10 things you should know before your travel to Indonesia

Here you can find 10 tips before getting to Indonesia related to culture, weather and more! Moreover, you should be informed about Visa, vaccines and Covid-19, all this information can be found in our other menus.

1. Pick the right season

Most visitors to Bali do their best to avoid the rainy season (normally November to March), but there is really no bad time to visit Indonesia. Even at the height of the monsoon, rains are normally short and sharp and can form an unforgettably dramatic sound and light shows. You will often have several bright sunny days between relatively brief storms.

2. Learn a few words of the language

It’s been said that one in ten of all the world’s languages are spoken in Indonesia. Many islands have their own unique languages (some have hundreds) and English is spoken only in tourist areas. Fortunately for the traveler, Bahasa Indonesia (literally "Indonesia language") is spoken by everyone, with the exception of the youngest pre-school children and some of the elderly in rural areas. It’s a relatively easy language to learn and Indonesian people from all walks of life will appreciate even minimal efforts to communicate in their own tongue.

3. What to wear

Indonesia is tropical and wherever you go in this country you’re likely to want shorts, t-shirts, or beach clothing much of the time. It can be surprisingly chilly in the highlands, however, and if you plan to do some trekking or volcano climbing you will appreciate some warmer layers. Also, beware that transportation (planes, trains, and buses) are often surprisingly cold and aircon units in shopping malls and hotels are often set to frigid levels, allowing fashionistas to dress in the sort of chic style you might associate with a European fall.

Even in beach areas it’s considered extremely impolite to walk around shirtless (especially to enter a shop or restaurant), although you will see this often in the party areas of Bali. Indonesian males will often be shirtless if in the comfort of their own home but would never dream of removing a shirt on someone else’s property. If you are visiting temples on Bali you will often be expected to wear a sarong and (for women) to cover shoulders. Religious buildings and ceremonies in most parts of the country will often be off-limits if you’re wearing shorts. In most of Muslim Indonesia dress codes are relatively relaxed but you are likely to feel more comfortable (and appear more respectful) in long pants in communities that are predominantly Muslim.

4. Buy a local SIM app and uploaded useful apps

Buy a local sim card upon arrival at the airport so that you have calling credit and internet data wherever you go.

Prior to traveling, upload the transportation apps for Grab and/or Gojek You will find food delivery, transportation and more!

5. Kick off your shoes before entering a building

Most people realize that in Asia you shouldn’t walk into a house wearing shoes but it surprises many visitors to Indonesia that this also often extends to homestays and sometimes even to hotel rooms. While it is not strictly necessary, many owners of small souvenir shops also appreciate your politeness in leaving flip flops at the door.

6. Staying safe in Indonesia: there is a small risk of pickpocketing

In general, you are more at risk of crime in a European or American city than you are in Indonesia, and most trips are hassle-free. However, it's worth staying alert in crowded bars and marketplaces as there’s a small risk of pickpocketing or being approached by scam artists here.

7. Never ask elderly people their names

In many traditional communities (including rural Bali) there’s a strong prohibition on speaking the name of an old person. The gods have a list of people who are "due to be called" and there’s a pervasive belief that speaking a name can remind the gods that someone has been "overlooked". Old women are invariably known simply as Nenek(grandmother) and old men most commonly simply as Bapak(mister) or Kakek(grandfather). In general, an older person should always be referred to respectfully as Pak(mister) or Ibu(mother).

8. Drug laws are extremely strict in Indonesia

Indonesia has one of the strictest anti-drug laws on the planet. Possession of illegal narcotics can result in up to four years imprisonment, while a conviction for trafficking can often result in a death sentence – carried out by firing squad.

9. Don’t drink the tap water

Even locals don’t drink tap water in Indonesia – they either buy bottled water or boil it. Just to be on the safe side where possible use bottled water for ice and for cleaning teeth too. Indonesia suffers from a problem with plastic garbage: if you are staying in a property for more than a couple of days (or are traveling in a group) consider buying a big 19-liter bottle (known locally as a galon), which you can then exchange for refills, rather than run through scores of liter bottles throughout your stay.

10. Be prepared for volcanoes and earthquakes

Volcanic eruptions and earthquakes are almost a daily event on the Ring of Fire. The excellent Volcano Discovery site and app provides up-to-the-moment details (and alerts) – and some fascinating background reading – for almost 200 Indonesian volcanoes. When there's heightened activity, be sure to respect official advice concerning exclusion zones.

Here you can enter the webpage: https://www.volcanodiscovery.com/indonesia.html