Indonesia Flights and Travel Guide

Language

Bahasa Indonesia is the official language, but many dialects are spoken. English is widely understood in Jakarta and tourist resorts.

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Money

Rupiah (IDR) is the official currency and is divided into 100 sen. Foreign currency can easily be exchanged at banks, hotels and money changers in major tourist destinations; U.S. dollars is the most accepted currency. Cash often yields a better exchange rate than travelers checks, which are not always accepted. It is recommended that travelers checks also be in U.S. dollars. Most major credit cards are accepted at hotels, restaurants and stores catering to the tourist trade. ATMs are available in main centers. Small change is often unavailable so keep small denomination notes and coins for items like bus fares, temple donations and cool drinks.

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Communications

The international access code for Indonesia is +62. The outgoing code is 001 or 008 followed by the relevant country code (e.g. 001 for the U.S.); it is not necessary to dial the first zero of the area code. City/area codes are in use, e.g. 36 for Bali and 21 for Jakarta. For operator-assisted international calls, phone 101. The local cell phone operators use GSM networks and have roaming agreements with most international operators. Internet cafes are available in the main towns and resorts.

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Tipping

Major hotels add a 10 percent service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5 to 10 percent of the bill would be appreciated. Airport porters usually receive around Rp 2,000 per small bag. Tipping taxi and rental car drivers is not mandatory, but if you do choose to tip, Rp 1,000 is sufficient for taxi drivers and a little more for rental car drivers.

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Safety

Following the bombings in Bali (October 2005), there remains a high risk of terrorism directed against foreigners throughout the country and reports indicate that terrorists are planning further attacks on Westerners and western interests and are likely to be carried out at locations frequented by tourists. The Indonesian Police are on a state of high alert in Jakarta, and have deployed additional personnel around the city. The security situation remains unsettled in Sulawesi and foreigners are advised to avoid parts of Maluku, particularly Ambon, and Central Sulawesi.

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Health

There are a number of health risks associated with travel to Indonesia and medical advice should be taken at least three weeks before departing. The standard of local medical care is poor and very expensive. It is essential that you take out full medical and travel insurance covering all eventualities. A yellow fever certificate is required from those traveling from infected areas.

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Electricity

Electrical current is 120/230 volts, 50 Hz. A variety of plugs are in use, including the European two-pin and UK-style three-pin.

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