VACCINATIONS & HEALTH
International health certificates for smallpox and cholera are not required, except from travellers arriving from infected areas.
Please get advice from your local medical center. For some parts of Indonesia malaria prophylactics are recommended as well as booster injections for intestinal diseases and hepatitis A and B.

EXIT
Airport tax levied on passengers for international travel for travel within Indonesia regional variations occur.

TIPPING
Major hotels usually add a 10% service charge to bills. Where it is not included a tip of between 5% to 10% of the bill would be appropriate if the service is satisfactory.
Airport porters expect for a small bag and for bags weighing more than 20 kg.
Tipping taxi and hire-car drivers is not mandatory, but if service has been satisfactory tip is sufficient for a taxi driver, Hire-car drivers would normally expect a larger tip.

DRESS CODE
Dress is normally informal in Indonesia due to the warm, humid climate and clothing of light fabrics are recommended. Travelling in highland areas is noticeably cooler, however, and carrying a light sweater may prove useful. Accepted attire for men is a shirt and long pants.
A jacket and tie are required for official calls or for more formal occasions. Long sleeved batik or handwoven shirts are acceptable for evening functions.
For ladies, dresses, blouses, and long pants are appropriate. Shorts, halters or tank tops should only be used at sports facilities or on the beach.

OFFICE HOURS
Business offices are usually open either from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm or 9.00 am to 5.00 pm, with a break for lunch between 12.00 noon and 1.00 pm. but on Saturday many business offices are closed.
Government office hours are from 8.00 am to 4.00 pm from Monday to Friday and on Saturday many Government offices are close.

BANKING
Normal banking hours are from 8.00 am to 2.30 pm from Monday to Friday. Some bank branches in hotels, however, keep longer hours.
Daily exchange rates are published in newspapers.
The US dollar is the most readily accepted currency.
Most major tourist destination areas have foreign exchange facilities, but for travel to remote areas, it is advisable to change money and travelers cheques in advance. Credit cards are acceptable only at major hotels, restaurants and travel agencies.

CURRENCY
The unit of currency is Indonesia Rupiah indicated as IDR.
USD1 is roughly equivalent to IDR 9.980,-.
Foreign currency can be converted at banks and money changers.

Exchange & Currency

Here are some options that can help you save during your holiday in Bali.

Credit Cards – Use a major credit card: American Express, MasterCard or Visa, whenever possible. The rate of exchange applied by the cards is likely to help you save more than exchanging cash or traveler’s checks into the Indonesian Rupiah.

Cash vs. Traveler Checks - Better exchange rates apply for major foreign currencies than for traveler checks. Moreover, extra fees often apply for cashing travelers checks - added to the fee you originally paid to purchase. Besides, cash eases your shopping in traditional markets in Bali.

Which currency? - More buying power is gained if you exchange hard-currency cash – such as the Japanese Yen and Australian Dollar. But for the highest relative rate, bring US Dollars or Euros.

Dollar denominations - The dollar denomination affects the exchange rate. Prime reason: The larger the denomination, the less likely the bill will be a counterfeit. That's why US$100 bills get appreciably better rates than $50 bills, which get appreciably better rates than $20 bills. Only some money exchangers bother with $10 bills -- and if you have $5 and $1 bills, forget it. Whatever the denomination, bring the latest design style of US currency. And, be sure notes are crisp, unmarred and unwrinkled.

Money exchangers - Professional money exchange establishments (particularly those in Kuta's main shopping areas) normally give you significantly better exchange rates than banks, which in turn give you appreciably better rates than you get at hotels and the airport. Note: Although nearly all Balinese money exchangers are honest, there are a few who "accidentally" miscount, use sleight of hand deception, use rigged calculators or tag on unexpected commissions. For getting best a reliable local source to point you to one of the many reliable money exchangers.

SHOPPING
Major cities in Indonesia have shopping complexes, supermarkets and department stores where prices are fixed. Shops are usually open all week including Sundays.
Shopping hours are usually between 9.00 am and 9.00 pm for department stores and supermarkets in the large cities with shorter hours on Sundays. In smaller cities, shops may be closed between 1.00 pm and 5.00 pm.
Bargaining is customary in small shops and markets, the art of which is to start at half the asking price and slowly increase your offer until a compromise is reached. Remember it helps to smile while bargaining.

NATIVE SPORT
However, the most popular sports in Indonesia are soccer, badminton, and table tennis. Golf is becoming more and more popular and a number of excellent golf course can be found across the archipelago. Most major hotels have their own tennis and squash courts, swimming pools, health clubs and those at seaside resorts provide equipment for sailing, surfing, scuba diving and windsurfing. There are also a growing number of dive shops which provide necessary equipment and professional services.

Traditional sports in Indonesia include bull races, bull fights, rowing, and unique ram fights, all of which are held as part of special festivities. Silat, a martial art, can be performed as a dance or an exercise and is comparable to Karate or Kung Fu.

ETIQUETTE

Several tips to keep in respect for Balinese customs, rituals and sensibilities:

Don't take a picture of anyone or something without first obtaining permission.
Don't enter a temple unless you're completely covered knees to shoulders; you can buy a traditional sarong or sash around the temple or get one free to use, provided at some temples in Bali.
Don’t enter a temple or other holy places during menstruation, rather ask the local people about those places without necessarily entering the grounds.
Don't touch anyone's head or point at someone.
Don't give or receive an object with your left hand.

TIMEZONE
Achipelago is spread over three time zones. Western Indonesia Standard Time, which covers the islands of Sumatra, Java & Madura, West and Central Kalimantan is 7 hours ahead of GMT; Central Indonesia Standard Time covers East and South Kalimantan, Sulawesi, Bali and Nusa Tenggara, and is 8 hours ahead of GMT; finally Eastern Indonesia Standard Time, which covers Maluku, and Irian Jaya is 9 hours ahead of GMT.

ELECTRICITY
Power supply is usually 220 volts/250 cycles in large cities, but 110 volts is still used in some ares. Normal outlets are plugs with two rounded pins. It is advisable to check electricity supplies before using any applian


TELEPHONE
Local calls can be made from public phones using coins or pre-paid cards. International calls can be made from public phones with card phone facilities or at any Telkom offices.

ACCOMMODATION
Indonesia has a wide range of accommodation at competitive rates. International standard, medium and budget hotels; youth hostels; and timeshare apartments are just some of the types of accommodation available. Privately operated motor-homes are also available for rental


Source: Eastjava Tourism of Indonesia & Bali Tourism Board