I was in Jakarta for the first time, company arranged me to stay at Sheraton Media Hotel and Towers because company is SPG Preferred Planner.
The hotel, I supposed is the same as all other hotels in Jakarta, required security check-in before entering into the premise.
Very nice hotel, but surrounded by some slump area, ugly side of modern development.
The check in and out lobby is located on the level 2, which one is required to take a very slow lift to go and down.
I only stayed 1 night, as my meeting started on Saturday, lasted till late evening and the next day I left.
Check in process was fast.
I had dinner at the Chinese restaurant as was advised by colleague better not to dine out, to avoid food poisoning, from food hygiene. I ordered Chinese Vegetarian Fried Noodle and Lemon Chicken. The noodle tasted like instant noodle mixed with cold water. Lemon chicken tasted like an American trying to cook Chinese food, but did it badly.
I had the breakfast at the Level 6, near the pool side. The porridge served tasted like rice in a neither hot nor cold, to be precious luke warm water. There was no ground nuts to go with the porridge. The fried chicken tasted dried, almost tasteless.
The internet access as advertised on the hotel website does not come free even though available in the hotel lobby. I was told that WiFi is chargeable.
When I was leaving and heading to the lounge for the complimentary drink and requested for WiFi, I was told that I need to purchase some other drinks or food in order to have the WiFi access user name and password.
I went to the gym on Sunday morning, was surprise that the equipments are
very old. The treadmill was old, unlike the FourPoints Kuching, where I stayed last before coming to Jakarta.
I asked the front desk and help desk personnel on Sunday morning whether there is a protestant church around the hotel which I can go to. After many rounds of explaining the difference between protestant and Catholic, I was put on a cab to Gereja Katedral, which is a Catholic church, oldest in Indonesia, opposite the largest moque in Indonesia.
I then took another cab to Emmanuel Church for the sermon before heading back to the hotel. As I was explaining to the help desk personnel that I want to attend a service, maybe not many of them are Christians nor know the difference between Catholic church and protestant church.
The Sheraton is closed to Mangga Dua and another 2 more shopping malls. Seriously, there is nothing much in the malls in that area if you are thinking of shopping for local stuff such as clothing, food etc.
The trip to airport is about an hour or more.
I noticed the hotel is popular for weddings, as I can hear the speech and loud music from the room at night.
If asked whether I will stay here again, the answer is no.
There are other better hotels out there, now I know it.
Hope this short review helps.
Happy new year.
- Sheraton Media Hotel
- Sheraton Jakarta
- Jakarta Sheraton
