hi TF'si would appreciate a short suggestion regarding Jakarta. do i need the 35USD visa on arrival once at the airport?

i'm going there just for few days, just a short visit/VISA so....i'm wondering if anyone of you have been there before and could suggest me transportation,an average hotel and some MUST place to see. thx in advace   

Be careful, very very careful in Jakarta

Not sure if u'd be interested, I heard they have a slum tour, similar to the one in Mumbai, where u get to see the real life in slum area in Jakarta.

Apart from that I don't really know much, except that the traffic is quite bad. '

Hi there, you will need Visa on Arrival about 25USD, I think. Once you arrived at the Airport you will see a VoA counter before the immigration section. Jakarta is a very hectic, bad traffic jam, hot and polluted city. I would advise you to take busway as a public transportation since it's traffic free or take a taxy but make sure you choose Blue Bird. An average hotel will cost you around USD25-40. For the must place to see, I don't really have a place to recommend because Jakarta it's not a touristy place. You should go outside Jakarta to see lots of interesting places.

be careful with the pickpockets! that's the #1 reminder from our indonesian associates although i never experienced one... i agree with pink_lemonade 'blue bird' taxis they can be trusted and will not ripped u off. for the accomodation hmmm sorry man cant give specifics but i think its cheap:)

dont leave indonesia without eating padang and sop buntut! (not sure if u would like it but just try)

VOA will cost you US$10- for a 7 day visa or US$25- for 30 days. It is very easy as Pink Lemon says , there are counters before immigration.

From the airport take a Bluebird taxi which will cost about 120 000 - 150 000 rupiah (inlcuding tolls) to the centre of the city. If you want to save money the Airport bus is an ok service for 30 000 and takes you to Gambir railway station which is central.

The Ibis Arcadia is an ok and central hotel for about 350 000 - close to some shops and restaurants and Jakarta Circle which s considered the centre of Jakarta. If you want something upmarket the Borobudur Hotel is good (100+) Traffic is a shocker, worse than BKK but the 8 line Transjakarta network is reasonable if crowded, tickets are chep (35cents).

Do a one day trip to Bogor south of Jakarta and visit the Botanical Gardens there. You can take one of the ex Tokyo Express Trains which take about an hour and go on the hour. Hang out and wander around in Batavia which is the old Dutch capital area, do lots of clubbing as the nightclub scene is better than BKK (some of the hi so kids just party every night of the week) and check out the National Museum (there is even a Thai exhibition there).

Jakarta is a hot, sweaty and messy city but the people are warm and friendly and I would personally say it is safer than BKK but like any big city just keep your wits about you. Get out of the city as much as possible as there are many great places in Indo. Visit the uni and artist city of Yogjakarta if you have time for a few days and see Boribudur (worlds largest Buddhist temple) and Prambanan.