By: Ario Triwibowo
As most of the big cities in South East Asia, there is always a place for backpackers in Jakarta. There are many low-fare hotels, motels, hostels and losmen in Jakarta, because the demand for cheap accommodation is increasing by the day as more and more Indonesians start backpacking (if something becomes a trend in Indonesia, it means it’s virtually instantly an industry, as the country is inhabited by over 240 million people).
Many hostels in Jakarta verge on the dingy and/or depressing. Hence we tried our best to make a selection of cheap but cheery hostels in Jakarta. The area where most backpackers end up in Jakarta is centered around Jalan Jaksa. This area is strategic as it is close to the train station and many of the city’s attractions (Monas, the shopping center Sarinah and other malls in the area). Other nice areas to stay are Menteng in central Jakarta and hip and happening Kemang in the south. Planning to travel in Jakarta on a low budget? Here is our Top 11 of Cheap but cheery budget hostels in Jakarta!
1. Six Degrees
Relax on the rooftop terrace at Jakarta's Six Degrees Hostel
Address: Jl. Cikini Raya Jakarta Pusat 10330
Phone: +62213141657
Email: hello@jakarta-backpackers-hostel.com
Website: jakarta-backpackers-hostel.com
Private Bathroom: Some rooms
Air Conditioning: Yes
When you travel you may think of your hotel as only a place to sleep. After all, you try to spend as little time as possible in your room and as much time outside exploring Jakarta. But sometimes you might just want to spend a day chill-laxing and taking a day off. Most low-fare hotels provide nothing more than a place to eat and sleep, but this is not the case when you stay at Six Degrees. Six Degrees sits strategically in Central Jakarta, where most of Jakarta’s cultural heritage is located. Tourist attractions such as The National Museum, the National Monument and Jakarta’s Old City are close nearby. Shopping Malls such as Plaza Indonesia, Grand Indonesia, Thamrin City and business districts such as Sudirman Street and Thamrin Street are also in close proximity.
As mentioned above, Six Degrees is several degrees above your regular backpackers hostel. It is a five story building, where each floor offers guests something different. The ground floor is utilized as the social hub, where guests can enjoy a drink at the café and bar, watch a movie at the mini cinema, read books, listen to songs in the jukebox, play pool and last but not least, the superfast free wifi. On the second and third floor you will find the rooms and if you go up to the fourth floor, there is a guest kitchen. Plus, if you feel you need some exercise, a small gym is also provided. The last floor is called the Rooftop Garden. This so-called “ hidden gem” of Six Degrees is probably one of the favorite spots for guests to chill out. It offers a private garden with a bamboo gazebo and sun lounges perfect to kick-back and relax.
The lobby at Six Degrees hostel Jakarta
Six Degrees has a range of rooms each with different amenities. There are two types of reservations you can make here, either a dorm bed or a private room. Dorms are shared rooms that have 4 – 6 beds, which costs IDR 120.000 (around USD 12) per person for one night. Private rooms have single or double beds and cost IDR 170.000 – 260.000 (around USD 17 – 26) per room for one night.
2. Sunny Days Hostel
Address: Sudirman Park Apartment Tower A, Ground Floor, Suite ADAF1 Jl. KH Mas Mansyur Kav 35 Jakarta Pusat
Phone: +62215794 2777, +62217085 8448
Email: sunnydays@sunnydays-hostel.com
Website: sunnydays-hostel.com
Private Bathroom: Some rooms
Air Conditioning: Yes
Sunny Days Hostel is located near the business district of Sudirman Street. Its premises are a part of a large apartment, mall and office called the Sudirman Park. Sunny Days Hostel is ideal for those who wish to stay in the very center of Jakarta’s busy and bustling inner circle, where you have easy access to almost everything, with the addition of some hefty traffic noises and pollution. There are many nearby malls such as the Sudirman Park itself, Plaza Semanggi, Mal Ambasador, Grand Indonesia, Plaza Indonesia, fX Mall – Plaza, Ratu Plaza, Plaza Senayan, and Senayan City.
Enjoy 5 star facilities at Sunny Days hostel in Jakarta
Because of its integration with an apartment building, Sunny Days Hostel offers five-star facilities for the guest to use, such as the swimming pool, Jacuzzi and fitness center. These facilities are free of charge! There are 3 types of rooms. There is one small dorm room for 8 people, which costs IDR 185.000 (around USD 18.5) per person for one night. Then there is a double, which cost IDR 250.000 (around USD 25) and a room for 4 people which costs IDR 250.000 (around USD 25) as well.
3. Kamar-Kamar
Address: Jl. RS Fatmawati No. 37K Jakarta Selatan 12430
Phone: +62217512560
Email: info@kamar-kamar.com
Website: kamar-kamar.com
Private Bathroom: No (four shared bathrooms and two toilets)
Air Conditioning: Yes
Kamar-Kamar is located strategically in busy South Jakarta. It is located very close to one of Jakarta’s shopping and dining centers, the Cilandak Town Square. Daily needs are in walking distance since a 24-hour convenient store is nearby. For those who wish to indulge in local culinary pleasures, the street vendors and hawkers sell their fare along RS Fatmawati street.
Fresh and clean dorm at Kamar-Kamar hostel Jakarta
Kamar-Kamar offers single and group bookings. The single booking gets you a bed in a dorm. A bed goes for IDR 135.000 (around USD 13.5) per person for one night. If you travel in a group consisting of 2-12 people, you may want to book a whole room. The price for a double is IDR 270.000 (around USD 27), IDR 1.080.000 (around USD 108) for the room for 8 people and IDR 1.620.000 (around USD 162) for the room that fits 12 people. These prices are negotiable if you plan to stay more than one day.
Hotel Fortuna, peeling on the outside, reasonable on the inside
4. Hotel Fortuna
Address: Jl. Pintu Besar Selatan No. 69 Pinangsia, Taman Sari Jakarta Barat 11110
Phone: +62216313411
Email: –
Website: –
Private Bathroom: Yes
Air Conditioning: Yes
Hotel Fortuna is located in Jakarta’s old Chinatown, which shows in its peeling facade. It is easy to find because of its large name sign that is impossible to miss on the main road. This hotel is at the heart of Jakarta’s Chinatown, so you will find many interesting shops here, access to Jakarta’s Old Town and museums and the airport.
There are three types of room in Hotel Fortuna; all facilitated with private bathrooms and air conditioning. They differ in size and amenities. The economic room costs IDR 168.000 (around USD 16.8), the standard room costs IDR 217.000 (around USD 21.7), and the deluxe room costs IDR 267.000 (around USD 26.7).
5. Rumah Shinta
Address: Jl. Mangga Dua Raya No. 41 Pinangsia Jakarta 11110
Phone: 62 21 6905566
Email: info@rumahshinta.com
Website: rumahshinta.com or www.facebook.com/rumahshintajakarta
Private Bathroom: Yes
Air Conditioning: Yes
Twin room in Rumah Shinta
Rumah Shinta is a guesthouse with a hotel-like atmosphere and facilities. Its aim is to provide clean, simple, safe, affordable and comfortable transit accommodation for business travelers and tourists. Located nearby Jakarta’s Chinatown Glodok, Rumah Shinta offers easy access to one of Jakarta’s biggest shopping malls and trade centers, especially for retail clothing and electronics: the Mangga Dua Shopping Center.
Rumah Shinta is recommended for travelers who are particularly interested in exploring Chinatown. It offers single rooms at IDR 150.000 (around USD 15) per night; double rooms at IDR 265.000 (around USD 26.5) per night and a family room for 4 people which costs IDR 395.000 (around USD 39.5) per night. The facilities provided here are free breakfast, wifi, cable tv, hot water and drinking water.
6. Hippo Budget Hostel
Address: Pluit Permai 6 No 37 Jakarta Utara
Phone: +6285814478833
Email: hippo.budgethostel@gmail.com
Website: www.hippobudgethostel.com
Cozy conditions in Hippo Budget Hostel JakartaPrivate Bathroom: Depends on Room
Air Conditioning: Yes
If you have plans in the north of Jakarta, the Hippo Budget Hostel might be perfect for you. It is located in Pluit, which is relatively close to the airport, harbour (to visit Jakarta’s exotic Thousand Islands or Kepulauan Seribu), Ancol (Jakarta’s amusement park) and Jakarta’s Old Town. Hippo Budget Hostel is located in the busy section of Pluit, where shopping malls, restaurants and bus stops are within walking distance.
Single rooms cost IDR 150.000 – 170.000 (around USD 15 – 17); double rooms cost IDR 250.000 (around USD 25) and triple rooms costs IDR 350.000 (around USD 35). The Hippo Budget Hostel does not accommodate large groups in one room, since the maximum number of guests in its biggest room is only for 3 people.
7. Wisma Djengger
Address: Jl. Kramat VI No. 28 Jakarta Pusat
Phone: +62213909955
Email: –
Website: www.facebook.com/wismadjengger
Private Bathroom: Yes
Air Conditioning: Yes
Wisma Djengger is located in Central Jakarta bordering East Jakarta. It is not particularly located near Jakarta’s highlights, but big shopping malls and cultural and historical sites such as museums are near. It is close to the main road and the bus station.
Slightly dated but fine, Wisma Djengger
Wisma Djengger offers three kinds of rooms: Superior, Deluxe and Suite. The Superior Room costs IDR 150.000 (around USD 15) without television. The Deluxe Room costs IDR 180.000 (around USD 18), while the Suite costs IDR 300.000 (around USD 30). Extra beds are provided, at an extra charge of IDR 75.000 (around USD 75). Other facilities are free breakfast and wifi.
8. Anara House
Address: Jl. Cilandak X No. 11 Cilandak – Fatmawati Jakarta 12430
Phone: +622175912533
Email: anara@anarahouse.com
Website: www.anarahouse.com
Private Bathroom: Yes
Air Conditioning: Yes
Located in the south of Jakarta in the Cilandak area, rooms in Anara House can be rented daily, weekly and monthly. It is perfect for those of you who plan to stay in Jakarta for a longer period. Shopping malls like Cilandak Town Square, ITC Fatmawati and D’Best Fatmawati are in the vicinity.
An impression of Anara House Jakarta
The house is fully furnished complete with air conditioning, television, closet, showers, seating toilets, water heater and wifi. The only drawback is that Anara House only provides single rooms. It is therefore recommended for guests who travel alone. Staying in Anara House overnight costs IDR 150.000 (around USD 15) on Sundays – Thursdays and IDR 200.000 (around USD 20) on Fridays and Saturdays. One extra person in a room means an additional charge of IDR 50.000 (around 5 USD), but due to the small space, is not recommended.
9. Bintang Kejora Hostel
Address: Jl. Kebon Sirih Barat Dalam No. 52, Kebon Sirih, Menteng, Jakarta Pusat
Phone: +622131923878
Email: –
Website: –
Private Bathroom: Depends on Room
Air Conditioning: Depends on Room
Bintang Kejora Hostel is located in wealthy Menteng. The hostel is relatively close to the business district of Thamrin Street, also a home to big malls such as Grand Indonesia, Plaza Indonesia and Sarinah. There are also numerous cultural and historical sites nearby such as the Proclamation Monument, Gedung Joeang 45, Suropati Park, Menteng Park and more.
There are three types of rooms here in Bintang Kejora Hostel: rooms with fan cost IDR 100.000 – 150.000 (around USD 10 – 15), the latter is facilitated with a private bathroom. The air conditioned rooms cost IDR 200.000 (around USD 20).
10. Bloemsteen Hostel
Address: Jalan Kebon Sirih Timur 1 No. 175, Centra Jakarta.
Phone: +622131925389,
Email: –
Website: –
Private Bathroom: No
Air Conditioning: Some rooms
Bloemsteen Hostel is one of the many hostels near Jalan Jaksa. Bloemsteen hostel offers some 20 rooms in many shapes and sizes and at various prices. Air conditioned rooms cost IDR 130.000 (around USD 13) and rooms with a fan cost IDR 80.000 (around USD 8). There are no private bathrooms. As a low-cost hostel, don’t expect any frills, such as soap, toothpaste and towels. It is advised to bring mosquito repellent, either in the form of spray or lotion.
Smack bang in backpackers hotspot Jalan Jaksa: Hotel Tator
11. Hotel Tator
Address: Jl Jaksa No. 37 Jakarta 10340
Phone: +62213192 3940
Website: –
Private Bathroom: Yes
Air Conditioning: Depending on rooms
Jalan Jaksa or Jaksa Street is a lively street full of restaurants, cafes and bars that rock around the clock. Established in 1994, Hotel Tator has slowly climbed the ranks of the low budget hotels in Jakarta. The room rates are IDR 120.000 (around USD 12) a night for a room without air conditioning (with fan), and the rooms with air conditioning cost IDR 140.000 – 150.000 (around USD 14 – 15) a night.
