Indonesia is one of the most spectacular countries in Southeast Asia and for many travellers it is the highlight of a visit to the region. That said, like any country, it pays to know some travel tips for Indonesia before you visit as this will allow you to enjoy your trip knowing that you have done your homework in advance. Some of the tips for planning travel to Indonesia that you need to think about include medical issues, insurance, food hygiene and the visa situation, but once you have done this you can look forward to a stress free trip to this stunning part of the world!
1. Plan when to go
Indonesia is located across the equator which means that it also has a monsoonal climate, splitting the seasons into wet and dry. It is hot all year round unless you are planning to visit areas of high altitude, such as trekking up volcanoes or mountains, but if you plan to spend a lot of time outdoors then you may want to avoid the rainy season. This runs, as a general rule, from October to May, although it can also rain out of season. When it does however it usually only rains for a short period of time but the rain is very heavy, so with that in mind you can visit during the rainy season and still get a lot out of the trip.
You should also note that if you are looking for cheap tickets to Indonesia then you may want to avoid the high seasons which are over the summer holidays from June to August and over Christmas and New Year from December and January.
2. Make a budget
Compared to other countries in Southeast Asia such as Myanmar, Indonesia is a very cheap place to visit if you budget in advance. As a rough guide, you can get by on around on about USD 30 per day which is inclusive of accommodation, food and transport for one person.
This does however also depend on where you plan to visit, as you will get far more bang for your buck in places like Sumatra than you will in tourist hotpots such as Bali, where it is very easy to burn through your cash, especially if you want to indulge in the famous nightlife scene.
Another way to spend a lot of money quickly is to undertake activities like diving or trekking, so if you plan on doing either of these make sure you set aside some extra cash on top of your original budget.
Some ways to keep your costs down include taking local transportation like buses which and pedicabs instead of taxis and these are plentiful all over the archipelago. You can also take local ferries instead of flying to different part of the country and eat local which will also keep you within your budget.
3. Make sure you pack mindfully
One of the best travel tips for Indonesia is knowing what to bring with you.
Packing for a trip to Indonesia depends very much on where you are going. You will not need much in the way of cold weather gear unless you plan on trekking at high altitudes such as volcanoes. In this case you will need to bring some sweaters and long pants. If you plan to trek in any of the national parks or areas of heavy jungle such as Bukit Lawang in Sumatra then you may also want to bring leech socks, especially in the rainy season.
Other essentials include plenty of bug spray as insects can be a big issue all over Indonesia which has both dengue fever and malaria which is carried by mosquitoes. It can also be difficult to get some medical and personal products in Indonesia such as specific medication and things like tampons.
4. Understand the visa rules
Indonesia is known for its complicated visa rules which are always changing so it is important to understand the essential information regarding visas prior to travel. Put simply there are two kinds of tourist visas that you can get which are available when you arrive and can be used by 169 different nationalities. These allow you 30 days in the country, which is not a lot of time if you want to explore several islands as part of a trip. One version of the visa is free but it can’t be extended, while the other one needs to be paid for (USD 35) and is extendable for another 30 days, giving you two months in the country.
5. Plan for the local festivals
Indonesia officially recognizes six official religions which are Islam, Protestantism, Catholicism, Hinduism, Confucianism, and Buddhism. These all have national holidays which can make it difficult for you to travel around the country easily, so it is best to check these in advance.
One of the biggest festivals is Nyepi which is a public holiday all over Indonesia but which only takes place in Bali proper. Usually celebrated in March, this is the ‘Day of Silence’ and you will not be able to leave your hotel or fly in and out of Bali as the airport is closed. The other major holiday is Eid-al-fitr which is held to mark the end of Ramadan. This usually takes place around June although the date moves forward around a month every year. At this time many people go home for the holidays and transportation is usually full and traffic jams are common.
6. Get good insurance
Indonesia is a developing country and things can and do go wrong, no matter how well you plan your trip. Medical care is not of a high standard and international hospitals are very expensive. Road accidents are common as well as medical issues related to tropical diseases like dengue fever. If you get seriously ill in Indonesia you will probably need to travel to neighbouring Singapore or Thailand for treatment and the cost of this is extremely high. With that in mind, you should not travel to Indonesia without getting comprehensive travel insurance before visiting that also includes medical evacuation if needed.
7. Plan for money matters
The currency used in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah. You will find ATMs almost everywhere unless you happen to be in a very remote area such as a small island or an area like a national park. Until recently, some spots like Gili Meno and Gili Air in Lombok did not have ATMs and other spots like Bukit Lawang only have main ATMs at the entrance to the wider village and national park. With that in mind, if you are going off the grid then you will need to make sure you have enough money to cover the cost of your trip upfront. You can use credit cards in tourist areas and larger shops but bear in mind that they usually have a fee is around 2%.
8. Practice good food safety
Indonesia has some of the most delicious food in Southeast Asia, if not in the world. With that in mind, many people who come here want to sample as much of the local food as possible, although some travellers are also worried about the chances of getting sick while doing so.
Much of Indonesia’s food scene is street food, and if you eat this there is actually less chance of getting sick than if you eat something such as a hotel buffet breakfast. The reason for this is that Indonesian street food is often cooked to order in front of you so you know that it will be fresh and you can also monitor the stall and watch how the food is being made. This is especially good for vegetarians or vegans as you can see if any meat or dairy products are being added to your dishes.
To avoid getting sick the best practical advice is to choose a place with a high turnover rate as the food is less likely to have been sitting around for several hours.
9. Guard against theft
Indonesia is a relatively safe place in Southeast Asia but some practical advice is also worth noting when you are planning a trip.
One of the most prevalent issues in Indonesia is with snatch theft, as gangs of thieves on motorbikes often cruise around tourist areas and snatch bags from travellers with all their belongings inside. One of the best Indonesia travel tips therefore is not to take all your valuables with you when you go out, so try to leave some money and a credit card in your hotel safe if you have one.
Other must know Indonesia tips include photocopying your passport and leaving the original in a hotel safe, as well as always carrying a bag that you can wear across your body instead of in your hand. It is also not a good idea to leave any valuables in your hotel room if you do not have an in-room safe as some of the smaller guesthouses and hotels in Indonesia may have lax security.
On the whole, the best Indonesian travel tips when it comes to safety are to stay vigilant and be aware of your belongings at all times.
10. Take care when drinking alcohol
If you are travelling independently then Indonesia is a safe country to visit on the whole and violent crime is rare. One of the most important things to know however is that there is a rising issue with methanol poisoning. This can occur as a result of drinking fake alcohol which is not distilled properly and still contains methanol, small amounts of which can kill you. Tourists and locals alike have died from drinking tainted alcohol, so you need to make sure you stick to bottled beer and wine, or bring some duty free in with you. If you buy mixed drinks in bars, then be aware that Indonesia has a 150% tax on alcohol, so if the price looks too good to be true then it probably is, and you will probably be drinking homemade alcohol known as ‘arak’ which can be fatal. If you remember only one of the travel tips for Indonesia then this needs to be it!
On the whole Indonesia is a safe and relatively straight forward place to visit, although it also pays to make some plans before you arrive in order to get the best out of the experience. These include some travel tips for Indonesia which are absolutely paramount, such as getting good travel insurance, but you may also want to think about where you plan to go, what you want to wear and how you want to get there so that you are not disappointed when you are on the ground. Once you are all set however the only thing you will need to focus on is exploring this spectacular country.
