airport Hotel is around two kilometres from the main airport. If you are worried about missing your flight then it is a good choice as it can sometimes take more than three hours to get through the traffic in Jakarta to get to the airport so this is a good middle ground. The hotel is also one of the cheaper mid-range options and you can get some great deals here in the low season meaning that rooms around USD40 per night but can go down as low as USD27.
Another mid-range favourite in Jakarta is the Morrissey Hotel which is located close to Menteng. This is a new hotel and you can find clean and modern rooms here for around IDR1,000,000 per night. Rooms also come with Wi-Fi throughout and there is an outdoor pool here. We enjoyed staying at this hotel as it is located close to malls like Thamrin City which you can walk to and this is also a central location that means that it is easy for you to experience some of the top spots in Jakarta such as the nearby Presidential Palace.
Top End
When it comes to top end hotels you will be spoiled for choice in Jakarta and one of the good things for guests here is that many of the large five star chains are much cheaper in Indonesia than they would be in other countries so if you can afford to splurge a little then you can also get quite a lot of bang for your buck.
If you are looking for a luxury treat in Jakarta then try The Hermitage which is part of the Marriott group and is located in central Jakarta on Jalan Cilacap. We loved this hotel as it is located inside a gorgeous house that dates from the colonial period and has been renovated to make you feel as if you have stepped back in time. It is also located close to the city centre which makes it a great place if you want to explore the city by train as there is a station close by and this is also a wonderful spot for couples, as we loved the romantic atmosphere here. Rooms are around IDR1,900,000 but are well worth it if you want something a little special.
Another well known upscale hotel in Jakarta is the Ritz-Carlton Hotel Jakarta which is located in Pacific Place in Kuningan. This hotel is said to be one of the most luxurious in Indonesia and you will find a large outdoor pool here which also looks out on the glittering city below. As this hotel is located in Kuningan you have easy access to malls, restaurants and bars and this means that if you are looking for luxury rooms and facilities coupled with a convenient location then this is a top pick. Keep in mind however that rooms are around IDR2,500,000 but can rise to IDR4,000,000 per night in the high season so if you want to get the best deals here then we advise that you book well in advance.