General Info

[WestCoast1]

Does this only happen when you are in Indonesia? I tried an online credit card payment from Boracay, which was declined. Then I did it through remote destop from my computer in Hong Kong and it worked. A VPN would also do the job in this case.

Tiger, so far its happened in filipines, indonesia, and hong kong. It happens every trip, with my ATM, my two Visa cards, and my AmEx. Lesson learned, call the bank/issuer of each card before departing; use the phone number on the back of your CC. Give them the dates and countries you will be in. Then it never occurs. Quite literally they expect you to do just that: call them in advance.

[Tiger 888]

Westcoast, i travel between USA and AsIa about every 3 weeks. I never have a problem with ATM or credit cards. I juSt can't book a ticket on Air Asia online. i can call them in Indonesia direct, or the call center in UK which is open 24 hours, and they get it approved.

Does this only happen when you are in Indonesia? I tried an online credit card payment from Boracay, which was declined. Then I did it through remote destop from my computer in Hong Kong and it worked. A VPN would also do the job in this case.

[1Ball]

1Ball, you called your card's issuing bank prior to leaving your country, and told them the countries (Indonesia) and dates you would be traveling? If not, you will possibly have oodles of troubles making purchases of any kind. The ATM card will work in this store, but then not in the ATM machine where it worked 2 days ago. Then not in the next store. Calling the card-issuing bank will solve the problem in an hour. Security feature.

Westcoast, i travel between USA and AsIa about every 3 weeks. I never have a problem with ATM or credit cards. I juSt can't book a ticket on Air Asia online. i can call them in Indonesia direct, or the call center in UK which is open 24 hours, and they get it approved.

[Member #3088]

I book tickets online with air asia frequently, but only after trying several cards. The problem with credit card acceptance isn't with air asia, but with your bank outside Indonesia, many of which have put air asia transactions on some sort of high risk list. At least this is what my bank rep tells me.

Avoid Merpati; it is the airline of last resort. Frequent delays and operational problems. Garuda, Lion, Batavia, Sriwijaya are all better.

[WestCoast1]

I have several USA issued credit cards, and ATMs, and booking online with Air Asia is next to impossible, as all my cards get declined. Mandala, same thing.

1Ball, you called your card's issuing bank prior to leaving your country, and told them the countries (Indonesia) and dates you would be traveling? If not, you will possibly have oodles of troubles making purchases of any kind. The ATM card will work in this store, but then not in the ATM machine where it worked 2 days ago. Then not in the next store. Calling the card-issuing bank will solve the problem in an hour. Security feature.

[1Ball]

Any particular opinions about the different airlines which travel within Indonesia?

I'm looking at Garuda, Lion Air, and AirAsia. Garuda covers all of my destinations, while AirAsia is cheapest if it's available.

Particularly, does anyone have experience with the reliability of their websites for booking using American banks Visa or MasterCard?

I've flown on Merpati between Lombok and DPS, but their website is totally useless, and I had to pay an agent nearly the cost of my ticket to physically get the ticket into my hand at the Sheraton Senggigi.

I have several USA issued credit cards, and ATMs, and booking online with Air Asia is next to impossible, as all my cards get declined. Mandala, same thing. Some indo airline websites clearly state that in order to pay online, you must have an indo isued credit card. However, you can call the Air asia call center, and somehow, they push the credit card through.

Lion flyes brand new Boeing 737-900 aircrafts. Mandala brand new Airbus A320. Ditto for Air Asia.

IMO, best thing to do is buy at the airport on arrival, unless your credit card gets accepted online. If you can book online, it is all safe and secure.

[Member #2041]

Any particular opinions about the different airlines which travel within Indonesia?

I'm looking at Garuda, Lion Air, and AirAsia. Garuda covers all of my destinations, while AirAsia is cheapest if it's available.

Particularly, does anyone have experience with the reliability of their websites for booking using American banks Visa or MasterCard?

I've flown on Merpati between Lombok and DPS, but their website is totally useless, and I had to pay an agent nearly the cost of my ticket to physically get the ticket into my hand at the Sheraton Senggigi.

[FieldMouse]

Hi,

I am coming back to JAK for a week, but will need transport. Having driven in JAK for years the prospect does not scare me, but can anyone provide any info on local car hire place. I don't' want to be burned by Hertz, Avis etc prices, just need shitty old kijang to potter around in.

Thanks

Fieldmouse.

[Koperen Ko]

i've visited Bali several times and am thinking of checking out jakarta. My problem with the indo women in bali is that it seems like almost all of them smoke. Is it the same in Jakarta?

Might be that you pay more attention than you would back home.

In Indonesia there are more smoking women than in Europe and (I guess) the States, but happily there are also quite a lot that don't.

And besides, in my experience most girls prefer to mandi before going to bed. A good habit which is usually combined with brushing their teeth.

Regards,

Ko

[Amjeck]

i've visited Bali several times and am thinking of checking out jakarta. My problem with the indo women in bali is that it seems like almost all of them smoke. Is it the same in Jakarta?

[Hamaca]

If you want to get married soon in indonesia to a muslim girl it is going to cost you ?.

http://www.thebalitimes.com/2010/06/...gn-men-should/

[Stopping By]

Profdesigner,

Thanks for the report on the Bali scam and land price rise. A lot of people, especially retiring baby boomers, want a piece of paradise.

But on your friend's case. It doesn't sound as bad as many other stories floating around. Of course, much better to have a profit of $450,000 than $150,000. But he doubled his money. He got something. Plenty of other people get taken to the cleaners, sometimes even threatened in various ways.

And on trusting the woman. And I don't mean to be an asshole. But what was he thinking? Was he a newcomer to Indonesia or just hypnotized by the power of the pussy? (Who could blame him on that one).

Again, don't mean to sound condescending, but sounds like he came off better than many.

Thanks again for the tale.

[1Ball]

Thanks. But would you please explain one detail for me:
When you write "contracts their land" do you mean that the contract gives them the "right of use" the land and they then buy or construct the building on the land?

Btw, my conclusion of the discussion so far is that it is much simpler to rent a house. I guess that the annual costs would not be higher. But of course you might get a profit when you sell the house. On the other hand you can probably find better investments than property in Indonesia.

a land contract is a lease. You "rent" the land for 25 years, and build anything you want, with an option to renew after 25 years. Problem is, each day, as the period of your rental shrinks, so does the value of your investment.

In many cases, it is perfectly OK to buy, via a nominee. The wording has to be done correctly, and then you have nothing to worry about.

An indo friend of mine does very well for herself acting as a nominee for foreigners. she does it 4 or 5 times a year, charges about 2,000$ for her services, and has a clause in the contract that states upon the sale, she receives an agreed amount of the profits. Usually aobut 5-7%.

No problems this way, but it must be agreed to and spelled out before hand, you can't go in afterwards, and try to make things as you wish.

[Bellpepper]

While the rear window is always clearer than the windshield, the PMA would have been the best (safest) way to buy. Everyone that i know here contracts their land for 25 years with an option for another 25 with the price tied into rice, I'm not sure why a single man would be buying land here anyway and to put land in your girlfriends name would be a foolish thing to o anywhere, if there is no life-long commitment there why would he think there would be with his investment. While i do feel sorry for the poor schmuck . . . "a fool and his money are soon parted".

- jij

Thanks. But would you please explain one detail for me:
When you write "contracts their land" do you mean that the contract gives them the "right of use" the land and they then buy or construct the building on the land?

Btw, my conclusion of the discussion so far is that it is much simpler to rent a house. I guess that the annual costs would not be higher. But of course you might get a profit when you sell the house. On the other hand you can probably find better investments than property in Indonesia.

[Bellpepper]

If you set up a PMA company, then it can be 100% foreigner owned.

I do not think I will buy property but your information about PMA made me curious.

I have studied a few articles about PMA. It seems to be the safest way to buy property. You mentioned that it costs to set up a PMA but loosing maybe 50% (or 100%) of the value - if you buy property in the name of an Indonesian - costs much more.

Do you know anyone who have done this and have experience?
How long time does it usually take to establish a PMA?
I read a statement that the cost is approx 35 million rupiah. Do you know if that is correct?
After reading the remarks about Indonesian lawyers there is an obvious question: You need a lawyer to set up a PMA. How do you find a lawyer you can trust?

Thanks in advance.