Travel Tips

Tips in Bali
Tips in Lombok
Tips in Gili Island
Tips in Bali

Essential Tips in Bali:

  • To enter Bali, or Indonesia for that matter, make sure your passport is valid for six months upon entry into Indonesia, otherwise you’ll find yourself on the next plan out. You also must have proof of onward passage (i.e. a ticket out of Indonesia). Visitors from some thirty countries are also provided with a 60-days tourist visa issued directly upon arrival. Consult your travel agent or airlines, mention your nationality.
  • The rupiah is the basic unit of money. Foreign currency, in bank notes and traveler’s checks is best exchanged at major banks or authorized money changers. Do change money at a reputable looking location, use your own (or the hotel’s calculator before changing), as the ones used by some places can be “a little inaccurate”. Most important; always count your money before you leave the place. Traveler’s checks are accepted at all major hotels and large shops; some smaller shops will also accept them.
  • There have been a few cases of handbags being snatched after one has cashed money at banks or money changers. Put your money away in your “bum-bag” or hold onto your handbag tightly.
  • Credit cards and charge cards: To day many hotels, shops large and small accept plastic, with the proviso that an additional 3% is added onto your bill. However, when traveling to the village, take rupiah with you. Keep small change handy when riding in public transports or buying drinks at warung.
  • Make sure you either have personal insurance or travel insurance that will cover in any accidents.
  • If you rent a car, beware of motorbikes, as there are too many on the road. When you park the car, always remember to remove all your properties. Crime is on the increase and can spoil your holiday.
  • Remember Bali is a land where prayer and religious festivals take center stage. When visiting a temple or attending ceremonies, make it a point to respect local customs and traditions. Always wear a sarong and sash. Do not walk in front of people praying. Do not use a flash camera or point your camera to the priest’s face. Do try not to step on offerings in the street (walk around them). Women are not allowed to enter temples during menstruation.
  • Do not drug! It can carry the death penalty, and there are enough foreigners residing in Bali courtesy of the Government prison service.
  • International health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, and yellow fever are required only from travelers comprising from infected areas. Typhoid and paratyphoid vaccinations are optional but still advisable. Drink only distilled or mineral water, or water that has been boiled and eat a lot of fresh fruit – do your body a favor.

Essential Information:

Currency
Indonesian Rupiah (also called ‘Rupiah’). Currency code = IDR. Notes 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000. Coins 100, 200, 500, 1000.

Time Zone
Bali Time Zone is GMT + 8 hours.

Credit Card
Major credit cards are acceptable in most hotels along with American dollar traveler’s cheques.

Electricity
Most hotels use 220 volts, 50 cycles and a round, two-pronged slim plug. Bathroom shaver plugs usually have a transformer switch. We suggest taking an adaptor for your appliance.

Driver License
If you wish to hire a car you must be over 18 years of age and posses an International Driver’s License or license from ASEAN countries.

Taxis
Only choose meterred taxi (for numerous taxi, you need to ask to the driver to turn on the meter). The reputable taxi is Blue Bird, phone: +62-361-701111.

Medical

  • AEA International (Medical Evac) Jl. Hayam Wuruk 40, Denpasar. Tel : 228996
  • Bali International Medical Center Jl Bypass Ngurah Rai 100X Denpasar. Tel : 761263
  • Rumah Sakit Dharma Husada (Hospital) Jl. Panglima Sudirman No.50, Denpasar. Tel : 227560
  • Kuta Clinic : Jl. Raya Kuta No.100X, Kuta. Tel : 753268
  • Nusa Dua Clinic : Jl. Pramata No. 81A, Nusa Dua. Tel : 771324
  • Rumah Sakit Umum Sanglah (Hospital) : Jl. Diponegoro, Denpasar. Tel : 227911

Emergency

  • Ambulance : 118
  • Fire : 113
  • Police : 110
  • Search & Rescue : 51111
  • Red Cross : 26465

Credit Card Enquiries

  • American Express. Grand Bali Beach Hotel, Sanur. Tel : 288511 ext. 111
  • Mastercard. Bank Central Asia, Jl. Cokroaminoto, Denpasar. Tel : 222652
  • Visa. Bank Duta, Jl. Hayam Wuruk 165, Denpasar. Tel : 226578

Tips in Lombok

Essential Travel Tips in Lombok

  • You will get your feet wet when you board the small boat for the Lombok island especially when the low tide because the water is to shallow for the boat to land to the shore, use slippers/sandals and short.

  • Do not buy any mosquitoes coil from some kids at the harbor, as they are trying to sell things at the highest they can. There are lots of shops on the Islands selling those stuffs with better prices
  • Do not try to look at the things that they offers, and do not make any promises to say “maybe later”. Those guys can recognize your face and ask for the promises.
  • Carry some amount of cash to pay taxi or public transport. Taxi is meterred, while public transport ranged between 2000 – 4000 Rupiahs.
  • Be aware of strong currents while swimming or snorkeling. It is best to ask the advice of a dive master before swimming alone.
  • Do not leave any valuable belongings unattended at the beach while swimming or snorkeling. Ask for a deposit box at the hotel where you stay.
  • Most tourist facilities in Lombok (Gili Islands & Senggigi) remain open during Ramadhan. Local Restaurants might close in residential area in Mataram or Cakranegara to respect the majority of Moesleem Fasting. Tourist are suggested to eat and drinks in hotel’s or resort’s area.

Essential Information in Lombok

Hospital

  • Mataram Public Hospital (Rumah Sakit Umun), Jl. Pejanggik 6, Mataram, ☎ +62 370 638464. 24 hr UGD-Emergency room and admissions. The islands and the province’s main public hospital with UGD (Unit Gawat Darurat)-Emergency treatment room, ICU and OR facilities, laboratorium, Specialist consulting rooms. Caters to the needs of the general population.
  • RS Harapan Keluarga, Jl Ahmad Yani, Selagalas (to the immediate east of the city), ☎ +62 370 673666. Newly built modern facility with a polyclinic, ICU, operating theatres, CT and MRI scans, modern x-ray equipment, hemodialysis, ultrasound (USG), endoscopy, bronchoscopy and fluoroscopy facilities. Ambulance callout, emergency room (UGD), pharmacy, on-site laboratory and radiology department is available 24/7. This is currently the island’s most advanced and comprehensively equipped private facility.
  • Rumah Sakit Risa (Risa Centra Medika Hospital), Jl. Pejanggik No.115, Cakranegara (just east of Mataram mall on the right hand side of the road), ☎ +62 370 625560. 24 hr UGD-Emergency room and admissions. Hospital with UGD (Unit Gawat Darurat)-Emergency treatment room, private and VIP patient rooms, ICU and OR facilities, laboratorium, specialist consulting rooms including Internist, opthamologist, obstetrician, dentist. Professional treatment and reasonably comfortable accommodations.
  • Siti Hajar Moslem Hospital (Rumah Sakit Islam), Jl. Panca Warga, Mataram (Head west from Mataram mall, it is on the left hand side of the road). +62 370 623498. Specialist consulting rooms, Dentist.
  • Rumah Sakit Polda (National Police Hospital NTB-Bhayangkara Polda Nusa Tenggara Barat), Jl. Lanko No 54, Ampenan/Mataram (on the left hand side of the road heading eastward toward Mataram and before RS Umun), ☎ +62 370 633701. 24 hr UGD (Emergency room and admissions). Polyclinic and general hospital open to the public for treatment and admissions, also available general medicine, midwife, medi-legal services, counselling, and psychological services. The hospital is also the site of the Police (Polda) forensic pathology unit.
  • Payment guarantee, Please note many hospital service providers may demand a guarantee of payment before rendering treatment even in an obvious and clear emergency. Incremental payments may also be demanded for individual services including the supply of professional services such as laboratory services, pharmacuticals and medical consumables. Travel insurance providers are sometimes very slow to provide these payment guarantees and may demand extensive documentation of costs and full receipts or they may later decline payment or reimbursement or delay these payments for an extended time. Diagnosis may also be disputed by travel insurers and treatment or admission authorisations delayed for extended times whilst they deliberate over authorising treatment and payment guarantees.

Emergency

  • Ambulance ☎ +62 370 623489
  • Lombok Regional Police (National) (Polda), Jl Gajah Mada No7, Ampenan (Mataram), ☎ +62 370 693110. 24 hr emergency number 110
  • Tourism Police Senggigi (Pos Polsek Senggigi), Jl. Raya Senggigi km 1 Senggigi (near the Art Market), ☎ +62 370 632733.

Contacts

  • Department of Immigration (Direktorat Jenderal Imigrasi), Jl Udayana No2, Mataram, ☎ +62 370 635331.
  • Post Office (Kantor Pos), JL Sriwijarya, Mataram, ☎ +62 370 632645.

Embassies and Consulates
There are no consular services available in Lombok. The nearest consular services are in Bali and Jakarta has embassies representing a wide range of nationalities.

Tips in Gili Island

Essential Travel Tips
in Gili Trawangan:

  • You will get your feet wet when you board the small boats for the Gili islands especially when the low tide because the water is to shallow for the boat to land to the shore, use slippers/sandals and short.
  • Do not buy any mosquitoes coil from some kids at the harbor, as they are trying to sell things at the highest they can. There are lots of shops on the Islands selling those stuffs with better prices
  • Do not try to look at the things that they offers, and do not make any promises to say “maybe later”. Those guys can recognize your face and ask for the promises.
  • When you returned from the Islands, many kids brings water to wash your foot. At first you may feel convenient, but at the end they ask some money.
  • Carry some amount of cash to pay Cidomo (horse cart). The Cidomo in Gilis Island is bit expensive. Ask for the price before you use it.
  • Stonefish are found on the coral reefs where they are camouflaged and almost invisible.  watch your steps they are poisonous if stepped on.
  • Also, be aware of strong currents while swimming or snorkeling. It is best to ask the advice of a dive master before swimming alone.
  • Although it is pretty rare case, but Jelly fish could be very dangerous. Ask for local expert before you decide to enter the section of water.
  • Do not leave any valuable belongings unattended at the beach while swimming or snorkeling. Ask for a deposit box at the hotel where you stay.
  • Most tourist facilities in Lombok (Gili Islands & Senggigi) remain open during Ramadhan. Local Restaurants might close in residential area in Mataram or Cakranegara to respect the majority of Moesleem Fasting. Tourist are suggested to eat and drinks in hotel’s or resort’s area.

Essential Information in Gili Trawangan:

Hospital
Several hospitals are located on the nearby mainland in city of Mataram including the islands principal public hospital Rumah Sakit Umun and also the Risa Hospital in Cakranegara near Mataram mall.

Phone
Mobile phone towers ensure you’re never out of touch. Telekomsel’s Simpati SIM card has the strongest and most reliable coverage on the Gili islands.

Internet
There are few internet cafes in Gili Trawangan but connections are pretty slow while the costs are pretty high. You cannot compare the internet price in Gili Trawangan and other cities in Indonesia. The rate in Gili island is around 18.000 – 25.000 Rupiah per hours. If you have a mini computer on you, you prefer use it with mobile internet service. Use daily package or volume package.

Post
There is no post office on the Gilis, but William’s Bookshop, right behind the Art Market on Gili Trawangan, sells stamps and can mail out your postcards.