Advice for Jakarta, Indonesia

I'm sorry to say this, but the first thing that comes to my mind when I think about Jakarta is: Traffic!

Jakarta is huge. Are you going to be there to change planes or spend time there? It’s a mix of a luxury building next to shacks and decrepit commercial buildings. It’s difficult to tell what was a “good” or “bad” area. We were there a year ago, but near the airport due to the nature of our trip. We did a private tour. They picked us up, we had a driver and a guide. We didn’t last the day. We called it early due to rain and it’s a huge example of an environmental catastrophe of a place, which was depressing. That’s the great thing about travel- you have to see the world, the good and the bad. I’m glad we were there but in my opinion, it’s not a place to hang out. I will recommend Cafe Batavia for a fabulous Indonesian meal. Westerners are welcome there.

Thank you for your insights. Yeah, Jakarta isn't much of a scenic city. Therefore, my plan is just to spend 1-2 days eating delicious local food and drinking coffee at trendy cafes. Indonesia produces some good coffee and I look forward to buying some beans there to take home.

Yes the coffee is great and the food is amazing. The Indonesian people are lovely. They are very helpful and have so much grace.

I personally wouldn’t feel comfortable walking around by myself there unless during the day. Even then. Having a guide was the way to go. They are not expensive and well worth it especially if they provide transportation.

I can't comment on all areas of Jakarta as I tend to be there for business, and therefore mainly in the central/downtown areas. I've certainly never felt unsafe, nor have I felt the need for a guide, but as Mo notes, if you do want one it will not be expensive. Getting around, typically I'd use Grab or Gojek.

Toilets - if you're downtown from my observation its similar to Singapore - mainly seated, with some squat.

Walking - my generally feeling is it's pretty polluted so I don't walk as much as I otherwise might.

I was in Jakarta in 1989 and it was a huge, sprawling congested city even then. I doubt that has improved!! One thing about coffee in coffee producing countries, of which I’ve been to quite a few, is that sure you can get a decent cup, and buying some beans to take home is a fun souvenir, but don’t expect anything particularly special. That’s because the best beans are sold wholesale for export, as foreign buyers pay more, and where you will find them is in the upscale coffee shops of your home town.

Thank you again.

I will be careful when out of the hotel and stick to high foot traffic areas. For cafes that are not close to public transit, I will use their Silverbird taxis or hire a guide/driver, hopefully a female.

Regarding airlines from Bali to Jakarta: I looked up Google Flights, the options were among low-cost airlines and Garuda, which is the flight carrier. I guess I should pick Garuda for better safety, correct?

"I will be careful when out of the hotel and stick to high foot traffic areas"

I wouldn't bothered with safety any more than I would somewhere like Bangkok. This is just my observation, but it seems the main barrier to walking is the pollution.

The taxis are Bluebird :) but personally I normally use Grab or Gojek.

On flights aside from Garuda, consider Air Asia as a reliable low cost alternative.