Dear Friends,
Have a question ? Below are some of the most frequently asked questions
that we receive and our responses. If you have a question that's
not covered please, by all means, drop us a line at stay@paradise-bali.com
and we'll be happy to answer.
Hotels in Indonesia are rated along
guidelines established by the Government. By and large there are
3 categories: Star, Melati and Losmen. Within each of these categories
there are various levels. The Star Category has levels 1-5 with
5 being best. Melati Category has 3 levels 1-3 with 3 being best.
Losmen are not rated.
Briefly:
Star rated hotels are fairly easy to distinguish between - the more
stars the more services and facilities you can expect. A one star
hotel will not have international direct dial telephones in the
room or 24 hour room service - a 5 star hotel will.
Melati hotels are more difficult to define. Some Melati hotels especially
the level 3 (many now being marketed as boutique hotels) can sometimes
be "nicer" than a 3 star hotel. Some owners of Melati
hotels prefer not be star rated for personal reasons. Other Melati
hotels just don't have the facilities to be rated in the star category.
Therefore the old saying "you get
what you pay for" really applies here.
However to give an idea in general, Melati l hotels often do not
have air-conditioned bedrooms and no hotel facilities to speak of.
Melati 2 may or may not have air conditioned rooms and may have
a few facilities such as a restaurant but lack services such as
room service - direct dial telephones and so on, and Melati 3, usually
have air-conditioned rooms, restaurant and sometimes room service
but may or not have direct dial telephone service. Again it depends
on the room rate.
We do our
best to reply to all legitimate e-mail inquiries within a few hours.
However, if you have not received a reply it is more than likely
due to one of the following causes :
- Incorrect E-Mail Address: More often than
not, the email address that was provided to us was not correct.
Please check that your email address is correct and resend.
- Incorrect Date: We sort email by date and
if the date on your email server or computer is wrong we may
not be aware that you have sent us an e-mail.
- No Name: We do not answer anonymous email (inquiries
wherein the sender does not identify themselves by name).
- Spam Filters: Some ISPs (AOL, EarthLink etc.)
have filters to protect users from receiving unsolicited email.
Please make sure that you set your filter to allow you to receive
email from stay@paradise-bali.com.
- Other: Without a confirmed reservation, we do
not provide contact details for any hotel & ignore such requests.
There are
two reservation procedures depending upon the hotel. Smaller hotels
often do not have an automated reservation system and reservations
are processed manually. Larger hotels usually have the ability to
process reservations with instant confirmation.
Reservation process for Instant Confirmation ( icon will advise)
First after you have found a hotel to your liking click on the reservation form, fill in allrequested information fields and submit. If room is available for your requested dates you will be requested to supply a valid credit card to submit and confirm the reservation. The reservation, along with your credit card information, will be sent directly to the hotel.
The hotel reserves the right to validate your credit card information to process your reservation. The name on the credit card must match the name on the reservation. Once the hotel has validated your credit card information it will send to you an email confirming the reservation with the hotel's confirmation number or code together with a copy of the hotel's cancelation policy, a link to check your reservation and a link to cancel your reservation. Without the hotel's confirmation number you do not have a confirmed reservation.
That said, if the hotel can not, for whatever reason, validate your credit card your reservation will be cancelled and the hotel will send to you an email advising that the reservation has been cancelled. You may resubmit the reservation with the correct credit card information or a different credit card.
Once your credit card has been validated and your reservation is confirmed by the hotel) you are subject to the hotel's cancellation policy, usually 48 - 72 hours prior to arrival (using the hotel's time) or one night's stay is charged to your credit card by the hotel. However each hotel has its own cancellation policy which is posted on the hotel's reservation form and which you will receive a copy of from the hotel. Read this information carefully.
Last minute reservations can not be cancelled and the hotel will usually validate the credit card by charging one night's stay upon receiving your reservation.
If you wish to modify the reservation you will need to cancel your original reservation and make a new reservation with the new dates. Be advised that during peak season it is better to check availability of your new dates prior to canceling your original reservations. If your new dates are not available you may contact us (paradise-bali.com ) and we will try to assist you to modify your reservation although we can not guarantee we will be able to do so.
In the rare case that the hotel becomes fully booked just prior to receiving your the hotel will send you cancelation email, to inform that the reservation can not be processed. If the hotel is fully booked we (paradise-bali.com) will suggest possible alternatives.
Reservation process for small hotels.
That said, understanding that most hotels in Langkawi are smaller, family owned and managed properties the reservation system in these hotels is not automated and as such the process is as follows:
First, after you have found a hotel to your liking, click on the reservation form, fill in all the blank fields and submit. If room is available on your requested dates you will be given the opportunity to submit your credit card details to process the reservation more quickly. However be advised that the hotel will review the reservation for availability and final confirmation. Likewise, if the room is not available for the dates requested you may still submit the reservation and be placed on a wait list. We will keep you advised of your request and suggest alternative accommodations as needed.
All hotels require a deposit or credit card guarantee to confirm
your reservation. We do not 'bait and switch'
- hotels that are fully booked are posted in advance (click
here to view current list).
That said, if you do not submit your credit card details when making your reservation and the room is available you will need to forward your credit card information within 24 hours or your reservation will be cancelled. We will provide you with the location of our secure server or, if you prefer, you may fax your credit card information. Please be advised that paradise-bali.comwill not any amount to your credit card. We only pass this information onto the hotel. Once we have the credit card information we will email to you the hotel's confirmation number or code.
Once your reservation has been confirmed you are subject to the hotel's cancellation policy - usually 48-72 hours prior to arrival (hotel's time) or one night's stay is charged to your account by the hotel. However each hotel has its own cancellation policy which is posted on the hotel's reservation form. Read this information carefully. If you need to change of cancel your reservation you must advise us accordingly. We confirm alll cancellations with the hotels.
Sorry, no. The rates are quoted by
the hotels and, for any number of reasons are in US Dollars or Indonesian
Rupiah - it is not up to paradise-bali.com.
That said the hotel will, by law, settle your bill in Indonesian
Rupiah at the day's prevailing exchange rate. Most hotel's use an
internal exchange rate (which may include commissions or service
fees and thus differ from the 'market' exchange rate posted by Bank
Indonesia). Whilst usually the exchange rate is fair sometimes it
is out of date (especially in smaller hotels). If you believe the
hotel's exchange rate is unfavourable, the best thing to do is to
go to the nearest ATM machine and withdraw funds using the bank's
ATM foreign exchange rate or offer to pay directly in US Dollars
(traveler cheques or cash).
As well be advised that many hotels (especially smaller properties)
in Bali add a surcharge of 3-5% if you pay with a credit card. Better
to ask the hotel in advance if any surcharge will be added. If so,
the best thing to do is to go to the nearest ATM machine and withdraw
funds using the bank's ATM foreign exchange rate and pay cash.
Good question. As well as surveying
over 300 hotels every 3 months, we are checking rates at many hotels
in Bali on a daily basis. The rates we are quoted depends primarily
on the hotel's occupancy at the time we call and/or the time period
for which we are inquiring.
Since starting paradise-bali.com in
1997, we have made countless site inspections at hotels all throughout
Bali. We have conducted quarterly rate surveys and have received
a fair amount feedback from our customers - so much so - that we
feel confident in pointing out which hotels provide the most value
for money in any given price range.
Preferred hotels are those hotels where the management has, over
the years, demonstrated an effort to offer superior value for money
in terms of facilities, customer service, friendliness and cleanliness.
We value your privacy as much as we treasure ours.
When we contact a hotel to confirm a booking we only provide
to the hotel that information which the hotel would normally
obtain during check-in or registration. We do not use any
of information you have given us for any other purposes nor
do we sell, rent or give your information to any 3rd parties.
We never have and we have no plans to do so.
For more information please click
here.
It is not always possible to have information on every
hotel. Some hotels choose not to be listed. Some hotels do not meet
our criteria or standards - this is especially true of Losmen (budget
hotels) where one gets what one pays for. That said, we still provide
the name and current room rate for such places as a public service
(we make no money from this - really) to let people know that such
accommodation does exist but we do not recommend it.
Effective 01 February 2004 there are 3/three different types of visas available.
Free Visa Upon Arrival (Free VOA). Citizens from the following countries (primarily ASEAN) will retain the Free Visa Upon Arrival status - Thailand, Vietnam, Malaysia, Singapore, Brunei Darussalam, Philippines, Hong Kong SAR, Macao SAR, Morocco, Chile and Peru. The permitted length of stay is 30 (thirty) days.
Paid Visa Upon Arrival (Paid VOA). Citizens of the following 63 countries will be able to apply and pay for a visa upon arrival to Indonesia - Aljazair, Argentine, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazilia, Bulgary, Cambodia, Canada, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greek, Hungary, India, Iran, Ireland, Islandia, Italy, Japan, Lao PDR, Latvia, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, Nederland, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Quwait, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Suriname, Swedia, Switzerland, Taiwan, The Netherlands, Tunisia, United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom and United States of America.
Cost. Effective 26 January 2010 a thirty (30) day stay visa costs US$25.00 per person (adult and or child). This visa can be extended for another 30 days at the immigration office. (Please note that the seven (7) day stay visa previously available is No Longer Available as of 26 January 2010.)
Other Paid Visa. Citizens of all other countries will be required to obtain a visa prior to their entering Indonesia. You will need to contact the nearest Indonesian Embassy for details and an application.
For more complete and up to date information it is best
to visit or call the Indonesian Embassy nearest you.
Entry & Departure must be through one of the following airports:
AIRPORTS: Polonia (Medan) - Hang Nadim (Batam) - Simpang Tiga (Pekan
Baru) - Tabing (Padang) - Sukarno-Hatta (Jakarta) - Husein Sastranegara
(Bandung) - Juanda (Surabaya) - Sepinggan (Balikpapan) - Supadio
(Pontianak) - Ngurah Rai (Bali) - Selaparang (Mataram) - Sam Ratulangi
(Manado) - Pattimura (Ambon) - Frans Kasiepo (Biak).
SEAPORTS: Belawan (Medan) - Batu Ampar (Batam) - Tanjung Pinang
(Riau) - Tanjung Priok (Jakarta) - Tanjung Mas (Semarang) - Tanjung
Perak (Surabaya) - Benoa and Padangbai (Bali) - Ambon (Maluku) and
Bitung (Manado).
BORDER POINT OF ENTRY : Entikong (West Kalimantan)
Citizens from other countries that are "not" in the list,
and planning to visit Indonesia are required to obtain a visa.
REQUIREMENTS for Visa Upon Arrival:
A passport valid for 6 (six) months beyond their intended length
of stay. A return ticket, or outgoing flight ticket. Completed immigration
card (supplied by air carrier) International Certificate of Yellow
Fever Vaccination is required for those coming from / stopping over
infected area must be presented at the Port of Entry.
ADDITIONAL REQUIREMENTS to apply for a visa in your home country:
A passport valid for 6 (six) months beyond their intended length
of stay. A return ticket, or outgoing flight ticket. 2 passport
size photographs and proof of sufficient funds to support yourself
while in Indonesia.
Be advised that visa requirements may change without notice and
that paradise-bali.com makes no representation as to the accuracy of
the above information. To get the most complete and up to date
information please visit the Indonesian Embassy nearest you.
No. As long as you abide by the hotel's
cancellation policy (usually 24 to 72 hours advance notice; fyi,
each hotel's policy is different and the hotel's policy will be
written on the hotel's reservation page) there is never a fee to
change or cancel your reservation with paradise-bali.com.
Sorry, no.
Inasmuch as we can not verify the authenticity of the requesting
party we can not take responsibility to forward any commercial
communications whatsoever. You will need to contact the travel
agent, hotel or reservation service that made the reservation
in the first place.
There are a few newer hotels on Bali that promote
themselves as villas to distinguish the type of accommodation they
offer. Generally the room is in a bungalow building with a private
pool, entrance and, sometimes, a kitchenette. The defining difference
for paradise-bali.com is whether or not the property has a public restaurant.
If the establishment's restaurant is open to the public then we
consider the establishment a hotel and include it on paradise-bali.com.
If, on the other hand, there is no restaurant or the restaurant
is available only to registered guests, we consider the establishment
a villa and do not list it on paradise-bali.com
Herein is a random sampling of prices for common
items in restaurants and hotels in the specified area. Nasi Goreng
is fried rice, a common Indonesian dish served everywhere. Prices
may vary and are not representative of any particular establishment.
Last updated February 2010.
