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Your usual questions on how and why and what in travelling to Indonesia
Important note
Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months or else Indonesia will NOT allow you into the country and your airline will NOT let you on the plane... I've seen it happen at the check-in counter a few times. If your passport is due to expire in 6 months or less, please have it renewed before you encounter problems.
Do I need to have a VISA for entering Indonesia?
Indonesia has a visa-on-arrival system for Aus, CAN, US & EU citizens. When you arrive at the airport you will enter the Visa-on-arrival line, where you will be asked for U$25.00 and then your passport will be stamped for 30 days.
If you would like to stay more than 30 days, then you will have to apply for a 60-day toursit visa at the Consulate of Indonesia closest to you.
Is Bali Safe?
Although The United States State Department has put out a travel warning on Indonesia, there is no such warning for the island of Bali. Bali tourism is touted by all the major US travel magazines and was recently featured in the Travel Section of the New York Times. Bali is the only Hindu island in Indonesia and has always been peaceful - up until the 2002 Kuta Beach Club bombings, planned by outsiders, which claimed many Australian lives. Since the Bali Bombings the Indonesian goverment has really taken the threat of terrorism seriously and arrested many potential criminals.
Should I rent a car in Bali?
It is not necessary, nor advisable, to rent a car in Bali. Taxis costing about $20.00 will take you from the Airport to your destination (about an hours' drive). There usually is complimentary transportation at the hotel which will transport you to the village of Ubud and back at convenient times.
What about sanitation?
We are staying in midrange and upscale resorts where water is purified. 99% of restaurants on the island use bottled water for all cooking purposes. Nevertheless, it is advisable to drink and brush teeth with bottled water.
What about money?
The exchange rate is approximately Rp.9,100 = US$1.00. Basically, things cost a lot less in Bali. There are ATM's all over the place that take Cirrus and Plus. PLEASE tell your bank and credit card companies the dates that you will be in Bali or elsewhere, as they might cut off your funds for fraud protection if they don't know it is you. Asia loves Visa or Master card.
Few restaurants and shops take American Express.
As far as exchange rates go, if you have travelers checks, their rates are different than CASH. And, the smaller the bill, the less the rate. $5 is worth less to a money changer than $100, and the rate they will give you will reflect that. Make sure that you do not bring US$100 notes from the year 1996. In 1996 Loads of counterfeits entered Indonesia and the stigma still stands.
For Credit Cards in Bali - Diners is non-existent & American Express is rarely accepted, although there is an American Express office somewhere on the island where you can go to buy travelers checks and report stolen cards if need be. Visa and MasterCard are the cards of choice. Remember to inform your credit card's issuing bank about your intended trip or else you will risk getting your credit card accounts frozen from 'un-expected activity'.
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