WYNDHAM CASABLANCA JAKARTA

QUARANTINE HAS BECOME A REALITY FOR MANY TRAVELLERS, BUT IN JAKARTA, THE EXPERIENCE DOESN’T HAVE TO BE AN UNCOMFORTABLE ONE THANKS TO THE WYNDHAM CASABLANCA JAKARTA.

Located in the Indonesian capital’s Golden Triangle, the iconic Wyndham Casablanca Jakarta is a grand dame hotel built at a time when houses of slumber were expansive destinations in themselves. Consequently, the hotel’s rooms are typically very large, which is a major consideration for guests who will not be allowed to venture out for the duration of their quarantine.

My flight arrived late at night (transfers are included in the quarantine package) and I checked in for my quarantine stay just after midnight. Fortunately the check-in process at the Wyndham Casablanca Jakarta, which involved me showing my arrival documentation and confirmation of my negative pre-departure PCR test, was painless and after a PCR test was conducted, I was escorted directly to my room.

THE ROOM

My Executive Business Room was very large and well-appointed. A small foyer led into the main room, which features a king-sized bed, a large sofa and coffee table, a large L-shaped workspace, and views across the city.

Ideal for a quarantine stay, these Executive Business rooms have everything an isolating traveller will need; the workspace (which I was particularly excited about as many hotels have done away with work desks) has plenty of power points and a proper office chair for those looking to maintain productivity; while the lounge suite faces a large flatscreen television with international channels. The bathroom also boasts a bathtub and standalone shower, and there is ample storage space so you can really settle in without feeling like you’re trapped in a hotel room and tripping over suitcases.

The room, which was spotlessly clean and blissfully quiet, offers plenty of room for yoga or stretching exercises without having to move things around.

DINING

There are not many elements to a quarantine – you can’t leave the room after all – so second only to the room itself is the dining. The Wyndham sent me two menus before I travelled – one for Asian cuisine and the other for Western – and the hotel’s quarantine package includes three meals each day, which consist of a main with a side salad, delivered (hung on the door with a knock) in cardboard boxes. Many hotels struggle with quarantine cuisine for some reason, and the food was a disappointment. The meals, which were canteen-style, would arrive at random times and were almost always stone cold. However, guests can order from the a la carte room service menu to supplement their sustenance. Unfortunately, the hotel doesn’t allow outside food delivery.

SERVICE

This is another element where the Wyndham shines for quarantine stays. Staff were attentive and always happy to help make my quarantine more bearable, delivering harder pillows and stationery and other little essentials with speed and professionalism. The package also includes five garments laundered each day which allows travellers the chance to leave the hotel with a suitcase full of fresh clothing. In addition, the hotel offers amenities for an additional charge ranging from a yoga mat and dumbbells to a portable modem.

SUMMARY

At the end of the day what you need for quarantine is a room with working amenities, and the space to ensure you don’t get cabin fever. Throw in eversmiling staff and the Wyndham Casablanca Jakarta offers a great experience for business travellers arriving in Indonesia.