Indonesia is located at the South East Asia and is the largest archipelago country in the world. Indonesian archipelago consists of 5 major islands and thousands of smaller islands. Each region has its own culture and language which make Indonesia one of the most culturally diverse countries in the world with thousands of tribes and local dialects. In this page, you can get some basic information about how to visit Indonesia.

To enter Indonesia, you will need a visa permit. You may apply for visa on arrival as you arrive in Indonesia if you come from the 63 countries, including most of Western countries and Asia for short visit.http://www.budpar.go.id/page.php?ic=630&id=184 If you come from ASEAN countries and several other countries, you may visit Indonesia for short visit without visa.http://www.budpar.go.id/page.php?ic=630&id=2758. However, it is advisable to apply for visa before you enter Indonesia.

The currency for Indonesia is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). You can easily exchange your money at the banks and money changers, especially in the big cities. You will need cash for tips, transportation, and eating. Major hotels, restaurants, stores and supermarkets usually accept credit cards, but only for purchase that is Rp 100.000 or more.

The official language of Indonesia is “Bahasa Indonesia” or Indonesian, although some foreigners mistake it for Bahasa. People in Indonesia generally don’t speak English unless they work in tourism industry with the exception of Bali. Almost all people in tourist spots in Bali speak several major international languages.

Indonesia is very vast with thousands of islands scattered in the region. There are several local air services that connect major cities in Indonesia. The safest local air service and Indonesia’s official air service is Garuda Indonesia.

You can also travel by trains in Java Island. There are several classes to choose from when you travel by trains. Since the cost is relatively cheap, it is advisable to pick business or first class trains for efficient service and cleanliness.

There are also buses that connect to major town and remote area. There are air-conditioned buses and non-air conditioned buses to choose from. To visit remote places, you usually need to hire a car and a driver who knows the route.

Ferries, boats, and ships are also an option to travel between islands, especially smaller islands such as in Pulau Seribu.

Transportation in local areas depends largely on the area. In large cities such as Jakarta, Medan, and Surabaya, the best transportation if you are not familiar with the location are taxis. Taxi drivers usually don’t speak English or other language, so notify the driver about the location in Indonesian or write it down and hand it to them. A rule of thumb, “jalan” is the Indonesian for “road”, so if you want to go to Sudirman Road, for example, simply said “Jalan Sudirman”. “Hotel” and “mall” (as in shopping mall) are also translated to hotel and mall in Indonesian.

Accommodation in Indonesia varies greatly depending on the location, but there are usually clean hotels in major cities and towns in Indonesia. In international cities and in Bali, there are many five stars international hotels to choose from and even the lower priced hotels are quite clean with good service. All hotel rates include breakfast and in 4 stars or more hotels, the breakfast buffet is usually quite excellent.

Indonesia, especially Bali, has different rates for high, low, and peak season for transportation and accommodation rates. The tourist sites are usually crowded with local tourists which are not ideal for your vacation. Highest season is usually in Eid Mubarak, an Islamic holiday, and New Year. Check with your travel agents for the best deals.

Spices in Indonesia have attracted friendly and aggressive countries to the archipelago for thousands of years. Cuisine in Indonesia varies between regions and culture, but they usually contain many spices with fresh ingredients. Sampling the food from various region in Indonesia is an adventure in itself. Curry is one of the favorite in Indonesia, especially Padang style curry. There are also many local treats and snacks you can try. In general, Indonesian people love to eat out and finding food is always easy, either street food or international food in the cities.

If you eat street food, though, be wary of traveler’s diarrhea. Eat at international food chains or restaurants if you are worried about the hygiene. Do not drink water straight from the tap; drink bottled mineral water which is very cheap and widely available.

Indonesia has many cultural and natural wonders. You may spend years traveling around Indonesia has many cultural and natural wonders. You may spend years traveling around the country and still discover something new. International tourists usually go to Bali for the beautiful beach, culture, and tourist friendly environment.

If you love beaches, aside from Bali, try Lombok Island instead. It also has some great hotels and resort and the beaches are much less crowded than Bali. Ujung Kulon in Java is a reserve for rhinoceros and is near to Anyer beach, a popular beach resort in Java. If you like mountains, climb the Gunung Merapi, the highest mountain in Java and enjoy the rainforests in Indonesia. Diving in Indonesia is especially delightful with many world famous diving locations you can visit. Wakatobi is one of the most pristine reefs in the world and Nusa Lembongan in Bali is also a great place to dive.

Each region has its own fascinating cultures. One of the sight you can’t miss is the Borobudur Temple, the largest Buddhist temple in Indonesia which was built centuries ago and one of the Seven Wonders of the World.

If you want to shop for international brands, go to Jakarta and Surabaya which have huge shopping malls with many international brands such as Mango, Zara, Louis Vuitton, and much more. To buy international branded items with very low price, visit factory outlets in Indonesia where the Indonesian based factories for international clothing brands sell their rejected products.

To shop for local products, you can visit Solo and Yogyakarta for hand painted Batik and traditional silverware, or Bali for various handicraft and carvings. Each region usually has its own handicraft and fabrics. Be sure to haggle when you buy something from the street vendors.