My husband and I stayed at the Novotel Mangga Dua in Jakarta for one night in November 2007. We arrived during the evening - and were given a smoking room although we had requested a non smoking room. We spoke to the staff and they told us the only other room available in the non smoking wing had double beds. My husband and I were disappointed, and told the managers that they should have upgraded our room if they weren't able to provide what we booked. Instead, they apologized and we had to stay in the room with double beds.

On the surface the hotel rooms and lobby looks clean. However, the bed sheets had holes in them, and the shower was covered in mildew. We decided to try out the spa, and booked a couples massage. The two massage therapists (if you can call them that) spoke to each other during the whole massage. Then, they started asking my husband and I questions - why we were in jakarta, did we have any kids, etc? When the massage was finally over (a relief) we realized that they had cut the session short - we had booked a 60 minute massage - and they had left after about 35 minutes. My husband and I told the Spa Manager, and he said that they were really busy, and that is why the session was cut short. The therapists said that they left early so that we could have a chance to shower! Afterwards, my husband and I went to the buffet for dinner and I saw a roach near the carving station! I was so glad to be leaving the next day.

The only thing good about this hotel was the location. It was walking distance to the Mangga Dua shopping centre, and taxis were readily available. It is also a short distance to the Jakarta Airport.