Travel to Bali

blizzard224

Okay, I know the userbase here is mainly American, thus you probably don't get any news on what's going on in Bali, but the Bali bombers responsible for the attack on the Jakarta Nightclub in 2002 are getting executed early november, conveniently, I have travel plans to celebrate the end of my schooling from the 20th to the 30th in Bali, in a five star hotel full of dirty western infidels. So far the government site for travel recommends that Travel be "reconsidered", but my mother (works in the insurance industry) has heard reports that it is certainly a possibility for it to get increased to the next warning level, "do not travel" closer to the execution date.

Essentially I'm looking for advise on whether I should change my travel plans or not - it looks like I'll probably be able to recoup about 50 percent of what was payed, and money isn't too tight of an issue, but I'm not interested in taking any risks. Obviously if I do go my behaviour pattern will be altered - no going out alone at night in the cities, trying to stick to the resort as much as I can, but the risk isn't only with organised terrorists but also street gangs and the like, I would imagine.

So, any advice, anecdotal or otherwise on whether or not I should cancel my plans, and if not, things to avoid / ensure I do?

SanderJK

My first two thoughts are this:
Especially in a central tourism hub, your chances of anything happening are fantasticly low, and this should not be a cause not to go. Bali is almost completely dependant on tourism for it's economy, and for the overwhelming part treats tourists in a way reflecting this.

But, and with your mum in insurance I'm sure she can find out about this, going to a place that's deemed not safe to travel has consequences insurance and guarantee wise. From memory, over here in the Netherlands it'd mean that any travel insurance you have is void, you may not get refunded / paid out if any crap happens etcet. This is a serious consideration.

Cauld

Maybe you should loo into travel insurance, from what I understand some of them will refund you in the case of travel being declared too dangerous.

But I largely agree with the above poster, it should just make things a little more interesting. I was living in Thailand at the time of their most recent coup, and while a little scary at first it was hardly noticeable. Of course Bali isn't Thailand and there's a chance for it to actually get violent. I would just keep in mind the chance of danger when you're there and try to stay on top of it. Personally it probably wouldn't change my plans in the slightest.

kaliyama

I second travel insurance. The issue for the OP isn't whether something bad will happen (i wouldn't worry about it...you might avoid obvious foreigner hangouts to the extent you can)<. but whether the govb't will have a travel ban. I wouldn't worry about street gangs or whatever in conjunction with the execution. My friend grew up in Indonesia as an American, and his parents till live there without incident.

useless4

SanderJK wrote: »

My first two thoughts are this:
Especially in a central tourism hub, your chances of anything happening are fantasticly low, and this should not be a cause not to go. Bali is almost completely dependant on tourism for it's economy, and for the overwhelming part treats tourists in a way reflecting this.

Seriously the worse advice ever. Terrorist in this world take any excuse (such as unrelated chances of civil protest) to cover their own attacks on western interest. Hotel resorts across the globe at are the forefront of this pattern.

Yes you would have less chance of getting involved in - say - student lead protest. But never ever let your guard down that a tourist spot is SAFER because it's a tourist spot.

In the last two years I can think off the top of my head of five different resorts that had mass casualties because of various types of terrorist/terror attacks... in Jordan, Afghanistan and in Egypt.

And just general protest riots type things suck. I was in Nairobi twice during student riots, I was more scared there then Baghdad.

RUNN1NGMAN

You can check with the State Department. They issue travel advisories based on security issues and are a good resource. Right now it looks like there are no specific travel warnings for Indonesia.