I spent the last two nights of time in Asia at the Park Hyatt Jakarta, a lovely and inexpensive luxury hotel that left me very satisfied. At only $213/night, I can’t think of a better deal for a five-star Park Hyatt hotel.
Park Hyatt Jakarta: Luxury For Less
During this trip, I’ve been using “Guest of Honor” awards to enjoy Globalist status without being Globalist. What I’ve found out is that most hotels do not know what this is, which is somewhat surprising. Here, for example, I was welcomed at an Explorist and told I had been upgraded to a deluxe room and could enjoy 2:00 pm checkout. I mentioned that I have a Guest of Honor applied and there seemed to be a look of confusion on the face of the agent checking me in. I think many Hyatt workers just think that Guest of Honor = free breakfast.
As it turns out, my flight departs at 5:30 am from Jakarta so it’s not like I needed a late checkout and I did not push for a suite because I was alone and I hope my review of a “regular” room will give a broader range of travelers a better idea of what to expect.
With that aside, I love this hotel. My “regular” room is still very spacious:
The pool has magnificent views of the Jakarta skyline:
Excellent fitness center and wellness facilities as well, including a sauna and steam room:
Breakfast was a treat, with an excellent buffet, a la carte menu, good coffee, and fresh-squeezed juices:
One of the coolest things at this hotel for Globalist guests (or Guest of Honor guests…and again, there was great confusion about this for me, which was really the only annoying part of my stay) is a nightly “Social Hour” in which you can enjoy two drinks, including cocktails, and several appetizers/canapes. I thought this was really well done in the rooftop Kita bar the first night and at “The Bar” on level 23 the second night.
There are so many nice hotels I’d like to try in Jakarta, but this was a great stay and a great deal at only $213 per night. The Park Hyatt Siem Reap is also reasonably priced, but typically closer to $300, making this hotel one of the most inexpensive Park Hyatts I have ever stayed in.
The location is central…I went out for a walk and will share some pictures from that walk…but Jakarta is not my favorite city. But I’d return to Jakarta just to enjoy relaxation at a nice hotel for a fraction of the cost you’d pay in the US or Europe.
I’m sharing about my whirlwind trip through Asia.
You can’t beat high end hotels in SE Asia. The number of amazing properties at super cheap prices makes it a heaven for travelers. I never forget when I used to stay at Peninsula and Mandarin properties for less than $100 per night in Asia.
+1 Absolutely right.
It’s actually a joy to stay in luxury hotels in Asia (including India’s Taj group) – excellent and courteous service, great recognition of elite status, and always willing to go above and beyond.
Luxury Hotels in NA have become lousy in general (one exception we have enjoyed is the WA in Monarch Beach / Dana Point). Europe is marginally better, but still a night an day difference to Asia.
Your comment about NA hotels becoming lousy is spot on. No matter how luxurious, the lack os empathy by employees makes the experience less interesting. Asian people always seem more genuine and happy to do their work while most people working at NA hotels feel more mechanical and robotic and only smile for a tip. Staying at a luxury hotel in Asia is an experience, in NA is a transactional experience.
You are absolutely right. NA properties are purely transactional. To take your point further, it is precisely this reason why we have stopped flying domestically, with the exception of work trips, visiting family, and kids’ tournaments etc.
We asked ourselves – why would we fly to Hawaii, when we can go to Fiji, and enjoy a wonderful vacation with the kids for 1/5th of the hotel price with genuine hospitality and kindness.
Another example – when we were staying at the WA in Kuwait, our flight was leaving early on the day of our check-out, so we could not enjoy the wonderful breakfast spread. The hotel anticipated this when we checked-in, and on the day of our departure had a wonderful breakfast hamper, including fresh OJ, prepared and packed for us – we enjoyed this on our drive to the airport, and we were very grateful.
I have yet to enjoy the levels of Asian / ME hospitality in NA or Europe.
In Europe, we have switched to staying in unique country-side locations which are family owned and operated in order to enjoy true warmth and hospitality (Castello’s in Italy etc.) – I think you alluded to this in one of your posts from some time ago (Family run places vs hotels in Europe).
We are absolutely on the same page. When the kids were younger we used to take summer vacations in the US. Many years in FL, four different times to Hawaii and then I remember my older son getting interested in European History and asking if we could go to Europe next summer vacation. My wife and I weren’t sure about as traveling in the US was easier, more predictable and convenient. That was 2016 and we decided to mix a bit of history and beaches in Europe. We never looked back. This upcoming summer will make 10 years of summer vacation in Europe (minus 2020 and 2021 because of the pandemic). And yes, way cheaper, amazing local hotels, amazing healthier food, no stupid tipping expectations, etc…. Like you, I only travel domestically for work or to visit Colleges with my kids. Asia is always on the radar but the longer flights, time zones difference, makes it a bit more complicated.
Kevin Spacey claims to be living in hotels and homeless. Sounds like this would be my choice under the same circumstances.
In fact, Park Hyatt Jakarta could run a campaign, “Canceled? Lost your home? Welcome Home.”
I know you said the park hyatt in KL was booking for over 1k/night….i looked for prices next May, admittedly not high season, but also not a terrible time to be in KL…$330/night. i’d say that’s pretty compettive for a Park Hyatt that everyone seems to be raving about.
That’s an amazing price.
How ironic is this? I read a review recently of the exact same hotel recently by AZ Senator Mark Kelly. He said he goes there often, probably on taxpayer dollars, with his retarted wife.
He plans to make it his escape once he is subjected to court martial and has to flee the United States. He says being a creepy looking bald man is common there so he will mix right in. And since he doesn’t F kids, but says 90% of their guests do and aren’t bothered by local authorities he will be fine.
Got to love a man with a plan.
Even by your (low) standards this is nonsensical and vile.
Then donate to save this scumball from the gallows that are coming. Hopefully in the streets.
Or offer to su#k him off before his last meal. I’m sure you are better than old short bus he’s married to.
By the way, nothing I say is any worse than what you crazy leftists say about our President and his wife.
What are you smoking, Dave? No free speech when you disagree?
That video didn’t say to disobey military leaders…it said “You can refuse illegal orders…No one has to carry out orders that violate the law.”
And?
Did you ever watch the movie A Few Good Men? It’s a powerful reminder…
Man, you are so obsessed with gay sex it’s ridiculous.
What most people say about Pedo McYamtits is probably true. But your pride is using the r-word shows just how disgusting and vile a person you are.
What’s the brain power of someone who can’t spell retarded?
I change it because most places don’t allow it and block the word, but total respect for still using it! The woke assclowns among us try to use other words to justify the Mongolian Idiots among us.
Thankfully Matt still allows it.
I think you meant mongoloid! 😉
We don’t want to offend our readers from Ulaanbaatar.
Curious. How many are there? There must be at least one!
I believe it was one of Senator Kelly’s staffers who stand at the PH in Jakarta (based on RE-2 travel disclosures)
Sorry to be a one-upper, but let me one-up you really quickly. I’m in India right now and I spent Sat-Mon at that Park Hyatt Chennai. My rate was $152 and it included r/t airport transportation. Very nice for the midnight arrival in Chennai. I got upgraded to a premium suite, and I think I may have been the only globalist on property because my service was personalized to a degree which I’ve never seen.
Regardless, India, Indonesia, Malaysia etc sure are great places for Park Hyatts.
Jerry, I love the Park Hyatt Chennai! Enjoy your time there.
https://liveandletsfly.com/park-hyatt-chennai-review/
Why are you not updating your blog? Your travels are fascinating to me.
I’ve actually moved over to Goa. I’m at the Grand Hyatt now…
My blog covered a period of my life where I didn’t work and I only traveled. I’ve had a full time job for nearly a decade now, and tend to keep my travels private from my professional life. My partner and I often think about chronicling it again. I think we have a lot of great insights.
Douchebag Dave Edwards, looking at all the commentors who think you are a POS, your parents must be so proud of you (not).
Douchebag Dave Edwards, proving with your every (too frequent) comment that your nickname is absolutely accurate and completely deserved and that you have nothing better to do with your pathetic waste-of-oxygen life than to post abhorrent and revolting comments here over and over again every single day. Thank you for confirming again that you and other MAGAs are stupid hateful racist cretins. Trolling or not, the extent and frequency of your comments are indicative of severe psychiatric and/or addiction problems. Your insults, undoubtedly projection, speak much more to your lack of character than to anyone you attack. You should crawl back under whatever rock you crawled out from you SHPOS.