Downtown Luxury Slum

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1. If you have a Canadian or US or one of 21 other passports, you can get a visa on arrival. To apply, you must have an ordinary (non-emergency) passport with at least 6 months of validity from the date you plan to enter and the date you plan to leave Indonesia and a return or onward flight booking to another country. The fee is about $35 USD and it is valid for up to 30 days. You may later extend it additional 30 days for another $35 USD. Check your eligibility and skip the lines by applying online here.

2. Complete the mandatory customs declaration before your departure to Indonesia and present the completed form with QR code upon arrival.

3. Bring your proof of COVID-19 vaccination and get the mandatory SATUSEHAT App used for COVID management. Pack a mask for certain indoor places.

4. Download the rideshare apps (Grab, or Gojek.) If you plan on doing longer day trips, consider hiring a driver with a car for the day. The MyBluebird app (scroll to the bottom) will help you get a taxi if you can get it to work.

5. Pack for hot, humid weather. Bring a few layers if you plan on climbing volcanoes, using transportation, or entering malls. Be ready to wear a sarong and cover your shoulders when visiting temples.

6. Pack a travel adapter for type C and F outlets (2 round prongs) or consider getting an international travel adapter.

7. Credit cards are widely accepted but cash is usually preferred and definitely necessary in some places. ATMs are readily available to get some IDR currency.

8. Plan to eat at local restaurants. You can get a good meal for $2 USD. Try nasi goreng (fried rice), mie goreng (noodles), satays, martabak pancakes, and noodle soups.

9. Don’t do drugs. Just don’t.

10. Don’t drink tap water. Use bottled water even for brushing your teeth.

Since I’m still planning and haven’t yet been, I’d appreciate any additional tips you might have?

* Featured image by Sasha India, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Bali,Indonesia%2850368691146%29.jpg