January marks the active rainy season in Indonesia and we saw the news of flooding in Jakarta a week before we flew in so I have already prepared myself for the worst. I was confident things will turn out great because we were booked in one of the most popular, strategically located and celebrated hotel in Jakarta.
It didn't disappoint. We stayed in a deluxe room at the 11th floor with an amazing view of the fountain and the Welcome Statue.
You know this is one proud hotel once you step in.The lobby is a balance between space, simplicity and freshness without leaving behind elegance.
HOTEL INDONESIA Kempinski Jakarta lobby
The elevators are quite fast although I had issues with their sensors as they don't make any sound and/or the lights are hard to notice if the card has been scanned or not. I had to keep tapping my room card on several occasions so as to activate the buttons.I noticed that the corridors leading to the rooms are quite narrow. No biggie though. Well lighted and clean, I reminded myself this is an old building retrofitted to a modern interior.
DE LUXE ROOM
The room is a 44sq.m. of happiness. The carpet with dark prints bares elegance, the king size bed promised utmost comfort and sound sleep, the ipod dock which always makes my wife happy, the bathroom with a large bath tub, the power shower which made me don't wanna stop and the Japanese toilet which could be a little intimidating at first because it's super intuitive will make you wanna just cocoon inside. Add to it is their free "wifi" which I find quite fast enough for our updates on social media.
View of Jakarta Skyline and Welcome Statue from our room
Try not to be mesmerized too much by the rooms, the hotel has a whole range of leisure activities that you will surely enjoy.
this welcomes guests at the 17th floor
Rooftop Swimming Pool
+ Sky Pool Bar Café
+62 21 2358 3800 l
info.jakarta@kempinski.com
At the 17th floor is pool beautifully nestled in the middle of a garden. You don't have to look up to notice the tall towers around. This garden in a city feel compliments a relaxing dip. We were here for a few hours at night to lie by the lounges around the intimately lit pool. On the other side is the Sky Pool Bar Cafe where you can order cocktails for a more pleasurable stay at the rooftop. Also on the rooftop is the fitness gym which is a little more elevated than the pool such that it allows for an almost 360 degree view of Jakarta's skyline through its floor-to-ceiling glass walls. We were almost out of time the day of our checkout but I made it a point to at workout at least an hour here. Who wouldn't be motivated to workout in this kind of environment.
Sky Pool Bar Café
POOLSIDE At Night
My favorite smoking area at the 17th floor
Another view of Indonesia Skyline from the pool area...
THE GYM
The gym is a little small compared to the other 5-star hotel gyms I tried in the Philippines but the equipment are good and sufficient. There are also two gym instructors (1male,1 female) on duty at the same time to help you out. I noticed that there are no water dispensers in the hotel (including the gym and spa/sauna) but you could request for bottled water each time you feel thirsty. I did so during my workout and the night before at the spa.
This the Other View from the gym.......
THE SAUNA
Speaking of the sauna, me and my wife loved it. I also find the floor area a little small but it is well kept with sufficient lockers, spotless tiles and two big saunas. The dry sauna is my favorite. There also two small pools, one cold and one hot for a relaxing dip. There are separate spas for both men and women. My wife went to the sauna at night and again in the morning.
The dry sauna is my favorite. There also two small pools, one cold and one hot for a relaxing dip. There are separate spas for men and women. My wife went to the sauna at night and again in the morning.
KempinskiSPA
call +62 21 2358 3882 for appointments
or email kempinskispa.jakarta@kempinski.com
KempinskiSPA is designed to provide every guest with personal sanctuary from the hectic place of modern city life. Using only the finest natural products and herbs, our team of professional therapists will create the ultimate Spa experience. Each treatment is personalized to your specific requirements, elevating your spirit, relaxing your body and invigorating your mind.
SIGNATURES RESTAURANT
Email Contact: signatures.jakarta@kempinski.com
Telephone: +62 21 2358 3898
Well, she had to do that because she over-stuffed herself over breakfast as Signatures Restaurant which is the main restaurant of the hotel and where breakfast for in-house guests is served. The selection at Signatures Restaurant is quite a feast. It was a good time for me to try local delicacies we missed prior to dining there. According to the local I talked to at the sauna the night before, Jakarta is a special case when it comes to local food. You need to know where to go so as to find good food as the usual things you see around are not really the good ones.
Unlike in Thailand for example where street food is king, good dishes in Jakarta are found in shopping malls and of course hotels. Until our last day, I was yet to be convinced of Indonesian food. I guess it takes time to like it. I mean I know it's good but I didn't instantly fell in love with it. But the Indonesian dishes at the hotel restaurant I really enjoyed. Coupled with their with assortments of breads and other International dishes, we spend around three hours in the restaurant for breakfast. Do I need to say we love the restaurant? haha
LOBBY NIRWANA LOUNGE
Email Contact: nirwana.jakarta@kempinski.com
Telephone: +62 21 2358 3995
I call it Chill-out Lounge. Located in the Ganesha Wing of the lobby, this is the place to unwind.
Try their signature cocktails - Becak 3 Roda, HIK-Cup of Coffee and August '62 - accompanied by live traditional Indonesian Gamelan music in a sophisticated ambiance.
The Business Center
I had to tweak a few things in my blog during our stay. I had to go to front desk to ask for a pc to use since I didn't bring any laptop with me. I was directed to the business center in the left wing of the lobby and they made me use one of the computers there. Saw a couple of conference rooms where high level business meetings happen.
I had to fight off the temptation of staying long as I had to go and try the gym a few hours before checkout.
If shopping is your thing, some of the finest high end mall are around the hotel. Grand Indonesia Shopping Town is a mixed-use complex which includes a multi-level shopping mall, a 58-floor residence and Hotel Kempinski itself. A couple more high end malls are nearby.
NEARBY...
Grand Indonesia Shopping Town/Mall
Old Jakarta Batavia
Welcome Statue
More blog features on the area soon. ^^
The old district of Batavia ( Jakarta Old Town) including other tourists attractions like the National Monument and National Mosque are only minutes away by car. It is also along the route of of TransJakarta which is a mass rapid system. Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta is in the middle of it all, everything you need is here.
Follow them on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kempinskihotels
Follow them on Twitter: https://twitter.com/Kempinski
___________________
Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta
is located at Jl. MH Thamrin 1,10310 Jakarta
+62 21 2358 3800
http://www.kempinski.com
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