Asyana Kemayoran Jakarta

The rooms were clean but small, and reception staff came off a bit blunt. There's hardly anywhere to walk, and the location feels unsafe. It's a very cheap hotel with breakfast included, though, and the breakfast makes up for a lot. For the price, I'd say it's worth it.

The restaurant was spotless and pleasant, and the food was better than anything I had at the four pricier hotels I stayed in afterward. Breakfast choices weren't huge, but there was enough, and it was where I first tried Indonesian food. The pool was roomy and well kept, with plenty of shade even during the day, so swimming and relaxing by it was comfortable. This was my first Jakarta hotel. I found it at a reasonable price despite not knowing the area, and the lobby was spacious with genuinely friendly staff. I liked that the windows opened, which felt refreshing and unusual. The room itself was older, but clearly kept clean. Wi-Fi in the room was poor, so I tried working in the lobby, where mosquitoes made long sessions uncomfortable. A five-minute walk north gets you to streets with local life, coffee, dinner, and little shops for essentials. I left with a warm first impression of Jakarta. It was affordable and welcoming, and stayed in my memory.

For Central Jakarta, this is good value if you need a place to stay. The room and bathroom are surprisingly spacious for the price, and breakfast is decent, typical three-star fare. Just know the hotel is near a train track, so the horns can be heard from your room.

The restaurant wasn't very clean, and breakfast quality was poor, so I'd skip that meal and find something at a nearby roadside stall. Apart from breakfast, the staff were well mannered, the room was spacious, and the service was great. The bathroom felt overly large, though. The building has an old-fashioned look but is well maintained, and there are two charging stations for electric cars. I'd stay again.