A trip to Bandung, Indonesia - Budget

This is the continuation of a series of posts on my recent trip to Bandung, Indonesia and shall be the last post. The previous posts were :

A trip to Bandung, Indonesia - Itinenary
A trip to Bandung, Indonesia - Places visited and meals taken
A trip to Bandung, Indonesia - Factory outlets

How much cash should you bring when go to Bandung? We're talking millions here!!! Anyway, most of the restaurants and factory outlets accept credit cards.

Exchange rate :

RM1.00 = IDR3,200

USD1.00 = IDR11,500

In my budget, there are three major categories - Meals, Shopping and Transportation

Meals

Breakfast is normally part of the hotel room package.

Budget.....Lunch X pax X days .............. Dinner X pax X days

In fine dining, depending on the restaurant and protein, the price varies and very difficult to put a budget per person per meal. As a general guide for budgetting purposes, I shall put RM25 - RM40 per person per meal. Of course if we order specialities like Black Angus Steak, that alone comes up to RM80 per dish.

In Sundanese restaurant, a meal should be around RM10 per person (plus drinks).


Shopping

Average price of a

T-shirt - RM20
Blouse - RM20
Jeans - RM50
Children set (shirt & pants) - RM20

You may also come across some t-shirts cost only RM12. Give a second thought why it's cheaper. After shopping for a while, you should be able to notice why some shirts are really cheap.

Transportation

Taxi (using meter) around town ranges from RM3.50 - RM5.50 per trip. We took a taxi from Jl. Setiabudi to The View (very far) only cost us RM10.

Renting a car (usually Toyota Avanza for 6 seater), comes with driver and cover the petrol comsumption too is RM220 per day of 12 hours. However it does not cover parking (quite minimum) and entrance fee.

Reminder : Airport Tax per person is IDR75,000 (not so sure any tax imposed to children below 2 years old)

I had a great time in Bandung. This is a place suitable for families but on the downside there is no beach. You should find a hotel with nice pool and near factory outlets if your kids want to go for a swim.

A trip to Bandung, Indonesia - Factory Outlet

Bandung is getting more and more popular tourist destination mainly due to existance of many factory outlets. Yet not majority of my friends would seem to understand this until we show them the photos and things we bought. So, "why Bandung?" and many would ask....cause it's a shopping paradise. (It's also a place for great fine dining with awesome view, nice ambiance and less pricey compare to M'sia)

First sight upon arrival at Bandung Airport

There is a misconception on the word 'factory outlet'. It is NOT a warehouse that is dusty and full with pile and pile of clothings. It is NOT hot, nor stuffy (although some use air cooler instead) and pack with people fighting over a garment.

Most buildings are like a huge bungalow with open rooms, good air-conditioning, bright lighting. Some consists of two/three floors where different category of clothing were placed. Some has children playground and cafe in it.

Most outlets have a lot of staff (female) employed just to fold back the clothes properly (i think). They were not there to follow you around (unlike cough! cough!). They are very polite and helpful.

My favourite factory outlets :

1. Rumah Mode, Jl. Setiabudi
   
   


2. Heritage, Jl. Riau


3. Grande, Jl. Dago
   

Others that we've been to were:

1. Episode, Jl. Dago


2. Blossom, Jl. Dago
3. Uptown, Jl. Dago
4. Stamp, Jl. Dago
5. Glamour, Jl. Dago
6. DSE, Jl. Dago (No. 1 - 5 is withing walking distance, DSE is slightly further up, worth going)
   
7. Cassade, Jl. Riau (very modern and classy, 3 storeys)
8. Summit, Jl. Riau
9. Terminal Tas, Jl. Riau (handbags and shoes)
10. Secret, Jl. Riau
11. Oasis, Jl. Riau

There are a few more outlets but I can't remember which are the ones that we entered. For the more happening people, you may find Jeans centre at Cihampelas Street impressive. A lot of superheroes T-shirt can be found there. Can't comment much about the jeans though coz I for one won't buy from there.

Sis, my hubby bought this shirt for your son. Cool leh? Wonder what would Ps Lam say.

Some of the clothes we bought, some more in the washing machine.

For children clothing, factory outlets like Heritage has a wide range. Anyhow I still find factory outlets in Jl. Riau has a better spread of choice of children clothings.

Evidence

Should you be planning your next trip to Bandung, do remember that when weekend comes, Bandung is filled with flock of people from Jakarta. It means very heavy traffic and factory outlets will be pack. So, if possible, go during weekdays.

Angklungs for souvenirs

A trip to Bandung, Indonesia - Places visited & Meals taken

Places visited .....

1. Tangkuban Perahu

The first sight of this crater really wows me. We went in the morning (8am local time) and takes about an hour to reach. It was cold and wind was constantly blowing. I wish to have some peace in admiring this beauty but couldn't stand the sulfur smell (really stink) and being pester to use their horse and buy their stuff. There is an observation deck where sellers were not allow up. Yipee! But there were 2 'professional cameramen' up on the observation deck. Cis! Anyhow, I'm glad my hubby insist of coming here as I decided not to go due to bad feedback on this popular tourist attraction. According to my driver, this place is ever filled with visitors, both locals and tourists.

2. Sari Ater Hot Spring (aka Ciater Hot Spring)

If you have been to Tambun Hot Spring, Perak (some 25 years ago) or more recent ones like Sg Klah Sungkai, Perak then don't bother going to Sari Ater. To me a waste of time.

3. Kawah Putih

Cooling. A bit sulfur smell, bearable. Here, you'll get to walk on the crater itself. How cool is that? BUT the drive takes approx. 2 hours. My children slept all the way up and all the way down.

4. Situ Padengan Lake



Lovely, calm, green, can go boat riding. Just like our Taiping Lake but less commercialise.


5. Saung Angklung Udjo

It was their yearly open day when we went. (No need to pay entrance fee and performance fee) Anyway the performance was scheduled in the afternoon. We did catch a bit of their rehearsal. The kids are so talented and seems enjoying themselves instead of having stage fright. If you have the time do visit this place. With the traffic madness in Bandung getting to Angklung Udjo takes about 45 minutes. Their daily performance hour is from 3:30 pm - 5:30 pm.

Jl. Padasuka 118 Bandung 40192 West Java – Indonesia

Phone +62 22 727 1714, +622 22 710 1736 Fax +62 22 720 1587

Email : info@angklung-udjo.co.id

Our meals ....

1. Dapurku (Jl. Lembong No. 12-18 tel +62 22 4206612)

Location is very near Jl Braga and Asia Afrika.

Order here ...

Meal is served warm... Ayam Goreng, Sate Bandene, Pepes Ayam, Tahu Taugeh

For cream puff fans...you must buy this! Variety of fillings - chocolate, durian, coconut

2. The View (Jl. Resort Dago Pakar Raya tel +022 253 1198)

Calamari Ring, Nacho Cheese Supreme, Cream of Mushroom Soup

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Grilled Lamb Chop Chicken Steak
Washing Basin

3. Kampung Daun (Jl. Sersan Bajuri KM 47 No. 88. Lembang tel 022-2787915)

Calamari

Cheese FritaAyam Goreng PolosSpaghetti MushroomChicken Steak

Cendol Sirap (nobody wants to drink - wasted) & Truffle
The girls went nuts!!!

4. The Valley (Jl. Lembah Pakar Timur 28 tel +022-2531052)

Zuppa-zuppa

Black Angus SteakCombo Platter
Chicken Pizzeria
Black Forest Ice Cream

5. The Atmosphere (Jl. Lengkong Besar 97 tel +022 426 2815)

Cheesy French FriesChicken RunAtmosphere Supreme ChickenTenderloin SteakMont Blanc Steak
Gateaux Chocolate Slice

6. Sagoo Kitchen, Paris Van Java

Ng Otok Owok

Kuey Teow Siam

Fried Kuey Teow

Verdict : For me, The Valley is a class of its own. These restaurants are kids friendly. The Valley has a playground. BUT mind you to bring mosquito repellant. We were feeding the mosquitos. The worst was at The View. Hannah's hands were full of mosquito bites.

Local food in Bandung generally is not spicy and somehow their fried chicken is really yummy.


Next : Factory Outlets in Bandung