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Advice for Jakarta, Indonesia

Posted by (Bay Area, California) on

Hello folks:

I will travel as a single female from Bali to Jakarta and would like to get some advice from you.

  1. How safe is Jakarta? I have no issues walking around alone in the downtown areas of Hanoi and Bangkok, but I have no idea about Jakarta. I have no interest in nightlife but would like to eat dinner outside my hotel.

  2. Should I use Grab, taxi, or public transit?

  3. Which airlines should I fly/avoid when traveling from Bali to Jakarta?

  4. Which parts of town should I avoid (no-go zones)?

  5. What are restroom conditions like in general? Do I need to bring my own tissue paper? Are they western style toilets or Turkish style?

  6. Are 7-11s or other convenience stores everywhere?

  7. Is portable water served at restaurants for free? What about ice?

Thank you very much in advance.

Posted by
1101 posts

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

Posted by
471 posts

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.

Posted by
1855 posts

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.

Posted by
471 posts

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.

Posted by
1096 posts

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.

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