Insight Guides Indonesia

Insight Guides

• Publisher: Insight
• eBook ISBN: 9781786710314
• Edition: 7
• Topic: Personal Development
• Subtopic: Travel

Insight Guide Indonesia is an essential guide to one of the world's last tourism frontiers, a far-flung archipelago of rainforests, volcanoes, vivid festivals and teeming cities, all brought to life through evocative photography. Our inspirational Best of Indonesia section highlights the unmissable sights and experiences, while a comprehensive Travel Tips section gives you all the practical information you need to plan your trip.

Colourful magazine-style features offer a unique insight into the incomparable Balinese festivals, unique Sulawesi wildlife and colourful batik fabrics. A detailed Places section, with full-colour maps cross-referenced to the text, guides you from the jungles of darkest Borneo to the beaches of Bali, the ancient trading ports of Java and the spice islands to the primeval Papuan highlands.

Insight Guide Indonesia now includes the Walking Eye app, free to download to smartphones and tablets on purchase of the book. The Indonesia app includes our independent selection of the best hotels and restaurants, plus activity, event and shopping listings.

About Insight Guides: Insight Guides has over 40 years' experience of publishing high-quality, visual travel guides. We produce around 400 full-color print guide books and maps as well as picture-packed eBooks to meet different travelers' needs. Insight Guides' unique combination of beautiful travel photography and focus on history and culture together create a unique visual reference and planning tool to inspire your next adventure.

'Insight Guides has spawned many imitators but is still the best of its type.' - Wanderlust Magazine

A-Z: A Handy Summary of Practical Information

A

Accommodation

In Bali and the major business centres in Java, hotels range from five- to one-star and below, catering to every budget and taste. Jakarta and Bali’s luxury hotels are among the best in the world and feature first-class service and facilities. Apart from the international five-star chains such as Hyatt, Four Seasons and Ritz-Carlton, there are also high-quality local chains and numerous boutique properties. In Surabaya, Jojga and other cities there are also heritage properties, while in Kalimantan overnights in Dayak longhouses can be arranged.

In provincial and regency capitals there are always two- and three-star hotels where government workers and business travellers stay, but in more remote regions anticipate only the basics, and take heart that you can delight in Indonesian hospitality.

Every area of this vast country has something special to offer, and so the biggest choice you need to make about where to stay (other than price) is what you came to experience. For example, surfers and divers will want to be near the sea and nature-lovers near forests, but there are many beaches and jungles here. We suggest reading the Places chapters first to get a feel for what each region has to offer, and then look at the listings below as a step forward in making your decision.

Prices and Bookings

Throughout Indonesia, advance reservations are recommended during the peak June–August and Christmas–New Year periods. Also be aware that prices are usually higher at these times or surcharges are added. In addition, during Indonesian public holidays and school breaks (June–July), all recreation areas plus Bali and Jogja are crowded with domestic travellers.

Look for better rates during ‘low’ (non-peak) season. In small establishments, it is perfectly acceptable to ask for a discount when they are not fully booked. Many larger hotels have special internet rates. When travelling from island to island within Indonesia, local travel agents can often get the best rates on two- and three-star hotels by booking with hotels they frequently do business with.

There is a government tax of 11 percent, which is charged by all but small establishments, and the larger ones also usually include a 10 percent service tax (in lieu of tipping).

Many of the hotels offer a broad choice. Inexpensive and moderately priced hotels may have rooms without air-conditioning and hot water for budget travellers as well as rooms with all amenities, termed ‘VIP’. Moderately priced and expensive hotels may also have ‘presidential suites’ or private villas. Check with individual hotels for current rates during the time of your visit.

Addresses

It can be difficult for visitors to find addresses in Indonesia, as villages often flow into one another with no apparent boundary demarcations in sight, particularly in Bali. To add to the confusion, many of the street names have changed, but some establishments continue to use the old forms while others have switched to the new.

B

Budgeting for your trip

How much you’ll spend depends largely on whether you are staying in a large city or a tourist destination – where options are greater and prices are higher – or a remote area; how many islands you plan to visit – air fare being a rather large expense – and how ardently you shop.

Accommodation can cost per night from US$15 in budget establishments to US$30-70 for a standard room and all the way up to thousands of dollars for villas and fancy resorts.

Anything imported is expensive, and this is most noticeable in terms of food and drinks. A canned local beer (Bintang) costs about US$1.50, with large bottles containing two servings around US$2.50, but imported beers are roughly double that. Likewise, local wines (such as Bali-produced Hatten) sell for about US$20 per bottle, and the price of imported wines can be at least double, and often much more. Simple Indonesian food can be had for as little as US$2.50 almost anywhere, a moderately priced meal for around US$6 (without drinks), and the sky is the limit for fine dining, averaging US$30–40. Of course, prices in luxury resorts will be much higher.

Taxis are relatively cheap, for example the journey from Jakarta’s airport to town costs about US$15, but local transport is cheaper. The Damri Airport shuttle bus costs around US$3 for the same journey. A Transjakarta bus ticket is US$3.50 one-way.

Admission charges are another consideration and range from a small donation at Balinese temples to US$3 for most museums and up to US$15 for theme parks.

Business Hours

In most places, government offices are generally open from Monday to Thursday, 8am–3pm, and close at 11.30am on Friday. On Saturday, they close at around 2pm. Business offices are open from Monday to Friday, 8 or 9am until 4 or 5pm. A few companies work on Saturday mornings as well. Banks are open 8am–3pm on weekdays, but in Jakarta some have branches in shopping malls that are open at weekends.

Business Travellers

Big hotels in cities and towns have conference rooms and business centres that are internet- and email-friendly, can send and receive faxes, make appointments and handle typing, photocopy and other administrative chores. In larger cities, internet and email are available. Wi-fi ‘hotspots’ are easily found in hotels, cafés and malls.

Business etiquette

The correct protocol is of the utmost importance when doing business in Indonesia. Apprise yourself of the rules by reading books on the subject. Here are a few pointers.

The terms Bapak or Pak (‘Sir’) and Ibu (‘Madam’), are universally applicable in Indonesia and used to address business counterparts. Both men and women shake hands on introduction. If drinks are served, don’t reach for yours until your host has gestured for you to do so. Observe the formalities until your Indonesian counterpart takes the lead to be more relaxed. At first meetings, bus...

Table of contents

• How To Use This E-Book
• Indonesia’s Top 10 Attractions
• Editor’s Choice
• Introduction: Island Nation
• A Land of Many Lands
• Decisive Dates
• Birth of Empires
• A Trading Power
• The Dutch Colonial Years
• Modern Indonesia
• The People of Indonesia
• Religion
• Customs and Rituals
• Spice Islands Cuisine
• Dance and Theatre
• Gamelan Music
• Textiles
• Insight: Batik: Art on Fabric
• Indonesia’s Handicrafts and Art
• Architecture
• Amazing Biodiversity
• Insight: World Heritage Sites
• Introduction: Places
• Introduction: Java
• Jakarta
• West Java
• Central Java
• East Java
• Introduction: Sumatra
• North Sumatra
• West Sumatra
• South and East Sumatra
• Introduction: Bali
• South Bali
• Central Bali
• Insight: Balinese Ceremonies and Festivals
• West and North Bali
• East Bali
• Introduction: Nusa Tenggara
• Lombok
• Sumbawa
• Komodo and Rinca
• Flores
• Elsewhere in Nusa Tenggara
• Introduction: Kalimantan
• East and South Kalimantan
• Central and West Kalimantan
• Introduction: Sulawesi
• South Sulawesi and Tana Toraja
• Insight: Weird Wildlife
• Southeast and Central Sulawesi
• North Sulawesi
• Introduction: Maluku and Papua
• Maluku
• Papua
• Transport
• A-Z: A Handy Summary of Practical Information
• Understanding the Language
• Further Reading