Indonesia is one of the largest island countries in the world. It is definitively a large country with so many travel destinations you can visit. You might have known how popular Bali is. It is only one of the islands in Indonesia. There are many more of Indonesia you can explore through travel or backpacking. Indonesia is relatively safe destination for travel or backpacking. However, it is also important to do your own research to travel safely no matter how safe your destination is.
Tips to stay safe when travelling in Indonesia
Indonesia is a country with distinct cultural diversity. This country consists of people with different cultures, beliefs, and traditions. There are even sub ethnic communities who still preserve their ancient traditions but still adapt to the modern society without so much hassles. People in Indonesia are welcoming and friendly to foreign tourists. If you are still unsure of your safety when travelling in Indonesia, here are several tips to follow:
Common crimes faced by tourists
Violent crimes in Indonesia are relatively rare. However, you should stay on guard towards minor crimes such as pick-pocketing, theft, and bag snatching. Most of those happen on public transit or large crowd. Therefore, it is highly advised to stay on guard and not easily distracted when you walk around among large crowd. Make sure to secure your bags and valuables anywhere you go. There are not many travel scams in Indonesia. Some of them are relatively minor. You should always be more aware of our surroundings.
Bring cash, but not just enough
It is highly recommended to bring cash to pay for transaction instead of credit card to avoid fraud. It happens sometimes so you’d better avoid using credit card. However, make sure to not bring too much cash either because it will be such a hassle when you are going to pay. It may attract thieves. ATM machines are scattered around the city in Indonesia so it is not hard to find one. Make sure to choose ATM located in relatively safe place. Avoid empty, shady areas when you are going to use ATM.
Accommodation
Indonesia is also relatively safe when it comes to accommodation. Most hotels have reliable security system and personnel to ensure your safety. It is recommended to book a hotel in safe neighborhood to ensure your safety. Most importantly, don’t bring valuables when travelling especially if you are going to leave them in your hotel room. Just bring travel essentials you are going to use. If you should bring expensive things, make sure to bring extra precaution such as a key or combination lock, zip-lock bags, etc.
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Tap water in Indonesia
To ensure your health, avoid drinking tap water. It is highly recommended to bring your own bottled water. Or, you can always buy ones in mini market which scattered around the city in relatively cheap price. Be more cautious when trying out street foods. Look for the stalls that the locals seem to love to make sure you can avoid from food poisoning even though this is a very rare case in Indonesia tourism.
