Bintan Island - VOA question

[lowan74]

Hello all-

I am travelling to Bintan Island (by ferry from Singapore) in a month. Looking online it seems that a Visa On Arrival is available to Australians for 7 days for IDR250,000, which represents a good saving (50%) on the normal 30 day VOA. Its only available to purchase in person on arrival. I've seen a couple of places where it has also been quoted in USD. I've looked across the internet and yet to find a definitive answer to the following questions - I would really appreciate help/guidance from someone who has recently been there and bought a VOA:

• Is the VOA on arrival only payable in IDR cash, or is USD cash also accepted (asking because I already have some USD from a previous US trip)
• If IDR cash is required, is there somewhere available to change money in Bintan prior to getting to the VOA counter (or an ATM), or do I need to bring this from Singapore?

Also looking for any other tips around Bintan (holiday for 5 days, family of 4) if anyone has travelled there recently?

Any thoughts or suggestions are greatly appreciated -

Matt

 

[markis10]

Last time I went it was payable in cash not card (despite the website saying card would be accepted) and the only place to get cash was after immigration, I had an escort to go to the ATM.

 

[Scash]

We went there a few years ago and they took USD. Be aware though that they sometimes claim to not have change in USD so its a good idea to have the correct amount or smaller denominations.

 

[ltwo]

If paying in cash, just check that you get all the paperwork you require.
Excluding card payment is a common way to corrupt/swindle the money by some officers.

 

[pjm99au]

We were there over last Christmas. Personally I would do the VOA online prior and not queue up at the booth before immigration. Just remember to have a print out of each visa.
We stayed at the Sanchaya and other than bike riding down to the shops didn’t do any other exploring so can’t help with activities

 

[clifford]

Talking of Bintan, I was rather surprised when I discovered recently that there was a modern, functioning, internaiional airport on the neighbouring island, Batam. Just a half hour away from Singapore by ferry.

Who'd have though it?

 

[lowan74]

Thank you all for your advice and comments!

 

[lowan74]

I arrived here yesterday and thought I'd report back on the arrival process.

The Visa on arrival booth is the first (and only) thing you encounter before immigration. It accepts cash only in Indonesian Rupiah. While the price is 250,000 RP for 7 days, there is also a 3,000 RP administration charge, making it 253,000 RP per person - so prepare cash.

Purchasing it was straightforward and they provided an official receipt per person which you then take to the immigration counter.

I elected not to buy the online e-visa, as it was 500,000 RP for 30 days, and we only needed visas for 4 days so didn't want to pay double just for the online convenience.

Immigration and customs were then straightforward. I bought the rupiah cash at the Tanah Merah ferry terminal in Singapore where there is a money changer (before outbounds immigration).