Going to jakarta?

Question

Will be my 1st time dere.
What is the recommended hotel/food/places? Price range?
Are the people friendly?
Is it safe rite now?
Is it easy to get around by the cab or what other means of transport?
Is there like any services where their employes bring us around town?

Answer 1

Everything depends on your budget.
- High end hotels: Hotel Mulia, Hyatt Hotel and Four Seasons (among others)
Mid end hotels: Hotel Ciputra, Ibis Hotel and Borobudur Hotel (among many others).
- Higher end food cost around US$ 10/meal, but it can go as low as $1. Most higher end restaurants are at the nicer hotels. For good food and reasonable price, go to the malls, plenty of choices and restaurants there. Plus there's always the foodcourt. Higher end restaurants: Dragonfly (fusion), Cassis (French), Y Grill (Japanese Grill), Kembang Goela (Indonesia). Malls: Plaza Indonesia, Plaza Senayan, Taman Anggrek Mal.
- Nightlife is pretty vibrant during the weekends. Try Kemang area where there are many expats there. Popular must-see in Jakarta: Monas (National Monument), Ancol (Bay City), Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Miniature Indonesia) and Sudirman (CBD).
- People are friendly, but you do want to watch out for pickpockets, especially in crowded areas.
- Jakarta is pretty safe, just don't stand out by wearing excessive jewellries. Avoid places that have too many whites, cause IF those terrorists want to bomb something, it's going to be targeted at places that have the whites not the locals.
- Cabs are very common in Jakarta. The Silver Bird Cab is the one that's safest and cleanest, most common among tourists and expats. Do not take the bus. Traffic jams are always there, so make sure you provide enough time to travel between places.

Answer 2

It's actually better if you have someone to take/show you around the city. But if you have to go by Taxi, take bluebird/silverbird. Silverbird is a little bit more expensive than ordinary taxi, but it is safer too. Or if you want to experience a bus, take bus way. That way, you can stop wasting time on traffic jam.

I say Jakarta will always be the way it is. There is no safe/unsafe time or such. it depends on which area you are in. Don't go to slums area if you're uncomfortable. But most malls/shopping centers are safe.

Food:
I would recommend you to try the street food - but be careful if you have sensitive stomach. They are practically everywhere.
- Try Nasi Uduk (rice cooked with coconut milk) at Kebon Kacang or Indonesian-Chinese food at Pecenongan. They are open from dusk to late at night. Some street food are good if you're hungry after clubbing. ($1-$2)
- Try fresh seafood at Pluit and Muara Karang too. They often have fish/crab that just being picked up in the morning. Plus, you got to choose which fish you want and they'll cook it for you. ($5 will get you plenty)

Hotel:
There are a couple hotels I could recommend.
- Intercontinental Mid Plaza. Located in central Jakarta, a strategic place to stay if you want to go around. Price range from $120-170
- Le Meridien. It's located at the financial district. A good location too because then you can just go across the street and take the busway to go around the city. Prices are $80 but there are packages if you need more services.
- Alila Hotel. It's a little bit expensive but it's located accross the street from the street food and eating area. It's also close to the Chinatown shopping and government buildings and museums. $160-250

Places to go:
- Taman Mini Indonesia Indah - if you want to visit Indonesia in a day, this is a good place to start.
-Taman Impian jaya Ancol - this is a copy of Disneyland.
- Chinatowm (Mangga Dua). A good place for shopping. The clothes and everything else is so cheap here!
-National Museum - Has a collection regarding Indonesia, from the past to present.

contact your hotel for local sevices that will take you around.

Answer 3

Hi, There are a lot of good hotels.The prices you can see on bayubuanatravel.com , click on hotel online on the left side. You can get a 3 star hotel from USD 50. Depend on the budget
you get 5 start hotel like Crowne Plaza, Hilton, which is in the centre on the town (Sudirman area) from USD 76 -USD200 include the buffet breakfast.

People are quite friendly. Transport for yourself I suggest taxi, very easy to get but you I suggest take blue bird or rajawali taxi. They are quite cheap for us but there are tolls to pay if you are going via toll road which is some around Jkt.

The security around the hotels, shopping mall, offices are quite strick now but still have to be alert.

For guide, ask the hotel if there is any english speaking guide available.

Good luck, if there is any more question, I am happy to answer If I can

Answer 4

LIke the other say, take blue bird taxi/cab only do not take other. Also make sure never took public car or buses or train. Never !!!. If you want to go somewhere just take blue bird taxi/cab. If you go out from your hotel room, never bring to much money, do not wear jewerly if you are at the public area. The food is very cheap but if you eat at the hotel it is cost more than you eat at the public restaurant. But make sure do not bring important paper or ID. Just bring some money that are enough for the food. I hope if you have some indonesian friend. So it is more easier. Just ask your friend to go with you and you will have a lot of fun. Living cost is very cheap.

Answer 5

Food: go to Sate Senayan in Menteng and order chicken sate, gado-gado lontong, and tahu telor, then finish off with a dessert called es tape. This is my fav place and what i order whenever i go there. Also, go to Kemang and check out restaurants with a "tempo doeloe" theme--unique Indonesian experience! It's been awhile since I've eaten out in Jakarta, but all I can say is that food is wayyyyy cheaper than in America. While in Indonesia be sure to have seafood--it's soooo good!

Places: Taman Mini Indonesia Indah (Indonesia Miniature Park), Dufan (Dunia Fantasi amusement park)... euh,,, i haven't been enough of a tourist in Jkt, but if you like art & culture I suggest having a look at Erasmus Huis of the Dutch Embassy in Kuningan--always filled with quality entertainment for free or for a very affordable price.

Friendly: friendly people are everywhere, babe. just talk to them and you'll find out

Safe: safe is relative. I just recommend to keep your jewellery unobtrusive (or none at all) and wear clothes that blend with the crowd. modesty is very important in indonesia, so be sure that your top has sleeves, never flash your cleavage and tummy, and skirts must be no shorter than dead above the knee. if you must carry cash (because cheaper places don't take credit cards), distribute them in several places to reduce the chances of pickpocketing. also, it is not recommended to answer your mobile phone while walking on the street or stuck in macet (traffic jam). if you follow these guidelines you should be A-OK. i go to jakarta often and abide by these rules and i've never had a problem.

Transport: get a cab. oh, and check that the taxi meter's running properly. actually, if it's possible for you to just rent a car with a driver throughot your stay, that would be even better. it should be available at affordable prices. i've no idea though where to get such a service but i suggest checking out the Blue Bird Group to see if they have something like that. (google it yourself, i don't know their URL)

Services: absolutely. go ask your hotel, an english-speaking guide will happily show you great places in jakarta and its surroundings.

Answer 6

Wherever arrival at Jakarta port, there is a safety "Big Bird Taxi", which you have to pay first at the counter for all in up to the hotel.
Tell the counter that you want to go to Pan sari Pacific Hotel, located at thamrin road as a main road of Jakarta central.
The food court, cinemas, nightlife, etc nearby this hotel, need by walk only.

Answer 7

Of course Jakarta is safe.

Hotels
--------
For luxury travel:
Try Grand Hyatt (centrally located in Jakarta), InterContinental Mid Plaza, Shangri-La, Sheraton, Hyatt Aryaduta, Gran (without any "d") Melia, etc.

For mid-class travel:
Stay at Mercure (any Mercure), Ibis (any Ibis), Redtop Hotel, Ciputra Hotel, etc.

Food
-------
Expensive:
Japanese food: Kushiyaki Umena Dori in InterContinental Mid Plaza (try the barbequed satay!!)
Italian food: Columbus (I forget the precise name) in Gran Melia or Shangri-La (I also forget this one). California Pizza Kitchen in Plaza Indonesia is great as well.
American (steak) food: C's in Grand Hyatt.

Mid-price:
Indonesian food: Anywhere, Indonesian food is fine around Jakarta! But if you like Padang food, go to Plaza Indonesia and find Sari Bundo (or something that has the similar name).
Italian food: Pizza Hut! Almost everywhere in major malls.

Cheap:
Japanese fast food: Hoka-Hoka Bento (cheap and delicious!). Almost everywhere in major malls.
Indonesian: Even the "warung" (outdoor not-so-like restaurant) is a great place to eat! Everywhere in Jakarta (almost).
Fast food: McDonald's, KFC, CFC (this is not kidding, that is California Fried Chicken), are located in major malls.

Places
---------
DUFAN AND SEA WORLD!!!!!!! (Northern Jakarta). The place is known as Taman Impian Jaya Ancol.

Tugu Monas (National Monument). But beware of the elevator! It get stuck very often.

Malls: Plaza Indonesia (expensive, branded); Plasa Senayan (almost the same as Plaza Indonesia); Mal Kelapa Gading (slightly lower than Plasa Senayan); Mal Puri Indah I and II (almost the same as Mal Kelapa Gading); Blok M Plaza (cheap); Mal Taman Anggrek (slightly lower than Mal Kelapa Gading).

To get around:
Ride TransJakarta or Busway! It is cheap, but for foreigners, I recommend:

To ride taxis, especially the "Blue Bird" labelled taxis, such as:
- Blue Bird
- Silver Bird (limousine taxis, more expensive, but very comfy)
- Pusaka ... (there are lots! Pusaka Nuri, Pusaka Satria, etc.)
- Morante

Those taxis are safe! I always utilize those taxis when traveling to Jakarta.

For your last question, I don't think they have that kind of service.

Anyway, enjoy your stay in Jakarta.
[Jakarta is one of my favorite cities. I wish I could live there, but living in Singapore is fine as well].

Answer 8

if you look on the website from www.virtualtourist.com you can find all what do you want.
ok. cab (taksi)only "blue bird" taksi (ride 1 hour less 20 us dollar (150000 Rp) and "silverbird" taksi have taxometer.the otherones MAYBE????? more cheaper,but more stressy. and you have to pay the price for the highway.take bis (bus) "DAMRI" from aerport to some innerchange bus stations (safty and cheap) and railway stations,or wait for an blue or silver bird in front of the aer terminal.jakarta is verry busy and like a big mafia. all poore people want to earn money.take care of you.i dont like jakarta.when i arriive,verry fast l leave.i love indonesia but i dont like jakarta.warmest regards
junyun

Answer 9

If you are a UK citizen then please check the UK Government travel advisory web page.
Many people travel to Indonesia without any problems but extreme care should be taken.
Have a good trip and keep safe and well

Answer 10

Take BLUEBIRD and SILVER BIRD only. ..don't take any other taxi...you better wait or call them....coz other taxi will cheat on you or..the worst thing is get you somewhere,rob and rape you...people very friendly and quite safe...just don't wear clothes that exploit your body,4 example tanktops,short,mini skirt...