Why rent a car in Indonesia
Whether you plan to snorkel, swim or chill out on the beach, car hire in Indonesia can give you the freedom to get around this wonferdul country. Internationally recognised rental agents like Avis are well represented in Indonesia, we also work closely with reputable local car rental company TRAC Astra Rent A Car.
Most popular car hire pick-up locations in Indonesia
Most popular rental cars in Indonesia;
Rental Agent
Make / Model
Seats
Luggage
Type
Avis
Toyota Avanza
5
3
People Carrier
Trac
Toyota Innova
6
3
MPV
Avis
Toyota Kijang
6
3
MPV
Car rental locations in Indonesia:
- Bali (3 rental agents)
- Denpasar (3 rental agents)
- Jakarta (2 rental agents)
- Lombok (1 rental agent)
- Surabaya (1 rental agent)
- Java (1 rental agent)
- Yogyakarta (1 rental agent)
Most popular car rental agents in Indonesia:
- Avis (Tel: +62 21 3142900)
- Eazy (Tel: +62 811 8380099)
- Trac (Tel: 62 361 703333)
- Bali Car Rental (Tel: +62 813 80453639)
Indonesia Mini Guide
What can you Tell me About Indonesia?
It’s the world’s largest archipelago of islands and has the fourth largest population in the world. It is also the world’s largest Muslim country. Ruling the country is a mammoth task with 18,000 inhabited islands spread out over a big area that touches Asia through borders with
Malaysia and reaches down towards
Australia. The distance between the west and east of the country is huge too with over 2,500 miles separating them and there’s a big difference in the geography, culture and industry between them. The capital is
Jakarta, which is almost a byword for traffic congestion and pollution, whilst the country’s insistence on logging means that its rainforests, the same size as the Amazon, are being systematically and ruthlessly cut down.
How do I get to Indonesia?
There are hundreds of airports but only three main international ones; Jakarta, Bali and East Java. From there you’ll be able to catch internal flights to all the other airports. International flights operate from all over the world but most European flights operate out of Amsterdam with KLM and Garuda the main carriers, a leftover from the days when the islands were the Dutch East Indies.
What is There to See and Do in Indonesia?
It depends where in Indonesia you’re considering. Bali is famed for its tropical white sandy beaches, hospitality and great food. Sumatra is mountainous and wild with thick forests and vast uninhabited areas. Komodo dragons stalk Nusa Tenggara whilst Borneo is home to Orang Utans, dense forests and raging rivers. Everywhere you go you’ll see mosques and in places, remnants of former religions or minor ones including Buddhism. There are vast temples stretching back hundreds of years and now in danger of being overrun by the jungle whilst the cities are melting pots of humanity with crowded dirty streets infused with the smell of street food and other less pleasant smells.
What Can I Buy When in Indonesia?
Local crafts abound, especially carved in the local hardwoods such as ebony, ironwood and mahogany. Musical instruments make a great gift too as do CDs of them being played as part of an Indonesian ensemble. Silk is everywhere, good quality and very reasonably priced. You should look for the better quality even though it’ll be more expensive as it will last longer and still be the same price of cheaper quality back home. Jewellery is good value too but a little ornate for most western tastes.
What Should Tempt my Taste Buds?
Indonesia is a foodie’s dream with so many different styles of food across the nation. It can vary from fiery to mild, rice or noodle based, have a variety of meat, some of which you may not want to have identified, and can be fruity, sour, sweet, dry or with sauces. Many stick to the food they recognise such as Nasi Goreng, which is really just a mix of leftovers, or mild curries but be adventurous and take your taste buds on holiday too!
What is the Local Entertainment Like?
You have traditional dances which are often laid on by hotels or restaurants. Indonesia is famous for its shadow puppetry, often full sized and very intricately designed, it tells traditional stories which, whilst in an Indonesian language, will be easy to pick up through the actions, tone of voice and accompanying sound effects. In the more tourist oriented areas such as Bali, nightclubs are more common but given the chance, spend at least one night doing something cultural.
Facts about Indonesia
- Indonesia is a country that is made up of 17,508 islands and 33 provinces.
- The name Indonesia is derived from the Latin 'Indus' and the Greek 'nesos', meaning 'island'.
- Due to its size, climate and geography, Indonesia supports the world's second highest level of biodiversity.
- Indonesia produces some of the largest amounts of nutmeg in the world.
- The country is home to the Javan rhinoceros, which is not found anywhere else in the world.