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General Info

About Lombok & Beyond
Getting to Lombok
Geography
People
Traveller Tips
Map Location
Useful Info
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Hotels & Villas Reservation
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Best of Lombok



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Airport & Flight Information
Airport Tax

International : Rp. 100,000 per person
Domestic : Rp. 20,000 per person

Please make sure that you reconfirm your flight at least 3 days prior to departure. A&T Holidays will reconfirm your flights for you if you show your ticket to your guide.


Departure Information

If your departure transfer from your hotel to Airport has been booked with A&T Holidays, confirmation of the pick-up time from your hotel will be placed in your hotel key box or with the reception one day prior to your departure. Pick-up time is approximately 2 to 3 hours prior to your flight departure time


Hotel Check Out Time

Standard checkout time at hotels is 12 noon. If your pick-up time for departure is in the late afternoon, please check with your hotel reception to see if you can keep your room for an extra hour or two. (Note that hotels may charge you extra for this service).

Please make sure that you have settled your HOTEL "EXTRAS" BILL (drinks, meals, telephone, laundry, etc) in plenty of time so that you are ready when the guide comes to pick you up.

Please check that your LUGGAGE IS CLEARLY LABELLED with your name and address (inside and outside) and that it is locked. Contact your hotel's Bell Captain at least 15 minutes before leaving the hotel so that he has plenty of time to collect your luggage from your room. Your luggage will be transferred to the airport. Please note that you will personally have to take it through the security check. Luggage trolleys are not allowed through security but porters are available and they charge Rp. 5,000 per piece of luggage. Just to remind you - keep your passport and tickets in your hand luggage.

Health

Travelers coming from infected areas are advised to obtain International health certificates of vaccination against smallpox, cholera, yellow fever, typhoid and paratyphoid. For those who intend to stay for a long period of time in Lombok, it is recommended to have a gamma globulin injection.

To avoid Malaria, visitors should consult their doctor for a supply of malaria-repressent tablets. Chloroquine is available widely in Bali or Lombok and much cheaper here than abroad. Drinking; it is best to drink bottled mineral water. Be cautious when out in the sun, as it can become very intense in the afternoon especially in the dry season.

What to Wear
Light cotton and casual is the norm. When visiting temples mini skirts, shorts and revealing tops are frowned upon - you can hire "cover up" sarongs at most temples. Comfortable walking shoes are recommended fro all tours, and a light sweater for tours to mountain areas.

Valuable
Leave you passport, money and other valuables in the hotel safety deposit boxes. Do not leave them in your room or take them to the beach.

Weights & Measures
Indonesia uses the metric system of measurement. 1 kilometer is equal to 0.6214 miles; one meter is equal to 3.2808 feet; one liter is equal to 0.2642 U.S. gallons or 0.22 imperial gallons. To convert Celsius to Fahrenheit, multiply by 1.8 and add 32; to convert Fahrenheit to Celsius, subtract 32 and multiply by .55.

Electricity
In most places it is 220 volts, 50 cycles, but check first as 110 volts is still used in some areas. The plug is two pronged and round. In most good hotels, a voltage converter is usually available upon request.

Business Hours and Holidays
The government office hours usually start at 08.00 am and end at 05.00 pm, except for Saturdays when office hours are usually shorter and some government offices may be closed. This is also applies to banks and private offices. The labor rules suggest 8 working hours per day plus 1 hour for meal time and 40 hours per week. Religion is way of life for Indonesia and especially in Lombok, where there are no days without ceremonies and offerings. There are five major religions in Indonesia: Islam (90% of total population), Catholicism, Protestantism, Hinduism, and Buddhism, and each of these has their own official holidays during the year.

Money Matters
You can exchange most major world currencies (cash or travelers checks) easily into the local currency, the Indonesian Rupiah. All hotels offer currency exchange but at less favorable exchange rates. Or - and this our choice - go to a branch office of one of the local banks. Also, it is better to change your money first, if you plan on visiting the central or eastern Lombok for the day.

However that being said, there are a several "authorized" money changers available. If you choose to deal with a money changer - here are a couple of points worth remembering. First, the rate posted on the door usually is for amounts in notes of US $100. - lesser denominated notes (i.e. $50.00) will be given a less favorable rate. Next verify the exchange calculation (ask to use the calculator or bring your own) and count your change before you leave the window. Lastly, be prepared, if you are cashing travelers checks you will need to present your passport for identification and many money changers do not accept cash notes that have been defaced - or are in less than near mint condition. The official exchange rate posted is daily in all major newspapers. Also, rates that are too good to be true generally - watch out for.

The Rupiah comes in paper and coins. Paper denominations are 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,0000 ; coin denominations are 50, 100, 500, and 1,000.

Personal cheques are almost never accepted. Travellers cheques can be changed at banks / money changers and some shops will accept them. The major credit card (American Express, Dinners Club, Visa and Master Card) are generally accepted by hotels, restaurants and large shops and they may ask you to pay a 3-5% surcharge.


Tipping

Most hotels and restaurants add 10% service charge-additional tipping is not always expected but is usually accepted. Other tipping is entirely optional but if you are happy with services provided, the following guidelines may useful :

Porter : Rp. 1,000 to 5,000 per piece of luggage
Driver : Rp. 25,000 for day tour
Guide : Rp. 25,000 to 50,000 for day tour


Phone & Internet
All telephone numbers listed herein are local numbers. To reach any number in Lombok dial: International access code + 62 + 370+ (local number). Wherein "62" is Indonesia country code and "370" is the area code for Lombok. Be advised most Lombok telephone numbers are 6 digits.

Telecommunication capabilities have improved greatly over the last few years but patience is the keyword when trying to dial overseas from Indonesia - especially during office hours. Most good hotels offer International Direct Dialing (IDD) and Home Country Direct (HCD) services. Overseas calls can also be made at state-run telephone offices known as a wartel (warung telephone).

Need to get online ? Lombok has many cybercafes - especially in Senggigi. If you plan to be on Lombok for a while and need to get online to check your Yahoo! email you can use the local telephone company. Access telephone number is 080 989 999 (no area code). Username: telkomnet@instan password: telkom. AOL has a local access number on Bali. From Lombok dial 0361-289-652. But you need Globalnet in your bag of AOL connection options (no problem with newer versions).


Bargaining
It is way of life in Lombok and beyond, except in "supermarket" where prices are fixed. Your first offer should be about half of the asking price and negotiate up to what you are happy to pay.

Street Wise
Lombok's reputation has been sullied as of late since the economic crises hit Indonesia (staying only in the tourist enclaves you may not see the hardship this economic crises has caused the people) and crime has been on the rise - especially in Southern Lombok and at Mount Rinjani. Nonetheless that said Lombok is still far, far safer than most large cities in this world.

Pickpockets, car break ins and the like seem to be the most common complaints. To reduce your risk, use plain common sense and take the same basic precautions you would if you were visiting any big city. Keep a tight grip on your purse or camera, Never leave any bags (whether valuable or not) in your car, use the hotel safety deposit box, don't go down dark deserted alleys and don't count money in the open etc, etc....

On the other hand don't even think of committing a crime in Indonesia. You are a long way from home with far fewer rights than you think. Behave yourself and be a gracious guest.


Outward Bound
On the way out of the hotel, keep a little extra money handy. All tourists leaving Indonesia from Mataram International Airport are required to pay an airport tax of Rp.100,000. That said be advised that it is against the law to leave Indonesia with more than Rp. 10,000,000. Departure for domestic travel is also taxed (Rp.8,000) though most of the time this has already been included in the ticket price - but every once and awhile you are surprised.


Driving Information
Getting Around

Traveling in Lombok is much more relaxed than Bali but the roads tend to be narrower (2 lane with passing in both directions) and once you get out of the main tourist section, not as well maintained. Whilst we wouldn't recommend anyone rent a self drive car in Bali - In Lombok you can, if you're a bit adventurous, get around on your own quite nicely.

Still the byword is Caution. Traffic moves quite slowly and you can come up on a cidomo (horse drawn cart) quite quickly without realizing it. Also, when you put cidomos together with pedestrians, bicycles, tour buses, trucks, livestock and assorted immovable objects in the middle of roads that are not well marked with traffic controls that are often ignored and little - if any - enforcement of rules that may exist - you have to pay attention - especially at night !

Metered taxis are now available in Lombok. Easily recognizable by their blue color they are surprisingly inexpensive compared to other private transport options.

Also be advised that if you have an accident and there is an injury to a local person you will not be able to leave until the matter is cleared up. In the long run it is usually better to hire a car with a driver, enjoy the scenery and arrive at your destination relaxed. It usually costs only about US$ 10.00 more per day to hire a driver with your rental vehicle than without - so you be the judge.

That said, The more adventurous visitor may want to explore Lombok by motorcycle. If you do choose to do so be advised that you will need a motorcycle driver's license - if you don't have one you may get one at the Police station and you need to wear a helmet.

Another interesting way to discover Lombok is by Bemo (the small covered carry vans careening about). No better way to mix with the locals - Very cheap but there's no airconditioning and the bemos can get crowded. That said, make sure you understand the price before you get in - locals seem to have one price, tourists another - you might find taxis cheaper.

Last but not least are cidomos (2 wheeled horse drawn buggies). More a tourist thing in Senggigi at night but a staple of transportation for locals in Mataram and elsewhere during the day.


Car Hire
Car hire is easy on Lombok. Large international rental companies may offer good deals but local companies are very competitive also. The most popular rental vehicle is the Jimny - a small, Suzuki Katana jeep with ample ground clearance. The Jimny has a tiny 800 cc engine, two seats in the front, and two or four bench seats in the back. The larger Toyota Kijang seats six, and is very economical and lightweight. The majority of hire-cars have manual 'stick-shift' gears as opposed to automatic transmissions. A Jimny costs from Rp 100,000 to 150,000 per day (normally twelve hours) including insurance and unlimited kilometers but excluding petrol. A Toyota Kijang costs from Rp 150,000 to Rp. 250,000 per day with unlimited kilometers, but excluding insurance and petrol. If you rent a Jimny by the week or longer, expect to pay around Rp 70,000 per day.

TIP - Shop around for a good rental deal. Check out the internet, Lombok's local papers or magazines for the best prices.

TIP - Carefully check the condition of the car before accepting terms (especially the horn, as this is used to warn other road users of your presence).

TIP - All rental cars should have registration documents and registration plates prefixed with the letters: RC (for 'Rental Car'). These are legal requirements for renting and without them the police could stop you and impose fines. Registration plates should also include both Bali and Lombok licensing for use on both islands. Inform the rental company if you intend to use the vehicle on both islands and request the appropriate documentation.

TIP - During the major holiday periods, hire vehicles are in great demand from Lombok people locals going home for the festivities, so it is advisable to book your vehicle in advance of these periods. Car Hire with Driver (known in Lombok as 'chartered transport'): Although prices vary, depending on the places you wish to visit (and the distance covered), a car with a driver will run about Rp 200,000 - 300,000 per day (8 hours). Negotiate with the driver before agreeing to a deal and check what extra costs will have to be paid such as petrol, meals, etc. Insurance Requirements: Some rental companies offer insurance for an added fee. Check the small print as the conditions of policies vary considerably.

TIP - Maximum write-off damage will require an approximate payment of US $25 variable according to the individual policy, but minor damage such as a smashed wing or headlight could result in the hirer paying the full cost of repairs, which can be very expensive. License Requirements: An International Driving Permit is required in addition to your own national Driving License. These are obtainable from motoring organizations in your country.

WARNING - Driving in Lombok without a license can result in a fine of Rp 2,000,000. Seat Belts: Seat belts are fitted to some vehicles but there are no legal requirements to use them. Helmets: If you intend to rent a motorcycle helmets will be supplied by the hire company for the rider and passenger. It is a legal requirement to wear one and it has to be in good condition. Which Side of the Road: Traffic drives on the left. Priority: It is your responsibility as driver to avoid all other road users. Any vehicle has the right of way to pull out in front of you at any time. Drivers in Lombok rely on audible warnings, so use the horn regularly to let them know of your presence and in particular when overtaking. Likewise, other drivers will use their horns to let you know of their presence.

WARNING - Be extra vigilant when driving at dusk or at night in rural areas. Many bicycles and carts do not have lights, and street lighting is to be found only in the larger towns. Routes: Indonesia's main roads are generally excellent surfaced highways, though overland travel may be hampered by the IMF's insistence that the government remove price subsidies on petrol. In Badung regency especially, there are certain roads that change priority from two-way to one-way during the course of the day. Be extremely careful as road priorities can change without warning and the police will fine anybody driving in contravention of altered road priorities. Speed Limits: There is a maximum speed limit of 70 kph. Petrol: Expect to pay over Rp 4.500 per liter.