The official website of the Indonesian Ministry of Tourism provides useful information such as the local currency (IDR), types of electrical sockets, and much more.
The same site also provides information on visas, including the latest e-VOA (electronic visa on arrival), which can be applied for in advance here. (I believe there is a small transaction fee for the e-VOA, but I’m not entirely sure as I’ve never used it).
In the three times we’ve been to Indonesia, we’ve always used the VOA (Visa on Arrival), which is pretty quick. As soon as we get off the plane, we go straight to the VOA queue and simply pay the fee of 500,000 IDR per person, although other currencies such as SGD or USD are also accepted. If you don’t have the exact amount, they will give you change in IDR. You can also pay with a VISA/Mastercard, but I’ve heard that the card payment connections don’t always work, so it’s always good to carry cash just in case.
To see the list of countries eligible for VOA, click here under the heading “Visa Exemption Arrangement Facility and Visa on Arrival for Indonesia.”
Regardless of the type of visa you choose, it’s always mandatory to have a valid passport for at least 6 months.
Another good way to find out more about the country you’re traveling to is to visit the website of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs or equivalent in the country of your nationality. In my case, I always consult the Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas, which provides useful information for travellers with Portuguese passports by destination. For Indonesia, this is the link.
Portal das Comunidades Portuguesas has information about entry requirements, safety, and health. However, for more detailed health issues, I also usually consult the TravelHealthPro website. This site provides more comprehensive information, including risks associated with diseases such as dengue, malaria, etc., and recommended vaccines for each destination. This site is aimed at travellers from the UK, so not all information may apply to everyone. For information specific to Indonesia, click here.
Another factor to consider is the time of year you’re travelling to Lombok, as Indonesia is a Muslim country and celebrates Ramadan. During this time, people fast during the day and pray at certain times of the day and night, with these prayers being broadcasted over loudspeakers spread across the island of Lombok. Even outside of Ramadan, it’s common to hear the call to prayer at various times of the day, but during Ramadan, the frequency increases, especially at night, which is likely to wake you up. It wasn’t a big problem for me, but for those who have trouble falling back asleep, it’s something to bear in mind when planning your trip and avoid travelling during this time if you think it might disrupt your holiday. Another important aspect for those traveling to Lombok during Ramadan is that local restaurants are usually closed during the day and only open after sunset when people resume eating.
As with any trip, it’s important to have a good health insurance before traveling. Insurance can be purchased for the country of destination or on an annual basis for a specific list of countries.
Another very important recommendation for travellers to Indonesia is to drink only bottled water, and to consume iced drinks only when we are sure that the ice is made with treated water. The same care should be taken when brushing your teeth, where you should not use tap water. For those travelling with children, it’s always a good idea to remind them of these precautions a few days before the trip, as it will stick in their minds (I suppose). Hotels usually offer treated water for drinking or brushing teeth, which they provide in the rooms every day.
When it comes to flights, I usually use SkyScanner to see what options are available for a particular destination, and then I make my purchase directly on the website of the airline of my choice, taking into account price and the most convenient schedules.
Before traveling, I also usually buy a mobile data package, which is always handy for communicating with the hotel or guides in case of flight delays, for example. I use Airalo, which allows buying mobile data packages through an eSIM. Just download the app, create an account, select the country and data package you want, pay, and install the eSIM For more details, you can check here. Also check that your phone model supports eSIM, which you can do here.
See also the Arrival in Lombok post for more details on getting to Lombok from Singapore, and what to do when you arrive at the airport.
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