Ok peeps, let's talk money.
The local currency is called Rupiah (IDR), abbreviated Rp. The
rate today is 13,479 IDR to $1 USD (When I arrived 2 weeks ago it was 14,740) It can get confusing at times but I always calculate it like so, 100k Rp. is about $7.60, 1.4m Rp. is about $100.
Always be extra vigilant when changing money at a money changer as they will try to short change you whenever possible. If you ever see a rate advertised that seems too good to be true, it probably is. On our first try changing money we were shortchanged nearly $200 on a $1000 transaction, he was VERY quick with his hands and if I wasn't experienced I would have walked away without noticing the loss. You may see rates advertised as 14.99 when it should be 146.0 (they basically move around the decimals to excite/confuse you)
Local establishments will charge your cards in Rp. but may ask you if you would like them to charge it in USD. I would refuse that offer as their banks/merchant gateways will never give you a favorable rate. (this applies to many other countries too) Most smaller establishments including restaurants, shops rental agencies etc will charge you an additional 2.5 to 5% (transaction fee) for using a debit/credit card.
CC fraud is common here, although I have never had an issue BH. A good rule of thumb to minimize fraud is to use your credit card for larger purchases such as hotels, and use cash everywhere else.
I use my Paypal Business Debit card to withdraw cash at ATMS (without withdrawal fees) The rates are only slightly lower than bank rates but the convenience is worth it. Most ATM's have a 1.25m(50k notes) or 2.5m (100k notes) withdrawal limits but you can repeat the withdrawal several times (depending on your cards daily withdrawal limit)
BTW, I do not have a bank account anywhere - other than my paypal account (and no, unlike most DDF'rs I do not earn or collect miles/points - I am not even sure why I am a member here to begin with)
Always carry cash with you as power outtages do happen in the rural areas which means CC terminals and ATMs may be down for a few hours or so. most establishments prefer to deal in Rp. exclusively as USD and EUR is used for large transactions only.
Tipping is not common practice here, most establishments will charge up to 20% on top of your bill which includes Service charges and taxes. Most restaurants charge about 6% in service charges (which is what I consider the tip).
Nearly every single price is negotiable. Hotels can be had for 10-40% depending on your negotiation skills and season. I have gotten good deals on most activities/merchandise just by being pushy and knowing the approximate value of said activity or merchandise.
here is a sample list of prices:
1 litre bottle of mineral water: 6k
1 Small bintang beer Shop: 15k Bar: 30k
1 pack of smokes: 20k
1 litre of fuel Gas Station: 7k Roadside stall: 10k
2 hour rafting trip: 300k
taxi from the airport to ubud: 300k
taxi for the day: 1m
Motorbike rental per day 50k
roadside fine/bribe (if a cop pulls you over for a minor infringement) 100k (300k- 500k if you have no negotiation/social skills)
1 night in an air conditioned room in a budget hotel: 300k
1 night in a fan room in a budget hotel/homestay 200k
1 night in a very decent hotel 600k
1 night in a borderline luxury hotel 1m
1 night in a nice private villa 1.5m