General Travel Tips: Indonesia

Here’s your one-stop-shopping, bullet-point-style rundown on Indonesia travel!

• Watch out for men at bus stops and ferry ports who will tell you that the public bus, ferry, etc. is not coming. It isn’t true! Just continue on to the public ticket office (if looking for a ferry) or patiently wait for the public bus to come. You’re sure to get a better deal.
• Eat at warungs whenever possible! They’re way cheaper than tourist restaurants and often have better food.
• Get in good with the locals and you’ll get better deals. Sometimes all it takes is frequenting the same store or restaurant to become friendly with someone and ask for a bit of advice, like how much transportation from point A to point B should cost.
• High season is July/August, so plan for prices to go up during this time. Sometimes this overlaps with Ramadan, the ninth month of the Islamic calendar that marks a period of fasting for Muslims worldwide. Indonesia is the largest Muslim country in the world, so if you go during Ramadan you’re sure to get a unique cultural experience depending on what islands you go to. However, Flores and Bali are mainly Christian and Hindu, respectively, so Ramadan won’t affect your experience there.
• Kite season in Bali is most active in June and July. We went during the tail-end of kite season (pun intended), and got to see just a little bit of this very pretty cultural activity—beautiful kites filling the skies during the evening. Quite a sight!
• Often hotels/homestays don’t provide blankets. So if blankets are really important to you, make sure you ask before you book your room.
• Most of the water is brackish, so unless you have your own filter, expect to buy bottled water. Another eco-friendly option is to bring your own reusable water bottle and have it filled at restaurants or convenience stores that offer to fill water bottles.
• Carry charcoal pills (norit), found at any pharmacy in Indonesia. A friend of ours recommended these in case we got “Bali belly,” a painful case of stomach cramps, nausea, and diarrhea often caused by drinking unfiltered water or eating fruits/veggies washed in bad water.
• Don’t do drugs!! The penalties for drug use in Southeast Asia are tough, and those who traffick drugs in Indonesia face the death penalty! Your status as a foreigner won’t get you off any easier, either. Don’t mess around with that stuff!
• Each of the islands is unique. You should make sure to island hop a bit (or you won’t get a clear picture of what Indonesia is like), but make sure you spend enough time on each island to appreciate it.
• When exchanging USD, use bigger bills. You’ll get better exchange rates for 100 dollar bills than for 50s, and better rates for 50s than 20s or 10s. Travelers checks get a lower rate than 100 dollar bills as well. ATMs will give you the best exchange rate. None of the ATMs we came across charged an extra fee, but you may be charged a foreign transaction fee by your bank at home.
• Ladies, dress modestly, especially if you don’t want any extra attention. Beachwear is permissible in touristy beach areas, but much of Indonesia is strictly Muslim, so be aware of your surroundings and respectful of the culture you’re traveling in.
• While traveling, keep your valuables on your person at all times! Keeping valuables in your larger suitcase/backpack to be stored on top/underneath of your bus or boat is a no-no! On almost every trip we took I got my backpack back with clips undone that definitely do not come undone of their own accord. Keep your camera/laptop/cash/cards in a smaller backpack or bag and do not store it in the overhead compartment in the bus (or at your feet if you’re sleeping). We met one traveler whose iPad was stolen from the compartment right above his head when he dozed off.
• What to buy: Here’s a heads up on some of the souvenirs you’ll find: Ornate wood and stone carvings, large and small (especially in Bali); Sasak wood carvings on Lombok, including the distinct Sasak decorative masks; sarongs from $4 and up, depending on quality; lots of colorful, baggy pants and dresses; contemporary and abstract art in Ubud, Bali; wooden utensils, bowls, etc.; handmade baskets.
• There is a 25,000 rupiah exit fee when flying out of the country. In at least some airports, the only accepted form of payment is Indonesian Rupiah, so make sure you set this money aside at the end of your trip!

*Note: These tips are based on our travel in Indonesia, which was limited to the islands of Bali, Lombok (and the Gili islands off Lombok), Sumbawa, and Flores.