Explore Jakarta in Style

Author: Wolfgang Jaegel | Posted: 21-01-2008 

Jakarta is the capital as well as the largest city of the Republic of Indonesia. Once a typical harbor town and earlier known by different names such as Sunda Kalapa, Jayakarta, and Batavia - Jakarta has now transformed into an advanced metropolitan city and one of the most popular tourist destinations in South-East Asia.

Situated on the Java Island's northwest coast, Jakarta is credited to be the world's 11th largest city as well as the fifth metropolitan area. The city is made up of five districts such as Central Jakarta, West Jakarta, South Jakarta, East Jakarta, and North Jakarta, each of them with its own significance. From interesting museums and historical monuments to beautiful parks and gardens, Jakarta presents a feast of attractions for people touring this incredible destination. 

Few among many of the attractions that set apart Jakarta from other destinations in South-East Asia are the National Monument - a Russian built landmark located in the Medan Merdeka; Museum of Gadjah (the National Museum of Indonesia), exhibiting more than 80,000 Indonesian arts and artifacts such as a unique selection of Oriental ceramics and sacred traditional swords.

Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, a tour to which is a great way to explore the whole of the country in a day, as it is a park featuring miniature of all the country's provinces; Jakarta Art Center (Taman Mini Indonesia Indah), where a variety of cultural performances are conducted; Sunda Kelapa Port, one of the busiest areas in the city; Pasar Ikan, a bustling area whose focal point is the Maritime Museum housed within a restored Dutch warehouse which date back to the period of Dutch East Indies.

Fatahillah Square, with some interesting museums of the city; Masjid Istiqlal, which holds the distinction of being the largest mosque in South-East Asia; Sea World, an amusement park with a rich as well as rare variety of marine animals; Pasar Seni, a vibrant open market located within Ancol Amusement Park; Chinatown, which is regarded as the commercial hub of the city; and Kebun Binatang Ragunan, a 185-acre zoo with a rare species of animals and birds. 

With these scores of attractions, it is not a wonder why the city is visited by holidaymakers from every nook and corner of the world. Hence, Jakarta has wonderful accommodation options to cater to every taste and pocket.

For vacationers who want to explore the city in style, some excellent options are available in the form three-star and five-star hotels and resorts. Mostly, these hotels are located within easy reach of the major transport systems such as the Soekarno-Hatta international airport and Gambir railway station, apart from many of the top attractions and shopping facilities in the city. When comes to comforts, rooms mostly feature all amenities that are required to make your stay comfortable as well as enjoyable.

In most cases, high-end accommodations also feature facilities such as car rental, currency exchange facilities, laundry service, outdoor swimming pools, transportation service, concierge, valet parking, onsite complimentary parking, and public outdoor parking.

For business travelers, these hotels provide some superb facilities such as business centers and meeting rooms complete with state of the art equipments. There are also some upscale hotels in the city that offer a continuum of leisure facilities such as golf course, superb spa facilities providing rejuvenating massage, sauna and steam room. Apart from these, many of the top-end hotels are attached with one or more restaurants, serving an array of delicacies from local dishes to multi-cuisines. 

Above all, some hotels provide excellent packages inclusive of accommodation, dining, transportation for sightseeing in the city, and facilities to enjoy a number of activities. Even some packages cover facilities to not only explore the city sights and landmarks but also to explore the attractions outside or nearby the city such as Bogor Botanical Garden, about 50 kilometers south of the city, and Prambanan, which is much famed for its Hindu shrines that were built during the ninth century. Additionally, since many of the hotels have their own websites with options for online booking, it allows people to book an accommodation choice according to their taste and budget and that too in advance.