The beach or the mountains? It's your choice
The beach or the mountains? It's your choice
T. Sima Gunawan, Contributor, Jakarta
Jakarta is a hot, hectic city, crowded with people and cars. Luckily, not far from the metropolis, you can find many places with beautiful views where you can unwind.
You don't have to go as far away to relax and enjoy a different atmosphere that will refresh your mind and body.
Among the holiday resorts close to Jakarta are Anyer, the Thousand Islands (Kepulauan Seribu in Indonesian) and Tanjung Lesung. These are for those who enjoy the sea, while for those who prefer a cool mountain breeze, Puncak is the place.
Anyer is only about a 90-minute drive from Jakarta. It is quite easy to get there, thanks to the toll road that connects the two places. Arriving in Anyer, you can see the sea and hear the roaring waves from the road. You can park your car and play along the public beach, which is relatively quiet during weekdays.
There are many hotels and cottages located along the road. Among them are the Marina Village, Sol Elite Marbela and Sanghyang Indah Resort, which offer various facilities for sports and leisure, from snorkeling and fishing to banana boats and jet skiing.
A room at the Marina Village resort hotel costs between Rp 550,000 and Rp 600,000 (about US$65), while a cottage costs about Rp 1.5 million a night. Meanwhile at the five-star Sol Elite Marbela, it costs Rp 900,000 for a standard room and Rp 3.5 million for a special suite with four beds and a living room.
"Every Saturday night there is a debus show, which is a great attraction for our foreign guests," said Fajri from the hotel, referring to the famous "magic" show from Banten.
You can also have fun by availing of the water sports facilities, all of which cost extra. For example, jet skis and banana boats are available for rent for Rp 150,000 for 15 minutes. If you want to go snorkeling or diving, you can rent a boat that will take you to the Sanghyang islands, or other places with beautiful coral reefs, for Rp 850,000. You can also view the natural beauty of Krakatau volcano from a distance.
"If you want to go diving, you can rent the equipment, but this is only for certified divers," said Fadjri.
Similar facilities are offered by the Sanghyang Indah Resort, which charges guests Rp 700,000 for a hotel room and between Rp 1.1 million and Rp 1.25 million for a bungalow.
If spending the holiday on an island is your choice, you can visit the Thousand Islands in Jakarta Bay or Tanjung Lesung in Banten, west of Jakarta.
As the name indicates, the Thousand Islands consists of a great many islands and islets in the waters to the north of Jakarta. Some of the islands have been developed into tourist resorts, like Pulau Ayer, Pulau Kotok, Pulau Matahari and Pulau Bidadari.
Pulau Kotok has 18 bungalows for rent. Each is for two persons. The cheapest one, which is equipped with a fan rather than an air-conditioner, costs Rp 600,000 for one person at the weekend, while the cost of a bungalow is Rp 750,000. On weekdays, the rate is reduced by Rp 50,000.
"You can go snorkeling near the pier and see the beautiful coral reef," said Widi Anggoro from Alam Kotok Indah Resort.
The snorkeling equipment is available for rent at a price of Rp 81,000 per day. You an also rent a boat if you want to go further afield for snorkeling, or diving to explore the magnificent underwater scenery. But again, only certified divers are allowed to dive there.
Tanjung Lesung is another place that is worth visiting. The 150-hectare island is a favorite holiday resort for the whole family. Sports facilities include basketball, beach volley ball, jogging, cycling and a mini soccer field, in addition to marine sports like sailing, diving and fishing.
It is also an ideal departure point for excursions to Krakatau or Ujung Kulon national park. There are three types of cottages at Tanjung Lesung. The smallest one has one bedroom for two people, while the biggest one has four bedrooms for seven people. It is currently offering special packages for between Rp 625,000 and Rp 2.18 million on weekdays, and between Rp 1.25 million and Rp 4.37 million at weekends. The weekday package includes breakfast, free use of a bicycle for one hour and free participation in daily resort activities, while the weekend package also includes a BBQ dinner, live entertainment and a local traditional show.
For anyone who prefers to spend their holidays in the mountains with fresh air and a cool breeze, Puncak is the right place to go. From Jakarta, it is only about an hour and a half's drive. But at weekends, the traffic is usually heavy as there are so many people from the city who like to spend their days off in Puncak.
After you come off the Jagorawi toll road and begin to ascend, going up into hills that reach an altitude of 1,500 meters, you quickly begin to enjoy the cool breeze and wonderful scenery as well as beautiful views of tea plantations.
Finding a place to stay will not be a problem as there are many hotels and villas in the area. Accommodation at a cheap motel could cost less than Rp 100,000 but a suite in a luxury hotel might set you back millions of rupiah.
Among the spacious resorts are Lembah Bukit Raya, Lembah Hijau, Ciloto Indah Permai, the Lido Lakes Resort and Novus Resort & Spa, all of which offer various sports facilities for the whole family.
The three-star Lembah Hijau sits in 14 hectares of lush gardens and has 150 hotel rooms, as well as bungalows. The weekend rate for a standard room is Rp 275,000, including tax and breakfast for two, and Rp 319,000 for a deluxe room. As for the bungalows, the smallest one with two bedrooms costs Rp 575,000 while the biggest one with five bedrooms is to be had for Rp 1.88 million.
"We have an indoor swimming pool with hot water, sauna, gym, facilities for basket ball, volley ball, badminton, pool, karaoke, fishing, and there is also a hiking trail," said Roy Souisa, the sales coordinator.
The Novus, which is a four-star hotel, offers rooms for between Rp 515,000 and Rp 2.88 million per night at weekends. Spa treatments start from Rp 100,000 per hour.