Hotel Review: Sari Pacific Jakarta, Autograph Collection

As a historic property, Sari Pacific Jakarta has always interested me. Originally opened in 1976 as the Sari Pan Pacific Hotel, it marked Tokyu Hotels’ first international venture. Today, it is part of the Marriott Bonvoy portfolio as a member of the Autograph Collection. Unfortunately, my stay didn’t live up to its glorious legacy.

Checkin :

Upon arrival, my first impression was negative. The entrance was unpaved, and half of the lobby was walled off for renovations. At check-in, I quickly noticed the staff’s lack of professionalism. The front desk attendant struggled with English, which is questionable for an international hotel brand, particularly for a 5 star hotel. He mistakenly confused me with another Japanese-sounding guest, disclosing that guest’s information in front of me despite my repeated corrections.

Although we were upgraded to a suite (image below), the unrenovated room presented significant issues. The suite was ancient and exhausted, and the dark, spooky corridor leading to it only worsen the situation. When we requested an upgrade to one of the renovated suites, the staff claimed they were not available, contradicting information I had seen on FlyerTalk, where an Ambassador Elite member had received a renovated suite.

Room :

The breakfast room was outdated and had an unpleasant odour. The executive lounge breakfast was equally unappetising, failing to meet the standards expected of an Autograph Collection hotel.

Our stay was further disrupted by deafening drilling sounds directly above our room at 7 am. This should have been better planned by the hotel management, ensuring such work is done in sections where no guests are staying below.

We decided to check out without hesitation and headed to the neighbouring Mandarin Oriental Jakarta, which provided a perfect experience in contrast to our time at Sari Pacific. The female manager who handled our checkout was quite professional and accommodating. She arranged an in-house taxi to the Mandarin Oriental as a goodwill gesture, which was very generous.

Conclusion :

If I were the manager at Sari Pacific Jakarta, I would consider closing the hotel until renovations are complete. The lobby was half walled-off, and heavy construction work significantly detracted from the guest experience. Despite this disappointing stay, I would be willing to give the hotel another chance once the renovation is finished, hoping it can live up to its historic charm and the standards of the Autograph Collection.