Indonesia

Most visitors from Europe and the United States need a visa to enter Indonesia, usually either an electronic visa online and done in advance or a visa on arrival that you pay for at certain airports and ports. These tourist visas normally allow a stay of about thirty days, with the option to extend thirty extra days once if you follow the rules and steps. Requirements are changing quite often, including new online forms and Bali specific rules, so it is important to check your own government site and the official Indonesian immigration page before you book.

On the ground, most people experience Indonesia as busy and chaotic rather than dangerous, especially in Bali and the main tourist areas. The bigger risks tend to be petty theft, dodgy nightlife situations and road accidents, particularly on scooters, not targeted crime against visitors. There are occasional security and political issues, plus natural hazards like earthquakes or eruptions, so it is smart to keep an eye on local news and government travel updates. With normal city awareness, good judgement at night and a healthy respect for the roads, trips here are usually smooth.

Most of Indonesia has a clear split between a drier half of the year and a wetter, more humid half. Bali and much of Java are usually at their best from roughly May to September, when skies are clearer and seas are calmer, which is why that window is so popular. May, June and September often feel like a good compromise between sunshine and crowds, while July and August are the classic peak months. Further east, around Komodo and Flores, conditions can stay pleasant even when other areas are starting to get more rain, so late and early shoulder months can work well if you want to sidestep peak season.

Indonesia is generally on the affordable end of Southeast Asia, especially if you are happy with guesthouses, homestays and local food. Simple warungs, small ferries and public buses keep costs low, and once you leave the most famous parts of Bali, prices often drop again. Your spending climbs when you add private drivers, long distance flights between islands, diving, fancy beach clubs or villas with a view. With a mix of low key days and the occasional big splurge, most people find Indonesia very kind to their budget compared with Europe or North America.

Trying food from carts and small stalls is a big part of travelling in Indonesia, and you can do it without wrecking your stomach if you are a bit picky. Look for places that are busy with locals, where dishes are cooked to order and come out piping hot, and skip anything that looks like it has been sitting around. You should be more careful with lukewarm buffets, ice of unknown origin and salads that may have been rinsed in tap water. Washing or sanitising your hands before you eat, easing into spice levels and carrying basic medicine “just in case” all help keep things comfortable.

Tap water in Indonesia is not recommended for drinking, even in Bali, so most visitors stick to bottled, boiled or filtered water and are cautious at least in the first days. That usually means no glasses of straight tap water, being choosy with ice and thinking about how salads and fresh juices are prepared. For health in general, clinics often suggest making sure your standard vaccines are up to date and considering extras like hepatitis A and typhoid, plus good mosquito protection. Because it depends on where you are going and how you travel, a quick chat with a travel doctor or an official health site before your trip is worth it.

You will want both cash and cards. In Bali, Jakarta and other big hubs, cards are fine for hotels, many restaurants, shops and beach clubs, but small warungs, markets, homestays and some tours still prefer cash. ATMs are common in towns and popular areas and work with most major card brands, though there is usually a local fee each time you withdraw. On smaller or more remote islands, machines can be scarce or unreliable, so arriving with enough cash for a few days is a good habit.

Indonesia is very multilingual, but Indonesian is the national language and English is widely used in the main tourist spots. In Bali, Jakarta and other popular areas, staff in hotels, cafes, dive shops and tour agencies usually speak enough English for day to day questions and bookings. Once you head into smaller towns or less visited islands, English fades and you rely more on gestures, simple words and a translation app. Learning a few basics like hello and thank you goes a long way and locals tend to really appreciate the effort.