Go Back  FlyerTalk Forums > Destinations > Asia > Asia
Reload this Page >

Jakarta (CGK) - the ultimate Q&A thread

Jakarta (CGK) - the ultimate Q&A thread

Old Oct 18, 2018, 5:27 am
  #961  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,966
Originally Posted by Sam Bee


I may taxi it in to hotel, and then upon departure get them to taxi me to the Bank BNI station. I'll have luggage so that sounds most sensible!

One day Jakarta will get with it!
A couple of weeks' back I fully intended taking the train - attraction being the novelty and knowing exactly how long the trip will take. But in the end I couldn't be arsed, and took a Grab. While I wasn't looking, Grab has got itself organised at CGK and now has a waiting & pick-up area although fares have increased (I think with an airport fee included).

I'll bite the train bullet some other time ....

The return trip was a Grab from Gambir to CGK in the early hours of the morning. The highway was eerily empty - a joy of a journey
IAN-UK is online now  
Old Oct 18, 2018, 8:34 am
  #962  
 
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: London
Programs: Many. Too many. I came here to cut them down. I failed.
Posts: 2,998
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
A couple of weeks' back I fully intended taking the train - attraction being the novelty and knowing exactly how long the trip will take. But in the end I couldn't be arsed, and took a Grab. While I wasn't looking, Grab has got itself organised at CGK and now has a waiting & pick-up area although fares have increased (I think with an airport fee included).

I'll bite the train bullet some other time ....

The return trip was a Grab from Gambir to CGK in the early hours of the morning. The highway was eerily empty - a joy of a journey
Ah ok. I got fed up with the Bluebird queue last time around and tried uber - turned out there were 4 Uber's in the whole of Jakarta! I'm in Singapore and Bali the same trip so i'll try it out.

Is it easy to pick up one from T3? How does Grab wirk with tolls and so on?

Feel free to PM a refferal code if it gets you a free ride or so!
Sam Bee is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2018, 11:37 am
  #963  
Marriott Contributor BadgeAman Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK
Posts: 2,374
Originally Posted by Sam Bee
Ah ok. I got fed up with the Bluebird queue last time around and tried uber - turned out there were 4 Uber's in the whole of Jakarta! I'm in Singapore and Bali the same trip so i'll try it out.

Is it easy to pick up one from T3? How does Grab wirk with tolls and so on?

Feel free to PM a refferal code if it gets you a free ride or so!
I thought uber doesn't exist in SEA anymore? hmm

The one time I used Grab in Jakarta, I was charged the toll fees in cash by the driver. They had some sort of a promotion where my fare was only ~Rp. 20,000 (2) for what was a 30 minute trip, which would otherwise have cost something along the lines of Rp. 80,000 (~4), so I gave him Rp. 50,000 to pay the Rp. 10,000 toll fee, and asked him to keep the change.
clubeurope is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2018, 12:13 pm
  #964  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,488
Uber sold out to Grab in much of SE Asia.
clubeurope likes this.
Jaimito Cartero is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2018, 8:38 pm
  #965  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
GoJek also pretty usefuk. Not here in Papua, but when I'm other places I use the heck out of GoFood. Awesome.
gpeso8 likes this.
DeepUnderground is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2018, 10:07 pm
  #966  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
Originally Posted by DeepUnderground
GoJek also pretty usefuk. Not here in Papua, but when I'm other places I use the heck out of GoFood. Awesome.
I agree I use the heck out of GoFood/GoJek here in Surabaya. The number of things I get delivered now is astonishing.
gpeso8 is offline  
Old Oct 18, 2018, 10:41 pm
  #967  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,966
Originally Posted by Sam Bee
Ah ok. I got fed up with the Bluebird queue last time around and tried uber - turned out there were 4 Uber's in the whole of Jakarta! I'm in Singapore and Bali the same trip so i'll try it out.

Is it easy to pick up one from T3? How does Grab wirk with tolls and so on?

Feel free to PM a refferal code if it gets you a free ride or so!

Sorry, I'm still a T2 person I've departed T3 and transferred T3 to T2, and my only (pure) arrival into T3 I was being met.

But I can't believe there's much difference in the Grab system. At T2 you use the app to arrange a pick-up and then find Grab's kerb-side waiting area (with seats). There's an agent there who can help you if you're having problems.

I paid 139K + 16.5K tolls to (easily accessed) Kemayoran/Sunter in north Jakarta. Drivers usually pay the tolls with their cards - you pay them back if you are using cash, but if you have your credit card on the app the driver can put the toll charge through the final bill. And be careful, he will probably do that even if you give him cash for the tolls.

So there's no longer much of a $$ advantage in using Grab. The positives are not having to worry about cash (if you have your cc on the app), and having a good chance of getting an interesting driver. If things go wrong, i find the Grab team are responsive and will put things right pretty quickly.
IAN-UK is online now  
Old Oct 19, 2018, 2:37 am
  #968  
 
Join Date: Jan 2014
Location: The Indo Jungle
Programs: AA EXP, IHG Spire
Posts: 1,319
Originally Posted by gpeso8
I agree I use the heck out of GoFood/GoJek here in Surabaya. The number of things I get delivered now is astonishing.
My only issue is it seem they always want to call you and talk which just adds confusion as my Bahasa isn't 100%. If you do it right, no need to talk, just follow the order!
gpeso8 likes this.
DeepUnderground is offline  
Old Oct 19, 2018, 2:44 am
  #969  
Marriott Contributor BadgeAman Contributor Badge
 
Join Date: Jul 2017
Location: CGK
Posts: 2,374
Originally Posted by IAN-UK
I paid 139K + 16.5K tolls to (easily accessed) Kemayoran/Sunter in north Jakarta. Drivers usually pay the tolls with their cards - you pay them back if you are using cash, but if you have your credit card on the app the driver can put the toll charge through the final bill. And be careful, he will probably do that even if you give him cash for the tolls.
139K?! That's actually quite a lot for Grab

You could almost do the same with a blue bird
clubeurope is offline  
Old Oct 19, 2018, 4:20 am
  #970  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London
Programs: Hilton, IHG - BA, GA, LH, QR, SV, TK
Posts: 16,966
Originally Posted by clubeurope
139K?! That's actually quite a lot for Grab

You could almost do the same with a blue bird
Yeah, I think part of the deal for airport access and "facilities" at the airport was accepting an airport fee built into the fare. In the past you needed to track down your Uber/Grab driver in the car park, all a bit furtive

The surcharge is certainly there at the much improved Bandung airport

Higher Grab fares keeps taxi driver militancy down as it sort of equalizes the fees.
IAN-UK is online now  
Old Oct 25, 2018, 9:30 pm
  #971  
 
Join Date: May 2006
Location: CGK & PBI
Programs: Cruise addict and AirBNB Plat :)
Posts: 3,312
Originally Posted by DeepUnderground
My only issue is it seem they always want to call you and talk which just adds confusion as my Bahasa isn't 100%. If you do it right, no need to talk, just follow the order!
Every single time. I would pick up my phone as soon as I hit the request button as I know the driver will call me. My favorite was when the driver was already parked outside the restaurant because he was on his break. He still called, only to say "Boss, I'm already here" lol
DeepUnderground likes this.
aSiAnRiCk is offline  
Old Oct 25, 2018, 10:45 pm
  #972  
 
Join Date: Mar 2014
Posts: 187
I am looking to do a solo trip including Jakarta (29th-1st) at the end of March, and I am hoping 3-4 days lets me see the sights, museums and other treasures that the city has to offer. How hard will it be to get around Jakarta in regards to language? From what I have seen, a bit of English speakers are present, but I am not 100% certain if a solo tourist can handle the city.
AUCLABruin is offline  
Old Oct 27, 2018, 6:53 pm
  #973  
 
Join Date: Jan 2010
Location: CGK/LAX
Programs: KF,JMB, OZ, SPG,AA,UA,AS
Posts: 1,163
Originally Posted by AUCLABruin
I am looking to do a solo trip including Jakarta (29th-1st) at the end of March, and I am hoping 3-4 days lets me see the sights, museums and other treasures that the city has to offer. How hard will it be to get around Jakarta in regards to language? From what I have seen, a bit of English speakers are present, but I am not 100% certain if a solo tourist can handle the city.
You will be fine.
gpeso8 is offline  
Old Oct 29, 2018, 11:01 pm
  #974  
 
Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: HKG
Posts: 1,053
Hello CGK experts,

first timer to Jakarta, with three nights in November. For various reasons, we are expecting to spend more time than usual in and around our hotel during our visit. I am looking to find the best location to do so.

To make the best use of status benefits, our curent hotel choices are

1) JW Marriott/Westin, both next to Kuningan Shopping Mall
2) Grand Hyatt, next to Selamat Datang Monument
3) Sheraton Grand, next to Gandaria Mall

While opinions on the hotels itself are of course also appreciated, I am more interested in learning about the surrounding areas. We are essentially looking for restaurants and especially pubs/bars (not night clubs or discos!) within safe walking distance to these places. We like to sit and talk for lengthy periods of time, but are not looking for a party. Is any of these areas better than the other? Or is there a different area altogether that would be recommended - would certainly consider ditching the Marriott options in that case.

TIA for any input!
gpia is offline  
Old Oct 30, 2018, 2:17 am
  #975  
FlyerTalk Evangelist
 
Join Date: Sep 2003
Location: HH Diamond, Marriott Gold, IHG Gold, Hyatt something
Posts: 33,488
Originally Posted by gpia
Hello CGK experts,

first timer to Jakarta, with three nights in November. For various reasons, we are expecting to spend more time than usual in and around our hotel during our visit. I am looking to find the best location to do so.

To make the best use of status benefits, our curent hotel choices are

1) JW Marriott/Westin, both next to Kuningan Shopping Mall
2) Grand Hyatt, next to Selamat Datang Monument
3) Sheraton Grand, next to Gandaria Mall

While opinions on the hotels itself are of course also appreciated, I am more interested in learning about the surrounding areas. We are essentially looking for restaurants and especially pubs/bars (not night clubs or discos!) within safe walking distance to these places. We like to sit and talk for lengthy periods of time, but are not looking for a party. Is any of these areas better than the other? Or is there a different area altogether that would be recommended - would certainly consider ditching the Marriott options in that case.

TIA for any input!
Ive never heard the traffic circle/monument by the GH called that. Normally, the mall there, Plaza Indonesia, is normally identified.

All three hotels are in/near big malls. Im familar with the area around the Hyatt. Its nice, but I consider the Hyatt to be a bit past its prime, considering the prices theyre charging.

I actually like the Doubletree a bit more. Prices are usually 40-50% less, and it has a nice layout. No bars/pubs other than the restaurants the hotel has, but taxis and Grab are pretty cheap.
Jaimito Cartero is offline  

Thread Tools
Search this Thread

Contact Us - Manage Preferences - Archive - Advertising - Cookie Policy - Privacy Statement - Terms of Service -

This site is owned, operated, and maintained by MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. Copyright © 2024 MH Sub I, LLC dba Internet Brands. All rights reserved. Designated trademarks are the property of their respective owners.