When I travel to Indonesia, and I’ve been there a few times now, there is one place I always stay when I’m in Jakarta – Six Degrees Backpackers Hostel.
Six Degrees is located on Jl. Cikini Raya, right in the heart of Jakarta. It’s the perfect place to stay when you visit and is one of the many reasons I prefer hostels over hotels.
As is the case with a lot of things I do when I travel, I sort of just got lucky with this one. I searched for hostels in Jakarta, found this one, and booked it sight unseen.
Glad I did.
Six Degrees: A destination hostel
The first thing you’ll notice about Six Degrees is that it’s a little hard to find. Actually, that’s not quite the case. The area itself is easy to find – every taxi driver knows it. But the hostel itself is not very noticeable as the entrance doesn’t stand out very well.
Basically, you just ask your taxi driver to take you to the Texas Chicken on Jl. Cikini Raya. It’s right next door. Depending on traffic, it’s about a 20 minute drive from the airport.
Six Degrees is what I like to refer to as a “destination hostel,” one of those places you can go and be comfortable without even leaving the place. The reason I like it so much is because I’ve seen pretty much everything there is to see in Jakarta.
When I stay in the city, it’s usually because I am either resting from the long trip to Indonesia, or relaxing after a long trip before I go home. Six Degrees is a perfect place to do that.
Things to do at Six Degrees Backpackers Hostel
Of course, all kinds of people stay at this hostel – not just people like me in their 40s. It attracts mostly a younger crowd, but is perfectly welcoming for people my age.
Billiards/Pool
Six Degrees has a full-size pool table. And not a crappy one they found for cheap. It’s a decent table that is perfect for a relaxing game with other guests.
Movies & TV shows
The hostel has a separate movie room with a large screen and the movies and shows are generally current.
Reading
They have lots of travel books (and others) for you to read.
Laptops
Six Degrees always has 2-3 laptops for guests to use. They Wi-Fi is great and available on all levels in the hostel, including rooms (though it’s better in public areas).
Coffee, water, and breakfast
Coffee is available for free all morning. And you get a breakfast of toast, juice, and fresh fruit included in your stay. While they sell bottled water, you can fill your own there, too.
They have a gym
It’s not Gold’s or LA Fitness, but they have a small exercise room you can use.
Kitchen
They have two – one you can order from and one upstairs you can use. I’d highly recommend skipping this and walking up the street to order food from a stall. It’s not that the food at the hostel isn’t good – it is – but the food outside is much better (and cheaper). See below.
Rooftop Bar
This is my favorite part of the hostel. On the roof, they’ve set up a really nice patio with chairs, lounge areas, and a bar. They play good music at night and it’s a lot of fun.
More often than not, the owners will also be up there having a good time as well. It’s a great place to hang out, have a drink, and chat with new and old friends. I didn’t find the music was loud enough to interfere with my sleep.
Food
While the food at Six Degrees is fine, the real treats are just outside. In either direction, you’ll find food stalls brimming with the wonderful food that Indonesia is famous for. The stalls change occasionally, but there is always something tasty just a couple of minutes walk away from your room.
My personal favorite is the Padang food kiosk that was there the last time I was. It was incredible!
Getting to Six Degrees backpackers Hostel by Taxi
This is the easiest way to get there. It’s also expensive if you’re on a budget. The 20-30 minute ride to the hostel will cost you about $20-25.
Be careful though and only take reputable taxis. You can’t go wrong if you use a Blue Bird Group taxi. They are honest, always use meters, and have a great reputation. If you have to negotiate a price with a taxi service, you’re using the wrong service.
Regardless, always insist that the driver use the meter for your trip. You can order a Blue Bird Taxi in advance when you have to go back to the airport, but getting one at the airport is easy – no ordering required.
Getting to Six Degrees on a Bus
This is the cheapest way to get to Six Degrees Backpackers Hostel. You’ll take a public bus (damri) to Gambir Station. The bus shelter is on the left when you leave the arrivals terminal.
Buy your ticket at the kiosk or on the bus for about Rp. 40,000 (about $3 US). Get off the bus at Gambir station and either walk 2km or take a tuk-tuk or taxi south to the hostel.
Again, it’s on Jalan Cikini (prounounced chee-key-nee) Raya next to Texas Chicken.
Note: The last bus leaves from the airport at around 11:30 PM, so if you arrive later, you need to take a taxi.
Why stay at Six Degrees in Jakarta?
The truth is, I feel completely welcomed here. I’ve stayed here 5 times now and I’ve gotten to know the owners fairly well. If there’s ever a problem (and I’ve never had one really), it’s taken care of immediately. I’ve seen it.
Most of all though, I love it because it’s a place for me to relax for a day or two before I start my Indonesian vacation or to wind down for a couple of days before the flight home. Everything I need is right there at the hostel.
To me, it’s a destination itself. Usually, I get out into the city, but there have been times I was completely exhausted after my trip and just stayed right here and relaxed.
Finding Nemo
Information at a glance
Six Degrees Backpackers Hostel
Jalan Cikini Raya 60 B-C
t: +62-21-314 1657
Taxi: $20-25
Bus: $3.00
For More on Indonesia: When we travel, we use Lonely Planet
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