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Passport
Validity
Australian citizens now require a visa
to visit Indonesia. For normal holiday travel this is issued
on arrival with payment of US$25. Also your passport must
have at least 6 months' validity beyond your travel date,
otherwise you'll be refused entry to Indonesia. It is your
responsibility to ensure your passport has the required
validity. You should check visa requirements if you are
travelling on a passport other than Australian.
Certain countries (including the Dutch) have to process
a visa prior to entry.
Departure
Tax
Currently at 2004 Rps 100,000 is payable when leaving Indonesia.
Domestic departure tax (around Rps 15,000) is also payable
but requirements vary from airport to airport.
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Inoculations/Anti-Malarial
There are no official requirements for visiting Indonesia
(unless you've just come from Africa or South America),
however hepatitis A, tetanus & anti-malarial precautions
should be considered. There are now specialist Travellers'
Medical & Vaccination Centres in all capital cities.
Language
Bahasa Indonesia is the national language and many local
dialects are also spoken. In tourist areas English is widely
known and well understood. Learn
a few words of Bahasa and this will take you a long
way in creating friendships.
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Climate
Indonesia has an agreeable climate all year.
Traditionally the dry season is May to October and the rainy
season is November to April, which can be full of tropical
showers, though rarely enough to spoil your holiday! The
average day-time temperature ranges between 28°C and
30°C but can be several degrees cooler in the highlands.
Clothes
Light and casual clothes are the norm nut in deference to
local customs, revealing clothes are not advisable in public
places. In mosques women should have their head and arms
covered, and shorts are not permitted. In Bali waist sashes
should be worn when visiting temples.
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Money
The local currency is the rupiah. If visiting Bali only,
it's OK to take Australian dollar travellers' cheques or
cash, but if visiting other islands of Indonesia US dollar
travellers' cheques are suggested. Credit cards are widely
accepted and ATM machines are in the tourist areas. Be careful
with local money changers... check around for the best rate
- no commission should be charged - and count money carefully
before leaving their premises.
Click here for an
estimate of current exchange rates.
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Food/Water
& Health
Take a few simple commonsense precautions to avoid any problems.
DON'T DRINK TAP WATER (this includes brushing your teeth
and ice in your drinks) - most hotels have bottled water
available. Buy only unpeeled fruit from the markets and
be cautious about eating salads outside hotels and major
restaurants. If you're not used to eating spicy foods, give
your body a chance to adjust. Medicated charcoal tablets
are handy for upset tummies and can be purchased from your
local chemist before departure. A wide range of medications
can be purchased fromlocal pharmacies in Indonesia.
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Bali
International Medical Centre
For emergency medical assistance, the Bali International
Medical Centre is located in front of the Bali Duty Free
Store on Jalan Bypass Ngurah Rai 100x, Kuta. Telephone:
761 263. The centre is open from 8.00am to midnight and
offers Australian standard GP consulting, check-ups and
trreatment, emergency facility for minor traumas, blood
tests and assistance to provide emergency evacuation to
Australia or local private hospitals. We strongly recommend
you carry suitable travellers' insurance from Australia.
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Travel
Insurance
We can't recommend strongly enough the importance of Travel
Insurance. In the main this can cover you against departure
cancellation costs in certain circumstances, illness or
accident happening overseas, loss of baggage or money etc.
It's very important to check carefully the data in your
policy. Travel Insurance is now covered by government law
and must be sold only by those who are holding a certificate
of training. This same law places some restriction on your
consultant in the advice that can be given. For instance
many credit cards offer insurance but some times this does
not give the same cover as in a full travel policy.
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We
recommend Toursafe/Compusure. A company with whom we've
dealt for over 20 years. They are underwitten by one of
the largest insurance companies in the world and we find
them expert and prompt in handling insurance claims and
questions. Most importantly their 24 hour service and links
with overseas hospitals and doctors has been found to be
first class.
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Hotel
Check-In/Check-Out
Most hotels have a check-in/out time of 12 noon. With many
flights returning to Australia late at night, usually hotels
will allow you to hold your room until 6pm on payment of
a half-night charge. In high season some hotels will not
allow this and a full night cost may apply.
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Customs
Allowances
the allowance into Indonesia is 1 litre of alcohol, 200
cigarettes, 50 cigars, 10 grams of tobacco and a reasonable
amount of perfume per adult.
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