Lombok Indonesia Travel Tips After Quarantine Rule

Back when I first tried to get to Lombok, Indonesia during the height of the pandemic, I didn’t check the most recent entry rules. I figured, how bad could it be? I landed in Jakarta ready to hop a connecting flight to Lombok and—whoops—ended up stuck in a hotel room for seven days, burning through my budget and watching my plans unravel from behind a pane of quarantine glass.

Lesson learned the hard way: always, ALWAYS double-check current travel restrictions.

The Omicron Quarantine Curveball

Indonesia reinstated a mandatory 7-day quarantine for all international travelers thanks to the rise of the Omicron variant. It doesn’t matter if you’ve been jabbed three times and wear your mask better than Batman—the rule applies to everyone. Don’t count on slipping through with a friendly smile at immigration.

Here’s what you actually need to do to avoid making the same mistake I did:

Step-by-Step Guide to Staying Sane (and Savvy) with Quarantine in Indonesia

1. Book a CHSE-Certified Hotel in Advance
   Make sure your quarantine hotel follows Cleanliness, Health, Safety, and Environmental Sustainability (CHSE) standards. You must show this booking at immigration.

   • Expect to pay between IDR 6,000,000 – IDR 12,000,000 (~$400–$800 USD) for the 7 nights. Many of these include meals, which is one less headache.
   • Trusted hotels include Hotel Indonesia Kempinski Jakarta or Novotel Tangerang if you want mid-range.

2. Pre-arrival Documents Don’t even bother boarding without:

   • Proof of full COVID-19 vaccination (at least 14 days prior)
   • A negative RT-PCR taken within 48 hours before departure
   • Electronic Health Alert Card (eHAC) from the PeduliLindungi app
   • Travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage ($25,000 minimum)

3. At Arrival Immigration will conduct another PCR test upon landing. You go directly from the airport to your hotel via pre-arranged transport. No pit stops.

   • Tip: Have snacks and entertainment ready. Airport Wi-Fi is patchy, and the ride can take 1–2 hours depending on traffic.

4. Daily Life in Quarantine

   • You’ll have another PCR on day 6. If negative, you’re released on day 7.
   • Bring a Chromecast or HDMI cord. Hotel TVs are old-school. Also, local delivery apps like GoFood still deliver to hotel lobbies—experiment with Indonesian dishes like nasi goreng or ayam geprek.

5. Booking The Domestic Transfer to Lombok Once you're cleared, book a domestic flight to Lombok from Soekarno-Hatta Airport (CGK).

   • Flights to Lombok take about 2.5 hours and cost around IDR 800,000 (~$55 USD)
   • Airlines like Lion Air and Citilink fly daily but book early—seats sell out fast around weekends.

What to Avoid

• Last-Minute Bookings: Prices skyrocket, and CHSE hotels have limited rooms.
• Ignoring Paperwork: Print everything. Yes, digital works sometimes, but at the Jakarta airport, a paper copy often gets you through faster.
• Booking Connecting Flights Before Quarantine: I did that thinking I’d breeze through. I lost that ticket and had to pay again.

Backup Plan for When Stuff Goes Sideways

If you test positive during quarantine:

• You’ll be transferred to an isolation hotel approved by the government.
• Costs vary wildly and may not be covered by your insurer if you didn't read that fine print.
• Always have an emergency fund of IDR 3-5 million on hand (~$200–$300 USD).

Talk to your hotel's front desk—they're pros at dealing with stranded travelers, and you might get help rebooking flights and planning routes.

Cultural Notes That Help

Try jotting down these Bahasa Indonesia phrases:

• "Saya sudah vaksin dua kali" – I’ve been vaccinated twice.
• "Di mana hasil tes PCR saya?" – Where is my PCR test result?
• "Boleh kirim makanan ke kamar saya?" – Can you send food to my room?

Being polite and trying the local language earns points, especially when dealing with stressed-out hotel or health workers.

One Money-Saving Hack? Sleep and Sim Cards

Before arrival, I booked a hotel package that included airport pickup, quarantine stay, meals, a SIM card, and PCR tests. It saved me hundreds versus piecing everything together.

Look for bundle deals directly from hotel websites—not just Agoda. Emailing them often unlocks specials that aren't listed publicly. Some also throw in a laundry credit or meal upgrades if you ask nicely (and in Bahasa!).

Final Tip: Scout Before You Dive

Once you finally make it to paradise, use FlyLombok.id to see Lombok from the sky. Their aerial tours helped me spot hidden beaches, plan hikes, and figure out drive times realistically (maps don’t mention potholes). It’s hands-down the smartest thing I did after quarantine and saved me days of guesswork.

Trust me—take it from someone who learned every piece of this advice the hard way: plan ahead, respect the local rules, and you’ll start your Lombok adventure strong instead of stuck.

Stay sharp, stay flexible, and enjoy the journey.