Indonesia - FAQ
airlines and arrival information
Airlines and arrival information
AIRLINES International: Major airlines flying to Indonesia include Malaysia Air, Thai Airways, Air France, British Airways, Cathay Pacific Airways, Lufthansa Airlines, Qantas and Singapore Airlines. Domestic: Indonesia is served by many domestic airlines such as Garuda Indonesia, Lion Air, Merpati Airlines, Trans Nusa Airlines, Trigana Air and Air Asia. AIRPORT TAX Airport taxes are excluded from all international and domestic flight tickets. For international routes, the tax levied is Rp. 150,000 and for domestic routes, the tax varies between Rp. 25,000 to Rp. 50,000. All taxes must be paid in cash and in Indonesian Rupiah only.
ARRIVAL IN INDONESIA BY AIR Indonesia is an archipelago so air travel is the most comfortable and efficient way to visit the country and its islands. Indonesia is one of Asia's largest air hubs, so it is very well-connected to the rest of the world. Besides Sukarno Hatta Airport in Jakarta, Ngurah Rai Airport in Bali is also served by many direct international flights. Always consult your Exotissimo travel agent for routings, fares and flight availability to Indonesia or Bali. Discount websites and flight search engines may offer some good deals.
ARRIVAL FORMALITIES Upon arrival in Indonesia, all visitors must complete entry/exit and customs declaration forms. It is important that a copy of these forms are kept safe with your passport while in Indonesia as they need to be presented to the customs and immigration officials on departure. If you have arranged for Visa on Arrival, please proceed to the visa counter. If you have booked a transfer from Exotissimo we will provide you with the information on where to meet your guide/driver as well as a 24-hour phone number to be used in case of emergency.
ATMs for withdrawing Indonesian Rupiah are widely available in major airports, shopping malls, hotels and almost all provincial banks in Indonesia. For most banks there is a maximum withdrawal of 1,250,000 Rupiah per transaction; however several withdrawals may be made in a single day. Ask your tour guide for help when you need to locate an ATM.
Most businesses are open from Monday to Friday. Government offices are open from 07:30 to 16:00 with some closing for lunch from 12:00 to 13:00. Many retailers and travel agencies are also open on Saturday and most shops are open on Sundays.
CLOTHING
VISA and MASTERCARD are widely accepted in Indonesia, as well as most other major credit cards and US Dollar traveler's cheques. Not all shops and restaurants accept credit cards, so do check with the cashier before making any purchases. Bear in mind that some places may pass onto you the fee imposed on them by the credit card company (approximately 3-4% depending on card type), so you may want to pay by cash instead of credit card in some instances.
ELECTRICITY
There are plenty of entertainment options in Indonesia and restaurants, bars and nightclubs open until late at night or early in the morning. Restaurants offer a wide variety of cuisine, ranging from Balinese, Thai, Chinese, Italian to French.
The staple of an Indonesian meal is rice, usually steamed or fried. The meal is complemented with main dishes of vegetables, meat, seafood, egg, fish and soup. Although Indonesians generally prefer hot, spicy food, not all dishes are so intense and the hotness can be modulated to suit most tastes. Indonesia is also the perfect place to sample a large variety of tropical fruits such as mango, pineapple, banana, mangosteen, rambutan (hairy red skin fruit), salak (snake skin fruit), jack fruit, as well as the famous durian- dubbed 'the fruit of the gods' for its very special smell and taste. We have a 'Restaurant & Shopping Guide' and free magazine which showcases our preferred restaurants and bars in Indonesia
No vaccinations are required except for yellow fever if you are coming from an area where the disease is present. However visitors should be vaccinated against typhoid, cholera, hepatitis A & B, tetanus and polio. Malaria is present in most of the region and it is advisable to take precautions especially if traveling off the beaten track. The standard of medical facilities is generally good and Bali has an international hospital to support the tourism industry. Remember to wash your hands often with soap and water, especially before eating. It is advisable to take out a good medical insurance policy before traveling in case evacuation is needed. Rabies outbreaks do occur from time to time. With the prevalence of monkeys in and around temples in Bali, we ask that travelers take precaution to avoid making contact with them or teasing them.
Internet cafes are widely available and are easily found in major towns and cities. Prices are reasonable but may vary from Rp. 6,000 - 10,000 an hour. In many internet cafes, you can buy pre-paid international phone cards to dial from a computer to a landline or mobile phone worldwide. Most internet cafés are equipped with webcams, headsets and microphones. Wi-Fi hotspots are mostly available in big hotels and becoming increasingly in public spaces. Many hotels also have Business Centers with PCs connected to the internet or in-room broadband access- please note that this service is not always free and the rates are usually more expensive then at internet cafes.
Bahasa Indonesia is the official national language. There are dozens of regional dialects and variations in speech from island to island, but the basic words remain the same. A large majority of the population, especially the youth, speak English.
The Indonesian Rupiah (Rp or IDR) is the official currency of Indonesia. ATMs and moneychangers are found throughout the country and credit cards are accepted at major hotels and some restaurants.
Photo developing labs are common in Bali and the rest of Indonesia, providing normal print films as well as professional quality films (like slide films). Digital photos can easily be downloaded and loaded onto a CD-Rom in case you run out of memory.
Postcards are sold at all main tourist sites and stamps are available from post offices and some hotel reception desks. A postcard to Europe costs Rp. 6,000 to send and can take up to two weeks to reach the country of destination.
The yearly official public holiday calendar incorporates many religious holidays such as Islam's Eid in August and the Christian Good Friday in April. Tourist sites remain open although they may be busy with local travelers. Bali is a Hindu island and celebrates many more holidays including the unique 'Day of Silence' in March. These religious ceremonies are colorful spectacles but should be respected by travelers. January 1 New Year's Day February 3 Chinese New Year February 15 Birth of the Prophet March 5 Hindu New Year - Balinese Calendar April 22 Good Friday May 17 Vesak Day - Buddha's Birthday June 2 Ascension Day June 29 Ascension of the Prophet August 17 Indonesian National Day - Independence Day August 30-31 End of Ramadhan November 6 Feast of the Sacrifice November 27 Islamic New Year December 25 - 26 Christmas Day
RELIGION
Indonesia is a safe country to visit. As a global rule, never leave your belongings unattended and always maintain eye contact or a firm grip on cameras and shoulder bags. Do beware of scams and touts that remain fairly common in popular tourist destinations. As in any other country, demonstrations do occasionally take place however they are usually in isolated areas away from the major tourist sites and has little, if any, affect on travelers.
SHOPPING
Most hotels have offer international dialing and fax facilities although be warned that these services are expensive in Indonesia. The best way to stay in touch is to buy a local SIM card at a convenience store for your mobile phone. They cost approximately Rp. 10,000 and offer international dialing rates as low as Rp. 7,000 per minute and free incoming international calls. Internet cafes usually offer cheap web-phone call systems as well, however the quality is often poor.
GMT/UTC +7 on Java and Sumatra, GMT/UTC +8 on Bali, Lombok and Sulawesi, GMT/UTC +9 on Maluku and Irian Jaya
Tipping for good service is not expected but is always appreciated in Indonesia. It is customary, though not compulsory, to tip tour guides and drivers at the end of a tour. Hotel and station porters should also be tipped for their service.
TRANSPORTATION
Most travelers require a visa to visit Indonesia. 30-day Visas on Arrival are available for travelers of 62 countries who enter the country through the major airports or seaports, including Jakarta, Denpasar (Bali) and Yogyakarta (Java). One photo is required and the cost is approximately 25 USD which must be paid in cash (Euros and British Pounds are also accepted)
Indonesia can be visited year-round. It is located about six degrees south of the equator and experiences a tropical monsoon climate with two distinct seasons. The wet season from November to March brings high humidity and afternoon downpours which are usually short-lived. The dry season from April to October sees low rainfall and warmer temperatures with cool evenings. Throughout the year, Indonesia sees small temperature variations and temperatures average around 86°F (30°C). During the tourist season in July and August, as well as the Christmas and New Year period, Bali can get crowded.
It is not advisable to drink tap water in Indonesia but bottled mineral water is safe and available everywhere. Ice in drinks is generally OK in good standard hotels and restaurants but it is best to avoid it on street stalls or in the countryside. |
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