Trip to Indonésie: 8 Mobile Apps to Enhance Your Travel!
Planning a trip to Indonésie? Before you go, discover the apps to download on your smartphone! Geolocation apps to find a driver quickly (Grab and Gojek), mobile payment apps to pay easily without cash (GoPay and DANA), taxi app in Bali (My Blue Bird) and more: here are 8 apps to make your stay on the archipelago easier...
Planning a trip to Indonésie? Before you go, discover the apps to download on your smartphone! Geolocation apps to quickly find a driver (Grab and Gojek), mobile payment apps (to pay easily without cash with GoPay and DANA), taxi app in Bali (My Blue Bird) and more: here are 8 apps to make your stay on the archipelago easier…
Grab, Gojek, and My Blue Bird: Top 3 Taxi Apps in Indonésie
Grab and Gojek: Your Answer to Uber
Grab and Go-Jek are two private transportation companies, similar to Uber.
Grab
Grab is a mobile application that lets you order an Uber in just a few clicks – whether car or scooter. To use it, simply enter your desired destination. Thanks to its geolocation system, the app detects your position and shows you available drivers in your area.
After you choose your driver, Grab displays an estimated fare, journey duration, and various vehicle options (brand, comfort level, number of seats, specific services, etc.).
Once you confirm your choice, the driver receives your request instantly and heads your way. Throughout the journey, you can track their progress on your smartphone. Confirming the ride in advance guarantees the price shown in the app!
Another advantage of Grab? Its built-in chat feature! This allows you to communicate easily with your driver – the tool instantly translates messages between the two languages. The application is available for download on Android and Apple.
Gojek
Gojek is quite similar to Grab (its main competitor) and widely used in major cities. It's a multi-service app that lets you book a taxi (car, motorcycle taxi, or scooter taxi) and also offers food delivery to your home (Go-Food). When booking, the fare is also fixed upfront.
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Good to Know Apps like Grab and Gojek are often frowned upon in hotel districts, as they compete directly with drivers and companies partnered with hotels. When booking: move away from these hotel zones (where you'll notice signs asking not to use the "unfair" services of these apps). |
My Blue Bird: For Booking a Taxi in Bali
My Blue Bird is the official taxi app for Bali (and several other major cities). It's a trustworthy company that helps protect against scams. How to spot it? Look for the inscriptions Blue Bird Group or Bluebird.com visible on the company's vehicles.
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How to Spot a Fake Taxi? ● You may sometimes encounter taxis that announce a fixed price before the ride even starts. However, even if they claim otherwise, the fare depends solely on the time elapsed. ● Here's another tip: if you're not using the official My Blue Bird company, make sure your taxi driver turns off the engine once you arrive at your destination (to prevent the fare from climbing). |
Teman Bus and Maps.me: Apps for Easy Getting Around
Teman Bus
If you want to travel by bus in Medan, Palembang, Yogyakarta, Bali, and Surakarta (also called Solo): download the Teman Bus mobile app. It was developed specifically for these cities to make getting around easier.
Once on your smartphone, the app will show you real-time schedules for different bus lines and their locations. Very intuitive, this application also offers a complete map of the Teman Bus network.
The company is known for the comfort of its vehicles, as well as its mobile phone payment system, which is very convenient when boarding the bus (it's still possible to pay in cash). The app is available on Android and Apple.
Maps.me
If you're used to traveling in unfamiliar places, you may already know Maps.me – the connected version of paper maps. The main advantage of this app? You can download the maps you need when you're connected.
Once on your phone, you can view the map even without an internet connection – which saves you precious data!
For each location you visit, you can choose your mode of transport (car, metro, on foot...) and search by category (restaurant, hotel...). Maps.me is a free app, available for download on Android and Apple.
GoPay and DANA: Apps for Easy Payment in Indonésie
With an average age of 31, the Indonesian population has fully embraced mobile payment apps. During your trip, you'll be able to easily pay for purchases and transportation right from your phone.
The advantages? More speed and security (no need to carry dozens of bills in your wallet). Quite practical in a country where buying an iced tea by the roadside costs a minimum of 2,000 rupiah (which, while trivial in euros, can quickly add up to a lot of coins).
GoPay
GoPay is a virtual payment method that lets you instantly pay for a service or purchase once the app is installed on your phone. It's simple: at the moment of purchase, just scan the QR code (the one dedicated to the app) – provided you've created an account beforehand to use your digital wallet.
Money available in your GoPay account can be topped up at any time and spent without restrictions. This application (which belongs to the same company as the Gojek taxi app) makes it easy to pay in Indonésie without needing a local bank account.
DANA
The DANA app is also a digital wallet, allowing you to pay for everyday purchases without cash or card.
Used by more than 30 million Indonesians, this app lets you pay in stores as well as online (which can be useful for buying transport tickets in advance, for example).
Like Gojek, the mobile app works with a QR code you scan at payment. Recharging your balance is free.
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Why Download the XE Currency App? Paying via your smartphone is so easy that it can be harder to track your budget... To get a clear picture of your spending, don't hesitate to download the XE Currency app. It lets you convert any currency to euros in just a few clicks. |
WhatsApp: The App for Staying Connected
WhatsApp is one of the preferred communication methods in Indonésie – unlike many English-speaking countries, which tend to favor SMS.
While the choice between WhatsApp or SMS matters little at home, using the app is essential abroad, as it allows you to communicate with anyone at no cost. To contact loved ones during your trip (sending messages, photos, calls), go for WhatsApp instead!
Similarly, don't hesitate to use it to contact local agencies, attractions, drivers, etc., to ask any questions you may have: you'll get a much faster response than by email.
Getting a SIM Card: The Essential Purchase Upon Arrival
To be able to use these mobile apps (especially payment apps that require an Indonesian phone number): you'll need to buy a local SIM card – called sim card untuk internet saja (for internet only).
Indosat Ooredoo is a service provider with good coverage in Indonésie, but you can also choose Telkomsel, XL Axiata, or Smartfren depending on current promotions.
Wait until you've left the airport to get one, or you'll pay top dollar. Small shops selling internet and phone credit are everywhere, even in more remote areas.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Grab Work in Bali?
Yes, the Grab mobile app works in Bali. Easy to use, it lets you quickly find an "Indonesian Uber" and book a ride in just a few minutes.
What's the Best Taxi Company in Bali?
The official taxi company in Bali is My Blue Bird. It has a good reputation and helps prevent scams with "fake taxis" that don't follow regulated rates. Vehicles are recognizable by the inscriptions Bluebird.com and Blue Bird Group.
Audrey Denjean
