While metropolitan Jakarta is well-known for its vibrant nightlife, it is equally notorious for its traffic woes. '€œSo, why not combine both at the same time and make the most fun out of it?'€ said Deisy Wong Will, a Jakarta-based businesswoman and frequent party-goer.

It was Deisy, who runs the website whatsnewjakarta.com and publishes the yearly publication, Jakarta Entertainment Guide, who came up with the idea of creating a bus equipped with all the amenities one might expect to find in one of Jakarta'€™s many bars or nightclubs.

Deisy decided to name her concept the Royale VIP Bus, and to set it up to accommodate all-day parties.

'€œWith Jakarta'€™s notorious traffic jams, we find ourselves spending a lot of time stuck in traffic [...] Most cities around the world already have buses like this available for hire. Yet Jakarta, which probably needs something like this more than most places, doesn'€™t,'€ she said during the Royale VIP Bus launch in Senayan, Central Jakarta, on Wednesday.

The luxury tourist bus, which can accommodate up to 25 guests, is equipped with a surround-sound system, a karaoke machine stocked with 312,000 songs, a mini bar, a toilet and two dancing poles.

'€œI specifically ordered the bus from [Japanese auto maker] Mitsubishi and assembled it here. The interior was designed by a local company,'€ Deisy said, declining to reveal the identity of the design firm.

The bus, which was assembled over a 10-month period, was up and running a few weeks ago, but Deisy waited until Wednesday to formally introduce the service to the public.

'€œWe are already overwhelmed by inquiries and bookings,'€ she said, adding that she had previously promoted the service through the Facebook fan page, Royale VIP Bus.

During the first few weeks, the Royale VIP Bus hosted a few exclusive gatherings, including a birthday party, a corporate event and a foreign soccer club excursion.

The bus is appropriate for a range of events, including tours, bachelor and bachelorette parties, VIP gatherings and airport drop-offs. Or simply, a night with friends '€” but with certain rules: no smoking, no drugs and no weapons.

The bus can be hired for six hours or longer, with rent rates starting at Rp 4 million (US$326.45) for six hours during weekdays. The rate includes a driver, assistant and a waiter. If the bus is dirtied, however, the company could charge the customer up to Rp 3 million in cleaning fees.

The bus does not have a liquor license, but customers can bring their own drinks on board.

Deisy was optimistic that her VIP bus would provide both local and foreign tourists with a new way to enjoy Jakarta.

'€œFor party people, the nightlife is better in Jakarta than in other urban cities like Singapore, Kuala Lumpur or even Hong Kong '€” and it'€™s cheaper too. A client of mine said he spent the same amount of money to party for a week in Jakarta that it cost him to party for one night in Singapore,'€ she said.

In addition to providing the service, Deisy'€™s team will also consult customers.

'€œCustomers can create their own itineraries and we will improve that if necessary because we know where to go in Jakarta,'€ she said.

While the company only has one bus at the moment, Deisy promised that more were on the way.

'€œWe expect the second bus to be ready in about four months,'€ she said.

Debur Riak Segara, a program developer at Hard Rock FM Jakarta, said that the service would boost his club-hopping experience.

'€œThe bus looks like any other tourist bus from the outside, which ensures privacy. That'€™s the most important feature,'€ he said.

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