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Indonesia Holidays, With Some Ideas and Guides to Traveling Around Indonesia

There’s A LOT more to Indonesia holidays than beautiful beaches, water sports and cheap colourful markets — but there doesn’t have to be. If Indonesia holiday-makers look past these tropical treats they’ll find a lush jungle wilderness in Sumatra, the gateway to a rich ancient culture at Borobudur, and communities with thriving traditional lifestyles. And that’s all without having to leave the main island, Java.

Each of Indonesia’s 17,000 smaller island has its own treasures beyond the surf and sand, and most Indonesia holidays allow for some time ‘off shore’, staying on perennial favourite Bali, Sumatra, Sulawesi, Lombok, or one of the Gilis or other small resort islands.

Most international flights land in Jakarta, so most Indonesia holidays begin on Java, an island of still smoking volcanoes rising out of fertile jungles and and ancient culture. Or course the coastline has many likely looking beach resorts if that’s what your Indonesia holiday is about, but Java’s highlights are more for culture vultures than beach bums.

If you’re on a tight schedule, hop a plane straight to Yogyakarta, which has temples peeking out from between its more modern Dutch forts and older Muslim architecture. This is the best place to stay when visiting the beautifully preserved, ancient Buddhist temple of Borobudur, and nearby Prambanan, a huge Hindu complex. These two religious monuments deserve at least a day of your Indonesia holiday each, Prambanan, in its prime, was almost a city of smaller temples and religious buildings, and though many of them remain only as ruins there’s still a lot to see. The Telaga Warna Colour Lake and Sikidang Crater are a drive out of town towards Dieng Plateau if you’d be interested in seeing another Hindu temple complex, and one of the best surfing spots in Indonesia, G-Land is also reached by jungle trek out of Yogyakarta.

If you have more time for your Indonesia holiday, travel overland from Jakarta to Yogyakarta via Bandung for the Bogor Botanical Gardens, tea plantations, the Lembang Fruit market and the Tangkuban Perahu Volcano and Ciater Hotspring. From Yogyakarta heading further inland leads into the heavy teak forests and moist rice paddies, and eventually to Mount Penanjakan, which is said to have one of the most beautiful sunrise displays in the world. If you make it up for the sunrise you should continue on, over an unusually placed sand sea, to Bromo Volcano. From there Surabaya Airport is a few hours drive and from there you can catch a flight to Denpasar, Bali.

Indonesia holiday Extras

Indonesia’s Wildlife

If your Indonesia holiday is about seeing the jungles and meeting some of the unique wildlife, and not just the colourful marine life, then Camp Leakey, a rehabilitation facility for orphaned orangutans, built into the Tanjung Puting National Park, or the Komodo Dragon island may be worth factoring into your Indonesia holiday itinerary.

Indonesia’s Traditional Cultures

If stories of the old cultures and lifestyles still thriving in Indonesia’s highlands have beguiled you in National Geographic, then visit the long houses around Lake Toba, or spend some time in one of the communities in the Baliem Valley – also a prime hiking destination, the Mentawai Islands or the Jayawijaya Mountains, during your Indonesia holiday. Some of these communities you can visit for a day by walking in to their villages, but some you can arrange to stay in: a pretty unique experience when compared with the city lifestyle of Jakata’s population.

All these highlights cam be blended with hours or days on the beach for the perfect, individualised Indonesian holiday cocktail — one of those exotic, colourful ones you drink out of a whole piece of fruit like they serve in the beach bars here.

Planning Is the Key to Happy Traveling

Like all other things, planning plays a key role for a successful and happy traveling experience. Here are some important travel tips that could help you plan and enjoy your holidays. Travel tips such as Air travel tips, cheap airfare tips, travel insurance tips, and travel packing tips would save you from hassles of being caught off guard during travel.

The following paragraphs outline various travel planning tips, travel-packing tips, safety travel tips and other useful tips that could help you in planning a memorable holiday and travel plan.

Travel Tips for Planning Destination

Various travel guides list many destinations depending on your taste and purpose. While adventurous people would like to go for hiking, jungle trips or river rafting, couples would like to select romantic destinations. Also, confirm the climatic and weather conditions so that you can have proper clothing to enjoy the holiday. Having right international travel tips and outline of the possible expenses in the destination would help you in managing travel within your budget.

Free Travel Tips

Free travel tips, yeah it is true. Search local magazines or websites to find various free travel tips and free holiday travel offers. You can find many travel offers packaged with the purchase of some consumer electronic items or other household goods. Some good but not-so-popular destinations also offer down to earth packages for a fun filled vacation.

Free Airfare Tips

Some hotels and resorts provide free airfare if you book rooms in their hotels. Budget plays a vital role in your travel. Since traveling expenses usually exceed the budget, so keep some space in your budget for exigencies. In foreign trips, always carry more than enough cash because cash is the only means of survival. With no friends and relatives, cash will take care of all emergencies. There are certain situations wherein your credit card would be of no use and you will need cash to take care of certain expenses.

Travel Tips for Planning Your Baggage and Documents

Travel planning is not just about planning the destination, mode of travel and the best possible resorts. You have to take care of proper documents and packing to enjoy a fun filled holiday and hassle free traveling. Here are some important travel documents tips and packing tips to help you plan a fun filled and hassle free vacation.

Travel documents tips

The most important travel planning and travel documents tips is to keep ready all documents before going on a vacation outside the US or even within the country. For foreign trips, Passport, Visa, Driving License and Insurance coverage are the most important documents that you need to carry along with you. While you may have your passport ready in hand, you will have to apply for a Visa for the destination country. Apply for the visa well in time to avoid last minute jitters.

Travel packing tips

Travel Packing tips is necessary to keep you happy and hassle free during your travel. Keep your luggage handy and well organized according to the requirements. Pack your luggage according to weather conditions of the visiting destination. An extra luggage often becomes a liability. For certain items, it is cheaper to use and throw them in the destination itself rather than carrying an extra baggage for them.

Home safety travel tips

Do not forget to ensure the safety of your home, car, and other properties such as garden while you are traveling. You could seek help from some friend or security services to keep vigil on your home.

Beach Resorts And Villas For Exotic Holidays

When planning a vacation especially one you’ve been waiting to take for long, the accommodation becomes an important consideration. Vacations to exotic lands like Sri Lanka – land of sun and sand – are best enjoyed in villas and beach resorts. Why? It is within these beaches that all the holiday fun is hidden.

Lining the seashore, beach resorts are in a perfect location and with the perfect climate, you have plenty to enjoy. Holiday villas on the other hand, are also located in prime locations either closer to the beach or in proximity to the city. The best thing about them is that they offer you enough privacy and space all through your stay. They are of a huge variety and you can choose the one that you feel will work for you and the others travelling with you.

When choosing resorts and villas as accommodation options, a few factors must be taken into consideration. These factors will guide you in making the right decision at the end of the day. We’ve also included recommendations for Sri Lankan beach resorts and villas on these lines.

The Location:

Even if you are settling for the beach resorts, you must decide whether you want one that is at a beach front or a beach back. The location of your accommodation will determine the environment you are exposed to throughout the holiday stay. The location can also determine the climatic conditions and accessibility to important facilities. The Club Palm Bay Hotel is a watery paradise overlooking the sea. Surrounded by lush gardens and a lagoon, it is a good destination for those considering a peaceful and rejuvenating holiday. The Weligama Beach resort has the beachside as its backdrop. It is also in proximity to the provincial center Matara.

Accommodation Amenities:

These are the amenities you can enjoy in the privacy of your room. Facilities offered include appliances such as refrigerators, hair dryers, desks, baby cribs, coffee makers and internet among many others. By looking at the amenities you have at your disposal, you will find it easier to choose according to your needs thereby ensuring a comfortable and hassle-free stay. Paradise Road The Villa Bentota is a villa-styled boutique hotel in Sri Lanka. It has 15 rooms and suites done up luxuriously and fitted with modern amenities. The accommodation amenities include air conditioning and Wi-Fi among others. They also have a private pool, a restaurant, shops and airport transfers.

The Facilities:

The resorts and hotels will of course offer you different facilities within their locations. They play an important role on what you can do and enjoy during the holidays. For instance, consider the availability of a restaurant, bar, fitness center, spa and a hair salon among others. Among the Sri Lankan beach resorts, Era Beach and the Club Palm Bay Hotel Blue are the ones to go for if you love adventure and activity. Owing to their location, they offer water sports such as snorkeling, surfing, boat rides and game fishing.

The Rental Rates:

The charges differ for boutique hotels, holiday homes, resorts and villas. If you ask for more privacy, you should be willing to pay a higher rental rate for your room and the facilities that come along with it. For instance, going for a villa is more costly than choosing a hotel room. On the other hand however, you stand to enjoy more privacy and flexibility in one compared to the other. When looking at the rental rates, therefore, weight your options on the basis of the facilities being offered to your for a particular rental charge. You, however want to go for something that you can comfortably afford.

The Green Rooms and Meedum Villa are two budget-friendly guesthouses and villas in Sri Lanka. If you’re looking for a beach resort, Udekki and Paradise Beach Hotel won’t dent your budget. Those willing to step-up their budget can choose between Amanwella Resort and The Fortress.