Alfred Twj | Brand Photographer and Videographer Singapore

I visit Jakarta quite often. Being half Indonesian, I suppose you could say I have a bit of a connection to the place. And whenever I'm here, finding a hotel that feels like a second home is something I find myself doing quite often.

Well, I used to, anyway.

I've since found my usual go-to hotel, and as much as I enjoyed my three-night stay at The Westin Jakarta, it's not the one.

Before you start throwing tomatoes at me, hear me out.

Why Westin Jakarta?

I've heard plenty of good things about Westin, and I've visited their rooftop bar, Henshin, on several special occasions. If you've never been, it's ridiculously high up in the building. You know, the kind of place where you look out the window and suddenly become very aware of how far you've come in life. And how far down the ground is.

Despite having visited Henshin several times, I'd never actually stayed at Westin before.

So, this time, I decided to give it a go. Three nights, one room, and a whole lot of expectations.

Let me start with what I didn't like.

1. Refrigerated 24/7

Okay, perhaps that's a little harsh.

It's not that Westin is doing anything wrong. In fact, quite the opposite. It's just that I'm someone who needs a little sunshine, fresh air, and natural light in my daily routine.

Westin Jakarta sits high up in a skyscraper, with its lobby on Level 52. They don't believe in starting small. Go high or go home, right?

And with those incredible views come a few compromises. There's no outdoor pool, no sun-soaked café, and no outdoor working space where I can sit around with my laptop for a few hours.

The swimming pool is indoors on Level 50, which is pretty cool in its own right. But for someone like me, who spends a fair bit of time working on a laptop, I started feeling a little trapped.

At my usual hotel, there's an outdoor pool next to a restaurant with outdoor seating. That's usually where you'll find me, working away on my laptop, sipping my favourite iced mint tea, smoking a cigarette, and occasionally staring into space as if I'm solving the mysteries of the universe.

In reality, I'm probably wondering what to eat for dinner.

But that little change of environment matters to me. Sometimes, I need to step away from four walls, feel the sun on my skin, and let my mind wander a little. It's where I do some of my best thinking, or at least pretend to.

Unfortunately, that's something Westin couldn't offer me.

And that's okay. You can't have everything.

Because once you get past this one rather personal complaint, things start getting ridiculously good.

2. Everyone knows you. Or at least, everyone tries to.

I've never been greeted so many times in my life that I started feeling shy about it. Haha!

Seriously, it's like every corner I try to hide in, someone eventually finds me and says hello.

Sometimes, they even greet me by name.

At first, I thought I was imagining things. Then it happened again. And again.

I'm starting to think the staff at Westin have mastered the art of finding Waldo.

But jokes aside, the hospitality here is genuinely impressive. The staff are attentive, welcoming, and somehow manage to make you feel recognised without making the experience feel too stiff or formal.

It's one thing to be polite because it's part of your job. It's another to make someone feel like they're being looked after.

And Westin seems to have figured that out.

I'm usually quite happy doing my own thing, so being greeted this often takes a little getting used to. But I have to give credit where it's due. The attention to detail is remarkable.

Prepare to be pampered.

3. Cool freebies (well, not exactly free)

One of the things I appreciate about a hotel stay is when the little perks actually make a difference to your day.

During my stay, I had an IDR 100,000 food and beverage credit that I could use at the restaurant or for room service. Nothing wrong with having a little extra to spend on food, right?

Then there's the complimentary laundry service. I was entitled to five pieces daily.

Five pieces!

You have no idea how satisfying it is to get your T-shirts back all clean, soft, and smelling wonderful.

I swear, my clothes felt brand new after a wash. I'm not sure what kind of magic they were using, but I was half expecting my T-shirts to refuse to come home with me.

"Sorry, Alfred. We've decided to stay here. The treatment is just too good."

And if that wasn't enough, there's also an airport transfer included.

Now, I don't know about you, but when I'm travelling, anything that saves me the trouble of figuring out logistics is a win. No need to arrange a ride, negotiate with anyone, or wonder whether I'll get stuck in traffic while watching my flight departure time creep closer.

They've thought about the little things, and it shows.

Of course, these perks are part of what you're paying for, so they're not exactly freebies. But when they're thoughtfully put together and genuinely useful, you do feel that you're getting something extra out of your stay.

4. One phone call away

You know that feeling when you need something, but you can't be bothered to leave your room to get it?

Welcome to Westin.

Whatever questions I had or services I needed, all I had to do was pick up the phone and call the concierge.

And boom. Things happened.

One night, at around midnight, I called to arrange a laundry pickup.

And boom. There he was.

At this point, I'm starting to wonder whether there's a secret underground tunnel connecting all the staff members to my room.

I kid, I kid.

But seriously, the convenience is fantastic. You don't have to figure everything out yourself. You ask, someone helps, and you can get on with your day.

It's a small thing, but when you're travelling, especially when you're trying to get work done at the same time, that kind of convenience makes a difference.

Ask, and you shall receive.

Well, within reason. I'm pretty sure they can't arrange world peace through room service.

5. That view, though.

I stayed on the 60th floor, and the view from my room was breathtaking.

There's something about looking out over a city at night that makes you want to stop whatever you're doing and just stare.

The city lights, the buildings stretching into the distance, the patches of darkness between them. Sometimes, I'd find myself sitting there, looking out the window and thinking about life.

Where I am. Where I'm going. What I'm doing with myself.

You know, the usual late-night existential crisis, except with a much better view.

The room itself was just as impressive. Everything was well maintained, from the lighting to the switches. No guessing which button does what, no faulty lights, no strange smells, and no mysterious patches of peeling paint reminding you that the room has seen better days.

Everything felt clean, considered, and ready for me to settle in.

I particularly appreciated how the lighting was arranged. You could create the right mood without having to perform some complicated ritual involving six different switches.

And the room smelled good, too. Not overpoweringly perfumed, just clean and pleasant.

Naturally, I had to give the room a name.

Room Bond.

Because, well, I was staying on the 60th floor, looking out over the city at night, feeling like a secret agent contemplating his next mission.

Except instead of saving the world, I was probably editing videos on my laptop in my pyjamas.

Still counts, right?

So, would I stay again?

Here's the thing about Westin Jakarta.

It's an excellent hotel. The rooms are comfortable, the views are fantastic, the service is outstanding, and the little details make you feel genuinely looked after.

You really do get what you pay for, and in many ways, a little more.

But here's where things get interesting.

Despite all the things Westin does so well, I still miss my usual hotel.

Not because it's more luxurious. It isn't.

Not because the service is better. That's debatable.

And definitely not because the laundry is better. Westin, you win that one.

It's because my usual hotel gives me something I need in my everyday life: an outdoor space where I can sit in the sun, breathe some fresh air, work on my laptop, and just be.

It's where I go when I need a change of scenery. Where I can spend an afternoon doing absolutely nothing productive while convincing myself that I'm taking a much-needed creative break.

Sometimes, that's exactly what I need.

And I think that's something worth remembering when choosing a hotel. The best hotel isn't necessarily the one with the fanciest room, the highest floor, or the most impressive facilities.

It's the one that fits the way you live, the way you work, and the things that matter to you.

Westin Jakarta ticks almost every box for me. Almost.

So, do I miss Westin?

Absolutely.

Would I recommend it? Without hesitation.

Will I return?

I'm afraid not. At least, not for now.

That outdoor space, the natural light, and the fresh air are too important to me. As much as I enjoyed being pampered, I realised that I still need a little bit of the outdoors to feel at home.

And perhaps that's the whole point of travelling and staying in different hotels. You get to experience something new, discover what you love, and sometimes, appreciate what you already have.

Westin, thank you for the hospitality. Room Bond and I had a wonderful time.

But my iced mint tea is calling.

I'll leave you with this:

Once you go Westin, you don't go back.

Well, unless you're me.

Haha!

Westin Jakarta is Awesome, But…