NATIONAL CURRENCY: Rupiah (IDR or Rp).
-
The Indonesian rupiah (rupiah) is the official currency of Bali, as well as throughout Indonesia.
-
Many current transactions are made in cash. The credit card is generally accepted in restaurants. It is easy to find ATMs in big cities. Care should be taken when visiting rural areas or smaller cities.
-
There are bank notes of 100,000, 50,000, 20,000, 10,000, 5,000 and 1,000 Indonesian rupees.
The current exchange rate is 1 EUR = 16,872 IDR (and 1 USD = 14,373 IDR).
PHONE :
-
To call Bali from France dial 00 62 (indicative of Indonesia), 361 (indicative of Bali) then the number of the correspondent.
-
To call France from Bali, dial 001 33 and the correspondent number without the initial zero.
BANKS:
You will find many vending machines in the big cities but also in small towns and sites frequented by tourists.
INTERNET :
-
You will find an internet connection very easily in cybercafés, airports, shops, hotels and restaurants.
-
In contrast, in the countryside, the connection is more restricted, but almost all hotels have their own Internet connection, so it is always possible to stay connected during your trip.
-
Be sure to think about disabling your "Cellular Data Abroad" on your mobile to avoid the bad surprise of the bill when you return to France.
-
If you want to stay connected, you can also buy a prepaid local sim card and buy one of the packages offered by many operators (Telkomsel, XL Axiata ...), be careful anyway because you will not be able to receive your messages and calls on your number usual.
SECURITY / LAW:
-
The purchase and consumption of narcotic drugs is severely repressed in Indonesia. Possession of drugs, regardless of their qualification (hard or soft) and the amount held (from 0.2 g) is punishable by imprisonment for several months or even years and a very high fine (tens of thousands of euros). There is no tolerance and no permissiveness, despite the apparent ease to obtain, especially in tourist places.
-
In order to avoid pickpocketing during your trip, we encourage you to follow a few simple rules. If you have valuable items or a lot of cash, put them in the hotel safe so they will be safe. It is also not recommended to bring valuables to the beach or, if there is no choice, be sure to stay close to your belongings to keep an eye on them.
-
Due to the prohibitive prices of imported alcohol, the preparation and sale of adulterated alcohol is becoming more and more common in Indonesia. You must be very vigilant and avoid at all costs to consume alcohol purchased in stalls. By the way, the best is to avoid local alcohol, called Arak.
-
The proposal of "complete massages", "massage with happy ending" or "ultimate pleasure" exists in Bali. It is indeed prostitution, illegal and considered in Indonesia as a "crime against decency and morality". It's up to you to act accordingly.
WATER / FOOD:
-
Be very careful about the water you drink. Never drink tap water, always drink bottled water and check that it is properly capped. It is necessary to be vigilant also with ice cubes, consume exclusively cubic ice cubes or with a cylindrical hole form in the middle.
-
Avoid the consumption of raw or undercooked food products (fish, meat, poultry, milk); peel fruits or vegetables, or wash them well with clean water.
USEFUL TIPS:
-
Avoid swimming in stagnant water (risk of parasitic infection).
-
Avoid walking barefoot on sand and wet soil.
-
Stay away from dead animals, animals and their droppings.
-
Do not approach stray animals and dogs (risk of biting and rabies); Do not pet the animals you meet.
-
Shake clothes, sheets and sleeping bag to avoid the bites of scorpions or snakes.
-
Ensure your road safety (wearing the seat belt, wearing the helmet in two wheels).
-
Never consume drugs purchased on the street.
-
Wash your hands regularly with hydro-alcoholic washing solutions, especially before and after meals or when using the toilet.
A FEW USEFUL VOCABULARY WORDS:
-
Good morning: selamat pagi
-
Hello (lunchtime): selamat siang
-
Good afternoon: selamat sore
-
Good evening: malam selamat
-
Good night: selamat tidur
-
Welcome: datang selamat
-
Goodbye: selamat tinggal (if you leave), selamat jalan (if it's them who leave)
-
Yes: ya
-
No : tidak
-
Thank you: terima kasih
-
Nothing: sama sama
-
Excuse me: permiti (in the sense of "let me go / do this), maaf (apologize for an error)
-
Please: tolong (for a request), Mari, silakan (for an invitation)
-
How much does it cost ? : berapa hargannya?
-
Addition please: Tolong nota