Once you have arrived in Indonesia, you are not likely to stay where you gained entrance. With over 6,000 inhabited islands, many of which offer unique cultural attractions, nobody stays put in Indonesia. Because of this, it has become necessary for many travelers to figure out how to travel around the area safely and affordably.
First, remember that travel within Indonesia requires more than passport – you must also carry a travel visa. You can apply for this at the Indonesian Embassy in Washington DC or, in many cases, upon arrival at one of the port cities.
It should come as no surprise that a region that is known for its tourism has a well-developed transportation system. In fact, there are more than 20 airlines that operate in the region – the only problem is, in many cases, the safety standards are not exactly what we are used to. For this reason, anyone interested in using a local airline for their in-region traveling should carefully review his or her options. The transportation authority routinely ranks the airlines for safety. Reviewing this information prior to selecting an airline is the best way to stay safe.
Once you are ’on island,’ or at your destination, there are several other transportation options. Depending on where you are, you may have access to cars, motorbikes, flat-bottomed boats or houseboats. Larger cities often have train access as well. It is important to note that areas that are off the beaten track often do not ATM machines, so it is critical to have enough cash on hand to cover transportation costs.
Transportation varies from city to city. The larger towns have better systems in place, but many visitors like to rely on traditional transportation methods while in country. This has led to the creation of entire fleets of flat-bottomed boats and houseboats.
Whichever options you choose, be sure to carefully review their safety information.