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Morena Pub & KTV - 24H Massage Parlor - Batam

October 22, 2016, 3:43 am
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Morena Pub, KTV and Massage is a small one-stop entertainment venue located on a dodgy street just a 5 minutes walk from Kampung Bule. I was walking in that area when I saw the lights still on at 3am on a Friday and I just went in for a quick beer for research purposes.

I was surprised to discover the place was quite new, clean and welcoming. You have a stage for live music in the center and sofas all around it. I was the only customer, apparently because it was too late and the bar was about to close. The waiters told me that if I had come at 11pm, I could have enjoyed a local band and a more busy atmosphere. They seem to have sexy dancers, possibly strippers. The massage parlor is open 24h.

The particularity of Morena is that there is a fishbowl/aquarium from which you can select girls to bring to the rooms upstairs. Even though it is officially for a "massage", my understanding is that you can have sex. At 3am, there was only one lady in the fishbowl though and she was sleeping with a phone still in her hand. She kind of looked like a corpse. After a few minutes, I heard a group coming down from the stairs, apparently after a karaoke session. The guys left and some pretty girls started to hang around the bar. A waiter asked me if I wanted one but I declined.

The music was very loud local techno for which I have a limited tolerance so I left after just 10 minutes. The beer was Rp45k. 

Sorry the photo I tool is horrible and doesn't do justice to the place. You can get more pics on their website: Morena Bar, Karaoke, 24h Massage Batam

Morena Pub, KTV and Massage Parlour
Complex Windsor Square Blok B No 63- 65
(in front of Allium Hotel and next to New Hotel)
Nagoya, Batam, Riau

Phone number: 0821 4695 5555
Facebook: Morena Batam

Opening Hours:
Every day from 6pm until 4am for the bar, until 5am for the karaoke. Massage 24h.
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De Leila (Arabic Nightclub) - FX Sudirman

October 23, 2016, 5:19 am
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Update 24th October 2016: 17 Moroccan prostitutes were arrested in De Leila over the weekend, yet strangely no newspaper was mentioning the name of the club. This is the review I wrote about the venue in March 2016:

De Leila is an arabic nightclub located on the 8th floor of FX Sudirman, where Privé used to be. It is a popular party spot for tourists from the Middle East and particularly Saudis, Qatari and Emiratis. You have a few other nationalities such as Egyptians, Iranians, Turkish and Omanis. Even though most customers are Muslims, alcohol and prostitutes are widely available.

I had reviewed De Leila before when it was still in Putra Jasa on Jalan Gatot Subroto. You can see the original review here: De Leila Gatot Subroto.

Do you need a hotel near De Leila? Harris FX is walking distance and the price is affordable. You can compare the prices here: HotelsCombined.

The new De Leila was opened a year ago early 2015. It is still partly owned by the Ahmad Fahmy family (also behind Tanamur).

It is now more modern and spacious, with an upmarket feel. I have to warn you though that is a a place of prostitution, with at least 50 freelance working girls from Indonesia, China and Morocco (yes there are Moroccan prostitutes in Jakarta!). You will notice that many girls are plump while some are borderline obese. Many are very pretty though, better than in BATS, Blok M or CJs.

The music in De Leila is Arabic, either from their live band or from the DJ. It is best to book a sofa so you can enjoy the show with the best possible view. You can order shisha as well.

There is also a mezzanine with brand new pool tables and a second bar. There was no belly dancers when I visited but there are regular performances.

The entrance fee is Rp125,000 and it includes one free draught beer.

I shot this video inside of their beautiful and sexy belly dancer (apparently from Uzbekistan):
De Leila Arabic Nightclub
FX Mall Sudirman 8th Floor (You have a dedicated entrance in the lobby of FX)
Jalan Jendral Sudirman Pintu Satu Senayan
Jakarta 10270

Phone number: +6221 2555 4489
Email: claudyasti@yahoo.com

Facebook: Arab Bar Jakarta
Website: DeLeila

Opening Hours:
Every day from 7pm to 4am (from 5pm on Saturday and Sunday)
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Loligo Club, Karaoke and Hotel (Senggigi - Batu Layar)

October 4, 2016, 5:34 am
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Loligo is a new nightclub, karaoke and hotel that opened in Senggigi in July 2016. It is more modern than the average for Lombok standards, yet until now it isn't very crowded nor happening.

They have live music and DJs every day starting 9pm until closing time. You can check their Facebook below for events as they may have sexy dancers or famous guest DJs/bands (Indonesian).

As they are trying to fill up the place, they are doing rather interesting promotion deals: The entry is free and you can get a vodka bottle for less than Rp600,000. A cocktail will cost you about Rp90,000 net.

Be careful, there is also a Loligo Spa (which is a plus plus spa actually) but it is in a different location in Senggigi and with a different owner.

Loligo Club, Karaoke & Hotel Lombok
Jalan I Gede Nakti No.1, Batu Layar, Senggigi, Lombok

Phone number: 08 52 38 39 14 96
Email: loligoclublombok@gmail.com
BB PIN : 5F521E30

Facebook: Loligo Senggigi
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Citra Executive Club & Karaoke (Senggigi - Lombok)

October 18, 2016, 3:49 am
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Citra Executive Club & KTV is a famous local party spot in Batu Layar in the Southern coast of Senggigi (Lombok). Though not located directly in the city center, it is quite popular because of their girls, their events and the availability of drugs.
The main hall features a live band everyday that sings Indonesian and American Top 40 hits. Once it stops, it is replaced by a DJ, most often a girl, who plays fast "funky house" techno music (I'll let you google it if you are not familiar with it). On weekends, you can expect sexy dancers and more famous artists from Jakarta (singers or DJs).

There are lady companions available to drink or sing with you in the karaoke rooms:
Citra Club Pub & Karaoke
Jalan Raya Senggigi Km. 5 Montong - Batu Layar - West Lombok
Phone number: +62 (0) 370 692 019
BB Pin: 59D88999
Email: citraclublombok@gmail.com

Facebook: Citra Club Lombok
Instagram: Nightclub Lombok Citra
Twitter: Citra KTV & Disco

Open every day until 2am.
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Sahara Nightclub & KTV (Senggigi - Lombok)

October 22, 2016, 1:59 am
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Sahara Nightclub is one of the oldest and popular nightlife venues in Senggigi. Designed with an Egyptian theme, it consists of a main room with DJs and live band, a mezzanine, a restaurant called Pizza House and a karaoke.

The live band plays everyday before midnight, mostly Top 40 and pop/rock songs. The DJs mix Western music (Hip-Hip, EDM or Trap). They have famous Indonesian artists almost weekly on Saturday, for instance DJ P. Joana or DJ Angger Dimas recently.

Though the place is more quiet during the week, you may want to try one of their weekly parties like the campus night on Monday (free entry + promos with student ID card) or the ladies' night on Thursday. On that day, ladies get a free entrance and, if they are a group of 6, they get a free bottle of Black Label Whisky.

In spite of this, the crowd is very masculine and local. Don't expect something too fancy as you would find in Bali. The girls are often lady companions or sexy dancers, but you also have a few tourists.

 Entrance fee around Rp50,000 with a beer.

Opening Hours:
Every day from 8pm to 4am except Sunday.

Sahara Club & Karaoke & Pizza House
Senggigi Plaza, Lombok, Nusa Tenggara Barat, Indonesia
(Not too far from the great resort Pool Villa Club or the less expensive, yet acclaimed, Mama Bella's Retreat)

Phone number: +62 370 61 94143 or 08 77 8899 7772
Email: saharaclublombok@yahoo.com

Instagram: Sahara Lombok Nightlife
Facebook: Sahara
Twitter: Sahara Lombok
Website: www.saharalombok.com/
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HH Discotheque - Planet 3 (Batam)

October 24, 2016, 10:00 am
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HH Discotheque in Planet Hotel 3 has to be one of the loudest I've ever been to in my life. I went inside  for only 20 minutes, but my ears are still ringing from the noise until today.

HH is one of the many ecstasy-oriented nightclubs in Batam, along with Planet 1, Planet 2 Newton and Pacific. They all have pretty much the same concept: Total darkness, aggressive techno music and drug dealers ready to serve you. There are also prostitutes naturally.

On the day I visited (Friday), it was quite busy but not as much as Newton. I ordered a regular beer which I was surprised to pay a whopping Rp75,000 (considering I had already bought a Rp30,000 entrance fee with no drinks). A few seconds after I sat, a security guard came to ask me if I wanted girls or ecstasy. I said no, then a waiter also tried. Later, a girl came to my table, introduced herself and asked me for drinks. She left immediately after I told her I didn't want to buy her anything. Anyway the club was so dark that I had no idea what her face looked like.

I didn't visit the rest of the complex but there seems to be a "hotel" (= a brothel), a massage parlour and a 24h KTV.

HH Club and KTV Batam
Nagoya City Centre Phase II Blok B No. 88 (Nagoya)
Phone number: +62 778 426611

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F1 Club and Planet 1 Disco (Batam)

October 24, 2016, 7:46 pm
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F1 Club & KTV is my favorite nightclub in Batam. It is located on the basement of Planet Holiday, one of the largest and most famous hotels on the island. In the same building, you also have Planet 1, a head-shaking techno disco similar to Newton, a billiard center and a big karaoke.

F1 is built in a L shape with a bar occupying the whole left side. In the middle, you have a stage for live bands to perform and sofas just in front. It is not so big so you should make a table booking if you plan to visit on a weekend night (during the week it is much more quiet). They have a live band every night until 2am (Top 40 and Indonesian songs), followed by a DJ playing party anthems/EDM until 5am. There are quite many girls, most of which I believe are working in the karaoke. There might be a few normal ones as well. I also saw at least 2 ladyboys.

No entrance fee. A whisky coke cost Rp112,000.

The official owner of the Planet group is a man named Karto. According to credible sources though, the owner of Pakuwon group (behind Tunjungan Plaza in Surabaya, but also Top 10 Coyote and Station Club) may be another major shareholder. It wouldn't be surprising at all.

F1 Club, Planet 1 Discotheque Batam
Planet Holiday Hotel & Residence
Jalan Raja Ali Haji, Batam, Riau, Indonesia

Phone number: +62 (0) 778 433 555
E-mail: sales@planetholidayhotel.com
Website: F1 Club Batam
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Guide to Choosing Your Hotel in Jakarta

October 5, 2016, 6:20 am
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I am asked daily by readers for tips about choosing a hotel in Jakarta. This little guide should answer all the questions I've ever received such as:

- What is the best area to stay in Jakarta?
- Where can I find a cheap guesthouse for under 10$ per night? Is there a backpacker area in Jakarta?
- What are the best budget hotels in Jakarta? Which hotel chain offers the best value for money?
- What is the best accommodation for less than 50$?
- Which 5-star hotel should I choose? Which 5-star hotel is the closest from action? Which 5-star hotel has the best bars and restaurants?
- Can I bring girls to my hotel in Jakarta? What are the names of girl-friendly or guest-friendly hotels in Jakarta?
- Can I actually sleep in Alexis Hotel, Malioboro Hotel, Travel Hotel or Classic Hotel?
- Is there a spa or massage parlour near my hotel?
- Which hotel do you recommend near the airport?
- Which hotels are connected to popular malls?

Important: I included a direct link to Agoda to help you book your hotel. I make a small commission on every booking so if you like this review and value the hours I spent writing it, I would be really grateful if you used one of these links. If you don't like Agoda, you can also use my links to HotelsCombined.com (hotel comparator) or  Booking.com. The price is the same for you!
16 Cheap Girl-Friendly Hotels in Jakarta

If you have other questions, please write them in the comment section below and I'll do my best to answer it.

What is the best area to stay in Jakarta?
Since Jakarta is so big, deciding on where to stay in Jakarta really depends on what you will do there.

Traffic should be your main consideration and you should choose the location that will minimize as much as possible the time spent going from one place to the other.

1) If you are in Jakarta for work and you need to go to a lot of meetings, choose a hotel close to your meeting points or close from your office, even if they are not in central locations. The traffic usually gets better starting 9pm so you can still go out quite easily after that.

Anyway, there are now malls almost everywhere in Jakarta so wherever you'll stay, you will be close from a fair number of restaurants, bars, coffee shops, gyms, cinemas and hang out spots.

If you are having meetings all over the city, then choose a location near the major roads such as Gatot Subroto, Sudirman, Thamrin, Gajah Mada or the Jakarta Inner Ring Road.

2) If you are in Jakarta for fun or for party, then you must decide what is your style:

- You want to party in the expensive nightclubs in Central and South Jakarta?
It is best to stay anywhere near from Jalan Sudirman, Plaza Indonesia, Mega Kuningan, Jalan Rasuna Said, Plaza Senayan. Kemang is too far in my opinion but it could be an option if you want to be close from the best Western food options.

If you are with a group, you can consider renting an entire apartment:  Check for apartments in Jakarta.

- You want to party with locals in North and West Jakarta?
Choose a hotel in one of these neighborhood: Chinatown (Glodok), Gajah Mada, Mangga Besar, Hayam Wuruk, Tamansari, Lokasari, Pecenongan. Hotels in these areas usually offer a much better value for money than in the South but the surroundings are more dirty and less safe. You also won't have nice malls, only Gajah Mada Plaza and Lokasari Square. Mangga Besar hotels are all girl-friendly and they are close from hundreds of great street food options.

Another good point with this location is that you can still reach Central Jakarta quite easily within 30 minutes. There is a very convenient busway line running from Kota Station to Blok M that you can use.

Alternatively, if you are mostly interested with karaokes and massage parlours instead of clubs, you can go to Kelapa Gading, Mangga Dua, Grogol and Taman Anggrek. These areas also have huge malls nearby and they are not too far from the airport with the toll road.

Read my guide: Bachelor Party in Jakarta

3) If you are in Jakarta as a tourist, then I would recommend staying near Thamrin or Wahid Hasyim. Alternatively, you could also stay near Mangga Besar or Kota, but if you are not familiar with Jakarta you may feel uncomfortable as those areas are 100% local.

Where can I find a cheap guesthouse under 10$ per night? Is there a backpacker area in Jakarta?
As you will read in any guidebooks about Jakarta, the backpacker district is located in Jalan Jaksa. It is nothing compared to other popular traveler hubs in Southeast Asia like Khao San Road in Bangkok or Bui Vien in Saigon. You will only find a handful of guesthouses, usually not well-maintained and not very clean. Nearby, Jalan Wahid Hasyim has more choice but the prices are higher (at least 30$).

To find a decent room in Jalan Jaksa, you need to go inside the gangs (small streets) and look for guesthouse signs.  The prices are currently set at around Rp70,000 per night for a room with a fan. AC will cost you at least double.

In the past few years, there has been an increasing number of backpacker hotels that have opened elsewhere in the city, sometimes with higher standards. Teduh Hostel in Kota Tua or Six Degrees in Cikini are good examples. Their prices are quite high though, even for a bed in a dormitory.

I would still recommend Jalan Jaksa because of its very central location. It is next to Gambir train station (from where you can go to Yogyakarta or Bandung). It is also near from several key things to do in Jakarta like the Monas or the Istiqlal Mosque. 500 meters from Jaksa, the Sabang street is famous for its street food options.

What are the best budget hotels in Jakarta?
There are several budget hotel chains in Jakarta: Ibis Budget, Neo, Fave Hotels, Amaris, Pop Hotel, Whiz, Hotel 88, D'Prima. The price vary between 20$ and 45$ per night.

One of the cheapest budget hotel chain in Jakarta is RedDoorz. They have dozens of locations in the city which are in fact independent small residences. The level of comfort is good considering the price, usually less than 20$ for a double bed room. In particular, they have some very-centrally located property that I've review here: 5 Best Budget Hotels in Central Jakarta.

I also recommend to check the properties of ZenRooms. They are cheaper than traditional budget hotel chains yet they offer the same value for money. They have quality linens, flat screen TVs, free WIFI, individual AC and clean bathrooms.

They are currently available in several locations in Jakarta and in the rest of Indonesia.

Fave Hotels also have a great value for money, though they are a bit more expensive than RedDoorz.

Based on my experience though, the standards can be quite different within the same chain depending on who is the owner. For instance, the Fave Hotel in LTC Glodok is fantastic, probably because it is owned by Agung Podomoro Land (one of Indonesia's largest developer). Another great one is Fave Hotel Gatot Subroto. On the contrary, I stayed in Fave Hotel Kemang and Pasar Baru, both disappointing.

Also, the price may vary a lot depending on the location: The Fave Hotel Thamrin costs double compared to the one in Kelapa Gading.

If you plan on going bar-hopping in Blok M, you may want to stay in Fave Hotel Melawai which is walking distance from the infamous hostess bars. It is guest-friendly/girl-friendly.

Finally, there is also a Red Planet Hotel in Pasar Baru. If you have been to the Philippines, you will know it's one of the best budget hotel chains there.

What are the best 3-star hotels in Jakarta?
3-star hotel chains in Jakarta are Ibis, Harris, All Seasons, Santika and Holiday Inn. The price depends on the location and the day of the week (cheaper on weekends). In general, they will cost between 45$ and 60$ per night.

Again, within a chain there can be big differences. Ibis Tamarin and Ibis Arcadia on Jalan Thamrin are getting old but Ibis Harmoni is brand-new. 

I think it is best to find out when the hotel was open and to choose the more recent ones. All Seasons Gajah Mada, All Seasons Thamrin and Holiday Inn Thamrin were all opened less than 3 years ago.

What are the best 4-star hotel chains in Jakarta?
The prices of 4-star hotels in Jakarta vary greatly depending on the location. The cheapest ones, located outside the city center in Mangga Dua, Gajah Mada or Ancol can cost less than 60$ while those located near Sudirman or Thamrin cost up to 100$ per night.

The best chains are Novotel, Mercure, Santika Premiere, Aston, Swiss-Belhotel and Best Western. Again, don't trust a chain blindly, make sure that the hotel was built recently.

The newest 4-star hotels in Jakarta are: Mercure Sabang, Hotel Santika Premiere Hayam Wuruk and Novotel Gajah Mada

Which 5-star hotel should I choose? Which one is the closest from nightlife?
5-star hotels in Jakarta are almost all located within the Golden Triangle (Sudirman - Rasuna Said - Gatot Subroto). For this reason, all are rather close from any happening places.

Still, it is even more convenient to choose a hotel attached to one of the big malls. For this reason, you may want to choose:

- Kempinski, attached to Grand Indonesia
- Grand Hyatt and Keraton at the Plaza, attached to Plaza Indonesia (other options nearby include the Pullman Thamrin and the Mandarin Oriental). The Hyatt is a great option as it is close from Immigrant club, Cloud Lounge, Dreams Ego Lounge and Skye Rooftop.
- Ritz Carlton SCBD, attached to Pacific Place (there is also a Ritz-Carlton in Mega Kuningan)
- Fairmont, attached to Plaza Senayan (2 minutes walk)
- Pullman Grogol, attached to Central Park
- Sheraton in Gandaria City
- Raffles Hotel in Lotte Shopping Avenue - Ciputra World

A JW Marriott was suppose to open in Lippo Mall Kemang Village in 2014 but the project seems to be late.

The Shangri La and the Mulia are also popular with male because of their live music bars, BATS and CJs.

Can I bring girls to my hotel in Jakarta? Which hotel is guest-friendly or girl-friendly in Jakarta?
People are always wondering if they are allowed to bring a girl to their room in Jakarta. The answer is: 90% of Jakarta hotels are girl-friendly.

The only places where you may have problems are family guest-houses or small family hotels located in conservative areas. Outside Jakarta, there have been a few cases of over-zealous mayors raiding hotels to hunt unmarried couples sleeping together. These raids are actually against the law since it is not unlawful to sleep with someone you are not married to. The rule of law does not always apply in Indonesia, but hypocrisy does.

If you stay in any hotel with 3 stars or more, you will be most certainly allowed to bring guests overnight.

An ID is generally required so make sure your girl has her papers.

Hotels located in red-light districts are used to receive night visitors. If you are planning to go wild, then you may want to choose a room in Chinatown, Mangga Besar, Gajah Mada, Kelapa Gading, Mangga Dua, Blok M or Taman Anggrek.

Some naughty hotels also offer plus plus massage services in the room or in their spas. For example: Orchardz Industri, Orchardz Jayakarta, Orchardz Hotel Airport, Sparks Life, B'Fashion, Fashion Hotel (Gunung Sahari), Prinsen Park, Olympic Hotel.

At last, you also have some famous transit hotels such as Hotel BI Executive in Ancol. In this hotel, rooms have mirrors and porn movies are available at reception. You can also park you car just under your room if you want to be discreet.

Can I actually sleep in Alexis Hotel, Malioboro Hotel, Classic Hotel, etc?
Brothels in Jakarta often have a hotel license because it gives them more flexibility with the law. In particular, it allows them to open during ramadan.

Even though they are not listed on the traditional online booking engines like Agoda or Booking.com, they do accept guests.

Update August 2016: You can now book a night in Classic Hotel on Agoda.

Is there a spa or massage parlour near my hotel?
I wrote a long review that I update regularly about the location of all spas in Jakarta. Please read it: Where are the massage parlours in Jakarta?

Where can I sleep near the airport?
There is a growing number of budget hotels that have opened near the airport. You even have one, Orchardz Bandara, which is a hidden bordello.

The Airport hotels are located on both sides of the highway. If you have a flight early morning, it is best to choose a hotel on the left side of the road so it will save you 10 minutes.

A very good choice is the Swiss Bellinn or the Ibis Styles Airport.

Which hotels are connected to popular malls?
Choosing a hotel located inside a mall is a great idea as it will save you a lot of time. I already listed above the 5-star hotels located inside luxury malls:

- Grand Hyatt and Keraton at the Plaza, in Plaza Indonesia
- Fairmont in Plaza Senayan
- Sheraton in Gandaria City
- Raffles Hotel in Lotte Shopping Avenue - Ciputra World

You also have the following:

Mangga Dua Square: Amaris and Novotel
Pluit Junction: Fave Hotel (also not far from Emporium Pluit)
FX Mall: Harris Suites FX
ITC Mangga Dua: Le Grandeur
Seasons City: Amaris
Mahaka Square: Hotel Santika Gading
Mall Kelapa Gading: Pop Hotel, Harris Hotel and Conventions (and there is a Fave Hotel accross the road as well)

Some hotels are not connected to malls, but they are just located within walking distance. For instance:
Mall Of Indonesia: Whiz Prime
WTC Mangga Dua: Hotel Neo Mangga Dua
Emporium Pluit: Holiday Inn Express CityGate
Mal Ciputra: Hotel Ciputra
Plaza Semanggi: Crowne Plaza
Plaza Senayan: Century Park
CityWalk Sudirman: Intercontinental MidPlaza
Sarinah: Sari Pan Pacific, Artotel, Kosenda
Rasuna Epicentrum and Pasar Festival: Aston Rasuna and JS Luwansa
Kuningan City: Manhattan Hotel
Kota Casablanca: Park Lane
Ciputra World One: Somerset Grand Citra
Bellagio Mall: Oakwood Premier Cozmo
Blok M Plaza: Oak Tree Urban, Hotel Melawai, Amaris Panglima Polim

Which Hotels are Gay-Friendly in Jakarta?
Only one hotel is openly gay-friendly in Jakarta to my knowledge. It is "House of Bare", a small guest house located in West Jakarta, not far from Taman Anggrek and Central Park.

Conclusion
I hope this Jakarta hotel guide will cover all your questions about where to stay in Jakarta. Again, if you have any questions, just type them below and I'll answer them.

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Mekar Club and Karaoke (Lombok)

October 12, 2016, 8:26 pm
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Mekar is a local one-stop entertainment center with a club (with live music), a bar, a karaoke, a restaurant, a billiard center, and a tourist shop. It attracts almost exclusively either Indonesian tourists or Lombok residents as the live bands play Indonesian songs and the DJs mix "funky techno house". Drug use is very likely. Foreigners might be interested by the sexy dancers and the lady companions from the karaoke.

The prices are rather cheap: A bottle of Finlandia vodka will cost you only Rp600,000 before midnight for instance (Rp750,000 after that).

Mekar Club, Karaoke and Billiard
Jalan Raya Senggigi, Batu Layar, Lombok

Phone number: +62 (0) 370 693 172
Pin Blackberry: 29C82433 / 2A7F5723

 Jl Raya Senggigi - Lombok
 Joined December 2012

Twitter: Mekar Lombok
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Online Dating Sites & Apps In Indonesia (2016 Update)

October 20, 2016, 1:27 am
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I once wrote a review about dating Indonesian girls and where to meet them. You can still read it here: Where to meet Indonesian girls? Most of the information on the review is still valid, but it certainly needs an update on the world of online dating through websites or social apps such as Badoo, Tinder, WeChat, Skoot, Beetalk, etc.

If you are looking for a great girl in Jakarta, online dating is by far your best chance. 90% of the girls there are looking for a stable relationship. Another 9% is looking for money. And maybe less than 1 percent is looking for a one night stand (not the hottest girls usually). The fact that they are looking for a stable relationship does not mean they want to get married straight away. It means they want to feel a long term relationship is possible. For this reason, it may be more difficult for you to find a date if you are not staying in Indonesia and if you do not speak Indonesian.
Depending on which website or which app you use, you can pretty much chat with any type of women you could think of: Students, employees, executives, single mom, etc from any ethnicity or religion. There is such a diversity that it would be hard to generalize. To give you a better understanding, I will describe the specificities of each dating app or website below:

Tinder(Mobile app only)
When Tinder started in Indonesia, most of its users where either foreign or Western educated girls. Its base has now expanded, but it is still the most trendy app to use. For this reason, this is where you will meet the most girls who can speak English and who have well-paid jobs. This is also where the most girls are interested to meet foreigners.

IndonesianCupid.com and AsianDating.com (website)



Both are online dating sites where men must pay to send messages, but women can join for free. They heavily advertise on internet so they have a large user base.


Since it is a website, I find it much easier to write messages or browse profiles compared to dating apps on mobile phone.

Badoo (Mobile app and website)
Badoo used to be the best dating website to use in Indonesia but it has been ruined by online prostitution. A third of the girls on Badoo will now ask for money. They also have a mobile app which is called "Hot or Not". It has a very large number of users, with usually several hundred women online at anytime in Jakarta.

Badoo attracts 99,9% of Indonesian girls, from all background. You can filter girls by age, location, status, body type, etc. Most girls can speak English and many are interested to meet foreigners. Online prostitutes are very active on the site unfortunately.

Skout (Mobile app and dating site)
Skout is similar to Badoo but only works on a mobile phone. The ads are quite annoying so I didn't like using it. It has a fair number of Indonesian girls using it.

WeChat (Mobile app only)
WeChat has a "look around" feature which allows you to add girls located within a few kilometers from you. If they accept your invitation, you can start chatting with them.

Many ladyboys and prostitutes use that feature so it can be quite annoying if this is not what you are looking for. You will also probably receive a lot of invitations from other guys. Girls using this feature do not always speak English very well. It is popular with the Chinese community but your chances of getting a reply is low unless you speak Chinese.

Beetalk(Mobile app only)
Beetalk users are mostly Indonesian and young. It has a "look around" feature as well which is quite invasive as it tells you the exact position of the people around you. If you use it in popular malls like Grand Indonesia or Central Park, it will probably tell you a list of person within a very close range, sometimes a few meters only.

Few girls using Beetalk speak good English so it is more appropriate for those with a basic knowledge of Indonesian. It is a good app but not the most effective for foreigners.

Tagged / Hi5 (Mobile app and website)
Tagged and Hi5 are the same service since they merged in 2011. It used to be one of the most popular social networks in Indonesia but it is struggling now. It is still a relatively interesting website to try as the number of Indonesian users is quite large. I would say that girls on Tagged are usually a bit older: They made their Hi5 account 10 years ago and they haven't closed it yet.

Conclusion
All these dating apps and websites are free but you have to pay if you want to get some VIP features. For instance, becoming a paid member will generally entitle you to send more messages, to see who clicked on your profile or to be seen first by girls.

There are probably some scammers too so you should naturally always make sure the person you are talking to is real. I would recommend asking for the girl's facebook or skype.
There are other services that I haven't tried but they might work well. If you have used one of the following to find a date in Jakarta, it would be nice if you could write a comment about it below:

OK Cupid: Popular dating website but I don't think it is available in Indonesia at this moment.

Zoosk: One of the most popular dating apps in the world but I read some negative reviews about their privacy policy so I did not want to try it.

Ask.fm: Very popular social media in Indonesia, mostly with the younger crowd. It is not a real dating website but it is used as such by many Indonesians to make friends or get a date.

Wavoo is an Indonesian dating app which just started. It does not have a very large database of users at the moment.

Setipe is an Indonesian dating website which could be promising but it is still new and I encountered some problems to register.

Photo Credit: The photo are from Kucluk Oye.
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Where to Stay in Jakarta - Best Areas for Tourists

October 23, 2016, 9:38 am
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If you visit Jakarta as a tourist, you are probably wondering about the best areas to stay in the city.

Due to the horrible traffic and the lack of public transportation, I advise you to choose your location carefully. 1 kilometer in Jakarta is like 10 kilometer in normal cities. Just going to the opposite side of a street by car can sometimes take up to 30 minutes!

If you don't have time to readmy entire review, the following paragraph is a short summary:

The best place to stay in Jakarta, either you are a tourist or a businessman, is around Plaza Indonesia or Grand Indonesia, for instance: Kempinski, Grand Hyatt, Pullman, Mandarin Oriental. It is an expensive area though so if you are on a budget, you can stay near Sarinah Mall instead. You'll find backpacker hostels (Jalan Jaksa), 2 star hotels (Favehotel), 3-star hotels (Holiday Inn or Ibis Tamarin) and 4-star hotels (Morrissey or Akmani).

Need more addresses? See the following recommendations for Hotels near Grand Indonesia and Hotels near Sarinah.

If you have time to read my whole review, I will list below all the potential areas for you to stay in Jakarta, starting from the best.

(I included a direct link to Agoda to help you book your hotel. I make a small commission on every booking but the price is the same for you. You can compare using HotelsCombined.com (excellent hotel comparator) or  Booking.com.)

Hotel Indonesia (Plaza Indonesia / Grand Indonesia)

The iconic Hotel Indonesia roundabout (Bunderan HI in Indonesian) is one of the most famous landmarks in Jakarta. All around it are 5 luxury hotels (Kempinski, Grand Hyatt, Pullman, Mandarin Oriental, Keraton at the Plaza) and the two best malls in Jakarta (Grand Indonesia and Plaza Indonesia).

Both of these malls are great meeting points with lots of popular cafés, cinemas, restaurants, bars (Cloud, Social House, Skye) and nightclubs (Immigrant). It is a modern part of Jakarta ideal for lifestyle travelers who are interested with shopping, eating out and partying.

It is also central, so you can reach other parts of Jakarta fairly easily (for Jakarta standards). In particular, it is just a few minutes away from Tanah Abang (budget shopping), Jalan Sudirman (business district) and Menteng (government offices). Attractions like the Monas or the National Museum are only 15 minutes away. You can use public transportation to reach any of these (Transjakarta).
Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 1h and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Central, easy to access, upmarket area
Good for nightlife, shopping, eating and drinking out

Cons:
Nothing touristic in the immediate area (no monuments, no historical buildings, no traditional markets)
Busy, crowded with a lot of traffic
Nowhere to walk around except inside malls
No street food
Expensive

Sarinah Mall (Jalan Jaksa, Wahid Hasyim, Sabang)
The Sarinah Shopping Center is only a kilometer north of the Hotel Indonesia roundabout (see above), but the feel is much different. It is a middle class area with affordable shopping and restaurants. You will also find great Indonesian street food 24/7. Most buildings are low-rise but this might change soon as several towers are being built.

There are many convenient businesses for travelers, some of which are open 24-hour: Money changers, travel agents, internet cafés, printing services, photography shops, etc. You also have several laundries (one of which is a coin laundry).

The mid-range hotels are along the streets Wahid Hasyim and Agus Salim (nicknamed Sabang).

If your budget is very tight, meaning under 10$ a night, you can get a room in Jalan Jaksa. Many of the cheaper guesthouses are not listed on internet so it's best to just walk around and look for "room for rent/kos" signs.

The location is just as strategic as the one in Hotel Indonesia (you can walk there in 15 minutes). If you are not interested in going to malls, it is probably even better.

East of Sarinah is the upscale area of Menteng-Cikini, where some of the richest Indonesian families live. It is central with many nice restaurants, a few museums, public parks and cultural attractions. Hotels tend to be either pricey or low-quality. 
Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 1h and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Central, in-between modern Jakarta and old Jakarta
Many budget hotels with good value for money
Cheap shopping options
Travelers shops (Money changers, travel agents, etc)
Good street food
Very lively, even at night (many shops and restaurants are open 24-hour)
You can meet other travelers more easily (see Jalan Jaksa Nightlife)

Cons:
Not an upmarket location
Not walking distance from any tourist landmarks
It was the location of a terrorist attack in January 2016

Photo credit: https://www.instagram.com/kroenisme/

Golden Triangle
Mega Kuningan Streets
The Golden Triangle is the main business area of Jakarta and it is made from the following streets: Gatot Subroto, Rasuna Said and Sudirman. It comprises some famous neighborhoods such as Mega Kuningan, SCBD (Sudirman Central Business District) or Setiabudi. It extends in the South until Plaza Senayan and Senopati.

Mega Kuningan and SCBD are exclusive and modern areas with a Western city planning model. You'll find blocks, large streets and sidewalks, just like you would in an American city. It is the trendiest part of Jakarta and home to dozens of hip bars, clubs and restaurants. There are also several 5-star hotels (Ritz Carlton Mega Kuningan, Marriott) and luxury malls (Pacific Place). It is cleaner than the rest of Jakarta and you have less traffic jams. Some would say it's a ghetto for rich people that has nothing to do with the real Jakarta.

Many young, single expats choose to live there when they can afford it. If they don't have the budget, they may choose to stay in Setiabudi instead (see below).

Jalan Sudirman, Jalan Rasuna Said, Jalan Gatot Subroto are some of the busiest streets in Jakarta. They are packed with cars, messy and polluted. Still, choosing a hotel directly on one of these thoroughfares is a good idea to avoid unnecessary commuting time. Most are 4 and 5-star hotels though.

Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 45 minutes and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions. Gatot Subroto is the closest and it is connected to the airport highway. Mega Kuningan is more difficult to access (traffic bottleneck).

Pros:
Modern, Westernized part of Jakarta
Easy access to nightclubs, malls, trendy restaurants
Central
Public transport options (Transjakarta)

Cons:
Expensive
Limited street food options
No traditional street life
Heavy traffic during peak hours

Setiabudi
Setiabudi is a residential and low-rise neighborhood in the northern part of the Golden Triangle. Its residents were originally low to middle income families, but this is starting to change as the land prices increase. Many houses have been transformed into boarding houses, small apartments or hotels which are popular with single office workers (both Indonesians and expats).

You can get a room there for an affordable price while being near from the Central Business District (more information: How to Rent a Cheap Room in Jakarta). It is a great area for street food as well.

Staying in Setiabudi would not be my first recommendation though if you are a tourist because it can be difficult to get there (traffic) and to find your hotel (small streets).

Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 1h and 1h30m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Very good location between Sudirman and Rasuna Said streets
Low-rise, middle class neighborhood
Near offices, malls, nightclubs, bars, restaurants
Street food
Convenient shops (laundry, photocopy, etc.)
Possibility to walk around

Cons:
More complicated to access when you are not familiar with Jakarta
More difficult to get public transport
Traffic Jams

Kota Tua
Street food near Jalan Kali Besar in Kota Tua
Strictly speaking, Kota Tua (Old Town in Indonesian) is the area around Taman Fatahillah Square in North Jakarta. In this review, I use it to describe a larger zone inclusive of Mangga Besar and Glodok.

Kota Tua is infamous for being a red-light district: This is where you will find the most expensive naughty massage parlours, strip clubs, nightclubs and gogo bars in Jakarta. Most hotels are used for short time and the streets are busy 24/7.

In spite of this, staying nearby has several advantages: Hotels are much cheaper than elsewhere and they are close from many tourist attractions (Chinese temples in Glodok, Museums, Sunda Kelapa). Some people, including myself, also enjoy the authentic street life. Jalan Mangga Besar in particular is one of the best places to eat street food in Jakarta.

From Kota Tua to the city center of Jakarta (Plaza Indonesia), it will take about 1 hour with normal traffic conditions (30 minutes at night). There is a very convenient Transjakarta line from Kota Tua down to Blok M that goes through Monas and the the National Museum.
Summary:
Distance from airport:
Between 45m and 1h15m with normal traffic conditions.

Pros:
Near most tourist attractions in Jakarta
Near nightclubs, bars, massage parlours and karaokes (naughty ones)
Cheaper area in Jakarta for sleeping and eating out
Great and colorful street life
Street food stalls open 24/7 - Excellent Chinese food
Busway line

Cons:
More dirty and dodgy than average
No modern malls and restaurants
Lots of prostitutes

Other possible areas for staying in Jakarta
Kemang
Kemang is a popular area with expats because it is near from the international schools. Many live in expansive villas with swimming pool and gardens. It has a vibe similar to the one in Seminyak.

As a tourist staying in Kemang, you will be near from many designer shops, good Western restaurants and several bars and clubs. On the negative side, there are no tourist sights and it is far from the city center.

Gajah Mada/Hayam Wuruk (+ Pasar Baru)
This area is strategically located as it is between Sudirman and Kota Tua. There are not so many things to do in the immediate vicinity apart from some famous strip clubs and massage parlours (Malioboro, V2, Emporium).

Recommended if you are planning to visit places in both South and North Jakarta. They have recently opened several brand new hotels such as Hotel Santika Premiere Hayam Wuruk, Novotel Gajah Mada and Ibis Harmoni.

Mangga Dua
In North Jakarta, Mangga Dua is a shopping area with several naughty nightlife venues. It can easily be reached from the airport by the toll road, and it is not too far from the city's tourist attractions like Kota Tua or Ancol. If you need to go to the South, it will take you about an hour.

If you only have one night in Jakarta, it can be a more fun option than staying near the airport. After two nights, you might get bored.

Slipi-Taman Anggrek
This area is in the vicinity of the malls Central Park and Taman Anggrek. You can stay there if you want to be closer from the airport as it is only 40 minutes away by car. Downtown Jakarta is about 30 minutes away.

Pluit and PIK (Pantai Indah Kapuk)
This is an upscale area where many Rich Indochinese families live. It is close from the airport (less than 40 minutes) and you have a growing nightlife scene (see my review Nightlife in PIK).

Kelapa Gading
There are not many reasons to stay in Kelapa Gading apart from shopping and nightlife.

For shopping, you have several malls including the gigantic Mall of Indonesia and Mal Kelapa Gading.

For nightlife, you'll find mostly massage parlours plus plus, brothels, strip clubs and beer houses (Sumo, Delta, King Cross, Level 5 and other prostitution joints).

Map of the Best Areas in Jakarta - Summary
If you are interested to stay in Jakarta near the nightlife, please read my other hotel guides:

Contact me by email thibaud@jakarta100bars.com if you have any questions about where to stay in Jakarta (or just leave a comment below).
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Best VPNs in Indonesia- How to Access Blocked Websites

October 25, 2016, 4:00 am
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In this review I will explain you how to bypass Internet censorship (mostly porn) in Indonesia by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. I will also give you tips on how to watch Hulu and Netflix in Indonesia using a unique IP address.

Most porn and torrent websites are blocked in Indonesia. This includes all the most famous ones like XVideos, YouPorn, PornHub, XHamster, KickAss Torrents and The Pirate Bay. It is also not possible to visit some forums like Reddit or InternationalSexGuide.

Some regular websites have also been banned like Vimeo. Tumblr was shut down during 24 hours earlier this year as well.

Another problem internet users are facing in Indonesia is the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Act. This vague set of laws can make you the target of a defamation suit for exposing your views online. You are not allowed, for instance, of suggesting that someone might be corrupt.

Because of this law, posting a comment on Facebook, Twitter or Path in Indonesia can land you in jail. This is what happened to Alexander Aan or Florence Sihombing.

Since about a year ago, I decided to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in Indonesia. This allows me to visit any websites I want on the internet without anyone knowing about it. It is 100% legal, secure and safe. Actually, according to this 2015 study, Indonesia is the country with the most VPN users in the world: 23% of its Internet users are bypassing censorship by using a VPN.

The cost is cheap (less than 10$ per month) and it works great. If you travel a lot in Asia, it is also very useful in heavily-censored countries like Vietnam or China.

Since VPN companies usually give you a free trial for a few days up to 1 month, I tested several of them to make sure I was choosing the best. There are so many different companies that you could probably get a free VPN for at least a year just by changing provider once in a while. The prices are really reasonable though so once you've found one that works well, it's really more simple to just pay.

Here are my top 3 recommendations for best VPNs in Indonesia (I used the 3 of them and they worked great):

Hide My Ass (HMA) - Best VPN in Indonesia
HideMyAss.com
Hide My Ass is the most expensive of the VPNs listed here because they have 700 servers in the world, including in Indonesia. This means your connection is fast and smooth everywhere. If you can afford the extra dollars to get full speed, HMA is an excellent choice.

Hide My Ass is the VPN recommended by the Wall Street Journal to access blocked websites in China and it was also selected as the best VPN by the Guardian, Bloomberg and Forbes.

You can now try Hide My Ass for FREE! Just open the following link Hide My Ass Free and click on "Free Trial". You need to give your credit card details so don't forget to cancel after one month to avoid being charged.

If you decide to keep the paid version, it is much more interesting to choose a full year:

Pricing:
4,99$ per month with 1 year plan
7,49$ per month with 6-month plan
9,99$ per month without plan

The set up is super easy even if you are not good on computers and they are really fast to answer your questions of you have any.

Golden Frog - Vypr VPN - Fastest VPN Indonesia
Golden Frog's Vypr VPN is considered as one of the fastest VPNs in Indonesia. They also have a server in Jakarta and a strong presence in Asia. The support is excellent (ask any question and they will answer you within a few minutes). You can pay with Alipay or PayPal and you can use up to 5 devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, TV, etc).

Again, you can do a free trial for 3 days by opening this link: Promo Deal for Ivacy VPN - Indonesia. 

If you choose to keep it after the free period, you will pay the following:

Pricing:
5$ per month with 1 year plan
9,99$ per month without plan


NordVPN - VPN for Watching Netflix
This is often considered the best VPN on the market as they have a great support team that will help you with any of your requests. If you are planning on using US Netflix, this is your an excellent choice too as they have not been banned yet. This means you can use NordVPN to watch Netflix if you position your IP in the US. Only problem for Indonesian web users, they don't have a server in Indonesia at the moment so the speed is slower than the VPNs listed above. It is still good enough for most people (you can still download from torrents, watch movies, etc).

To try their services for free, you can just visit the following link: Nord VPN - 30-Day Money Back Guaranteed.

Since you can cancel and get your money back any time within the first month, I advise you to choose the 1 year plan directly to save on the long term.

Pricing:
4$ per month with 1 year plan
5$ per month with 6-month plan
8$ per month without plan

How Do You Access Porn/Blocked Websites in Indonesia? Do You Use A VPN As Well?
There are a lot of new VPN providers entering the market every month. If you are using a different VPN in Indonesia or if you have another way to visit porn/blocked websites in Indonesia, please leave a comment below to share your experience!
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Crowners Pub & KTV - Samarinda Nightlife

October 24, 2016, 4:46 am
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Crowners Pub & KTV is a nightclub in Samarinda (Borneo). It is located inside a big, easy-to-recognize, grey and red building on Jalan Tuanku Imam Bonjol. It is not far from the Horison Hotel (guest-friendly, recommended) and from its sister club Deja Vu.

The standards of Crowners are surprisingly decent for a mid-sized Indonesian town (not that surprising actually when you know that Samarinda is the capital of one of the richest provinces in the country). 

It looks rather modern and it should be sophisticated enough to please foreign guests. The sound and the lighting is good, and the live band is entertaining. They also have a resident DJ and sexy dancers.

It has an intimate atmosphere, perfect for a night out with a group of friends but not really suitable if you come by yourself. Single visitor may be interested by the company of lady escorts who get commissions on each drinks/bottles served. Though they are not prostitutes, it seems that some are willing to come at your hotel for Rp4,000,000.

Crowners is open every day:
Monday: 50% discount on karaoke rooms
Tuesday: Buy 2 premium alcohol bottles and get 1 free
Wednesday: Buy 2 bottles and get 1 free (it works on all spirits)
Thursday: The band plays Indonesian songs only
Friday: 25% discount for members
Saturday: Themed event with guest DJs/Bands
Sunday: DJ only, 50% off on the KTV

For the latest events and information about entrance fee, check the following:
Facebook: Crowners

Crowners Pub & Karaoke Samarinda
Jalan Tuanku Imam Bonjol No. 16, Samarinda, East Kalimantan
Phone number: +62 (0) 5412 02 342
Email: info@crownerspubktv.com
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Deja Vu Kitchen, Bar & KTV - Samarinda (Kalimantan)

October 24, 2016, 9:10 am
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Deja Vu is the most famous nightclub in Samarinda and probably one of the most happening. It is located in the city center, near from other nightlife spots such as Crowners or D'Lux (which both belong to the same group). Two good guest-friendly hotels nearby are the Horison (Rp400,000±) and the Aston (Rp600,000±, only 5 minutes by cab). The Swiss Belhotel is slightly further (Rp400,000±) but it's a good option as well.

Deja Vu consists of a main hall, a karaoke and a restaurant. The main hall is rather big, with a total capacity of at least 400 people. It has a high ceiling, a large stage for live bands or DJs and a mezzanine. Famous Indonesian singers often perform there.

Even though it is not always crowded during the week (it's open everyday), they do try to entertain guests with a daily live band, sexy dancers, models, DJs and staff performances (juggling, dancing). On weekends, it is often packed and they may have special events (it is not necessarily a good thing as it is often bands singing in Indonesian).

There are a lot of lady companions, many of whom are very pretty. They will follow you in the karaoke room or at your table, but less likely to your hotel room (unless you're ready to spend a lot of money). On Friday and Saturday, there are normal girls in the crowd but less during weekdays (except on Wednesday maybe).

The First Drink Charge (FDC) is Rp100,000 (free for ladies). Drinks and bottles are more expensive than elsewhere in Samarinda.

DejaVu Nightclub and Karaoke
Jalan Panglima Batur, Samarinda, East Kalimantan (Borneo)
Phone number: +62 (0) 541 747 442

Instagram: DejaVu
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D'Luv BBC Nightclub & Karaoke (Balikpapan)

October 24, 2016, 10:10 pm
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D'Luv is a nightclub and karaoke located in Borneo Bay City (BBC) in Balikpapan. It is a relatively new venue that opened in 2015 and it is similar to LCC or Penthouse.

It is near from the hotels Novotel and Ibis, and within 5 minutes from the 4-star Swiss Belhotel. If you don't already have a guest-friendly place to stay in Balikpapan, I recommend you to choose of them.

D'Luv BBC is a typical upper class local joint with live bands, DJs and escorts. It is small, with a low ceiling, a good lighting and sound system, and a stage in the front. There is not a real dance floor nor a nice bar area, only high tables, so it is more appropriate for bottle service. They have interesting promotions such as two bottles of Jack Daniels for Rp1,300,000. Before midnight, they also have a free flow offer for Rp150,000.

It is open every night, with various daily events: Monday has a free flow tequila for girls from 11pm to 1am, Tuesday has a beer promo Buy 1 Get 1, Wednesday has a ladies' night, Friday and Saturday you can expect guest DJs/bands. 

There are sexy dancers every night and the staff performs a dance as well, at the moment when the band stops and is replaced by a DJ.

The music is commercial but most often Western: Rock/Pop/Top 40 for the band and EDM/Trap for the DJ. In spite of this, almost all customers are Indonesian.

There are a lot of girls in D'Luv and almost all are escorts that you can invite to your table, in the karaoke, or for a game of billiard. They are not necessarily prostitutes though.

D'Luv BBC Balikpapan Nightclub and Karaoke
Jalan Gajah Mada No.69 (next to Borneo Bay City)
Balikpapan
Phone number: +62 (0) 542 791 637

Opening Hours:
Open every day from 9pm to 4am

Facebook (rarely updated): D'Luv BBC
Twitter: D'Luv BBC BPN
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Mitra Club & Karaoke (Samarinda - Borneo)

October 22, 2016, 5:47 am
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Mitra is a mid-size club & karaoke which is located in a building right next to the more upscale Muse. It is within walking distance (5 minutes) from the hotels Aston and Swiss Belhotel that are both under 50$ per night. 

Its concept is basically the same as Muse, but it targets a more "local" and less sophisticated crowd. The bands will play a lot more Indonesian songs for instance and the DJs will mix hardcore "funky house". There are some girls as well, most of which are lady companions, but again not as pretty as the ones in the club next door.

The advantage is that it is a bit cheaper and that you are most likely to become an attraction if you visit it. I'm not sure about their weekly program, but on Saturdays at least they have sexy dancers.

Mitra Pub & KTV
Jalan Mulawarman No.17, Samarinda, East Kalimantan

Phone number: +62 (0) 812 53 22 49 20
Email: mitrapubsmd@yahoo.com

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Celcius Nightclub (Samarinda - Kalimantan)

October 23, 2016, 7:30 pm
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Celcius Club, Lounge & KTV is an upmarket nightclub in Samarinda, just behind the airport. There are no decent hotels in the immediate proximity so I advise you to stay instead either in Aston, in Horison or in Swiss Belhotel (which are all near from venues like Deja Vu, D'Lux or Crowners).

Celcius is located inside an impressive building and the inside is rather luxurious. It has the best atmosphere of any clubs in Samarinda with beautiful LED displays both on the walls and on the ceiling ("raining light" effect).

Every night, it has a live band (Top 40, rock, pop, oldies, Indonesian songs), a DJ (commercial house and party anthems), sexy models and sexy pole dancers. The latest can be considered lady companions and you should be able to invite them at your table or in the karaoke if you ask the GRO (and pay for it).

In terms of special events, I feel that it is lacking compared to Deja Vu. They may have famous artists once or twice a month, but not that regularly. I also believe that it is not as crowded in general and that it does not have as many girls.

Free entrance for girl, Rp100,000 FDC for men.

Celcius Pub, Lounge & Karaoke
Jalan Gatot Subroto No.20A, Samarinda, Borneo (East Kalimantan)
Phone number: +62 (0) 541 743430
Email: ethnicjavaentertainment@gmail.com

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Muse Pub, KTV and Beer House (Samarinda)

October 25, 2016, 12:18 am
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Muse Entertainment Center is a huge complex on several floors with a club, a 22-room karaoke and a rooftop bar/restaurant (recently renamed Beer House). It is next to Mitra Pub, another nightlife venue, and 100 meters from Samarinda Central Plaza. This is the best area for choosing a hotel in the city as you have two of its best options within 300 meters. Aston is the best choice but more expensive (50$/night). Swiss Belhotel is just 3 minutes away by foot and it costs less than 40$/night.

The club/lounge in Muse is small and the stage takes almost a third of the space. To give additonal space, there is a mezzanine as well but it seems only busy on weekends. Live bands play daily and you always have some kind of entertainment between breaks (DJ, sexy dancers, models). Once in a while, they throw a big event. The last one was when they welcomed the performance of the American singer Dawin (behind the song "Dessert) in May 2016.

Don't expect to meet many normal girls. What local people do usually is that they ask for lady companions to come at there table and in exchange they buy drinks/bottles (about 1,5M for premium alcohol, Rp900,000 for regular one). There is not entrance fee and the prices inside are slightly lower compared to Deja Vu (Rp100,000 for a cocktail).

If clubbing is not your thing, you can check their Beer House, which is more chilled and less expensive. The crowd is more diverse, including students and even some girls wearing jilbab. You can grab something to eat as well.
Model posing in Beer House Samarinda
Muse Entertainment Center
Nightclub, Karaoke, Rooftop Restaurant and BeerHouse
Jalan Mulawarman No.15, Samarinda
Phone number: +62 (0) 541) 7033573 Ext 7033574

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Bintan Nightlife - Tanjung Pinang & Lagoi Bay

October 25, 2016, 12:20 am
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Since Bintan nightlife is limited, this review will focus mostly on Dope nightclub in Tanjung Pinang. I will give you a few other clubbing options as well, notably in Lagoi in the north of the island.

Dope Nightclub
Open since 2012, Dope is the only proper nightclub in Bintan at the time of writing. If you are staying in a resort in the north, don't get happy too quickly as it is located in the provincial capital Tanjung Pinang, which is at least 2 hours away by car.

Dope is open from Monday to Saturday from 9pm to 4am (closed on Sunday). It is truly busy only on Saturday though, while the rest of the week you'll just see a few tables occupied. They have a resident live band, a resident DJ and resident sexy dancers (currently the 4-Tune Galz) that perform every night. The music is western and generally commercial. Special events take place on Saturdays with guest DJs and bands from Jakarta or Singapore. On the occasion, the entrance fee may increase to Rp100,000 (for guys) depending on the artist.

The crowd is overwhelmingly male and local, but you have more women on weekends. There might also be Singaporeans and Malaysians.

Address:
Jalan Gudang Minyak 4,  Tanjungpinang, Bintan, Riau

Phone number: +62 (0) 771 26 247 or +62 (0) 77126247
BB Pin: 7A5603E0 or 2A03493F
Email: dope@kkm-group.com

Facebook: Dope Club Bintan
Instagram: Dope Photos
Youtube Channel: Dope Club

Other Nightlife Spots in Tanjung Pinang
If you are looking for more nightlife spots in Tanjung Pinang, you can also check the bars Fabrica (upmarket, popular with rich local kids, near Dope Club) and Basecamp (live rock music, good for a beer).

For karaoke, the best place to go to is probably CK KTV, inside the  CK Hotel and Convention. They also have a small lounge with live music, but no lady companions.

Some more underground nightclubs and karaokes can also be found in Tanjung Pinang, for instance Galaxy Pub (Jalan Rawasari Km5). Prostitution and drugs are not uncommon there. With its many naughty cafés, the area around Plaza Hotel is also considered a red light district but it is targeting lower to middle income Indonesians.

Guest Friendly Hotels in Tanjung Pinang Near the Nightlife
Tanjung Pinang is a small town, sparsely populated, with mostly low-rise buildings and many empty plots of lands. It can be accessed by air from Jakarta or by boat from Singapore, Malaysia and Batam. It is not so convenient to get around so I advise you to choose your hotel carefully.

Dope nightclub is actually not far from the ferry terminal and you have a few decent hotels nearby. For 20$, you can sleep in the basic Hotel Panorama, Hotel Nirwana or Hotel Paradise. Another option, the Shangri-La Hotel (not related to the 5-star chain) is walking distance from Dope but it is seedy with a massage parlour plus plus in its walls. If you need something more comfortable, you will have to go at least 15 minutes away in either CK Hotel and Convention (with a spa and a huge luxury KTV) or the Aston (girl-friendly, closer from the airport).

North Bintan Nightlife: Lagoi Area
The nightlife in the north of Bintan is almost non existent. The only venue worth considering may be the Silk Club in the Bintan Lagoon Resort. They have live music daily, a few customers (clients from the hotel) and what seems to be some working girls. You can play pool but that will cost you. 

Did I forget a famous nightclub, a bar or a KTV? Please help me keep this Bintan nightlife review up-to-date by leaving a comment below!
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18 Hotels Near Batam Nightlife & Spas

October 26, 2016, 8:22 am
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In September/October 2016, I stayed over a month in Batam in Nagoya Mansion Hotel. As they have an interesting monthly rate at Rp6,500,000 for a studio, it can be an interesting option for long-stay guests.

For shorter stays though, I don't really recommend it as it is a bit far from everything with barely any food/shopping options very nearby.

I've compiled below a list of 18 hotels that are each conveniently located near Batam nightlife. Most of them have either an in-house nightclub, a bar, a karaoke, a massage parlour or a fully-equipped spa. They are all girl-friendly or guest-friendly.

I am indicating an approximate price in brackets. You can check the updated rate by clicking on the link provided. I make a small commission from Agoda if you book using my links, but this does not affect the price you pay. If you want to compare the hotel rates between Agoda and other booking engines, please consider using hotelscombined.com. I also get a commission if you use this link to Booking.com.

Harmoni Hotel (around Rp900,000/night)
This 4-star hotel is my first recommendation if you come to Batam for party. Though it is a bit expensive and not exactly new, it enjoys a perfect location: 5-minute taxi ride from Harbour Bay ferry terminal, 1-minute walk from the bars, restaurants and massage parlours of Kampung Bule (or NED Nagoya Entertainment Center), 1 minute from KFC/McDonald's, and it even has its own freelancer bar, the Noname Pub.

Be careful as the group Harmoni has 2 other hotels in Batam: Harmoni Suites (Nagoya) and Harmoni One (Batam Center).

Allium Hotel (around Rp650,000/night)
Only 200 meters from Harmoni, this is a newer hotel and less expensive hotel. The reason I'm not ranking it first is because it does not have any nightlife facilities (the café downstairs does even serve alcohol) and because there are many couples and families among the guests. There is a small street market near from it and it is across from the massage parlour Morena. Kampung Bule is only 3 minutes away by foot.

Planet Holiday Hotel (around Rp600,000)
This is a good, massive girl-friendly hotel with my favorite nightclub in Batam, F1 Club and KTV. It is also between Harbour Bay ferry terminal (5 minutes away) and Kampung Bule in Nagoya. You'll need just a few minutes by foot to go there. During the day on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, they have a free shuttle but to the malls Nagoya Hills and BCS.

I Baloi Hotel (around Rp750,000)
This is a great 4-star hotel, one of the best in Batam. It is relatively new, has a very long swimming pool and an upmarket nightclub and KTV on its 2nd floor called Square. It could have been my top recommended place to stay in Batam, but it is located a bit far from Nagoya city center (5 minutes by car). On the bright side, the mall BCS is walking distance and there are many street food, hawkers stands and massage parlors around.

The cheaper Batam City Hotel Penuin (Rp400,000) and Gideon (Rp450,000) are in the same area and worth your consideration. Batam City Hotel Penuin in particular because it has the Dragon Pub and KTV inside it.

Swiss Belhotel Harbour Bay (around Rp850,000)
This is a new hotel with very comfortable rooms and an excellent buffet breakfast. It is located within the Harbour Bay complex so if this is where your boat arrives, you won't even need a taxi to go to your room (a Rp100,000 saving at least). Within walking distance, you can go to Titanium nightclub, M-One KTV or the Pacific Hotel (see below). Kampung Bule is 1,5 kilometers away.

There are cheaper accommodation options in Harbour Bay, all of them well-rated: Batam Harbour Hotel (around Rp500,000) and Zest Hotel (only Rp300,000).

Pacific Hotel (around Rp750,000)
This massive hotel has the particularity of being shaped like a cruise boat. It is walking distance from the Harbour Bay ferry terminal and mall but you'll probably need a taxi to go to Kampung Bule (just a 5-minute ride). Inside, you have a crazy nightclub called Pacific Disco and the spa plus plus Octopuss. There is also a food court with live music in the back. Just outside, you can walk to the high-end spa Atalanta (men-oriented). The rooms are a bit old so it is kind of an overpriced hotel.

Formosa Hotel (around Rp450,000)
Near Kampung Bule, this is a one-stop entertainment hotel with a massage parlour (King's Spa), a karaoke (Alishan KTV) and a restaurant. The mobile phone and gadget shopping center Lucky Plaza is next to it and there are several small massage parlors nearby (plus plus). The main drawback of Formosa is that it's an old hotel with limited comfort (AC not working properly, mold in the bathroom, tired bedding, etc). Some of the rooms have been renovated though so it is still a good value choice.

Da Vienna Hotel (Rp400,000) and Harmoni Suites (Rp500,000)
While those two hotels are not so central, they are still within walking distance from a lot of street food, massage parlors and game centers. They are also just across the road from the famous Windsor Food court, 5 minutes from Nagoya Hills by foot and 10 from Kampung Bule.

They are both new properties with modern amenities and a relatively low price. A good choice if you choose comfort over location.

Amaris Hotel (around Rp400,000)
This hotel is a bit far from the expat bars of Kampung Bule (10-minute walk), but it is right inside Nagoya Hills Shopping Center and only 100 meters from Delta Spa.

Nagoya Hill Hotel and Grand I Hotel are also nearby but they are about twice as expensive. They are brand-new properties with excellent room condition and service. They are close from family-friendly massage parlors (but also the Delta Spa Batam) and karaokes (Inul Vizta). Not really recommended for single guys interested in bars, but for couples why not.

Hotel Hana (around Rp200,000)
This is a budget hotel in Nagoya that offers the best value for money on the island. For just 15$, you have a comfortable room, AC, hot water, a flat-screen TV and a breakfast. There are a lot of massage parlours plus plus and brothels around (for instance New Berry Massage). You'll need to walk about 5 minutes to reach Kampung Bule. Good street food nearby too.

L Hotel (around Rp300,000)
This hotel is a bit hidden, at the end of Nagoya and next to a hangout for migrants (they were rejected from Australia and they don't have anywhere else to go to). The only reason I'm including it here is because the price is currently quite low and there is a nice spa and KTV in the facilities.

Conclusion:
Did I forget a good girl-friendly hotel near nightclubs and massage parlors? Please leave a comment below if you have any recommendations or questions.

If you haven't booked your hotel yet, please consider using one of these links: Agoda, Booking.com or HotelsCombined. The commissions I get from these bookings help me running Jakarta100bars.
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