Restaurants It depends a little on the island you are on, but sometimes it is better to ask for a menu that lists the prices. If you don’t, you may get an unpleasant surprise when paying the bill.
PLEASE NOTE!!! Taxes (10%) and service charge (10% – NOT a tip! It covers the presence of a toilet and/or washbasin to wash your hands before eating) are not always included in the menu prices. They are added when you pay the bill.
Tap water Tap water is not drinking water. Stick to mineral water, which is sold everywhere in large and small bottles. Most hotels provide a bottle of mineral water in your room.
PLEASE NOTE!!! Buying mineral water in a hotel is expensive. Your driver will gladly stop along the way so you can buy water.
Teh dan kopi (tea and coffee) When you order it, it is always served very sweet. In every restaurant you get either free teh (without sugar) or free water. It is boiled in the morning and kept in large thermos flasks until it runs out, and then it is refilled. That is why it does not always feel piping hot.
Alcohol Alcohol is not available everywhere, and (trading in) spirits is even illegal on some islands. In general every kind of alcohol is expensive. Beer (Bintang/Anker/Bali Hai) is widely available and affordable. Wine is expensive and – by European standards – of lower quality.