Daily Life: Travelling in Jakarta from airport to central Jakarta n back

I just came back from Jakarta for the Jakarta marathon n wishes to pen this down before i forget all about it.

Many a times we always say take the public transport when travelling if u want to save money n get to mix with the locals. I did the same when i went to Jakarta but what makes it worse is the language. Most Indonesian speak Indonesia malay n seldom any english. I was luckily to find out some info online to see how to travel from airport to city area to save on the toll charges n taxi fares.

There are many options to go from airport to central Jakarta. There is the taxis which one group, blue bird group is famous for their cleanliness n no nonsense meter usage. This way there is little dispute on the fares. Other taxi are more need to negotiate first.There are also those expensive taxi but i will leave them out. There is the cheap Damri bus which is what i took from Terminal 2 to Gambir (central Jakarta). Gambir is a train station situated next to the national monument so its a good way to travel out. To get to the bus terminal, once exit from departure hall, turn left n go straight. The taxi drivers are around to ask u to take their services. Just kindly reject their offer of service. At the counter, just say Gambir n pay Rp 30,000. The bus will come around 10-15 mins n operate from 7am to 11.30pm There are many Damri bus going to other areas so make sure u board the correct one. The bus are label at the front n there are bus conductor shouting their destination.

If u don't wish to pay at the counter, the bus attendant will also collect when the bus leave the airport. The Damri bus travel from Terminal 2 to 1 to 3. I alighted at the entrance of the Gambir train station as to go in is to spend extra money on the taxi to the hotel. First day i arrived around 8pm Jakarta time (Indonesian time is 1 hour behind SG time), it dark n i am not familiar with the route.

To return back to Airport from Gambir, go to the train station n look for a small mosque. it is labelled (n near to the toilet) The Damri buses are packed at its carpark lot. Just check that the bus is going to airport, put ur luggage if any n go in. The bus attendant will go around after the bus has left the Gambir station to collect the Rp 30,000 ticket. Also he will ask for the airline u boarding. For TigerAir, it operates from terminal 3 but there are flights from Terminal 2 as well so always check with the air ticket printed out. It will shows which terminal to go to. Also there is the airport tax of Rp 150,000 which is excluded from the airfare. There is nothing much to eat inside the departure hall so best is to take it outside (before enter gate) or go to arrival hall for some A&W or KFC (if at terminal 2 arrival hall).