JW Marriott Jakarta Indonesia
Jalan DR Ide Anak Agung Gde Agung Kav E.1.2 No 1&2, Kawasan Mega Kuningan, Jakarta, 12950, Indonesia
+62 21 57988888
When we planned our flight to Indonesia, we included a 24-hour layover in Chicago so we could spend Thanksgiving with Daniel’s family. A few days before we departed, I started to feel a sore throat, and by the time we arrived in Chicago, I was frantically attempting to nurse myself back to health. …Sleep, hydration, vitamin C, zinc, chicken soup…all to no avail. By the time we boarded the flight for Jakarta, I was miserably sick with a cold. Traveling while sick is definitely not fun. Luckily, we spent our first night at the JW Marriott Jakarta which proved to be a perfect place for rest and recovery.
Prior to departure, we spoke with the hotel and did some research about taxi cabs from the airport. The hotel car service was more than twice the cost of a taxi cab. In this situation, we usually ask the hotel to e-mail us a photo of a reputable taxi company (one that doesn’t take advantage of tourists). This time, however, our flight was due to arrive after midnight, so we decided to pay for the overpriced car service. It was very simple…The driver was waiting outside customs with our name on a sign, he spoke excellent English, and our experience couldn’t have been easier. However, the airport and taxi area appeared safe and reliable, so we wished we had saved the money and used a taxi. Oh well…Lesson learned. We used a taxi on the way back without incident.
We arrived at the JW Marriott Jakarta for an easy check in. Despite our late arrival, the friendly front desk representative upgraded our room to a beautiful suite. We were a little disappointed that we were only staying one night. We wanted more time to enjoy this gorgeous hotel! The room was perfect for my recovery, and I was feeling much better by check out.
Similar to other Southeast Asian countries, there was a very noticeable heighten security detail in Jakarta. Unfortunately, we live in a world of terrorist attacks and violent individuals. It was comforting to know that the hotel was very thorough in their security, and we felt safe while on the premises.
The lobby was bustling with guests from the hotel and from a private event. We noticed a wedding taking place and enjoyed seeing some of the local people dressed up.
The next morning we canceled our walking tour because I was still feeling sick and I needed the extra sleep. We were disappointed that we didn’t get to explore Jakarta, so it’s still on our bucket list.
Lounge:
We went to the lounge for some coffee and breakfast. After one look at my red, runny nose, the lounge staff brought me hot tea, lemon, and honey. Great service!
We had the option to eat breakfast in the lounge or the main restaurant. We decided to stay in the lounge because it was so inviting, comfortable, and quiet…and because it offered most of the same items as in the downstairs restaurant. We enjoyed a fabulous breakfast including fresh baked breads, croissants, and muffins. They had made-to-order eggs, Pho (soup), and Asian speciality dishes. The spread included Western breakfast favorites such as eggs, bacon, sausage, potatoes, grilled tomatoes, fresh fruit, cereals, yogurt, cured meats, and cheeses. It was a nice mix of Asian and Continental cuisine.
We noticed a strong Australian influence during our time in Southeast Asia. Every breakfast included Vegemite as a spread option.
In a glass case, we noticed some personalized JW Marriott coffee mugs. Out of curiosity, I asked about these nice mugs. The lounge concierge representative told us they give them to their Platinum Elite guests to use at the lounge. How nice! After breakfast, we were surprised with two personalized mugs! Some frequent guests leave their mugs at the lounge, but we didn’t have plans to revisit Jakarta in the near future, so we brought the mugs with us to enjoy at home.
Amenities:
Before we left for the airport, we walked around the property to check out some of the amenities. Even though we didn’t get to use the fitness center or pool, we wanted to get a look at it!
The hotel’s fitness center looked great! Unfortunately, we couldn’t take advantage of it due to time constraints.
Jakarta has main two airports. We flew into one and flew to Bali out of a different airport. Be sure to double check your airport code!
Fun Fact: Indonesia has 13, 466 islands and 230 airports!
We spoke with the front desk staff, and they arranged for a regular taxi to take us to the airport. It was in the middle of the day and the airport was not too far away. We felt perfectly safe taking the taxi. I noticed the hotel employees recording all the taxi driver information to keep on file. Most Southeast Asian hotels take this extra step to keep their guests safe and to contact the driver in the event something gets left behind.
PROS:
- Beautiful, 5-star property
- Great location–“Golden Business Triangle”
- Amazing executive lounge with a wonderful breakfast and stellar staff
- Sparkling clean
- Spacious room suite fit for royalty!
CONS:
- No free transportation from the airport, and the hotel’s car service was overpriced
OVERALL, the JW Marriott Jakarta exceeded expectations.
Ed says
Exquisite details, as always! Glad to know that there was such good security in this hotel — Indonesia is a little scary these days. Excellent photos — another wonderful blog.