Amaris Hotel Tebet - Jakarta

After a 10-hour flight, I was waiting in the lobby while my room was being prepared and lay down for a bit. The security guard told me off, which felt unkind. Basic courtesy matters when you work with guests, and he could use a reminder or more training. The receptionist, on the other hand, was polite and did his best to help me check in early.

The Wi-Fi kept dropping, and the hot water was unreliable. I also noticed a musty smell in the room whenever I came back from being out. On the good side, it was clean and tidy, the staff were friendly, and there’s a water dispenser for refilling bottles. The location has lots of nearby food options, breakfast was decent, and a cute cat often hangs around the security table.

The second night was much better, and the room was cleaner. I’d asked to move, and whoever handled it was careful enough to bring my unfinished shampoo along. Service was good, and breakfast was decent. At first, though, the room didn’t feel clean, and I noticed rubbish among the toiletries. It was fairly private, but the window was small, its hinge was broken, and road noise came in.

For a small company sending someone on work trips, the Amaris chain being available in only a few cities is a real limitation. Santika, under the same management, is an option in more tourist spots, but it’s in a different price bracket, and that matters. As for this stay, I’d give this budget hotel five stars for the price, though I honestly forgot its actual rating. The room was small but didn’t feel cramped, and it was clean. The AC was cold, and they provided two water bottles and slippers. I’d much rather have clean water than the environmental nonsense other hotels sell these days. The bathroom was small, but not one of those capsule-style ones with a trendy name. The room does feel dated, with a small window and table, but who cares when it’s clean and comfortable for the price? Under 500k a night, breakfast or sahur was decent. Booking directly on their website got the cheapest rate, instead of the cashback or next-visit coupons some booking services push.