Jakarta’s airport is 35km from the city. It takes at least an hour to get to the center. We arrived in Jakarta late in the afternoon and didn’t feel like continuing to our first destination: Serang, which is only 80km west of the airport. This is why we went to the Anugrah Hotel, only 5km from the airport. The transition from a 12-hour flight, air conditioning, cramped economy seat, to the hot humid air and the hustle and bustle of the airport is not without some effect. I was quite lethargic, not my usual self, and surrendered to the cowboy taxi driver, but was assertive enough to haggle down from $US25 to US$7, still far too expensive for a 5km ride. I don’t begrudge my generosity and hope he will use it for school fees or school uniforms for his children. Without a uniform children can''t go to school.
The Anugrah is a budget hotel. We paid 105.000 rupiahs (12 euro) for a fairly large, air conditioned room, one twin bed and one single bed. So this price is actually for three persons, free tea and coffee, and a bathroom with mandi (a large watertank which is filled with water--only cold). With a plastic saucepan you scoop out water and pour it all over yourself. Simple and efficient. Breakfast is included: two slices of bread, boiled egg, banana, coffee, or tea.
The hotel has free transportation to and from the airport, but we didn’t need that as we had to go to Kalideres bus station for all west-bound destinations.
From the main road in front of the hotel a number 95 Kopaja bus goes to Kalideres. The main terminal for buses to Merak and Sumatra, Labuan and Serang. The bus fare is 1000 rupiah (10 euro cent)
We were twice in this hotel and neither time could the taxi driver find it. The Komplex Taman in the address is important. Your driver will probably drop you in a transit hotel on Jalan Husein Sastra, which is a very noisy place on a busy road. This hotel is on your left hand side when you come from the airport. So if your driver stops here tell him to go another 500m. On your right you will see newly built houses and shops, this is Komplex Taman.
It is not very difficult to find some restaurants. On the main road, your back to Komplex Taman, turn left. That’s the way you came from the airport. Walk to the cross roads and turn left. You will pass 50 or more warungs (simple restaurants) if they are not to your liking, walk on until you see on your right a brightly lit restaurant. I can’t remember the name but you’ll find it. It’s impossible to miss. They serve good nasi goreng and other Indonesian dishes.