Jakarta Travel Forum

My friend and I fly from Bali to Jakarta on August 2, and our plane leaves the next night at 10 pm. Cany anyone recommend a mid-range hotel (30-60 US dollars) or a good area of town to stay in? Does anyone know the price of a taxi to and from the airport? Any other suggestions as to how I should pass my time in Jakarta is greatly appreciated!!

There are plenty of hotels you can go in with that budget. You can choose hotel in Menteng (Central Jakarta) area like Cemara, Ibis, Formulaone, etc. Or hotel in Blok M (South Jakarta) area like Ambhara and Amaris.
Taxi price from/to airport is around Rp 150.000 depends on the distance. But if you arrive before 7 pm, you can go to the city with airport bus. Its fare only Rp 20.000 (or maybe now Rp 25.000 due to fuel price hike).
While in Jakarta you can visit Sundakelapa harbour and Old Batavia, Taman Mini Indonesia Indah, or just singing in karaoke in the mall...;D
Enjoy Jakarta!

I payed for a big taxi ("Kijang" for 4 passengers and luggage) from Jakarta aerport to Jakarta Kota 170.000 Rp. in April this year. It was a taxi from "Blue Bird", this is a recommended and safe taxi. I booked the taxi in the aerport at the Blue Bird-desk. Notice: it tooked more than 3 hours to the hotel, which was in "Kota", in the north of the city. Most of the hotels are located further away from the airport. The way back, there was less travel jam, but it still tooked 1 and a half hour!
The traffic jam and the airpollucion is awfull in Jakarta. The people are very friendly and also stay calm in the traffic jam.
If anyone offer you help to show you the way in the airport, they will take your luggage as well and ask a lot of money afterwards. Especially if you don't have Rupia's yet. There are ATM-moneymachines in the airport.