Soekarno Hatta Airport - suggestions please
Replies: 5 - Last Post: Apr 19, 2012 10:31 PM Last Post By: HasrunR
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Soekarno Hatta Airport - suggestions please
Hi,I'll be transiting through Soekarno Hatta twice on Garuda flights from Melbourne-Amsterdam return - firstly I have 6 hours between flights and secondly I have 14 hours. I wondered if I will need to purchase a visa on arrival for the wait period? I also wondered if there is much to do in the airport?
Does anyone think it would be realistic to book into a hotel to crash for the wait periods? Or would I have enough time to visit some tourist sights in the area?
Thanks
1
You don't need a visa just for transiting, but you will need one ($25) if you decide to leave the airport to go sightseeing, of course.The latter is recommended for the 14 hours layover - that's a bit too long to spend in that airport! The airport hotel is expensive. If the 14 hours are mostly during the day, get out and see Jakarta, or even Bogor (if you dislike big cities).
Even if you hire a taxi for the whole day, it should cost you less than the hotel.
But cheap airport buses (Damri) can also take you to the center of JKT or to Bogor from right outside arrivals.
2
Hi jetdog,I wondered if I will need to purchase a visa on arrival for the wait period?
No, not if you don't exit the immigration and customs area, and your bags are checked through.
I also wondered if there is much to do in the airport?
You can window-shop a bit, you can enter an airport lounge if you have the right credit card or pay a fee.
Does anyone think it would be realistic to book into a hotel to crash for the wait periods?
There are no airside hotels; you would need to pay $25 for a visa-on-arrival to go to the Jakarta Airport Hotel. They offer (expensive) 6-hour mini-stays for around $US70, or you can just crash at their 24-hour bar and restaurant. However, the mini-stays are only valid for check-in between 08:00 and 15:00.
Or would I have enough time to visit some tourist sights in the area?
6 hours no, 14 hours yes - if you have the energy. Here are some ideas:
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/7681/travel-highlights-jakarta/
http://www.indonesiamatters.com/8742/tourist-attractions-indonesia/
3
In the 14 hours layover you can visit the Taman Mini Indonesia Indah. There you'll find life-size replicas of traditional houses of various parts of the country.For a hotel, I recommend the Formule1 Cikini. You might even want to go for a swim (just behind the hotel).
4
Just a suggestion OPIf you do decide to book a hotel, choose 1 that has very easy and quick access for the tollway to/from the airport.
You dont really want to get caught in Jakarta's traffic jam especially after a heavy downpour !
5
Hi, for your 14 hours transit, go out and save your luggage, and take a taxi (buy blue bird taxi ticket in the counter), and thy the national museum in central Jakarta, or Ancol or Taman Mini, if taxi is too expensive take a shuttle bus (DAMRI BUS) for Gambir station, from there just walk to National Muesum, other ways, there is airport side hotel location just in the international arrival hall, or if this hotel is too expensive try Amaris hotel (buy hotel voucher in the hotel counter in the arrival hall, they have free shuttle for pick up and drop you in the next day), good luck
