If you're planning a stay in Indonesia, having internet access on your phone can greatly simplify your life. Today, with all the applications available on app stores (Android and iOS), traveling is becoming increasingly easy, even on the other side of the world.

While landline phones were once used in Indonesia only by a small elite, mobile phones spread like wildfire across all social classes as soon as they arrived. Today, smartphones are used extensively throughout Indonesia, and internet providers offer prepaid plans that are increasingly attractive. You can take advantage of this and purchase a SIM card with around ten gigabytes of data for just a hundred thousand rupiah.

Embracing cutting-edge technology, Indonesians also use numerous applications to simplify their daily lives. These are applications that can greatly help you during your travels in Indonesia.

In this article we'll explore when and where to buy your SIM card for internet and give you the 4 most recommended applications for your trip.

Buy a SIM card upon arrival (but wait until you've exited the airport)

Upon arriving in Indonesia, we recommend investing in a SIM card specifically for internet. Make sure to ask for an internet-only card ("simcard untuk internet saja"). Indosat Ooredoo is a well-distributed internet provider throughout Indonesia, but you can also choose Telkomsel, XL Axiata, or Smartfren depending on current promotions. However, wait until you've left the airport to equip yourself, to avoid paying inflated prices. Small shops selling internet and phone credit are everywhere, even in more remote areas.

Now that you have internet access on your phone, here are the 4 applications that will help you simplify your journey:

MAPS.ME, an essential for travelers

If you're used to traveling to unfamiliar places, you may already know Maps.me, the connected version of paper maps. The great advantage of this application? You can download the maps you need while you're connected. Once on your phone, you can consult the map even without internet access, allowing you to save precious data! For each place you visit, you can choose your mode of transport (car, metro, on foot...) and search by category (restaurant, hotel...)

Grab or Go-jek, to get around at your fingertips

Competitors Grab and Go-Jek are battling for private transport market share (our version of Uber). Whichever application you install, you can choose from several transport modes: motorcycle taxi, private car, or professional taxi. These applications are widely used by Indonesians and allow you to order a vehicle in just a few minutes, wherever you are, with a single tap. No need to call and explain your location—GPS takes care of everything!

Boots, to pay without carrying loose change

Boots is a newcomer to the app landscape, yet its logo is already appearing in the windows of numerous street vendors. The concept? Pay for everything you buy without using cash. Payment is made by scanning a code with your phone at the small restaurant or shop where you're shopping. Rather practical in a country where buying an iced tea from a roadside vendor costs at least 2,000 rupiah...

WhatsApp, to communicate with (almost) all Indonesian numbers

WhatsApp is THE essential communication tool in Indonesia. If you're not already using this application, know that it allows you to exchange written messages like SMS, voice messages, and even make calls to people who also have WhatsApp installed on their phones. You don't need an Indonesian number or need to break the bank calling from your home subscription. To use WhatsApp, you simply need an internet connection. Quite useful for staying in touch with loved ones back home, or contacting your driver or guide if needed...