Travel tips

We strongly encourage you to become familiar with the below travel tips, which will hopefully be helpful for your unforgettable adventure.

BEFORE THE JOURNEY

• See your doctor and find out about shots against tetanus, typhoid fever as well as type A and B hepatitis. That matters also if you want to do jungle trekking, as in this case you may need to undergo the malaria prevention. Also, in some of the regions, it is not recommended to swim in some of the waters. Be sure to remember about skin protectors, both against sun and mosquitos.
• Double check if the currency you're bringing with you is exchangeable in Indonesia, or if there are any limitations within exchange transactions (e.g. in the case of US dollars, Indonesian exchange points only accept notes made after the year 2002).
• Check on the visa options, and on where they can be purchased. The Indonesian visa can usually be purchased in an appropriate consulate in your country or upon arrival in Indonesia, in the airports in Jakarta, Medan, Pekan Baru, Pandang, Surabayi, Manado and Denpasar (Bali).
• Check your passport validity. When entering Indonesia it should be valid for at least 6 months, and in case of returning visas - for 18 months.
• Think about all your journey plans and check if at some stage you will not need to purchase additional tickets (e.g. Komodo National Park entrance fee) or getting a special permission, like when travelling deeper into the island of Papua.
• If you are planning to take surfing classes, or would like to go through a rafting adventure, try sailing or trekking, or even take a chance of admiring the sunset while horse riding - be sure to think about it all in advance and prepare appropriate outfit for the journey. There is usually also an opportunity of renting the equipment you need.
• When planning travelling through Indonesia using the local transportation, always be sure to give it enough time, especially during transfers. It may happen that a local plane will not fly according to the schedule, or your luggage will arrive next day. Generally, there is a lot of traffic on the roads, so when planning to take a car, the best case is to rent one with a driver.
• Indonesia is a country of multiple religions, which also brings many religious celebrations. Double check if there is any religious event happening during your journey, as this may cause temporary limitations within many services. Religious holiday seasons also mean increased  number of tourists, which may make it harder to get plane or ferry tickets.
• Keep in mind that some of the things that are legal and permitted in your country may turn out to be strictly forbidden in Indonesia. Indonesian law is very strict about posessing, bringing or carrying out drugs - penalties include capital punishment. 

UPON ARRIVAL

• Adjust your clock to the local time. The time difference to Jakarta or Bangkok is +1 hour. In order to adjust to the central European time zone, you need to roll the clock back by seven hours (with the daylight savings - by 6 hours).
• The voltage is 220 V. However, in some cases it may be worth to pay attention to some tips on using electricity (e.g. in a hotel bathroom).
• Drink only bottled water, and when ordering a drink with ice, keep in mind that you may not know what kind of water it was made of.
• In the whole area of Indonesia, especially around the suburbs, avoid eating at the cheap street stalls.
• The Indonesian currency is called Rupiah, and exists both in notes and coins. 10 000 IDR (Rupiahs) equals about 1 USD. Within the last few days of your stay it is not recommended to exchange a large amount of money, as taking it out of the country is only allowed for the amount up to 5 million Rupiahs. Exchanging Indonesian money back to your currency is only possible at the airports, with a very unfavourable exchange rate.
• When shopping in little Indonesian shops keep in mind that the cheerful Indonesians very much enjoy the act of bargaining - be sure to let them do that.
• When hiring a tour guide or a car with a driver, always ask on the price - make sure you agree on the price and payment up front. If you are taking a taxi, make sure the meter is on.
• Keep in mind that Indonesia is a country of multiple religions. Everywhere you go you will encounter religious people - be sure to be nice to them and respect their behaviors. Due to the fact that Indonesia is dominated by the Islam religion, on all islands except for Bali, Celebes, Papua and Lesser Sunda Islands, it is not recommended to wear short clothes in big city areas, especially during visiting temples and other places of worship. When visiting mosques, be sure to take off your shoes; women should cover their heads with a scarf. In Bali, while visiting Buddhist and Hindu temples you should wear a sarong (a cloth surrounding your waist) which can usually be borrowed there.
• Some of the temples and their surrounding areas are inhabited by monkeys, so beware not to lose your glasses, jewelry or camera. Earrings should be taken off before entering the area.
• If you like collecting shells at the beach, check if it is allowed to bring it back to your country, as in some cases there may be a fine for that.
• In case of an emergency, for medical assistance it is best to ask the hotel reception for help. All medical services need to be paid for in cash.
• Useful tip: If you had purchased medical insurance, be sure to ask the doctor for a detailed itemised  bill as it will later serve as basis for the costs reimbursement.

If you are planning an individual trip which will allow you for greater freedom of action, make sure you get acquainted with all the relevant information about the country. The size of Indonesia, and its untypical location on thousands of islands create a huge diversity of conditions you may meet. Hence you should learn about the places you are going to visit. If you are going on a trip organized by a travel agency, you will be informed about anything you may need to prepare for that.