Last updated: 23 Apr 2012
Travel
Airports
Jakarta is the principle gateway for entry into Indonesia. With its huge tourist trade, Bali gets almost as much traffic. Flights from Singapore to Jakarta are cheap and, as it is a major travel hub in the region, it may be cheaper to fly to Singapore from where you can reach Jakarta by air or ship.
Indonesia is well serviced with domestic flights between the major cities. Most flights depart from Jakarta International Airport (Soekarno-Hatta) at Cengkareng, about 40-60 minutes drive from the city.
Surabaya has an hourly shuttle service (from Soekarno-Hatta) and services to Bandung (from Halim) are frequent, if a little unreliable, as bad weather can cause cancellations.
Allow at least an hour to get to Soekarno-Hatta airport in Jakarta as traffic jams and rain can cause major delays. The airport toll road is subject to flooding during the monsoon. When departing Indonesia, ensure you have Rp 100,000 in cash for your airport departure tax. For those flying within Indonesia, airport taxes vary from Rp15,000 to Rp20,000, depending on the airport of departure.
Ground transport
When using taxis in Indonesia, it is helpful to have the address of your destination written down in case the driver has difficulty understanding your pronunciation. A rough idea of where you are going can also help, although most taxi drivers will stop and ask locals for directions if they are unsure of the way. Although frequently wrong, locals often offer advice without actually knowing the way.
Being overcharged by taxi drivers is not uncommon. Ask hotel staff about the average fare for a particular journey. Have some change on hand as taxi drivers often do not have smaller notes. A 10 per cent tip is the norm.
In Jakarta, taxis from the Blue Bird Group, in particular Silver Bird taxis are recommended and can be booked from most hotels or at the airport. If you have a tight program, or are going to out of the way locations, it is often a good idea to book a taxi for the full day. The cost is less than a standard hire car and driver.
Contact details:
Blue Bird/Silver Bird
Jl Mampang Prapatan Raya No 60
Jakarta Selatan 12790
Indonesia
Tel: +62 21 794 1234 or 798 1001
Buses and small-motorised vehicles known as Bajajs in Jakarta are not recommended. On 15 January 2004 a new Busway Trans-Jakarta transportation system started in Jakarta, connecting major business districts. Further expansion of the system is expected in the near future.
Dining
Indonesia offers almost all types of cuisine from all over the world. From fine dining and specialty restaurants to many warung and kaki lima (small food stalls) in Jakarta. However, we do not recommend that you dine in these local food stalls. Food in most shopping mall restaurants is relatively cheap and is priced around A$6-8 per person.
Tipping
Tipping is not very widespread in Indonesia. Hotels and most restaurants always add a service fee to their bills. With taxis, it is usual to add around 10 per cent. It is always advisable to have some small change handy for taxi fares and small purchases, as shops don’t carry a lot of change.