Having gone to Jakarta a number of times, there aren’t too many things left for me to do there. Thanks to cheap airfares though, I still come there on occasion to shop, savor delicious local fare, and most of all, check out its abundance of quality hotels. I’ve stayed in a handful of Jakarta’s hotels, and there have been only two so far that I extremely like—one being Keraton at The Plaza, A Luxury Collection Hotel, Jakarta.
Keraton at The Plaza is located right smack in the business district of Central Jakarta. Adjacent to it are some of Jakarta’s most high-end shopping malls, Plaza Indonesia and Grand Indonesia, while a few minutes’ ride away are Gambir train station, and landmarks like the Monumen Nasional (Monas) and the National Museum. In other words, much of what Central Jakarta has to offer is within easy reach, and as such, its location makes it perfect for not only business travelers but also leisure ones like us who were in the city for a grand weekend staycation.
Recently becoming part of the Marriott International portfolio, The Luxury Collection “offers the promise of unique, authentic experiences that evoke lasting, treasured memories.” Each of its more than 100 hotels and resorts are a “unique and cherished expression of its location; a portal to the destination’s indigenous charms and treasures.” We don’t have any hotel nor resort under this brand in the Philippines, so I was looking forward to staying in one for the first time and seeing first hand how it compares to the other Marriott luxury brands like the St. Regis, JW Marriott, and W, especially in terms of rooms and service.
Our Uber pulled into the hotel’s driveway, which was hidden behind the building, making the place seem even more exclusive and quiet. The lobby wasn’t grand nor gaudy—as you’d expect from the typical luxury hotel—but it was sleek and very, very classy. Our personalized check-in formalities were handled on an executive desk, rather than a typical reception desk, whilst we were seated—like how they do it in the St. Regis. At that point, I was already impressed with the service—the front staff who welcomed us, like the rest of the people working for the hotel, were not only efficient but were extra friendly as well.
In no time, we were handed our keys to our Junior Suite, which was undoubtedly spacious at 75 sq m or the size of three regular-sized hotel rooms. Since their suites don’t come in two-bed configurations (only king-sized ones), I asked for an extra bed for my sister, and it fit into the room with plenty of room to spare.
I loved the room’s style, color scheme, and furnishing. Although, as a whole, the room looked completely modern, Indonesian influences were meshed into the design perfectly, instead of being merely an afterthought. The view of the city was nice too.
As expected of a five-star luxury hotel, the room came equipped with a range of high-end amenities, from the comfortable bed, which gave us nights of uninterrupted sleep, to the Illy Espresso machine. The large marbled bathroom, on the other hand, had a retro rainforest shower, a separate free-standing deep tub that fits two, and toiletries by Laboratoire Remede, which had a scent I quite liked.
Since we were staying in a Junior Suite, our room came with a valuable benefit—access to Lima Five, which is one of the best, if not the best, club lounges I’ve ever been to. Aside from being aesthetically pleasing like the rest of the hotel, the lounge offers unlimited a la carte dishes and beverages (including alcohol) from morning until late into the evening (10:00 AM-10:00 PM). Staying in the hotel for the most part of our trip to Jakarta, we ate our meals there and tried the various tasty dishes—mind you, they were substantial to be a meal and definitely not just hors d’oeuvres.
For breakfast, we headed to Bengawan, the hotel’s all-day dining restaurant. I liked the concept—there was a buffet, as well as a la carte dishes, which were unlimited. We chose to order dishes from the menu more, and we loved the lobster eggs Benedict with caviar, the steak and eggs, and the French toast.
I also went to dinner at Bengawan and ordered a Cobb salad, wild mushroom soup, and an Omaha Prime Angus rib eye, which was tender and cooked perfectly. To end the meal on a sweet note, I had the dark chocolate brownie.
One afternoon, I went for a massage at Keraton Spa. I went for the 60-minute Gurda Express, which on the menu was described as “an ideal therapeutic choice for the effective relief of back and neck pain, relieve stress, boost mood and promote relaxation.” My tense body appreciated every minute of it; the masseuse’s forceful strokes sure did relax me.
Aside from the spa, we were able to check out the hotel’s other facilities like its fitness center, as well as its indoor and outdoor swimming pools.
WHY STAY THERE
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It’s definitely one of the best and classiest hotels in Jakarta.
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Rooms are beautiful and luxuriously appointed.
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Rates are even greater value over the weekends, making it perfect for staycations.
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The executive lounge, Lima Five, offers unlimited food and drinks, and access is thus worth paying for.
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Location is right smack in Central Jakarta, and there are two malls adjacent to the hotel.
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SPG and Marriott Rewards members get preferential rates on top of extra perks.
KERATON AT THE PLAZA, A LUXURY COLLECTION HOTEL, JAKARTA
Jalan M.H. Thamrin Kav. 15, Jakarta, Indonesia
Telephone: +62 21 5068 0000
Email: gsc.keratonattheplaza@luxurycollection.com
Website: www.keratonattheplazajakarta.com
Social Media: Facebook and Instagram
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