Whenever travelling it is always important to keep safe. Any destination has its dangers and Jakarta is no exception. Part of keeping safe is understanding which precautions to take when travelling. ON that note, here are a few things to know before heading to Jakarta.
Crossing Intersections
Jakarta is Indonesia’s capital and is home to 9 million people so it goes without saying that there is quite a bit of traffic. Always be careful when crossing the streets and make sure to look before crossing and keep in mind that drivers drive on the left side of the road.
Do Not Drink the Tap Water
As with any third world country, you should not drink the tap water. Coffee or tea is okay or anytime water is boiled in cooking. However, if you need to drink water, use bottled water. Most of the hotels provide complementary water bottles daily. On a similar note, be careful when eating street food. If you are not used this, make sure to travel with Pepto-Bismol or a ciprofloxacin prescription in case of upset stomach or food-related illness. I have also found probiotics to be helpful when eating foods in new countries.
Be Careful During Rainy Season
Be cautious of flooding during the rainy season from December to April. Because of the many rivers in the city, there can be flooding in some of the low-lying areas.
Be Wary of Taxi Scams
It is not uncommon to run into taxi scams in some parts of the world and Jakarta has been known to have some. To ensure you are taking a safe car, only use designated taxi services such as Blue Bird. It is a blue car with a blue logo and is safe to use. Be sure to see the logo before entering as some “fake” taxis are blue to try to scam tourists. Also, make sure that they turn the meter on so you do not get overcharged. Uber is also recently new in Jakarta and has proven to be safe so far.
Exit Tax
This last tip is not about safety as much as it is informative. There is a required tax to leave the country which costs IDR 100,000. Be sure to keep this in cash as you have to give it to the stewards and stewardesses when you board the flight to leave.
In addition to these safety tips, you will also want to make sure you are staying in a safe clean hotel. The Big Hotel Jakarta is where to stay in Jakarta for a safe, comfortable place. While it is important to keep safety in mind, do not let it damper your adventurous spirit. Keep in mind, you can always come back to your safe hotel if you need a break.