Going South

Located in the bustling Kemang area of South Jakarta, the all-suite Kemang Icon, kemangicon.com, is an ideal setting for visitors looking to get away from the relative blandness of the central business district. Longer bookings are encouraged by special rates and by [an error occurred while processing this directive] domesticated touches (four of the 12 one-room suites come with kitchenettes). The location also has some of the Indonesian capital's hippest nightlife and shopping within walking distance, so there's plenty to keep guests amused — they can drop in at chic new cocktail lounge Casa (it's right across the street), browse the super-fashionable 707 boutique or check out trendy nightclub The Bedroom.

Each suite at the Kemang Icon is different. Some, appointed in darker tones, are for those who like their surroundings understated; other suites, in pastels, are more splashy. But all come with surround-sound stereos, flatscreen TVs, cordless phones, wi-fi capability and iPod docking stations (if you need new music, download it from the hotel's iTunes library, stored on an iMac in the lobby). For relaxation, there are five spa treatment rooms, a yoga studio with 360-degree views of the city, a residents' lounge and bar, and a rooftop pool overlooked by diners at The Edge, the Kemang Icon's international restaurant. Suites start at $180 a night, but this drops to around $120 per night for stays of a week.