Phone
You can make phone calls in Indonesia using a pay phone or a mobile phone. To call a pay phone, you should purchase special phone cards, which are sold at kiosks, shops and post offices. For calls on a mobile phone, it is convenient to buy a sim card from a local operator. Long distance calls can also be made from the hotel.
To call Indonesia, you need to dial the international dialing code: 8-10-62 + area code + subscriber number. The telephone code for Jakarta is 21, and Bali is 361.
Indonesian emergency numbers:
- 113 – Fire Department
- 118 – Ambulance
- 110 – Police
- 108 – Help Desk
Phone of the Russian consulate in Jakarta: (21) 522-29-12, 522-29-14, 522-29-16.
Currency
The national Indonesian currency is the rupiah. In circulation, there are mainly banknotes in denominations of 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10,000 rupees and coins of 1000, 500, 100, 50, 25 and 10 rupees. 1 US dollar is equal to about 9 thousand Indonesian rupiahs.
Currency exchange for rupees is made in banks, airports, hotels, shopping centers and markets. It is believed that the most favorable exchange rate at airports and exchange offices.
Banks in Indonesia are open from Monday to Thursday from 8:00 to 15:00, on Friday until 11:30. Saturday and Sunday are bank holidays.
In major cities and resorts, payment can be made in US dollars ( one hundred dollar bills are the most popular) and euros.
Shopping centers accept Visa, Master Card, American Express credit cards and traveler’s checks. In the markets they pay only in national currency.
Small denominations of 10 and 20 dollars can only be changed at the bank. In Bali, it is usually difficult to exchange US dollars before 1996.
IMPORTANT: An unreliable method of exchange is currency exchange with hands, as tourists can be deceived in this case.
Shops and shopping
Shop opening hours in Indonesia: from 9:00 to 18:00. Shopping centers in large resorts are usually open until 21:00. On Sunday, shops may close at 14:00.
The most popular purchases in Indonesia are jewelry: jewelry made of silver, with pearls and emeralds, textile and leather products: batik, homespun fabrics, various wicker items, such as rattan bags. Also, tourists often buy souvenirs made of wood, stone and porcelain, caskets, baskets, dolls, dragon figurines and umbrellas. Many tourists are interested in bringing home Indonesian spices, honey and tea. See liuxers for Indonesia customs and traditions.
It is believed that prices in Indonesian stores are relatively low. However, when buying a souvenir, you should be attentive to the quality of the goods, as there are cases of fake.
Bargaining is common in small private shops and markets in Indonesia. The price quoted by the seller can be reduced several times. In large shopping centers and supermarkets, where all prices are fixed, they are not traded.
Tourists are advised to keep receipts from buying souvenirs.
Tips
There is no official tipping system in the country.
- In large hotels and restaurants, a tip of 10% of the bill may be included in the bill. If the tip is not included in the bill, the tourist can thank for the good service, leaving 5-10% of the bill.
- Porters can leave from 500 to 5,000 rupees, depending on the size of the luggage.
- In a taxi, it will be appropriate to round up the amount of payment in favor of the driver (up to 500 rupees) or give 3,000 rupees as a tip.
- Tips are left to the tour guide at their own discretion. 4,000 – 5,000 rupees in this case is quite enough.
Money and valuables
Due to the religiosity of the local population, crime in the country is not widespread. However, tourists should be wary of theft in public transport and crowded places.
IMPORTANT: Valuables, documents and large sums of money should be stored in hotel safes. Items should not be left unattended on public beaches.
Health
- Going to remote areas of Indonesia, you need to take care of the presence of vaccinations against hepatitis A and B, typhoid, tetanus, polio, Japanese encephalitis, diphtheria, malaria, rabies and tuberculosis.
- It is not recommended to drink tap water, it is better for tourists to buy bottled drinking water.
- When swimming on some beaches where there are coral reefs, you may need special shoes.
- As a preventive measure against insect bites, it is better to use repellents.
Transport
The main airports in Indonesia are the airport in Jakarta on the island of Java and in Kuta on the island of Bali.
You can travel between the islands by plane, as well as by sea transport – on ferries and passenger ships.
Railways in the country are laid on the islands of Java and Sumatra. The train fare is considered quite high, but the conditions on the train are comfortable. Intercity buses have a tight schedule and travel within the island.
Indonesians move around the city on regular buses, which are an analogue of fixed-route taxis. The fare is transferred to the conductor or driver, and it is necessary to beware of being cheated, as tourists are charged more.
The most convenient way to travel around the city is by taxi, which is relatively cheap in Indonesia. In a taxi, you need to discuss the fare in advance.
In addition, in the cities you can use the services of auto rickshaws, which are called “besak” or “ojek”. This is useful when you need to find a specific address. The fare here is also negotiated separately.
In Indonesia, it is possible to rent a car or motorcycle. To do this, you must have an international driver’s license, driving experience of at least a year, age over 21, paid compulsory insurance and a cash deposit (or credit card). However, it should be borne in mind that there are bad sections of roads in the country, on some roads there are no road signs and signs.
Traffic in Indonesia is left-handed, on most highways the speed limit is 70 km/h.
Electricity
The voltage in the electrical network in Indonesia is 220 volts. You should know that in some rural areas of the country the mains voltage is 110 volts.
Time
Indonesia time zones: GMT+7, +8, +9 (+4, +5, +6 hours from Moscow).
