Franz ElizI found DeGreen Residence (formerly known as DeGreen Inn Guesthouse) in West Jakarta a couple of years ago via the Traveloka app and booked a night there. The hotel is situated in Jalan Keamanan, a small street just next to the Grand Paragon mall.
Overall, my stay at the hotel was alright. Neither was it great nor awful. I’ll tell you more about it in this article. Keep reading.
About DeGreen Residence
Located in Jalan Keamanan, DeGreen Residence sits close to Plaza Glodok shopping centre, Grand Paragon mall, and the Stasiun KRL Jayakarta. DeGreen Residence is especially great for budget travellers. It’s comfortable and affordable.
The front desk is available 24 hours, which makes check-in and check-out easy at any time. DeGreen Residence also offers good WiFi coverage – digital nomads, pay attention.
Upon checking in, I was asked to pay a deposit of Rp.50,000. I think the deposit is still the same today, but consider having more cash on hand if possible.
Getting There
I needed a place to stay for the night, and I thought DeGreen Residence was good enough for a one-night stay. The hotel was rather secluded. Finding it wasn’t easy. My taxi driver, unsurprisingly, got lost.
We passed a junction (on my left) that would’ve taken us to the hotel. But we missed it. Thus, we continued going straight until a street that brought us back to Jalan Keamanan.
Then, I realised that I could’ve just stopped at the Grand Paragon mall and walked to DeGreen Residence.
So, if you’re going to stay at the DeGreen Residence, you may want to keep the following in mind:
- Search for Grand Paragon and look for Jalan Keamanan, which is basically on the left-hand side of the mall.
- Pay attention to your right-hand side once you’re on Jalan Keamanan. You’ll find the hotel’s signage.
Address: Jalan Keamanan No.16, Keagungan, Tamansari, Kota Jakarta Barat, Daerah Khusus Ibukota Jakarta 11130, Indonesia
My Experience at the DeGreen Residence
I booked a Superior room, big enough to accommodate 2 people. It was affordable and only cost Rp.185,000 (about USD12 based today’s currency rate). However, no breakfast was included.
Upon check-in, I was asked to show my passport so the receptionist could fill out my details. The hotel’s internet coverage was pretty good. I was able to stream YouTube videos smoothly.
Decent Amenities, but No Toilet Paper and Bathing Towels
My room was on the second floor. I had to take the stairs because the lift wasn’t working, but that’s okay. It was a good excuse for a night’s exercise. In my room, I found the following amenities:
- body soap
- toothbrushes
- toothpaste
- water bottles
- mini fridge
- small TV
- air-conditioning
- big mirror
- huge cupboard
- hangers
- telephone for room service
There wasn’t any toilet paper, though. That’s uncommon for hotels. DeGreen Residence was the only accommodation I visited that didn’t provide toilet paper. There were no bathing towels provided, either. Fortunately, I had a lightweight travel towel in my backpack.
The absence of toilet paper in the room didn’t bother me much, but it could be a problem for many guests.
No toilet paper, no problem. At least two charging plugs were available for me to charge my gadgets.
Despite no toilet paper and bathing towels offered, which is understandable for a low-budget hotel like this, overall, I thought the hotel was alright. For the price I paid, I couldn’t complain much. But I’ve been to 2-star hotels with toilet paper and bathing towels for about the same price.
Tips:
- Don’t assume or expect all hotels/guest houses (of the same kind) to give you the same kind of treatment or experience. Keep in mind that hotel standards are different in different countries. For example, some 2-star hotels in Laos might be better than those in other Southeast Asian countries.
- Check hotel details and descriptions carefully before placing your reservation. In countries where hotel prices are much higher, there are higher chances that you might not get the same kind of amenities you may enjoy in cheaper countries.
- Learn how to use the bidet. In many countries around Asia, even in some European countries, you can find bidets in hotels or B&Bs. Getting used to a bidet will lower your need for toilet paper, which is cleaner (for doing no.1 and no.2!) and more eco-friendly.
- Pack a lightweight travel towel, especially if you travel on a budget. The Matador NanoDry Packable Shower Towel is an excellent choice. You can get a cheaper travel towel from Decathlon, too. I have two Decathlon travel towels (small and large) that I often pack for different trips. They’re good, but keeping them clean and dry is important because they can get smelly easily.
DeGreen Residence Is Close to the Grand Paragon Mall
The DeGreen Residence is very close to the Grand Paragon mall. It took me only 5 minutes to get to the mall from the hotel. Along the way, I saw rickshaws parking on the roadside. The rickshaw drivers tried their best to persuade me to take a ride.
Upon returning to the hotel, I walked up the stairs. I noticed a very odd smell along the stairs.
Small Room, Hence Small Bathroom
I love spacious bathrooms. But the hotel’s bathroom was very small. For me, it wasn’t a big deal. But bigger folks might find it uncomfortably tight. So guests who prefer bigger bathrooms should consider booking elsewhere.
Good Night Rest
The hotel was fairly quiet, although not for long. Someone knocked on my next-door neighbour’s door for several minutes, telling him to open the door. The constant knocking was annoying, but I was too tired to tell her to keep her voice down.
Regardless of all the noise, I still had a good sleep. Plus, my bed was comfortable.
Would I Stay at the DeGreen Residence Again?
I would stay at the DeGreen Residence again. Despite what some people may consider flaws – like the odd smell on the stairs and the absence of toilet paper and bathing towels – the hotel is a decent budget hotel overall.
Consider staying at this hotel if you’re looking for a cheap private room to spend the night in.
I told a friend about the missing toilet paper. He thought the hotel might have accidentally forgotten to leave a toilet paper roll in the bathroom. That’s possible. Even so, packing toilet paper in your backpack is ideal if you need one wherever you go.
If I had to rate my level of satisfaction, I’d say 3 ½ out of 5.
