Jakarta Vacation Guide

The local currency, the rupiah, can be withdrawn from ATMs. Citibank has numerous ATM "boutiques" located conveniently throughout the city. Bank Internasional Indonesia (BII) and Bank Central Asia (BCA) are local banks that have many ATMs in most shopping malls and the lobbies of big office buildings. Most machines have a maximum withdrawal limit of 600,000 Rp per transaction for bank cards issued by other banks. Hong Kong Shanghai Bank has an international branch at Plaza Senayan.

Exchange rates offered by kiosks, hotels and banks can vary wildly, with fluctuations upwards of 10% not unusual. If you decide to head across town to get the best rate, bear in mind the time involved in actually getting across town. In most cases the rate offered at your hotel will be a reasonable compromise. Ayu Masagung, on Jalan Kwitang near the Gunung Agung bookstore, or Inti Valutama Sukes, at Plaza 2 Pondok Indah, Jalan Sultan Iskandar Muda, offer some of the best rates in town and are popular among Indonesian staff changing money for their offices.

It is a common practice to offer slightly differing exchange rates for US$100 notes depending on the year the bill was printed. Both kiosks and banks do this. While U.S. dollars can occasionally be used in upmarket restaurants and in specialty stores, the rupiah is the staple.

Generally Monday-Friday 8 or 8:30 am-3 pm. Most are busiest during lunchtime.

The PPN value-added tax of 10% is applied to all goods and services, but there is no fixed rule on how it is reflected on bills or whether it is included in a quoted price. Small shops tend not to collect the tax. Department stores generally include the tax in listed prices; restaurants and hotels usually do not. Prices in U.S. dollars, however, always have the tax built in. Ask if you're unsure. There is no refund of the tax for foreign visitors.

A service charge is built into most restaurant and hotel bills, so tipping is not required. Service staffers are very appreciative if you leave them some small change, however. Taxi rates haven't been raised in years, however, so it's expected that customers who can afford it will add a few thousand rupiah to the fare: If the driver waits for more than five minutes, add an extra 5,000 Rp.

It is always hot and humid in Jakarta. Temperatures stay fairly constant throughout the year, hovering between 80 F/26 C and 90 F/32 C. The rainy season is October-May, with the rain generally confined to late-afternoon thunderstorms, making the drier May-September period the best time to visit.

Weather forecast not available at this time.

Pack business suits for meetings and summer clothing for sightseeing and shopping. Tank tops and shorts are acceptable on the beach and at trendy nightclubs but ill-advised elsewhere. A light sweater or jacket is necessary only if you plan to make a weekend trip to the Puncak foothills. Of course, head scarves and modest attire are necessary for visiting mosques. As walking in the city can be slippery at times and subject to all kinds of hazards, wearing open-toed shoes or sandals is not recommended. Instead, wear sturdy walking shoes.

Internet cafes are everywhere, not only in Jakarta, but throughout Indonesia. There is hardly a neighborhood in the city that doesn't have at least one, with the highest concentration being in Tanah Abang and along Jalan Agus Salim. Wi-Fi is also offered in all the major hotels, usually for a fee.

As the Indonesian Post Office is notoriously corrupt and inefficient, we do not recommend that you send packages or anything of value via the Indonesian Post Office. Use FedEx, DHL, TNT or UPS for anything of value or importance.

Post Office Headquarters

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This place is worth visiting even if you have nothing to send—it's an old Dutch colonial structure next to the Jakarta Playhouse (Gedung Kesenian). Monday-Saturday 7 am-6 pm, Sunday 7 am-3 pm. Jalan Gedung Kesenian 2, Merdeka Square, Jakarta. Phone 386-0007.

Jakarta has one English-language daily, the Jakarta Post, and an amazing number of Indonesian broadsheets and tabloids. The Jakarta Post is known for packing as many local and international news and feature items as possible into 16 pages. It also offers a comprehensive overview of local events. The highly readable Tempo news magazine now has an English edition that comes out every Thursday. Loosely modeled on Time (and shut down by Suharto for a number of years), it contains well-sourced and balanced political reporting. Jakarta Java Kini (another monthly) is also a good source for entertainment listings and news about the latest restaurants.

International publications are readily available in hotel newsstands and bookshops. The International Herald Tribune and Asian Wall Street Journal are printed in Jakarta and widely available in the mornings. USA Today and Financial Times come in a day after they were issued.

Most Jakarta phone numbers have six or seven digits, though newer ones have eight. When calling a local number from within Jakarta, the city code—021—does not need to be dialed before the number, unless you are using a cellular phone. For directory assistance, dial 102 (international) or 108 (domestic).

Although the cell-phone boom has made pay phones all but obsolete, they are still available in most public places and generally are in working order. They take either coins or prepaid phone cards (ones that accept credit cards are rare except in places like the airport). If you have a cell phone, you can buy a local Sim card at any mobile phone store with a local number and air time for as little as 100,000 Rp.

International direct-dial service is available from hotels and wartels. Wartels normally have a row of cubicles where you can make long-distance and international calls. You are billed afterward at rates considerably lower than what hotels charge.

It's too hot and humid to walk, and nobody does unless the destination is next door. (You will notice that people even take the elevator to go up or down one flight—staircases tend to be well-hidden.) The best way to get around is by hiring a car and driver (usually a taxi). Major hotels will have several of the comfortable Silver Bird Taxis waiting in line. If not, the concierge should be able to call one for you.

Jakarta has a comprehensive network of bus companies, but it's almost incomprehensible to foreign visitors. With a relatively good taxi fleet and very low fares, there's no need to get hot and bothered—and lost—to save a few coins.

Although most travelers agree that Jakarta isn't a beautiful city, it does make a lovely first impression. Sukarno-Hatta International (CGK), Jakarta's principal airport, is one of the best-designed in Southeast Asia, with stately halls in traditional Indonesian style leading to the gates. It is also surrounded by beautiful topiary gardens. The airport is situated 21 mi/35 km west of the city center. A series of three toll roads (total cost 9,500 Rp) takes you all the way into the central business district, a journey of 30 minutes to upwards of two hours, depending on traffic. Departure tax for international flights is 100,000 Rp.

Connecting Transportation

Best way:

Silver Bird Taxis are the best way to get to and from the airport. Go directly to the curb and look for the Silver Bird taxi stand, and the starter will put you into a car. The fare (including tolls) to all major hotels ranges from 50,000 Rp to 100,000 Rp. Ignore the illegal drivers clamoring at the exit of the baggage hall—they often wildly overcharge foreign arrivals.

Other options:

The least expensive way into town is the Damri airport bus, which will take you to Gambir station in Merdeka Square for 8,000 Rp. From Gambir, you can take a taxi to your hotel. Other buses go to Blok M (South Jakarta), Kemayoran (North), Rawamangun (East) and the town of Bogor.

There are four major bus terminals, all of which are a long way from the city center: Kalideres (9 mi/15 km northwest of Merdeka Square) serves cities west of Jakarta, including Labuan, Serang and Merak; Kampung Rambutan (11 mi/18 km south of the city center) serves West Java, including Bogor, Bandung and Tasikmalaya; Pulo Gadung (7 mi/12 km east of the city center) serves Cirebon, Central Java, East Java, Sumatra and Bali; and Lebak Bulus (10 mi/16 km south of the city center) serves Yogyakarta, Surabaya and Bali.

For bus information, contact Pahala Kencana (Jalan Matraman Raya 114, Menteng; phone 856-4107) or Lorena (Jalan TB Simatupang 16, Selatan; phone 750-6655).

Because traffic is so challenging, parking so limited and taxis so cheap, few visitors rent a car. Driving is on the left, and no one observes speed limits if traffic is light. Rush-hour traffic down Jalan Sudirman starts anytime after 4 pm and lasts till 7-8 pm.

Most major buildings have basement parking. For street parking, look for a uniformed attendant or security guard who will generally help direct you into a lot somewhere. Tip him 1,000 Rp when you leave.

Unless you're fluent in the local language, we don't recommend that you use public transportation.

Be very careful when taking any ship. It is not uncommon for a ship to be severely overloaded, well beyond its carrying capacity. If no one complains, the ship will launch—so be sure to complain. They'll be obligated to add a second ship for the journey or locate a larger one. Because the ships are not generally in good condition anyway, they're a significant risk, and several times per year ferries in the region capsize or sink, often with significant loss of life. Do not underestimate this risk. Also, few safety rules are followed at seaports while fueling or boarding the ships, making the likelihood of fire or another sort of accident much greater.

Pelni passenger ships provide transportation to and from other Indonesian ports. They dock at Tanjung Priok Dock 1, which is 8 mi/13 km northeast of Jakarta. For Pelni schedules and tickets, contact the main office. Jalan Angkasa 18. Phone 421-1921. There's also a helpful information desk at the dock. http://www.pelni.com.

Most hotels have taxi stands. You can also phone to be picked up. Stick with Blue Bird or Silver Bird Taxis, phone 794-1234. There is a minimum charge of 25,000 Rp for telephone bookings. Limousines can be arranged by phoning 794-4444. Other reputable taxi companies include Gamya, phone 8779-5555, and Express Taxis, phone 734-0455.

Most Silver Bird drivers speak some English, but most of the others speak very little, so make sure your driver knows where he is going before you take off. Most fares within the city should be less than 80,000 Rp, unless you get caught in bad traffic. (Don't expect cabdrivers to make change for big notes.) Drivers will wait for you upon request and can be hired for extended sightseeing trips.

Trains are a convenient way to get out of Jakarta into the rest of Java. Seats in first-class ("Eksekutif") on major routes tend to be heavily booked: Advance booking is recommended, but often you can only do this one day before departure. Round-trip tickets are not available. Making arrangements by phone costs 2,000 Rp more than in person. You might save yourself some trouble by booking train tickets through the Panorama Young travel agency, Jalan Tanjung Selor 17, West Jakarta. Phone 630-8105.

There are two principal train stations in Jakarta: Gambir and Kota. Gambir is on the eastern side of Merdeka Square, at Jalan Merdeka Timur 17. Phone 386-2360. It's the busier of the two stations and far more convenient to Jakarta's downtown. Kota station is on Jalan Stasiun Kota. Phone 691-2276.

Jakarta City Government Tourist Office

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Conveniently located in the center of Jakarta on Jalan Thamrin, this small tourist office has a range of brochures and maps along with an informative Web site. Jakarta Theater Building, Jalan Thamrin 9, Jakarta. Phone 314-2067. They also have a branch at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport Terminal 2D. Phone 550-7088. http://www.jakarta-tourism.go.id.