💱 Currency
• The Indonesia rupiah (IDR) is the local currency. Bills come in large denominations—carry small notes for tips and markets.
🗣️ Language
• Bahasa Indonesia is the official language. English is spoken in tourist areas like Bali but less common in rural regions.
🕒 Time Zone & DST
• Indonesia spans three time zones. Most travelers are in GMT+7 (Jakarta), +8 (Bali), or +9 (Papua). No Daylight Saving Time is observed.
🔌 Plugs
• Type C and F plugs, 230V. A universal adapter is recommended.
💰 Tipping Culture
• Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. Leave 5–10% at restaurants and small change for porters and drivers.
🏧 ATM Access
• Widely available in cities and tourist hubs. Most accept foreign cards, but notify your bank and expect small withdrawal limits.
🚨 Emergency Numbers
• Police: 110, Ambulance: 118.
🔗 Embassy Info
• Embassy Info
🛂 Visa Requirements
• Do I need a Visa?
💉 Vaccine Requirements
• Vaccine Information
✈️ Major Airports
• Bali’s Ngurah Rai (DPS), Jakarta’s Soekarno-Hatta (CGK), and Surabaya’s Juanda (SUB) are major international gateways.
🍽️ Food to Try
• Nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (fried noodles), and satay skewers are must-tries. Pandan drinks were our favorite refreshment on hot days — with or without the alcohol, but mostly with.
📍 Must-See Spot
• Yes, Bali’s beaches are lovely — but don’t skip Borobudur, the world’s largest Buddhist temple. Sunrise there feels like stepping into another era.
🏞️ Our Favorite Location
• Bali gets the spotlight, but we loved Ubud — think lush rice terraces, cheeky monkeys, and smoothie bowls for days.
🌤️ Best Time to Visit
• April to October is dry season — ideal for beaches, hiking, and volcano views.
🚌 Transportation Tip
• No metros here. In Bali, use Grab or Gojek apps. Elsewhere, taxis or private drivers are your best bet for comfort and safety.
🚰 Water Safety Info
• Tap water isn’t safe to drink. Stick to bottled or filtered water — even when brushing your teeth.
📶 Wi-Fi & Connectivity
• Wi-Fi is solid in tourist zones, but grab a local SIM (Telkomsel or XL) for better coverage and to navigate offline.
🚻 Bathroom Availability
• Public toilets can be hard to find and may lack toilet paper — always carry tissues and small change for paid restrooms.
🤝 Cultural Custom Tip
• When entering temples, both men and women should cover knees and shoulders. Sarongs are often available at entrances.
🤯 Fun Fact
• Indonesia has over 17,000 islands — and more than 700 languages spoken across the archipelago.
Indonesia offered a little bit of everything — and we were glad we didn’t just stay on the coast. Ubud gave us the peaceful, green escape we didn’t know we needed, while Kuta kept things lively and fun. Both showed different sides of the country, and both are worth your time.
Taxis and tour prices should always be agreed on in advance, and we’d strongly recommend avoiding any attraction that offers elephant rides. We learned that real sanctuaries won’t let you climb on the animals, no matter how convincing the sales pitch.
English is commonly spoken in Bali and tourist areas, but less so in remote regions. We found a translation app handy more than once, especially in smaller towns. Most locals were friendly and helpful — a smile and a few basic words go a long way.
Cash is preferred for local shops, taxis, and smaller restaurants, though cards are accepted in major hotels and tourist spots. Wi-Fi was reliable enough for work and streaming, and SIM cards were easy to get and cheap. And yes, we tried luwak coffee — the one made from civet-digested beans. Surprisingly smooth. Probably a one-time thing.
Would we come back? Without a doubt. Indonesia still has thousands of islands we haven’t explored.
