Trip Preparation

Know Before You Go:

Although most of the planning and preparation is taken care of for you, there are still a few things you should know and some details you should take care of to ensure your comfort, safety, and peace of mind. Please review the following information before your departure to ensure that any surprises along the way will only be pleasant ones.It is each traveler's responsibility to have a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the dates of travel and a visa if required.Your passport must have at least 2 blank pages for visa entry stamps.  Apply for visa the official visa website for Indonesia  https://molina.imigrasi.go.id 

IMPORTANT: Passengers who are not U.S. citizens must check with the respective consulate or a visa agency to determine what personal identification is required. Passengers who enter, leave, and then re-enter the same country on their itinerary should check if they require a double-entry visa. Passport applications are available at most U.S. Post Offices, as well as at regional Passport Agencies. Passengers requiring visas, whether obtained in advance or locally upon arrival, should ensure that their passport has blank pages.

Trip Preparation: Prepare for your trip by planning ahead. Create a checklist of necessary items several weeks before departure, ensuring that essential personal documents (passports, visas, driver's license) are in order. Carry enough prescription medications in case of delays. Pack a change of clothes in your carry-on bag for potential luggage issues. Opt for carry-ons over checked bags when possible, and choose distinctive colors for easy identification. Make photocopies of important documents and store them separately. Create a digital copy of your passport for quick reporting and replacement in case of loss. Include a list of medications, both prescription and over-the-counter, with dosages. Bring a portable alarm clock, as some places may restrict bag sizes. Use a small shoulder bag or purse for museums with size restrictions. Keep valuables, like cameras, in your carry-on to prevent loss. Address potential pressure issues during the flight by consulting your physician for decongestion medication. Place liquid containers in Ziploc bags to prevent leaks.

Travel Safety Advice: The safety of our guests is Simplistic Journeys main concern. Before making the decision to reserve your vacation, we want you to be aware of potential situations which may impact your holiday. While most of the time our programs run precisely according to plans, on rare occasion force majeure events including weather, transportation mechanical issues, or uninhabitable accommodation, civil unrest and even criminal or terrorist activities will present themselves unexpectedly and with little or no notice. Simplistic Journeys and its suppliers and or its vendors will make the decision to cancel a tour only after receiving verifiable government issued information. We are otherwise obliged to comply with contractual airline and vendor agreements and carry out the tour until or unless we are advised otherwise. In the event of such an occurrence any time after your date of departure, Simplistic Journeys, and its suppliers and or its vendors and the local destination ground staff, in coordination with government advisories, airlines, hotels, cruise ships and other vendors, will make decisions with regard to your safety first. We strongly recommend that tour participants review the destination country's specific information at https://travel.state.gov/content/passports/en/alertswarnings.html

Travel Protection: Even the best-planned trips can be impacted by the unexpected. And that is why we recommend that you help protect yourself and your investment by purchasing Travel Protection for your trip. Travel Protection can help with medical coverage for illness or injury, trip cancellation and/or interruption, baggage loss, medical evacuation, and more. At any time before you complete Final Payment, you may choose to purchase Travel Protection. 

Mobile Phones: Mobile networks differ from country to country. We recommend you check with your provider to see if your wireless plan will work in the destination(s) you are visiting. To avoid possible roaming charges, you may want to consider purchasing an international plan. With most major phone companies, for a modest fee, you will be able to use your domestic plan's talk, text, and data allowances just like you do at home. If you can access the internet while you travel, you can also take advantage of services such as WhatsApp or Skype.

Making Telephone Calls from One Country to Another: When dialing a number from one country to another, you should proceed as follows: To place a direct international call from Indonesia: Dial the international access code (00), plus the country code, the area or city code, and the number (for example, to call the U.S., you'd dial 00 1 000/000-0000). International country codes are: Australia, 61; Canada, 1; New Zealand, 64; U.K., 44; U.S., 1.

WiFi Access: WiFi is available in most airports, hotels, and cruise lines, as well as on some flights, trains, and buses. There may be a fee for access and service quality and speed may vary greatly especially while on moving vehicles. Availability on cruises is also dependent upon its location while sailing through multiple countries. Please note that WiFi can be extremely slow, unreliable, and sometimes nonexistent in developing countries.

Staying Healthy While Traveling:

All travelers should familiarize themselves with local conditions, such as high altitude or required immunizations, which could affect their health. We recommend you consult with your personal healthcare provider, the Centers for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) and/or the World Health Organization (http://www.who.int/en/) for their recommendations.

There are several easy steps you can take to stay healthy while traveling which may help prevent contracting an illness while away from home.

• Watch what you eat. Try new foods in modest quantities, and depending upon your destination, you may want to avoid street foods, salad bars, raw vegetables and fruits, unless they have thick peels like bananas or grapefruit.

• Stay hydrated. Drink bottled water and avoid consuming ice cubes made with tap water.

• If you have allergies to foods, medications or insect bites, or have any other unique medical issues, consider a medical alert bracelet and/or a physician’s note detailing required treatment should you become ill.

• Wash your hands regularly and carry hand sanitizer.

• Where appropriate, pack sunscreen and insect repellent (for both active and warm destinations).

• You may also want to bring a small first-aid kit with bandaids, antibiotic cream, pain killers, bug bite cream, digestive aids like antidiarrheal or anti-bloat medications, antacids, and cold medicine. This is in addition to any prescription medications which should be adequate for the entire trip.

Vaccinations and Covid Restrictions: Indonesia - No Covid restrictions and No inoculations are required. However, some inoculations are recommended. Please consult your physician before traveling to Indonesia. 

Currency Restrictions for Entry and Exit: 100,000,000 Indonesian rupia (approx. $7,000 USD)

Flight Information

International flights must be booked arriving at I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DSP) on July19, 2024

Departing flights should be booked leaving  I Gusti Ngurah Rai International Airport (DSP) On July 26, 2024. 

*International flight not included in package*

Notice on Aircraft Cabin Insecticide Treatment - Please note that some countries may require aircraft cabin insecticide treatment for in-bound foreign flights. A list of such countries is available at: http://www.dot.gov/office-policy/aviation-policy/aircraft-disinsection-requirements.

Consideration for Tour Participants (Escorted Tours)

For the benefit of all tour participants, we ask tour members to be considerate of their fellow travelers in the following ways:

• Refrain from wearing colognes, perfumes and/or personal products containing excessive fragrance in respect for other guests who may be allergic

• Avoid smoking cigarettes, e-cigarettes or cigars in the vicinity of other tour members, including in outdoor areas where smoking may be permitted but may still affect other tour participants

• Avoid attire with political or religious messages that may offend other travelers

• Respect your fellow passengers. Guests come from all walks of life and varied lifestyles. Please refrain from topics of conversation which might cause offense, such as religion and politics

• Refrain from conversation or talking on mobile phones while commentary is in progress

• Respect the mandatory seat rotation policy on the coach

• Make use of the available hand sanitizer on the coach to support a healthy environment

• Seek approval before taking photographs of other tour participants

• Respect tour departures times to avoid delay and loss of sightseeing opportunities

Climate & Clothing

Indonesia - Indonesia experiences moderate climate changes throughout the year but has two seasons, the wet season from October to April and the dry season from May to September. Bring appropriate clothing depending on the season during which you are traveling. Comfortable walking shoes, clothes you can layer and an all-weather jacket are recommended. Some religious sites may require modest dress to enter: No shorts or short skirts, knees must be covered by long pants or a long skirt. No sleeveless tops, shoulders must be covered and a shawl or scarf is frequently not accepted as a cover.

Indonesia Average Temperatures: https://weather.com/weather/tenday/l/Kuta+Bali+IndonesiacanonicalCityId=a289b1824c9c4411ef454f0ca1d0ed41ac943ce93c91877daba1754e6e6f0000

About Drones

Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) or “drone” technology has quickly become affordable and is increasingly popular with recreational users. While some countries have clear, established drone laws, others do not, or existing regulations are undergoing review and change. Travelers who wish to bring a drone on their trip are responsible to research and abide by the laws and regulations of the countries they are visiting, as well as to check with their airline(s) regarding their rules for transporting drones. Please note that tours are unable to extend the length of scheduled visits and stops to accommodate use of drones.

About Independent Travel

Independent tours allow you the freedom and flexibility to enjoy your vacation days at your own pace, to explore on your own, to be spontaneous and to focus on personal interests. Accordingly, independent tours are very different from escorted tours, which are conducted by a Tour Manager who accompanies you throughout, manages your needs and provides expert guiding services from the beginning to the end of your tour.

When traveling independently, please bear in mind that you will be responsible for your needs throughout. Depending upon the package or services you have selected, you may encounter representatives along the way, such as a transfer driver, or a local sightseeing guide. Those may be included in your tour or options you have pre-selected. However, you will be on your own to handle your luggage, locate service providers, check into and out of your hotels, and to get to and from train stations or car rental counters.

Independent touring, as the name implies is for the independent traveler who is comfortable traveling on one's own with less guidance. Of course, as with all Simplistic Journeys touring packages, you will find your services exactly as reserved when you arrive to your destination.

Book & Film Recommendations

Many of our guests enjoy reading about their destination - either in advance of their trip or while traveling - as a way of adding context to their visit. Whether reading a traditional guide book, learning about the history and culture, or simply enjoying a fictional novel set in the destination, a good book can add greatly to your experience. Similarly, a good movie set in your destination helps set the mood before you travel. We asked our Tour Managers and staff to recommend books and films which past guests may have enjoyed. The following does not constitute an endorsement of any authors, books or films listed, it is merely a collection of guests' recommendations.

INDONESIA: Books
This Earth of Mankind by Pramoedya Ananta Toer
The Rainbow Troops by Andrea Hirata
In the Time of Madness by Richard Lloyd Parry