Visa / customs Money Insurance Health care Transport Shopping Communication :
NOTE : All mentioned in this page is merely information and advice and should be interpreted as such. VIFA HOLIDAY Tours & Travel will not take any legal responsibility for any actions taken or there consequences, based on the information given in this page.
Visa / Customs
For most countries Indonesia allows travelers to obtain the tourist visa upon arrival. This visa is valid for 30 days only and costs around 25 usd. However this procedure can take some time at the airport of arrival, depending on the number of applicants before you. 2 hours of waiting is not an exception, therefore we advise to get your visa arranged before departure at your Indonesian Embassy. Note: 60 days tourist visa’s are also available, please check rules and regulations with the Indonesian Consulate or Embassy in your home country. On most international flights, attendants will hand out the necessary entry/departure cards and customs declaration forms you need to fill out. Upon arrival customs will take these forms but the departure card you will keep until you leave the country.
You are allowed to bring 2 liters of wine or spirits and 200 cigarettes per person. Be aware that bringing in drugs can lead to severe penalties and even death sentence!
Money
The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah, please check your bank for the actual rates. Bank notes: 100.000, 50.000, 20.000, 10.000, 5000, 1000 rph.
In 2004 new notes of 100.000, 50.000, 20.000 and 10.000 were released but the old notes are still valid. Please be aware that the new 100.000 note and the new 10.000 note are quite similar! Coins: 500, 200, 100, 50 rph.
Cash is the most common and easy way to pay your bills.
Cash withdrawal from ATM machines can easily be made in the bigger and medium-sized cities. The smaller cities and villages often don’t have these facilities or they can be out off order. The most common banks giving access to Master, Cirus, Maestro or Visa are: Bank Mandiri, BCA Bank, Lippo Bank, City bank, Danamon bank and Permata bank. The maximum withdrawal each time varies between 600.000 rph and 2.500.000 rph. The maximum withdrawal per day is normally 5.000.000.
Credit cards like Master and Visa are accepted in most shopping malls, hotels and restaurants in the big cities. Normally 2% or 3% is being charged for using credit cards.
In most cities money and traveller’s cheques can be changed at authorized money changers. They normally give better rates than banks. The notes however should be in perfect state with no wrinkles or writing on it. For American dollars the best to bring is from 10 up to 100 dollar notes, euro’s are normally accepted from 10 until 500 notes.
Insurance
We advice a travel cancellation insurance and a normal travel insurance which covers loss and damage of goods and health care including emergency return transportation home. As a diver please check if your insurance covers medical treatment for diseases and/or injuries caused by diving and extra costs for emergency transportation to Australia, Singapore or home if necessary.
Health care
This is a very personal issue, the necessary precautions that you should take for travelling a tropical country like Indonesia depends on your personal health situation, and your travel destinations. Therefore please consult your private doctor or official health care centre. It is adviced to do this in time for some treatments can take more than several weeks.
Diarrhea stopper like Imodium, insect repellant, sun protection and car/sea sickness medication is recommended to be part of your outfit.
Drink boiled or bottled water only, never drink water from a tap not even in the best hotels!
Bottled water is available everywhere, please check the plastic seal before using.
Transport
AIRPLANE
The important international airports are Sukarno Hatta Jakarta and Ngurah Rai Denpasar. Through these airports you can easily connect to most destinations in Indonesia. We can issue tickets for you and send them to your home address or you can book the domestic tickets yourself but be aware that flights can be full and you might have to stay over a couple of nights. Domestic flights between big cities and most well known islands are scheduled on daily bases. Most regular flights you will find on our flight map. For domestic flights you normally have to pay airport tax at special counters after checking in.
TAXI
Most airports have special airport taxi services where you can order a taxi at a counter. They have standard rates for different zones. Especially in Jakarta people offer you there services but take the taxi who is willing to use the meter. It is normal you pay extra for airport service tax and the toll roads.
Most cities have many taxies driving around that you can stop anywhere by waving your hand. They are not expensive but make sure they turn on the meter if you use one. Enough small money in your pocket will prevent change problems.
BEMO
All over Indonesia, in cities as well as in the country side, you will find Bemo’s or Pete Pete’s. Small van’s driving the same route all day and very cheap. They try to put in as much customers and luggage as possible so no comfort at all but you will find it an unforgettable experience being stuck in the back between bales of rice and sometimes even live stock. You stop them by waving your hand but make sure you know where they go.
BECAK & OJEK
Also cheap and more private are the Ojek’s and Becak’s. The Ojek is a small motorcycle that will take you anywhere you want to go. Sit on the back, use the plastic helmet and enjoy the ride. Make sure you agree upon the price before you take off. The same goes for the Becak’s, the 3 wheeled driving couches which you find plenty in the cities and villages. They cycle you around as long as you like, their motto is; you take care of us we take care of you!
BUS
For the bus schedules between cities you better inform at local travel agencies. Normally the bus will depart from special bus terminal’s mostly located just outside the city.
PRIVATE CAR
If you like to rent a car and drive yourself we recommend to do this in Bali only. There you can rent cars everywhere against cheap rates. Please bring an international drivers license. For the rest of Indonesia we advise you to hire a driver if you need a private car. Hotels and Travel agencies can help you with finding a car and driver. Compared to western standards the price is relatively low however you still are able to negotiate there first offer. Make sure you know whether the fuel is included or not.
Shopping
Vital necessities can be bought in the many small or medium shops you will find everywhere. Most of them open 7 days a week from early in the morning until early in the evening. The big and medium sized cities have shopping malls that will open at 10.00 am and close around 09.00 pm 7 days a week. Mind you that wine and spirits are expensive and impossible to get outside the big cities.
Communication
PHONES
Depending on your provider you can use your own cell-phone in most inhabited parts of Indonesia but it probably is expensive. If you intend to call or sms frequently you better buy yourself a Indonesian mobile number and put the SIM card in your own phone. (ask your dealer if your phone is not ‘locked’ and will accept the Indonesian SIM card) New phone numbers are easy to get in every city. We advise the provider Simpati which has the best coverage over the country. A new number is around 2€. You can upgrade your calling credit by buying Simpati credit vouchers. Everywhere available for 100.000 rph, 50.000 rph or 20.000 rph.
Alternative is using a public phone. They are called ‘WARTEL’ and you will find them everywhere. Small shops with one or more phone booths. The more remote the more difficult to make international calls.
INTERNET
Internet café’s you can find in every big city and popular tourist places. Most 4 and 5 star hotels have these facilities in there business centers.
SATELLITE PHONE
Most live-aboard vessels have a satellite phone that you can use on request. If this is necessary for you please inform about this facility and the additional costs.
