Indonesia is a South Eastern Country famous for its world-class beaches & some unique experiences. Each year thousands of visitors plans trip to this place to witness some of the rare offerings of nature like active volcanoes, scuba diving sites etc. There is so much to see & wander around that there is never a dull moment here.
Further, to cover up this massive place you need a travel guide to help you plan your trip better. So, here is the Indonesia Travel Guide.
Indonesia Visa :
Indonesia has a very simple visa process. Most of the nations are offered free visa on arrival for up to 30 days (India is in this list) & easy visa on arrival process for the countries, not in the free visa list. One can check the list of the countries on this page Indonesia Visa
How To Reach :
People usually choose two entry points one is Jakarta which is the capital of Indonesia & Bali the most famous part of Indonesia. Most people visit only Bali island which is a complete destination. So, one can opt for any of such entry point.Places To Visit:
Indonesia is pretty scattered on the globe & covering length & breadth of Indonesia is a bit difficult & most of the travelers also don't cover the everything. Most of the people only visit few places which are as belowBali & Nusa Penida:
Bali is without a doubt the best destination in Bali. There is so much to see & experience here that most people only end up visiting this magnificent island. One will find lots of activities here & that too for each age group. There are volcanoes, waterfalls, ocean, scuba diving etc. It is hard to get bored at such a beautiful place. Bali is a mixture of luxury & affordability. If there are world famous villas & hotels, it also has a flurry of affordable hostels. So, this place is surely a go-to place for everyone.Gilli Islands:
Gilli islands is a group of three islands which are gaining popularity. A crystal clear water & jaw-dropping landscapes are hard to avoid. It is a perfect destination for a newlywed couple. There are wild parties & cute dining places as well. A great place to spend some quality time.Some of the other places that tourist are willing to explore are as follows. There is one unique attraction in Indonesia which is the Komodo dragons national park. It is one of the rare species on the earth & they have a dedicated place to themselves. People can enjoy them live. Not for the scary hearts, I guess.
Jakarta, Java, Lombok
Cost Involved:
Accommodation:
Indonesia has plenty of options to stay. There are many options to accommodate luxury lifestyle & backpacker's way of living. The basic dorm room without an AC starts from 250 INR or 3$. Expect to pay approx INR 1500- 2000 or 25$ for 3-star hotel. Search on Agoda for best hotel deals.Food:
Street food is very cheap in Indonesia & you will be amazed by the various options they offer at a cheap price. Rice & noodles are the staple food in Indonesia. Most of the dishes are will have at least some quantity of these two. The plate of noodle or rice starts with INR 30 per plate on the streets. Proper dining place will cost higher compared to the street vendors. Expect to pay approx INR 250 or 3$ for one-time food. Indonesia has Hindu community so finding a vegetarian food is pretty simple & cheaper in Indonesia.Commutation:
The best way to roam inside the cities is through rented motorbike. There are plenty of vendors which will provide scooter or motorbike at approx INR 400 or 5$ per day. The petrol prices are pretty cheap & it won't bug your pocket for a single bit. Air transport is pretty cheap in Indonesia, choose flights over trains or buses to move faster & easily. All the major attractions have airports. Thus, connectivity is pretty sorted in Indonesia.Activities:
There is a minimal entry fee to the monuments you want to visit. Some are overhyped & some are not. But, if you have enough time do try to visit all the main attractions it will surely swipe your mind.Tips to keep the price low:
Accommodation: The best way to keep the price on a lower side is by booking the hostel dorm room. The rates are pretty affordable & can be a fun place to stay. As many backpackers stay in hostels during the trip.
Eat Street Food:Street food in Indonesia is delicious & hygienic. There are so many options for vegetarian & non-vegetarian people. The cost of one plate is pretty low. Thus, it will help you to keep the price on a lower side.
Happy hours & Supermarket:If you are a party person, the best way to keep the price on the check is by using happy hours to the fullest & buying the beers through the supermarket. There are many supermarkets which serves alcohol & the price of beer can starts from INR 60 or 1$ which is pretty cheap.
Activities: Choose your activities wisely. Only do those activities which attract you. This will help you to keep the price on a lower side. Also, the premium activities in Indonesia is scuba diving. So, expect to pay a premium while doing scuba diving.
Commutation: Renting a motorbike is super cheap in Indonesia. Hence, it is recommended to rent a motorbike. People with an international driving license can ride a motorbike with ease here. It is by far the best options to commute in the city. The public transport is not highly recommended. If you don't have an International driving license, you can opt for motorbike taxi which is an alternative mode to travel. However, traveling long distances this options becomes gloomy.
Happy hours & Supermarket:If you are a party person, the best way to keep the price on the check is by using happy hours to the fullest & buying the beers through the supermarket. There are many supermarkets which serves alcohol & the price of beer can starts from INR 60 or 1$ which is pretty cheap.
Activities: Choose your activities wisely. Only do those activities which attract you. This will help you to keep the price on a lower side. Also, the premium activities in Indonesia is scuba diving. So, expect to pay a premium while doing scuba diving.
Commutation: Renting a motorbike is super cheap in Indonesia. Hence, it is recommended to rent a motorbike. People with an international driving license can ride a motorbike with ease here. It is by far the best options to commute in the city. The public transport is not highly recommended. If you don't have an International driving license, you can opt for motorbike taxi which is an alternative mode to travel. However, traveling long distances this options becomes gloomy.
Best Time To Visit:
The best time to visit Bali is from May to Sept. However, few people visit the place during a new years time. However, during offseason expect to experience some showers. As there are only two seasons in Bali wet & dry.Is Indonesia Safe?
Indonesia is a pretty safe country to travel solo. Most of the tourist attractions are safe to travel solo. Even during the nights, it is generally safe to travel. However, this doesn't mean one should not take precautions. It is recommended to be aware of the surroundings. Especially in the clubs, few people try to drug tourists which are limited to few clubs only. However, it doesn't harm to stay cautious. Overall, the place is damn safe.Handy Resources:
Below are the few resources you should check before making an itinerary.Agoda: Best place to book hotels of your liking. Agoda provides the best solution & great offer while booking a hotel.
Skyscanner: Skyscanner compares various sites & sort the flights based on the rates. A great way to check flight cost. Although the only drawback is that rates are flexible. Hence, the cost might change while you are making the payment.
Jetradar: Jetradar is a comparing site which is just like Skyscanner. But, is much more accurate & much more handy in use.
Booking: Best place to book hostel rooms. There are plenty of options available & with so many properties booking becomes much easier.
Couchsurfing: Best place to find free accommodation. It is as easy as filtering people & messaging. If you will get lucky you will find free accommodation in local resident house.
Travel Insurance: There are numerous options available to get one. So, you can choose anything which suits your requirement. Make sure you read the terms & conditions before buying one.
What To Wear In Indonesia
Thailand is pretty hot & humid & at most of the places tourist can wear as per the requirement. Here are some of the basics required for a tripFlip Flops
Jeans
T-shirts
Sneakers
Shorts
A trip is incomplete without the pics.Buy an iphone to click some breath taking pics. Apart from a phone camera, I use GoPro an adventure camera to shoot video & click high definition photos. The product is pretty handy & captures mind blogging videos. GoPro is easy & handy to use, which makes it a must buy.
So, these are my trip essentials.