Mercure Rekso is one hotel recommended by several vets for Jakarta. I'll report back after I stay there. Here is the site I found.

http://www.mercure.com/mercure/fichehotel/gb/mer/2013/fiche_hotel.shtml

Merlin, I really liked the Mercure Rekso, thought it was a pretty classy place. The view from the higher floors is pretty cool. Breakfast buffet was excellent. Book it at the Kaha travel desk at the airport if you can.

I posted this on the KAHA hotel price thread for Batam
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You can also book hotels in Jakarta using KAHA who has a desk at both the Batam and Jakarta airports. Here are some hotels I have seen, have been recommended or had central locations.

Aston Atrium 315K (Weekend 275K) no breakfast
Ciputra 440K no breakfast
Ibis Mangga Dua 340K
Losari Blok M 245K
Mecure Rekso Hayum Wuruk 395K
Park Lane (5*) $53 and Up
Plaza Mangga Dua 145K (Have heard nothing about this hotel but I love its location and price)
Shangri-LA $107

And get this ultra mega deal which I almost didn't want to share

Sparks Hotel 265K (w/o breakfast) This will save you about $14 a night off the best price you can get from the hotel directly

I rank Spark and Rekso pretty evenly with, each with different strong points. But with deal with KAHA it's a no brainer for me.

Here is the website for Sparks Hotel that MX recommended. I booked w/o a reservation and am hoping to get a better deal from KAHA at the airport. The hotel looks real cool, the Jr. Suites look totally pimped out.

http://www.sparks-hotel.com/

"It is opposite of the famous “Lokasari”."

This has to be good

OK guys. Ya got me curious. For arguments sake, lets say the rupiah is 10,000:1USD. If I look at your post above, that would tell me the Sparks deal is about $26.50 USD per nigh

Here is what is on their web site:

Room Type
Published Rates
Internet Rates

Standard Room US$80.00 US$60.00
Superior Room US$120.00 US$90.00
Junior Suite US$160.00 US$120.00
Suite Room US$200.00 US$150.00
Extra bed N/A N/A
Rates are subject to 21% government tax and service charge


What am I missing here?

Sandman, reminds me of when I looked at the website for a hotel in Manila called the Executive Plaza, which had rates listed close to 100 USD per night. I thought something was funny, though, when the weekly rates averaged out to waaaay less than half that on a nightly basis. Then I found out that there was a travel agency that regularly booked that hotel for like 27 bucks a night. I think some hotel websites are just doing sucker checks to see what tourists will actually pay.

I think MongerX told me during our last trip that the rate at Sparks via the Kaha travel desk was around 40 bucks a night. The new Kaha rate he mentioned is significantly lower than that, which is why I think he called it such a great deal. The location close to all the Lokasari area places is definitely convenient.

SM, I think booking Indo hotels is a bit different. In Bataam for instance, I actually used a bar owner who gave me a voucher for 4 star hotel for about 20% off the lowest website special.

There is one site that we use that is fairly good about giving you competitive rates for Asian cities if you don't know a good travel agent locally. Asiatravel.com

Sandman,

It is really next to impossible to get a good price on a Hotel in Indonesia via the web. You will almost always do better by just firing an e-mail or Fax of directly to the hotel. For example, you will automatically get a quote for $45 a night at Sparks, by sending an e-mail to the address given on the website you visited.

However, the best hotel prices always seem to be gotten by going to a local travel agent and purchasing a voucher.

BTW, Sparks hotel best attribute is its location. A real nice collection of whoring venues within walking distance.

Alsom not that the Kaha price for Sparks includes all taxes. So the Kaha price is just about equal to the taxes you would pay on the website price.

Thanks guys. Appreciate the clarification and guidance.

Plan on being there in Feb. and hope to see a bunch of you there!

I was in Jakarta this past weekend and while shopping in the Manga Dua mall area I had a strong urge to shit. Being away from my hotel room I decided I would my best option would be to hit a restroom in the nearby 4* Novatel Mangga Dua. The hotel ocuppies the 5-7 floors of this huge complex. Holy cow the public areas in here are real sweet, a great pool and decent gym. It also looks like the rooms have WiFi and LAN connections in room. Some people have been asking about a nice hotel in North Jakarta with in room high speed internet. Perhaps this is a solution. This hotel certainly has some conviences and is a short taxi ride away from the fun on Mangga Besar. Plus it looks like you should be able to walk to the PenJay bars in about 10 minutes but a route needs to be scouted out. Checking the ACCOR website http://www.accorhotels.com/accorhotels/fichehotel/gb/nov/5704/fiche_chambre.shtml it looks like you can rooms in the $55-$70 after tax. If I can find a room there in the $40-50 a night range I may give this one a test drive.

Monger X,

I think the route is turn left down the road between the Mall where Novotel is and the other Mangua Dua WTC you cannot miss it. You will go past loads of shops and a few overhead walkways. When you get to the sign for the IBIS hotel take that road. You will go past the IBIS on the left. Keep going and at the end of the road turn right under the bridge and keep right. PenJay is on your right a few minutes down the road.

Hope this helps

Hey Wicked Willy,

Man you are like what results from cross breeding a sponge and an encyclopedia. I checked my Jakarta Street Guide and I see the Carrefou-WTC malls were the Novotel isn't Mangga Dua but rather Gunung Sahari. That is definately more like a 20-30 minute walk to PenJay. I won't be making that walk but they have a Bluebird taxi stand outside so it looks like you give up the convience of short walks to some knocking shops but the facilities of this place are a big step up from Sparks, Mecure Rekso, and Ibis Mangga Dua. And for walking distance to PenJay, Ibis Mangga Dua is the hotel.

Mongerx,

In Jakarta now, work has kept me busy all day off out to play in one hour
(8pm 24th) will try to call

Here is the contact info for Kaha travel, which MX recommended and I used for great rates to Sparks Hoel $26/night.

Tel. 62(021) 550-2822, 550, 2823 or 460,3535, 345 8831, 351 8284

Fax. 62(0210) 550 2823,

HP: 0818866753

Email: kahajkt@kaha.co.id

Akmani hotel is best bang for bucks ,good location !