Wakatobi, October 2-12, 2007 Anyone else going?

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imasleeper

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Anyone going to Wakatobi on trip 24, from October 2-12, I would like to hear from you! Kind of pre trip getting to know who's going sort of thing. This is our first Pacific trip so we are kind of exciting about seeing a different part of the world.

imasleeper@aol.com
 
imasleeper:
Anyone going to Wakatobi on trip 24, from October 2-12, I would like to hear from you! Kind of pre trip getting to know who's going sort of thing. This is our first Pacific trip so we are kind of exciting about seeing a different part of the world.

imasleeper@aol.com

LOL....I am...spending a few days in Bali before hand....what about you?
 
We'll miss you by a week! We show up there 10/19 - 10/30. Our first Asia trip too, and we're thoroughly pumped for it! Four days in Bali up front for a little relaxation and getting past the jet lag thing, then on to the resort. I'm packing already ... hey, only six more weeks, gotta get ready! We won't get to read t your trip report before we leave, though ... we're leaving LA on the 13th. Enjoy!
 
Yup! We are flying into Bali on Saturday for a few days of R&R to relieve the jet lag and then onto Wak Tuesday morn. Can't say we are looking forward to the long journey but will be stoked once we are there!
 
Be sure to inquire about how much you need to pay in International Departure Tax when you leave Indonesia. It is different for every airport. In Manado for example, in April 2007 it was 75000 rupiah, payable in cash rupiah at a special counter after check in. That is about US$8.

Also most people (US. Canadians, Europeans) get a visa on arrival for US$25 (payable in US dollars cash, they prefer nice crisp new money in Indonesia) for the 30 day visa.

Some citizens of neighboring Asian countries get free visas.

Some consulates may give 60 days visas in advance.
 
More detail about Visa:
The government has a tourist visa system with three different categories:
Pay-for-visa-on-arrival (VOA) system for citizens of 63 nations:
Algeria Argentina, Australia, Austria, Bahrain, Belgium, Brazil, Bulgaria, Cambodia, Canada, Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Egypt, Estonia, Fiji, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, India, Iran, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Kuwait, Lativa, Laos, Libya, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Maldives, Malta, Mexico, Monaco, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Oman, Panama, People's Republic of China, Poland, Portugal, Qatar, Romania, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Slovakia, Slovenia, South Africa, South Korea, Spain, Switzerland, Sweden, Suriname, Taiwan, Tunisia United Arab Emirates, United Kingdom, and the United States. (list updated 6/18/2007)

The cost of the 30-day (only) tourist visa is US$25/person for a 30-day visa and US$10/person for a 3-day visa. The fee must be paid in cash (no credit cards) on arrival at the airport.

Visitors from countries with visa-on-arrival facility will have to go to a special counter to have their passports stamped with the on-arrival visa before going to the immigration clearance desk. The VOA visa is NOT EXTENDABLE OR RENEWABLE. A visa issued on arrival can be extended only in extraordinary circumstances such as natural disasters, accident, or illness. If you want to stay in Indonesia longer than the 30 days you must exit and re-enter the country on a new tourist visa.

Visa purchasing takes 15-30 minutes per applicant, depending on the number of persons applying. Payment counters, a bank counter, and a money changer have been set up to process payments. Passport must be valid for at least six months from the date of arrival. Payment must be made on arrival. An onward or return trip ticket must be shown on arrival.

The visa on arrival facility is only available at the following international gateways:

Airports: Medan, Pekanbaru, Padang, Jakarta, Surabaya, Bali, Manado, Halim Perdana Kusuma in Jakarta, Adisucipto in Yogyakarta, Adisumarmo in Solo, Selaparang in Mataram, Lombok, Sepinggan in Balikpapan, Kalimantan, Hasanudddin in Makasar, Sulawesi, and Eltari in Kupang, Timor.

Seaports: Batam, Tanjung Uban (Bintan), Belawan (Medan), Sibolga (Sumatra), Dumai, Teluk Bayar (Padang, Sumatra), Padang Bai (Bali), and Jayapura (Papua), Teluk Bayar in (Padang, Sumatra), Bitung, Tanjung Balaikarimun, Tanjung Mas (Semarang),
Tenau (Kupang), Pare Pare (Sulawesi), Bintang Pura (Tanjung Pinang), and
Soekarno-Hatta (Makassar, Sualwesi)

Visa-free facility is granted to the citizens of 11 countries whose governments extend visa free facility to Indonesian nationals would continue to enjoy short visa-free stays. Included in the 11 countries and administrative districts that are granted the 30-day visa-free facility are:

Brunei Darussalam, Chile, Hongkong Special Administrative Region, Macau Special Administrative Region, Malaysia, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, and Vietnam.

Visitors with the visa-free facility will be able to proceed directly to the immigration clearance counter after deplaning. Passport must be valid for a minimum of six months from the date of arrival. Onward or return tickets must be shown on arrival.

Citizens of other countries not on the visa on arrival or visa free lists will be required to apply for a visa overseas (in their home country) before entering Indonesia. Citizens of any country wishing to stay more than 30 days must also apply for an appropriate visa (cultural visit or business) at their nearest Indonesian Embassy or Consulate before traveling to Indonesia.

Tour Agents are able to arrange express handling for groups at no additional charge by presenting the completed immigration cards, passports and applicable visa fee. Passengers who overstay their visa period for a short period of time can be processed immediately at the airport by paying US$ 20 for every day they overstayed their 30-day visa. Airlines that experience technical difficulties or delayed flights can apply for their passengers to be exempted from paying any overstay penalties.
The current tourist visa policy cuts the length of stay for visa on arrival from the previous 60 days to 30 days. It is NO LONGER possible to stay in Indonesia more than 30 days on an "on arrival" tourist visa. If you want to stay for 60 days, you must apply for a tourist visa at the Indonesian consular office in your home country. The consular office can issue a 60-day tourist visa.

According to Indonesia's bureaucracy, arriving tourists may be asked to produce the following documents (although a return ticket should be enough):

Itinerary (original/copy) or a letter from travel agents, airline, steamship company, confirming the purchase of tickets into Indonesia (Note the officer may ask to see the copy of the original airplane ticket).
Letter of Employment, indicating the employment status of the applicant. For retirees, please submit proof of retirement income.
Copy of US Permanent Residence/Visa/Valid I-20 from schools/universities.
Copy of bank statement, indicating the current applicant’s available funds at least two weeks prior to the date of obtaining visa.
Beware ... of the 30-day counting trap! The way they immigration officials count the 30-day period is: you arrive on the 1st day with, for instance, a 30-day visa, and you must leave on the 30th day (not the 31st or the first of the next month, as you might think). This is actually their policy for how to count the days. and, after getting burned once and learning my lesson, I see their point and follow their definition of 30 days.

If you want to stay in Indonesia LONGER than 30 days, you must leave the country and re-enter on a new tourist visa. People commonly fly to Singapore or Timor for this. There is no stipulation on the time you must stay outside Indonesia, in fact, you can return the same day if you want and be issued a new visa upon your arrival in Indonesia.
 
I've been to Bali a couple of times also East Timor....Visa's are a breeze unless a 747 lands before you.....Long lines.
 
imasleeper:
Anyone going to Wakatobi on trip 24, from October 2-12, I would like to hear from you! Kind of pre trip getting to know who's going sort of thing. This is our first Pacific trip so we are kind of exciting about seeing a different part of the world.

imasleeper@aol.com
Have fun in wakatobi!! never been there, but looking forward to dive there next year..
we'll be going to komodo on 11-18 october, will check for your trip report after..
 

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