visa query. travelling from ireland on 26 dec to indonesia for 6 weeks. believe i need to get 60 day visa but can anyone help me ie when should i apply to embassy in england as i am afraid if i apply now the visa would be dated from aug. and by the time i travel it would be out of date. we are in our 60s and flight to and from jakarta. woulld love some help with what time frame to stay in different places. would the weather be better inlombok in jan,rather than bali. would love a week on beach at end of stay. thank you.

Hi,

When you have your travel documents and flights etc. have been booked and confirmed and paid for, then you will apply for a visa. The visa will be issued according to your travel dates. Not sure what the agreement is between Indonesia and Ireland however your travel agent should advise you of any specific requirements. Check that your passports will both be valid for three months from your RETURN date, not your arrival date into Indonesia. There is also a $25US entry tax on arrival in Bali PER PERSON.

As far as the weather goes, it's impossible to predict. Although it will be the rainy season that doesn't necessarily mean it will rain all the time. Perhaps if you want beach time, Bali would be the place. As with everywhere it can be raining in some places but not others and you may have a few more beach choices in Bali than Lombok. During one of my early trips to Lombok it rained solidly every morning until about 11am then the sun came out for the rest of the day, this was in October.

What places do you want to see and how are your going to get from Jakarta to Bali and Lombok? There are many places of interest and historical significance - for instance, a stop in Jogjakarta would be well worth considering to see Borobodur, Prambanan and the Sultan's Castle.

Catherine

Hi
Your 60 day visa must be used within 90 days of issue then once it's stamped ie on you arrival in Indonesia you 60 day stay begins.
last December there was torrential rain in Bali but it was also very hot this was due to some seismic activity somewhere in the Archapelago and also there was the tailend of a Typhoon.
It rarely rains for a whole day and theres still plenty to do even when it does rain.
Either way it will still be MUCH more pleasant than December in U.K
Cheers laurs