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What To Buy in Indonesia: Souvenirs, Gifts and Cheap Stuff

By Tibs →
If you are visiting Indonesia as a tourist, you are probably looking for gifts or souvenirs to bring back home. You may also be wondering if there are some cheap items that are worth buying here more than in your home country. In this article, I will give you tips on what to buy, what NOT to buy, where to shop, and how to avoid scams.

What to do in Jakarta in 24 hours?

By Tibs →
Many tourists stay in Jakarta for only 1 night, usually before heading to Bali. If you are in the same situation, you might be wondering what are the best things to do in the city in 24 hours or less. To help you, I have written this one-day itinerary that covers the town's best attractions. It is a bit rushed but it is realistically doable in 24 hours. Of course, you can skip some of the steps to make your day more relaxed. Choosing the right hotel in Jakarta for a short trip A hotel near  Plaza Indonesia  would be perfect or, alternatively, near  Sarinah . To reach the airport faster, you could also stay near Semanggi, Taman Anggrek or Pluit, but then you would be further away from the attractions I will recommend below. You should be aware that every Sunday is car-free day in Jakarta. This means that Jalan Sudirman and Jalan Thamrin will be closed to cars from 6 AM to 11 AM. Recommend Hotel Near Sarinah/Plaza Indonesia for a 24-Hour Stopover in Jakarta → 5-stars (more than 150$/

Best Things to Experience In Jakarta (2021)

By Tibs →
Many tourists hate Jakarta because they visit it the wrong way. They check the things to do in a guidebook or on the internet and then try to do as many as possible in a short time. Since they are not familiar with the city, they get stuck for hours in traffic, walk in the heat from one sight to the other, and spend more time bargaining than actually talking with Indonesians. I am not saying that Jakarta is perfect, but if you know what to do, you can definitely have a good time. Below is my list of the most recommended things to do or experience in Jakarta, starting from the best. An alternative title for the article could probably have been "How Not To Hate Jakarta". Your suggestions are welcome, please just write a comment at the end. You can also read  Is Jakarta worth visiting?  for more information. Try Indonesian food Every time I come back to Jakarta from Europe, the first thing I do after landing is to eat some Indonesian food. It is a very underrated cu

9 Best Things to Do at Night in Jakarta (2021)

By Tibs →
I recently wrote about the best things to do in Jakarta . In the following review, I will be more specific and focus on night-time activities. A cliché used to describe Jakarta is that of "a city that never sleeps." While this could apply to any major capitals in the world, I think it is particularly accurate here. There is always some kind of life in Jakarta, whatever the time and whatever the location. It is quite logical considering the city has one of the highest population densities in the world. Another reason is that there are a lot of Indonesians working long shifts or night shifts, especially small business owners and independent workers. As long as money can be made, they won't close shop or go home. This is why you can always get food, cigarettes, or a taxi ride at any time of the night. For the traveler, the advantage of this situation is that there are a lot of things to do at night. Even better, if you go out after 9pm, you'll also enjoy less t

Jakarta Travel Guide - For Single Guys

By Tibs →
In this article, I will explain everything you need to know about traveling to Jakarta as a single guy. I tried to keep it as concise and short as possible. For more details, you can email me directly at thibaud@jakarta100bars.com. If I wrote something inaccurate, please leave me a comment and I'll correct it. Note: I updated this article in January 2019. Visas for Indonesia The citizens of almost every country on earth can enter Indonesia without a visa for at least 30 days. This visa is non-renewable and non-extendable so you'll have no choice but to leave the country after it has expired. Overstaying is currently charged IDR250,000 per day. For staying for more than 30 days as a tourist, you have 4 options : → Make a 60-day tourist visa in any Indonesian consulate abroad (I did one in Saigon, Bangkok, KL, Singapore and Paris). It takes 3-4 days and costs 50$. This visa can then be extended 4 times 30 days for about 40 dollars (you must use an agent).

25 Best Traditional Markets to Visit in Jakarta

By Tibs →
Apart from the ubiquitous malls, Jakarta is filled with traditional markets and shopping streets. This review covers all the shopping areas to visit as a tourist. Some of them are very famous and some completely off-the-beaten track. I've listed them in 4 different categories: Traditional markets used by Indonesians for their daily household needs Interesting shopping streets for the tourist or the urban explorer Low-cost / wholesale shopping centers and malls with fake goods and great bargains Specialty markets (Precious stones, birds, flowers, fish, etc...)

Salsa, Tango and Latin Dancing in Jakarta

By Tibs →
Update June 2019: Classes by Damaris are held every Tuesday at 6.30 PM in Up in Smoke Restaurant in RDTX building (Mega Kuningan), every Saturday at 6 PM in Grand Kemang Hotel, and every Sunday at 5PM in Al-Jazeerah Signature Menteng. The cost is IDR100,000 for group classes, and IDR600,000 per private classes. More info on Facebook: Cuban Salsa Indonesia .  Salsa has been popular in Jakarta since the early 2000s.   You can actually dance and listen to Latin music any single night of the week in selected bars, clubs and restaurants in the city (see the lastest schedule below).   The best Salsa nights in Jakarta are run by two teachers who have lived in Indonesia for many years now, Luisa and Damaris. They have contributed to the building of a passionate Salsa community, which is made of both locals and expats.  Luisa Damaris - Please note the woman wearing a jilbab next to her

15 Best Luxury Hotel Spas in Jakarta

By Tibs →
Jakarta must be one of the cheapest places on earth for luxury spa treatments. Massages that would cost hundreds of dollars in Europe cost less than 50$ here, including the tax and service charge. If you ask some expat wives, this is one of the reasons they can cope with living in the city. Unfortunately, most hotels do not have proper spas with branded products and inviting facilities, especially compared to those in Bali. In general, they will use the Decléor brand from France, meaning all therapists receive similar training. To help you figure out where to get a luxury massage in Jakarta, I reviewed below all the spas located in the city's best 5-star hotels . In particular, I indicated the prices of the most popular treatments. If the price changes, please don't hesitate to leave a comment below.