The Hermitage Jakarta

The hotel is located in the upscale residential area of Menteng.   The location is not far away from buzzling Thamrin and Sudirman area but you can find some tranqulity in Jakarta which is rather rare.   Navigating to the hotel may be a bit a challenge if you are not familar with the area as the streets around are mostly oneway street.

Here is the entrance of the hotel taken from the roof top.

Here are the picture of the hotel lobby.  It is nicely decorated and many pictures of old Batavia (the old name of Jakarta during colonial time) and also map of the Menteng area during the colonial time.

 

As a Starwood Platinum, I was upgraded to the Executive Suite room (which is the second highest room category in the hotel).

The hotel has a huge living area with a door that separated the living area with the bed room area.   The bath room is quite long with seperate bath tube and shower area.   I found the wardrobe area is too big.  I guess this probably the limitation imposed by the old building stucture.

Most (if not all) of the suites room located in the old building and the Deluxe rooms are mainly located in the new tower.


Here are the pictures of the room.

Huge living area

A door that separated the living area and the bed room

Bath room area

 

    

 

The room was pre-prepared for me and here is the welcome gift which is very beautiful

The hotel does not have a lounge, but they provide evening cocktail and the best choice is to use it in Le Vue which is at the roof top of the hotel.

It is advisable to go up before sunset as the view is very nice and the place tends to get very crowded.

Here is the menu for the Platinum

The swimming pool and gym is rather small and located just below the roof top.

Breakfast has a quite good selection also.

 

Here is some random pictures taken from the hotel

I found this hotel is good for someone who wants to have some peaceful time in very busy Jakarta.  It is not too far from Thamrin and Sudirman area.  The service is also very good.

Sheraton Mustika Yogyakarta

I have been trying to stay at this property many time but always have to cancel.   I also heard many not so good review about this hotel as it dated.

In February 2016, I decided to stay at this property and finally make it.   The hotel is located very near from the Adisucipto airport (JOG), which is not so big airport.   It take around 5-10 minutes ride from the airport to the hotel.   Later on I found out that the hotel provide free transfer between hotel and the airport.   For arrival, you just need to infrom the hotel on your arrival time and they will pick you up.   I did take the free transport from hotel to the airport on my departure date.

As the hotel is very near airport, this also means it is a bit far from the main tourist attraction or city center like Malioboro.   The hotel is a very big complex which has a big function room before the main hotel itself.


Upon check in, I was upgraded to the Junior Suite which has access to the lagoon pool.   It was located to the first floor.   If my memory is still served me right, the lobby is located at 7floor.   Hence, although my room was facing Mt Merapi, I cannot see it as I was on the lower level.

The room itself is quite spacious with separate living and dining area and bed room.   The lagoon can be access both from living area or bath room.

Other than the lagoon which only accessible by those rooms connecting to it, the hotel has a very big outdoor pool.

It has also indoor swimming pool which is inside the spa area.   You may feel the feeling of being Javanese aristocrat.

This is the entrance to the spa

As mention before the hotel is very huge and have a big garden also.

The hotel has a lounge which serve evening cocktail with decent selection of food.   Breakfast is also served here.   On my last day, I found out that I can also have my breakfast in the main restaurant which has much better seleection.

Here is the lounge.

And here is the main restaurant

The restaurant  also has some balcony seating that you may enjoy Mt Merapi view is the weather is clear enough.

Overall I found this hotel is a good value for money, especially if you are SPG Platinum member.   The hotel is a bit far from the tourist place like Malioboro, but since most of the time you may travel to Prambanan (which is quite "near" from the hotel) or Borobodur or any other place outside Yogyakarta city center, the location is not really a big problem.

It is definitely a good place for you to relax.