Indonesia Budget Travel – Best Travel Tips to Save Your Bucks

One of the big questions that people have about traveling to Indonesia is whether Indonesia is expensive. The answer is that Indonesia budget travel is actually extremely affordable and this is one of the cheapest countries to travel to in the region. With that in mind, if you want to travel around Southeast Asia on the cheap then this is one of the best places to start.

Is it possible to travel in Indonesia on a budget?

This is one of the best places in Southeast Asia to travel on a budget and backpacking Indonesia is one of the best ways to keep you costs down.

Indonesia, as a general rule, is cheaper than many other parts of Southeast Asia like Myanmar and Vietnam, although it can work out to be a little more expensive than neighbouring countries like Thailand depending on what you want to do.

Some of the most expensive things you can do include treks and diving, so if you want to go on tours then this will significantly raise the price of backpacking in Indonesia. If you know where to look, then you can keep costs down by going on self-guided tours and eschewing more expensive activities such as trekking to places like Mount Rinjani in Lombok or diving in places like Bali.

Budget travel in Indonesia: independently or on a packaged tour?

If you are traveling on a low budget in Indonesia then you will usually want to do so independently as this is the best way to control the amount of money you spend. That said, there are also some top budget itineraries and tours that you can take which can also keep costs down, although these come with various pros and cons.

Pros of independent budget travel:

You can control where you go and how much you spend.
You can easily opt for the cheapest options in each place you visit.
You can choose cheap transport options which may not be available on a tour.

Cons of independent budget travel:

You will need to do your own research to find the cheapest options.
Some tours offer discounts for travel and hotels which can lower costs as opposed to paying for each hotel and transport option separately.
If you are traveling as a single person then this can be more expensive than traveling as part of a group as you can’t share costs of things such as travel.

Pros of packaged tours:

Tours often offer you ‘all in’ rates so once you have paid for the tour you don’t need to pay for anything else and you know exactly how much you need to spend upfront.
You can travel with and meet other travelers.
You will not have to do as much travel planning and research as part of your trip as this will be organized for you.

Cons of packaged tours:

The cost of a packaged tour upfront are often more expensive than going it alone.
You will have to stick to a rigid itinerary so there is much less flexibility.
You will usually have to travel with other people which mean that you have to follow a group itinerary.

Top budget itineraries

If you want to try backpacking Indonesia on a budget then you may want to head for less visited spots as these are likely to be cheaper.

Some of these include the beautiful island of Sumatra which has a host of interesting attractions like Bukit Lawang and Lake Toba but without the crowds and the price tags.

You can also try other places like Lombok which is growing in popularity but which still has budget options available if you know where to look.

Another good choice is less popular parts of Bali away from the main hubs like Kuta, Sanur and Seminyak which can be expensive. Some of these include fishing areas such as Amed, or you can base yourself in places such as Legian or Ubud where plenty of cheap hostels exist and then travel to other parts of the island for day trips to enjoy all that Bali has to offer.

Best cheap hostels/hotels in Indonesia

Bali

Pondok Permata Homestay
This friendly homestay has rooms for as little as USD 8 and is located just outside of Ubud. This means that you can eat at local warungs in the area and save money while also exploring the beautiful Ubud countryside at the same time.

Cafe Locca Homestay
Located in Sanur, this is one of the cheapest hostels in Bali and you can get a dorm bed for as little as USD 7. They also have a pool or you can head out to the beach in Sanur where you will find a host of local stalls selling delicious seafood.

M Boutique
This hostel is located in the heart of Seminyak and has modern rooms for around USD 10 per night. They also come with a range of amenities to keep costs down however such as free Wi-Fi and a pool so you can save money and won’t have to pay extra for any of these amenities.

Tanaya Bed and Breakfast
This hostel is located in Legian but still comes in at around USD 10 per night and comes with breakfast. This means that it is a good choice as a place to base yourself while you explore the rest of the island.

Lombok

Gili Klapa
This hostel on the idyllic island of Gili Trawangan in Lombok has rooms from USD 13 and also has a swimming pool and breakfast available. This will let you spend time on this island on the cheap and you can enjoy activities like swimming in the pristine seas which are also free!

Gili Beach Bum Hotel
This hostel is also located on Gili Trawangan and has dorm rooms from USD 16. It is located in a quiet part of the island which means you can relax here and swim in the onsite pool without busting your budget on outside activities.

Gili Meno Eco Hostel
You can get a bed in a dorm room at this hostel on pretty Gili Meno for around USD 7 and also know that you are helping the environment at the same time. This hostel is located right on the beach on Gili Meno and features amenities like compost toilets to help keep the island clean.

Sumatra

Reggae Guesthouse
Rooms here are around USD 7 per night and allow you to take in all the tranquillity of Lake Toba. This guesthouse is modelled on a traditional local Batak house for extra authenticity.
Riverside Guesthouse: This guesthouse is located in Bukit Lawang in North Sumatra and has rooms from 17 USD and is situated next to the river as the name suggests. You can also take tours from here into neighbouring Gunung Leuser National Park.

Amelia 2 Guesthouse
This guesthouse is located in the capital city of North Sumatra which is Medan and is a great place to rest your head before you travel on to Lake Toba or Bukit Lawang. Rooms are around USD 7 and you will find amenities such as Wi-Fi across the guesthouse.

Top tips for budget travel in Indonesia

If you want to try out some Indonesia budget travel then there are a few things that you can do to make sure you travel on the cheap:

Drink alcohol sparingly: Indonesia has a 150% tax on alcohol and so buying cocktails and wine can make your costs shoot up very quickly. If you do want to drink alcohol in Indonesia on a budget then it is best to drink bottles of the local beer which is Bintang and which costs around IDR 20,000.
Stay in hostels: This may sound obvious, but if you start to stay in mid-range accommodation then you will bust your budget very quickly. You can stay in hostels in Indonesia for as little as USD 10 a day which is the best way to travel on the cheap.
Travel in a group: If you can travel as part of a couple or a group then you can share the costs of things such as hiring a car to travel around which can work out a lot cheaper than traveling on your own. You can usually hire a car and a driver in Indonesia for around IDR 300,000 per day which can mean great savings if you visit a number of places in one day.
Use overland transport: Indonesia is a huge country made up of some 17,000 islands. This means that if you want to travel between islands you will have to cover long distances and this means a long journey. The quickest way to travel is to take a domestic flight, but you can keep costs down by traveling overland on local buses.
Learn how to bargain: Indonesia is a country where bargaining is expected. With that in mind you can save money by not accepting the first price you are given for things like travel and tours.
Eat local: Indonesian food is extremely cheap if you stick to local places and you can get a full (and delicious) meal for a few dollars in low key cafes and warungs.
Use public transport: It can be tempting to use local taxis to get around for convenience in Indonesia but they can also eat into any budget. If you are backpacking Indonesia then you can save money using public transport such as local buses and becaks which are motorized pedicabs and cost around IDR 10,000 for a short journey of a few blocks.
Search for free activities: Indonesia is known for its natural beauty and some of the most beautiful spots in the country are free to visit. Some of these include gorgeous beaches in Bali as well as jungle areas where you can go for a walk to idyllic waterfalls and pools without spending any money.
Avoid high cost activities: Some activities in Indonesia are known for being expensive such as taking a diving course or a diving trip that hops around a number of islands. If you want to go hiking up one of Indonesia’s famous volcanoes like Mount Rinjani then you will need to hire a guide and this is also expensive, so you will either need to factor trips like these into your budget or give them a miss to keep costs down.

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All in all, Indonesia is an extremely attractive prospect for budget travelers and if you are planning your Indonesian trip then there is no reason why you can’t do so with a daily cost of around USD 30 or even lower if you are prepared to stay in dorms and eat local food. This makes this country one of the best in Southeast Asia when it comes to budget travel.