Hotel holiday packages for Ramadhan

Hotel holiday packages for Ramadhan

By Steffani McChesney

JAKARTA (JP): During the holy month of Ramadhan, many hotels in Jakarta are offering a variety of buka puasa (breaking of the fast) choices and, closer to Lebaran (Idul Fitri), special room packages for those who want to spend the holidays at a hotel. These packages are available for Indonesian citizens and KIM/S cardholders only.

For a get-away by the sea, Ancol Travelodge is offering a special Ramadhan room package until March 15, 1996. The offer is valid for a minimum of two nights and a 50 percent discount is for room accommodation only, except during the dates for the festive family package. The festive family package is offered until Feb. 22.

Grand Hyatt Jakarta is the place to go for a sumptuous buka puasa or luxurious stay in the heart of the city. To break the fast, The Grand Cafe is offering a light buffet menu featuring constantly-changing items. For those wishing a slightly heavier menu, the hotel is featuring such favorites as opor ayam (chicken cooked in coconut cream), ikan dabu-dabu and many other Indonesian favorites. The price of the daily buffet is Rp 42,000 per person. The Grand Cafe will present a special Indonesian buffet for Idul Fitri at Rp 43,000 per person.

Until March 3, the Lebaran room rate of Rp 452,200 (including tax) for single or double occupancy offered by the Grand Hyatt Jakarta is 45 percent off their normal rate. Guests will stay in a Grand room, receive a complimentary sahur (predawn meal during fasting month) set menu delivered to their room, or a continental breakfast at the Fountain Lounge between 6 a.m. and 10 a.m., a fresh fruit basket daily, a daily English language newspaper and complimentary use of the fitness center and outdoor swimming pool.

Hotel Ciputra is located in one of the best places to shop in Jakarta: Ciputra Mall. Their hotel package includes a two-night stay, check in on Feb. 19 and late checkout on Feb. 21.

On arrival, guests will receive a welcome drink and traditional snacks. A Lebaran dinner will be featured on Feb. 20. The hotel will serve a Ketupat Lebaran breakfast on Feb. 20 and 21. The room rates are between Rp 475,000 and Rp 575,000 for a deluxe room and between Rp 625,000 and Rp 750,000 for and Executive Plus room. A special discount of 50 percent off the published rate for rooms booked before or after the Lebaran package (maximum three nights) is also being offered.

Hotel Equatorial, convenient for business people in central Jakarta, is offering a buka puasa buffet and sahur menu at their Cafe California until Feb. 19. The buffet, available from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m., costs Rp 28,000 for adults and Rp 18,000 for children. The sahur menu is available from 2 a.m. to 4:30 a.m. at Rp 22,000 per person.

Hotel Equatorial is also offering a Ramadhan package until Feb. 19 and from Feb. 21 to Feb. 29. A single room costs Rp 210,000 per night and a double room Rp 238,000 per night (both include tax). This offer includes a sahur set menu, a breakfast buffet after Feb. 21, no additional charge for children under 10 years old and free use of the gym and swimming pool.

Hotel Horison is offering another option for the family who wants to stay by the ocean. Their package extends through Feb. 18 with room rates ranging from Rp 220,800 to Rp 248,300. The Lebaran package is offered from Feb. 19 to Feb. 21, with rates from Rp 248,300 to Rp 367,300 and requires a minimum stay of two nights. All room prices are inclusive of tax.

Hotel Indonesia is offering special Ramadhan room rates until Feb. 28. AT Rp 165,000 for a single room and Rp 185,000 for a double both include a choice of buka puasa or sahur meals. For those wishing to perform their prayers, praying clothes are available. Special menus for buka puasa and sahur are available at the Ramayana Terrace and through room service.

Hotel Kristal in Cilandak is offering a Ramadhan package for Indonesian citizens only, consisting of one bedroom, two bedroom and three bedroom serviced apartments ranging in cost from Rp 180,000 to Rp 280,000 per night. These accommodations are particularly suited to families whose servants go home for the holidays. A special buka puasa buffet from 5:30 p.m. daily, at Rp 12,000 per person, is also available. On Feb. 20 there will be a lunch buffet, Rp 22,000, to celebrate Idul Fitri.

The gardens and many restaurants of Jakarta Hilton International are a restful place to spend time during the holy month of Ramadhan. The Hilton is offering many different choices of food at its pastry shop and various restaurants for buka puasa and the Idul Fitri celebration.

The Hilton Ramadhan room packages extends through Feb. 28 and includes sahur and a 25 percent discount for laundry. Room rates range from Rp 250,000 to Rp 320,000.

Guests breaking their fast at the Lemon Grass and La Brasserie restaurants at Le Meridien Hotel are offered complimentary tea, coffee and dates to go with a delicious selection of food on their special buka puasa menus.

A musholla (prayer room) is available within the hotel 24 hours a day. Le Boutique Gourmande, the French cake shop, has Idul Fitri delicacies such as lapis legit (sweet layer cake) and lapis Surabaya and gift hampers are available until Feb. 19. Banquet facilities can also be booked for buka puasa dinners and Idul Fitri celebrations.

Le Meridien is offering a Lebaran deluxe room package until Feb. 25 for Rp 280,000 (including tax) per night for single or double occupancy. For an additional Rp 170,200 per night, the entire family can enjoy a suite in the hotel. The package includes in-room tea and coffee making facilities and use of the fitness center.

The Sahid Jaya Hotel has Ramadhan room packages available until Feb. 29, ranging from Rp 199,000 for a single room to Rp 250,000 for a double room. There is no extra charge for children under 12 but their meals are Rp 15,000 extra. The Choice Pastry Shop is offering gift vouchers for special Lebaran cakes. The Sukoharjo Restaurant has a buka puasa buffet featuring Islamic music. On Feb. 20 and 21 there will be a special Ketupat Lebaran family meal in the Bengawan Solo Restaurant.

Ramadhan activities at the Sari Pan Pacific will take place in their newly renovated Restoran Fiesta. A buka puasa buffet is available until Feb. 20. The price is Rp 34,000 for adults and Rp 20,000 for children under 12 years old. The buffet features an Indonesian menu and special desserts such as kue serabi (rice flour pancakes), kue mangkok (cupcakes) and kolak pisang (bananas cooked in coconut cream and palm sugar). A musholla is annexed to Restoran Fiesta.

The Sari Pan Pacific Idul Fitri room package is available until Feb. 29 for Rp. 250,000 per night (including tax and services). The package consists of accommodation for two adults and two children under 12 and a complimentary buffet breakfast in Restoran Fiesta .

The final hotel in our Ramadhan package tour, the Shangri-La, has a special Lebaran room package on offer until Feb. 25 for only Rp 392,000 for one night, Rp 700,500 for two night and Rp 1,000,010 for three nights (all prices inclusive of tax). The package includes an upgrade to a deluxe room, daily breakfast in the Coffee Garden or sahur room service, use of the health club and late check-out.

All room package rates and special buka puasa menus and buffets have additional tax and services charges, except where stated.

Most of Jakarta's hotels have some kind of package on offer, so if your favorite is not mentioned, give them a call and see what's available.