Jakarta Airport: is there a good exchange rate? help!

I thank you for your precious news.

You will be getting about 31 million rupiah in most likely 100,000 notes. Thats' over 300 notes. Be very careful carrying those around, the Jakarta airport is full of scammers and pick pockets. I even had a problem with the airport security last year as they tried to take my cheap watch, claiming I couldnt prove it was mine.

If at all, possible, try to pay some of your accomodation or dive payments by credit card, and have good travel insurance. Also, watch the people changing your money like a hawk. Indonesia money changers are notorious scammers..

In the vast majority of places, the airport rate will not be as good as the downtown rate. In some places, notably Western and Eastern Europe and Malaysia airport rates are a huge rip-off, whereas in other places the airport rates are usually 2-3% worse than downtown rates. In some airports (Thailand) the different money changers will have highly different rates. In Bangkok the good money changer which gives you a much better rate is hidden in the basement at Suvarnabhumi airport. The ones most visible will always have the worst rates. In other airports they have a cartel and all changers have the same rate.
The only airport I have ever seen in my life that had better rates at the airport than downtown was Mexico City. I have not been to Jakarta.

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