Location

Recently stayed at the Aloft Jakarta Wahid Hasyim. Location is in Central Jakarta near many other hotels like Ibis, Morrisey, Holiday Inn, the Four Points, etc. Very active street and of course, traffic can be bad during rush hours. There's a shopping center about 5-10 minutes walk towards the Four Points with lots of fast food options, but otherwise very little in the immediate area. From the airport it's about 150-180K IDR by Blue Bird Taxi. Taxis from the airport are much easier and less stressful than Bali. Also, as of a few days ago, it seems the airport link train has started running, which could be an option to take a 70K IDR train to Central Jakarta + 20k taxi to the hotel.

This hotel is so new that taxi drivers don't know where it is. I tell them Wahid Hasyim and near Ibis, and then direct from there (it's just past the Ibis going east on Wahid Hasyim)--- keep your eyes peeled as the sign is pretty hidden behind foliage and other signage poles.



Signage looking from the east


Signage when coming from the west

Check In

Like all Indonesian hotels, there will be security checks when entering, and then you'll need to go through the metal detector at the front door. Also, the hotel is set back a fair distance from the road, so walking in and out is a bit annoying.



Long walk to the lobby


Entrance with metal detectors



Check-in desk and grab & go food/drinks


Small seating area in lobby


wxyz bar plus game area and more seating

Otherwise, check-in was quick and painless.  

Room

Brand spanking new, of course-- even still has the new carpet smell. Assigned a room on the 5th floor. Typical Aloft design, good materials used in the bathroom. So new that my duvet still had the QC sticker on it (on the side facing down, they must not have washed these linens yet).



View of room from the door


Typical Aloft bed


Built-in USB port on right side


Typical Aloft desk area


Bathroom, small but mostly functional


Nice sink but no counter space!


Toilet with spray in case you need to power wash the bowl ;)


New shower with nice tiles

Water pressure is good, hot water actually gets hot, unlike my room at the Aloft Bangkok on the 31st floor. One thing I don't like about Aloft rooms is that the closet can't be open without the light being on.

As seems typical for this level of hotel in Jakarta (similar to Four Points), the rooms are very small-- but I find them to be functional enough. Though the bathroom is so small that there is zero counter space and they have to put amenities (lotion, shower cap, toothbrush) on a vertical magazine holder type shelf on the wall. Desk is small but also functional.

One other thing I am surprised by given this is a new hotel: lack of built-in USB ports. There is one but only on the right side of the bed, not the left. There is also an international outlet, but only by the desk.

Otherwise, rooms are quite good, as good as an Aloft room can be (though the soundproofing through the door is poor, could hear the family and baby next door crying very loudly).

Internet

Wifi speeds at the Aloft are pretty fast.  40mbps down and 90mbps up.  

Pool / Gym

One interesting design choice is that the breakfast/restaurant area is on the same level as the gym and pool. Upon exiting the elevator you will need to kind of go through the restaurant area to get to the pool and gym. The pool is kind of like a nice above ground pool, is covered, and gets lots of use. The gym is adjacent, and while small, it is also mostly functional. No leg machines, but has everything else, and you can use the cable machine for legs. One thing I've found in Asia is the tendency for families to use the gym as a children's play area, even allowing 5 year old kids play on the elliptical machines and treadmills. A bit annoying and also a safety issue-- but not being local I've refrained from saying anything directly.



Pool area


Outdoor terrace


Gym next to the pool area


Two treadmills, one elliptical, two bikes


Weights and bench


Cable machine


Water and towels


Glassware? First time I've seen this. Probably will not last

Dining

Restaurant view from pool area, the counter is directly in front of the elevators. This is the entire restaurant.


Breakfast spread, egg station, Indo, Asian, and Western options.


Restaurant is very small-- gets tight at breakfast. Breakfast spread is decent, not as good as say the Aloft Bangkok, but better than anything you'd get in the US. They even have a proper espresso machine. Would rate as a B+.

Overall

Staff is very good here, friendly and service oriented. Lots of staff available in the lobby to assist guests. Platinums don't get any special benefits other than free coffee/tea in the lobby. Breakfast is in lieu of points.

Bottom line: would not hesitate to stay here again when in Jakarta.  Good, newly built, solid rooms with a good enough breakfast.