Grand Hyatt Jakarta

Jakarta is an exotic place, to be sure, and many of its hotels are heavy on showmanship. But Jakarta is also the capital of Indonesia, a vast nation, and an important player in the global economy. As such, it needs a few no-nonsense business hotels, of which the Grand Hyatt is king.

Fears of a bland and homogeneous hotel experience prove baseless, however; the Grand Hyatt is up to the standards of the best business hotels in any major city. The look is perhaps a bit less modern than that of the latest business hotels, incorporating traditional Indonesian materials and craftmanship. But this is no museum — every modern amenity is accounted for, from the electronic controls that run the 428 rooms and suites to the 24-hour business center and extensive conference facilities. The fitness/leisure center is beyond comprehensive, with an outdoor lagoon swimming pool that has to be seen to be believed, and several outdoor tennis courts - all right in the middle of one of the largest cities in the world.

We recommend a drink on the terrace at sunset to the sound of the call to prayer from nearby mosques. Those of you being called will have better things to do, but others will also be touched by the multitude of voices calling it the end of a long and hot day. In fact everything one could wish for is on-site, or close at hand; the location is central, adjacent to the Plaza Indonesia (prime shopping territory) and close to a number of government offices and cultural institutions. Soekarno Hatta International Airport is 40 minutes away by car.