Ah well, DO NOT drive to popular local tourist spots during public holidays in Indonesia :p . But usually the toll road goes pretty smooth, maybe I'm just really lucky then :D. Anyway I think both options are nice, but if you are not living or going to Indonesia a lot, trains in Java give you very nice views indeed! :cool:

As someone who has done the Jakarta/Bandung trip 100 times, it's only getting worse. Too many new hotels, and with more low cost cars (Datsun Go, etc) have increased the number of cars on the road.

The toll road isn't bad until you come to a choke point. Toll booths, road construction, and the city proper.

I can often drive from Bandung to the toll station before Bekasi in an hour or so. That last 30 miles from there into Jakarta's CBD can take 2-3 hours.

During holiday periods, when luckily, I try to head in the opposite direction, I witnessed traffic jams that were 40-50km going to Bandung.

Coming into Bandung, on a Friday or Saturday, the Pasteur Toll plaza can back up 5-10 km. The main choke point is that the roads last the toll plaza just can't handle all the cars.

Friday night, I drove from my Bandung house to the BIP Mall area. 7 kilometers or so. Took one hour, 20 minutes. And we used Waze, and took back streets for half the trip.

Another vote for Train to go to Bandung. However, I will prefer to go to Pulau Seribu (if you stick close to Jakarta) or go to Borobudur (by plane).

Thanks for all of the suggestions.

I am thinking of taking the train to Bogor, which looks simple enough. Stasiun Gondangdia to Stasiun Besar Bogor on the Jakarta Bogor train, right?

Generally I enjoy Botanical Gardens, historic architecture, cultural museums—so further suggestions along those lines would interest me. I've not been to Indonesia before and don't know any of the language, so I'm looking for easy-to-navigate.

edit: I also like to try new foods, so recommendations along those lines are also welcome.

The train is usually a safe bet. Although my wife got stuck on one outside Bandung last weekend after heavy rains. Delayed 2-2.5 hrs.

There again, heavy rain can make a mess of road travel too. And if I'm going to be held up, then a couple of hours on a train beats watching the wipers flip across the windscreen of a car. At least the train has creature comforts like refreshments - and a toilet !

Well depends on where you stay in Jakarta. But if you stay near Monas then yes Gondangdia or Gambir and then you take the train to Bogor. It's reeeaaally cheap too. 10000idr deposit for the card, which you can get back if you return it within a week + 4000idr for the actual ticket.

Last Saturday I actually did the Bogor trip.^

Free shuttle from hotel to airport T2 (international). The Damri bus from the airport T2 "bus shelter" took about 90 minutes arriving at the station next to the Botani Mall and Gardens. Getting into the Gardens was an interesting exercise considering the non-stop traffic at the traffic circle. I survived but there is an easier way. Exit the station headed to the circle turning left, at the first street junction turn left headed up the street and use the underpass. Continue on the other side of the street in the same direction for another 400m or so. Entrance fee 25000 IDR.

I walked through the Gardens and was able to assist a couple of groups of (polite) teenagers with their English practice. The questions were very similar for both groups.

The following is not recommended if you are over 180cm. Local transport is handled by minivans. The emphasis is on MINI. You want to catch a route 03 which will (eventually) get you to the station. You will need to get into the single ticket line unless you already have the "commuter rail card". Elapsed time about 15 minutes (remember this is Saturday afternoon). The glitch to this is that the Damri buses leave from the Gambir station downtown to go back to the airport. Commuter trains no longer STOP at Gambir station. :td: The taxi fare from Juranda station (the next on the line) cost more than the train ticket. But was worth it as the rain started about the time i got there.

But there was a compensation in the end. I was staying at the Ibis Styles at the airport (entrance). It seems all the Damri airport buses stop there for some sort of security check and this saved me more than an hour travel time. Time from downtown to bus exit about 40 minutes.

Hope all of this helps you in your wandering

Fred

No big deal, but the station is Juanda.

If anyone's interested in a map of the commuter rail, here's a slightly confusing link.

Hi guys, any new feedback on day trips? I don't care much for the botanic garden unless you thinks its amazing, so? Would JW have a free shuttle, I would ask but if anyone knows? Any ideas on trips and experiences you'd like to share, please do.

Other than airport hotels, I don't recall any hotels having free shuttles.

I don't know about any either, just take a taxi or Uber, transportation is very cheap in Jakarta.