Welcome on the blog of Swarga Odyssey, a local travel agency specialized in Indonesia. Here, we give you all the advice and tips to prepare your trip to Bali and Indonesia.
Are you planning a trip to Indonesia, but unsure about the ideal package? Through this article, we present you with all the most reliable and economical solutions, to take full advantage of your trip!
Of course, the WiFi in hotels and restaurants is reliable, but as soon as you venture into the city, a 4G network is necessary for your trips, whether with Grab, Gojek, Waze, or Google Maps...
Why do you need a SIM card when traveling?
What exactly is a sim?
Unless you've been cryogenized for the past 100 years like Captain America, you probably know what a sim card is. Well, as a reminder it's a small smart card used in mobile phones. It contains data such as phone number, security information, and other details related to the user's subscription. SIM cards allow your phone to send and receive calls, text messages, and access the Internet.
What is the dDifference between a sim and an e-sim?
Unlike a physical sim card, an eSIM is virtual, it allows you not to manipulate a physical sim card. It works thanks to a chip in your phone that allows you to install different profiles, the equivalent of physical sim cards. It is activated thanks to a QR code.
If you are not a fan of it, no stress, the operators support you in the process.
The pros and cons of e-SIM
The advantages of e-sim are numerous, but we have made our top 3 most relevant ones in the hope of convincing you!
🥇 It cannot be lost or damaged during travel.
🥈 If you lose your phone during the trip, operators can easily locate your phone by locating the e-sim.
🥉 It is the most economical and practical solution.
As for the disadvantages, there is only one, it is not compatible with all devices. You will find the link to the compatible devices: https://esim.holafly.com/fr/guides/esim-smartphones-compatibles/.
There are disadvantages especially in the long term, for example in the event of a change of telephone, the data must be uploaded to the cloud or other online database software to be recovered.
But for vacation time, the e-sim has no drawbacks and is very practical!
The first communication platform in Bali?
In Bali, the main means of local communication is WhatsApp. Indeed, everything is done via the application, whether to book hotels, tables in restaurants, excursions, taxis... It's the Number one application! If you don't have WhatsApp on your phone, now is the time to get started!
But why WhatsApp ?
It may come as a surprise, but with WhatsApp, the person's online status is always visible. Your correspondent then waits to know if you are available or not to discuss, this practice goes hand in hand with Indonesian politeness, do not disturb with impunity.
Guide you, provide information, translate, etc...
Having 4G internet data allows you to travel with complete peace of mind. Indeed, in a foreign country, finding your way around or even sometimes just communicating can become a matter of state. That's why you need data to have access to Google Translate, Waze, Google Maps...
It will allow you to get out of your worst difficulties, even if you have a driver and everything is organized, you could use it to agree on a meeting point.
Operators and types of packages
How to get a sim card, what documents are needed? So how much is it worth? We answer all your questions below. We present to you the different operators available and their services that we had the opportunity to test. Telkomsel and Holafly, two industry giants and recognized for the quality of their service, they offer a range of packages at attractive prices. No more excuses for not sending photos to family groups, with these two staying connected 24/7 (we promise we won't tell your family anything).
Internet data (4G and 5G) and/or phone call credits?
As stated earlier, most communication is done via WhatsApp. The application only requires an internet connection, so you can forget about packages with call/SMS credits. Indeed, the packages offered with call credits and SMS are often more expensive, and will not be of much use to you.
In our opinion, an internet package including around 35 GB is sufficient. We are probably repeating ourselves, but if you are wondering about taking a package for your children/teenagers, in our opinion, free WiFi in cafes, hotels and restaurants will do the trick. We think that at worst, a digital detox is not that bad, but that's just our humble opinion. And if not, you can always share your connection as a “hotspot” with all members of the group.
Telkomsel
Telkomsel is the Indonesian provider with the best network coverage in the country, making it the most reliable. It is loved by many travelers and highly recommended for your stay. It offers various packages ranging from physical sim cards to e-sims.
To get your package, a passport is essential to activate the sim card. Linking your phone number to your passport ensures that every phone is registered. In Indonesia, to combat ghost lines, each number is assigned to one person.
In the city center
In Bali, it is not difficult to find sim cards in the city, but be careful we advise you to go to authorized Telkomsel stores or to supermarkets such as Mmart, CircleK...
🚨 Many sellers who say “on the run” will offer you sim cards, but they are not always valid and will not be activated by Telkomsel.
At the airport
If you want, you can buy packages directly at Denpasar Airport but they are often more expensive than those offered in the city.
For a package, count between 15 and 30 euros (15g up to 60g)
Holafly, leader in e-sim for vacations
This is probably the easiest and fastest way to benefit from an international package. Holafly is a European company specialized in e-sims. It allows you to benefit from internet connectivity all over the world and offers packages in more than 200 countries. A support team is available 24 hours a day in case of problems with your package, in order to have a peaceful vacation.
“Our mission is to enable travelers around the world to enjoy an Internet connection no matter where they are.” - Holafly
We tested their service in Bali, and our connection remained stable and fast. For a package, you need between 6 and 30 euros depending on the length of stay.
Conclusion
If despite all our arguments, we have not succeeded in convincing you, you always have other solutions.
The French operator Free now offers packages with 35GB of 4G per month for a price of €19.99 and €9.99 for Free subscribers.
But, the best solution will still be to take an Indonesian package if you do not have a Free package, it is the most economical and reliable option. The Free network does not receive very well in Indonesia.