ARBA Dramaga Tower by Rendirooms

I picked this place so I could live on my own and avoid the noise and mess from a shared hostel kitchen. The building is old, but it was cheaper than University resort, and my fifth-floor room was completely quiet. The eleventh-floor one was noisy because of the neighbor above, and the walls are thin. I could close the balcony door to keep smoke from coming in, which wasn't possible at hostels. There are open burning spots around the building, though. The views are either of Mt. Salak or the village; both have those burning areas, while the village side gets more sun. There are two layouts. The studio has an attached bathroom, a small kitchen with one sink, a bed and furniture, and a balcony that's so small I had to squeeze past my clothes rack. The other option has a large and a small bedroom, one bathroom, a shared living area, a kitchen, and a longer balcony. What furniture you get varies by unit. My fifth-floor room had a mini fridge and TV, but no cabinets. On the eleventh floor I had a mattress, cabinets, and a one-door fridge, but no TV. You may find a cheaper studio through the office, about 1.5 million rupiah a month or 15 million a year, but it won't be as fully equipped, for example, it may lack cabinets or a stove. There are eateries, a laundry that's pricier, and a small mart for drinks and snacks downstairs. You can also buy a 19-liter water jug there for 20,000 rupiah, or 21,000 if you want it brought up. Each floor has a trash room. There are three lifts, though only two operate at a time. Security feels better because your access card only works on your own floor, and staff can keep an eye on your bike or car. Extra costs add up. Electricity is billed separately through the office, which adds a 3,000-rupiah processing fee. Water is 50,000 rupiah a month, which I found expensive. There's also a maintenance fee of over 200,000 rupiah and a tax of over 1 million, and I don't know why the tenant has to pay the owner's tax. With monthly payment, the 200,000-rupiah deposit isn't returned, but you don't have to pay the maintenance fee or tax. If something's broken, including the bidet or toilet, you cover the repair even if it wasn't your fault. I had to pay 20,000 rupiah for the bidet when I checked the room before moving in. It's 7-10 minutes to my veterinary faculty by the small bike lane, and the apartment is nearer to IPB's front entrance. From the end of the bike lane you can reach Babakan Raya and the main road, with Mcd, KFC, Yogya, a petrol station, bike wash, Starbucks, and dominos. Cars need to take a long way around to the apartment. It has a few lamp posts but is still dim. The road is jammed most of the day, except during Muslim prayer hours. There's no WiFi in the apartment. Telekomsel is weak from 6-8pm, while Tri worked better. The bathrooms have no heater.

For a low-budget apartment, it's still okay and the price is cheap. The road from the highway is very dark, though, with a lot of grass along it.

A place for IPB University students to live.

For somewhere on a low budget, it's not a bad place to stay.