Day room CGK?

[CWK]

Your problem is due to the early flight time for Garuda. Change the Sorong to Jakarta sector to Batik. The departure from Sorong is at a more convenient time. You will end up in Jakarta Terminal 2 at about 1pm, in time to have a leisurely lunch there. There is a Skytrain that shuttles between the terminals. Use that to get to T3 for your international departure.

Then book a room for 1 night at FM7. You should be able to get a quote without breakfast. Alternatively, there is a lounge on the ground floor of T2 that you can wait out a few hours in. It is located between the Batik check in and the departure gates.

 

[diveUAE]

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and tips. I like to be prepared and know my options, before I go and this is so helpful.
Do you think we could wait and book the hotel, once we arrive back to CGK? - Or even just a few days before? Or do airport hotel/FM7 fill up fast?

Also any tips for when/where to book the flights currently the price is around 500 us$ - will this come down or should I just book?

This is very doable and similar to what I did in December 2023. I stayed at FM7 pre-liveaboard to get over jetlag. The breakfast buffet was impressive and the massage was awesome! You'll have plenty of time to make the ferry. The 9 a.m. ferry didn't leave until 9:40, but I had heard that the ferry is always late. I highly recommend the first class ticket on the ferry. First class doesn't mean the same thing in Asia. What it means is that you have a reserved seat (not a bench) and poorly working air conditioning. The coach (or what is called the cheapest) seat is a free-for-all bench seat with standing room only for the overflow of people with butts and armpits in your face. There is no air conditioning.

On the return, I booked one night at Jakarta Airport Hotel. My flight was the next morning. The food was good and the hotel was pleasant. I didn't use any hotel services. The convenience of going from the hotel room to the terminal was worth the extra bucks. They offer free shuttle between terminals. It took surprisingly long, 15 minutes, to get to the next terminal, because you have to drive in zigzags around the airport to get there.

Check these:
www.hotelsbyday.com
www.dayuse.com
www.resortpass.com

So happy to hear the massage is still great in FM7 - now I feel even better we have a bit of time there, and looking forward to the massage
Thank you so much for explaining the difference between the first class and coach on the ferry - I was thinking for 2 hours we could do without the ac, but a reserved seat instead of a bench or having to stand after a night flight sounds like a great idea - will definitely get "first class". How about luggage? Do you carry it yourselves or is it a kind of check in your luggage? If you carry your own are there porters - and how much should we pay?

Your problem is due to the early flight time for Garuda. Change the Sorong to Jakarta sector to Batik. The departure from Sorong is at a more convenient time. You will end up in Jakarta Terminal 2 at about 1pm, in time to have a leisurely lunch there. There is a Skytrain that shuttles between the terminals. Use that to get to T3 for your international departure.

Then book a room for 1 night at FM7. You should be able to get a quote without breakfast. Alternatively, there is a lounge on the ground floor of T2 that you can wait out a few hours in. It is located between the Batik check in and the departure gates.

Thanks. I wanted Garuda, since most of what I read is telling me Batik/Lion air etc. is not as reliable as Garuda? Price is almost the same, so it would only be for a bit more sleep in the morning, but if Batik is reliable for this route might be a good option, since more sleep + less time in airport would be nice.

I did not book the Garuda flights yet and am tempted by the Super Air Jet flight departing Sorong 3.10 pm and arriving 5.05 pm, as that would eliminate the 1 night in Sorong, but I read somewhere that flight is (often or always?) cancelled.

 

[brownie]

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and tips. I like to be prepared and know my options, before I go and this is so helpful.
Do you think we could wait and book the hotel, once we arrive back to CGK? - Or even just a few days before? Or do airport hotel/FM7 fill up fast?

Also any tips for when/where to book the flights currently the price is around 500 us$ - will this come down or should I just book?


So happy to hear the massage is still great in FM7 - now I feel even better we have a bit of time there, and looking forward to the massage
Thank you so much for explaining the difference between the first class and coach on the ferry - I was thinking for 2 hours we could do without the ac, but a reserved seat instead of a bench or having to stand after a night flight sounds like a great idea - will definitely get "first class". How about luggage? Do you carry it yourselves or is it a kind of check in your luggage? If you carry your own are there porters - and how much should we pay?

Thanks. I wanted Garuda, since most of what I read is telling me Batik/Lion air etc. is not as reliable as Garuda? Price is almost the same, so it would only be for a bit more sleep in the morning, but if Batik is reliable for this route might be a good option, since more sleep + less time in airport would be nice.

I did not book the Garuda flights yet and am tempted by the Super Air Jet flight departing Sorong 3.10 pm and arriving 5.05 pm, as that would eliminate the 1 night in Sorong, but I read somewhere that flight is (often or always?) cancelled.

I just returned from Indonesia, via Jakarta, at the end of November.

My international flight landed at CGK, Terminal 3. I stayed at the Anara International Hotel; it's attached to Terminal 3--a little awkward to find, but just ask for directions. Very comfortable hotel; the buffet breakfast was excellent.

My itinerary included a 2 a.m. domestic flight from CGK Terminal 2. I asked 3 different people about the train schedule connecting the different terminals--got 3 different answers! Had time to check the schedule myself as there was a large train schedule posted at the train boarding platform in Terminal 3. Last train departing Terminal 3 for other terminals was about 11:30 p.m. at night. The first, early morning train, was scheduled for approximately 6:00 a.m.

 

[living4experiences]

Your problem is due to the early flight time for Garuda. Change the Sorong to Jakarta sector to Batik. The departure from Sorong is at a more convenient time. You will end up in Jakarta Terminal 2 at about 1pm, in time to have a leisurely lunch there. There is a Skytrain that shuttles between the terminals. Use that to get to T3 for your international departure.

Then book a room for 1 night at FM7. You should be able to get a quote without breakfast. Alternatively, there is a lounge on the ground floor of T2 that you can wait out a few hours in. It is located between the Batik check in and the departure gates.

I haven't flown on Batik, mainly because fellow SB members don't recommend them due to cancelled flights and lost luggage. Batik also doesn't give you a free bag for scuba equipment. Garuda does. I used Garuda and was very happy. Flights were on time and no lost luggage. The free scuba bag allowance was so nice. They are higher priced than Batik and Lion, but you get what you pay for, I suppose.

 

[living4experiences]

Thank you all for taking the time to share your experiences and tips. I like to be prepared and know my options, before I go and this is so helpful.
Do you think we could wait and book the hotel, once we arrive back to CGK? - Or even just a few days before? Or do airport hotel/FM7 fill up fast?

I'm an advanced planner, so I always book all my trip details ahead of the trip. It's one less thing to think about while traveling. You never know if your desired hotel date matches up with a large travel group or a convention that will sell out a lot of rooms. Most hotels these days allow free cancellation 1-3 days before check-in, anyway.

Also any tips for when/where to book the flights currently the price is around 500 us$ - will this come down or should I just book?

I never use a third-party to book flights. They cannot help you if things go wrong. I always book direct with the airline. Garuda has four tiers of economy fares, "special," "promotion," "affordable," and "flexible." For the infrequent traveler, "affordable" and "flexible" are what we will see, usually. The lowest fare always sells out first, even 6-8 months in advance. The "Eco Flexible" fare usually has lots of availability for a longer period of time.

Garuda is part of the SkyTeam alliance, which includes Delta. If you have Delta miles, you can book an economy ticket for 10,000 miles each way. This is a fixed price and is not dynamic, like a lot of other award flights. I booked my Garuda using Delta miles for my upcoming trip. Also, using award miles is fully refundable if you cancel the ticket. You get your miles and fees refunded.

So happy to hear the massage is still great in FM7 - now I feel even better we have a bit of time there, and looking forward to the massage
Thank you so much for explaining the difference between the first class and coach on the ferry - I was thinking for 2 hours we could do without the ac, but a reserved seat instead of a bench or having to stand after a night flight sounds like a great idea - will definitely get "first class". How about luggage? Do you carry it yourselves or is it a kind of check in your luggage? If you carry your own are there porters - and how much should we pay?

For the ferry, you can use porters or haul your own luggage to the ferry, but get their price first. They charge a fee. No tips. I paid in IDR, but the equivalent was about $5 USD. In first class, your bags stay with you in the cabin. They kind of stack them in piles in the corners of the passenger area. This is a good thing because you can keep a watchful eye on your luggage.

 

[Luko]

Thank you so much for explaining the difference between the first class and coach on the ferry - I was thinking for 2 hours we could do without the ac, but a reserved seat instead of a bench or having to stand after a night flight sounds like a great idea - will definitely get "first class". How about luggage? Do you carry it yourselves or is it a kind of check in your luggage? If you carry your own are there porters - and how much should we pay?

Sorong-Waisai ferry, ferries might be more or less on time ... depends : jam karet principle. I wouldn't bet on a delayed schedule.
Some operations like Cove Eco will pay for EVERYTHING, meaning your luggage management is handled from your hotel door to your bungalow incl porter fees by the operation, you don't have to worry about anything that is very practical indeed.
Others will let you pay the ferry tickets & porters fees on premise which is a waste of time and energy (I don't understand why : from their price level, why wouldn't they include a mere ferry ticket price and porter fees... being too greedy I guess.).
Just in case you're booked with one of those greedy ops, take the 1st class ticket, they have airline like premium seats, although the AC can be either violent or non existant (I don't know which version I prefer TBH). Prepare for a sweater and a scarf in case of the first option. In Waisai the porters rush first into the 1st class cabin, be prepared to ask & book for the adequate number of porters and show them your luggage (normally a rep from the operation you booked with would show up). Porters will typically take 50kIDR per luggage.

 

[CWK]

I haven't flown on Batik, mainly because fellow SB members don't recommend them due to cancelled flights and lost luggage. Batik also doesn't give you a free bag for scuba equipment. Garuda does. I used Garuda and was very happy. Flights were on time and no lost luggage. The free scuba bag allowance was so nice. They are higher priced than Batik and Lion, but you get what you pay for, I suppose.

You are wrong. Batik has a 15kg scuba gear allowance.

Batik/Lion/Wings may belong to the same aviation group but each are reliable to different extents. Based on my personal experience, Batik is more reliable than Lion and Wings. I would venture to say that for the Sorong to Jakarta route, Batik is as reliable as Garuda.

The OP has a 12:40am international flight out of Jakarta. This translates to 2:40am Sorong time. The Garuda Sorong to Jakarta flight is at 8:15am, which means 5:15am wake up and 6:00am departure for the airport. This sets up a very long domestic travel day until international departure early the next day.

Given the OP’s international flight departure time, I would always prefer the Batik flight at 11:05am over the Garuda flight at 8:15am.

 

[SaltyWombat]

Besides the Anara Hotel, previously mentioned by another, I recall a day spa in CGK called Kedaton.

The Anara also offers spa treatments.