• When is the best time to visit the Trading Route?
• What to bring? (Types of food?)
• How to trade?
• What to expect on the journey? (Dangers of the Routes... ...are there bandits?)
• Do's and Don'ts for the traveller (e.g.: pack lightly)Do you need guides?

1. A chain of volcanic mountains, 70 of which are active, dominates the southern islands. Large areas of rain forest cover the northern islands.
2. Indonesia's complex and varied culture has been established by extreme patterns of human migration. It is the fourth most populous country in the world, with over 300 different ethnic groups observing greatly varying cultures and religious practices.
3. Main roads in major cities are reasonably well maintained but the condition of smaller and rural roads is often not good. Vehicles travel on the left. Air and bus services are more reliable and comfortable than the somewhat limited train system. Popular airlines include Indonesia Air Asia, Cathay Pacific, JAL, Qantas, China Airlines and KLM Royal Dutch Airlines. Boats and ferries are usually too crowded to be considered entirely safe.
4. The government is traditionally unstable and travellers should follow political developments and assess the security situation daily. Petty criminals work the cities; violent crime levels are high in some areas.
5. A tropical climate produces a wet monsoon season (November to March) and dry monsoon season (April to October). April to May and September to October are the best times to visit. The average temperature year round is 25 C-30 C (77 F-86 F). Modest, lightweight cotton clothing is recommended but the weather in Indonesia can change quickly so be prepared.
6. Although the currency exchange rate is quite favourable for most Westerners, bargaining is still customary. There are a few Western-style stores in Jakarta and larger cities, but open marketplaces abound and offer a more representative cultural experience.
7. Indonesians are natural artisans and a huge range of woodcarving, art, textiles, clothing and crafts is available. Indonesian cuisine, varying by region, is flavourful and inexpensive. Avoid drinking local water (including ice cubes); bottled water and soft drinks are safer.
8. Telecommunications and postal services are adequate and available in cities and large towns. Bahasa Indonesian is the official language throughout the archipelago and English is not widely spoken, especially outside of large cities or tourist areas.

When planning your trip, make sure that you find out about the wet and dry seasons, or other possible weather conditions that may affect your holiday. If you are using a travel agent then make sure that you ask about this, even though they should tell you.

· Ask your agent, or other sources to find out whether the hotel or even the destination has any work going on. Again the agent should tell you, however he/she may have over looked the hotel that is being built right next door.

· If you are travelling to an area that may be considered a 'hot zone' (possibly dangerous) then check with your insurance company to verify whether you will be covered in case something goes wrong. If they do not, and you still want to travel, then find one that will.

· If your itinerary may change, ensure that there are absolutely no charges if you do change the dates or times of flights. Ask your agent to fully explain the restrictions that may appear, on your ticket, to ensure that they meet with your needs.

· If you are flying with one of the alliances, such as Star or One World. Just verify with your agent what plane is going to be used. They should tell you, but it is surprising how often you will see people complaining that they expected to be on a Singapore Airline plane, not the Lufthansa one that they find themselves on. This is the result of the code share agreements that the airlines are using.

· If money is valuable and if you are buying a plane ticket on a certain airline and have been told that due to these code sharing agreements you will actually be flying on another airline. Then call around or check if you can buy any cheaper tickets on the actual airline that you will be flying. Believe it or not code share does not mean price share and you may be able to find much cheaper.

· It is recommended to buy your holiday using a credit card. This gives you the comfort of official records, and also additional insurance that comes with the card. One of the best for travel is American Express, where you can also transfer your points to your frequent flier programme.

Whenever you arrive in any country, whether it be by boat, plane or whatever you are vulnerable. You have all your cash, cards, documents and anything else valuable on you right at that moment. It is even worse if you have never been there before and look like you haven't, there are always people who are willing to "help". Every precaution you take will help to avoid any potential problems. After all you do not want someone to "help" themselves to your belongings, when you have just arrived. Here are a few tips that should help. Before leaving for your trip, try to get some prior information as to the rough layout of the airport where you will be arriving. This will help, to have a vague sense of where you should be going and where the taxis are located etc.

whenever possible, especially in certain countries we recommend taking either the airport limousine, or a hotel pick up.

Never take a taxi that seems just to be hanging around, offering its services when there is a taxi queue available.

Try to keep your wallet and valuables safely secured in a locked handbag or in one of your hand luggage.

Change some money into the local currency before you depart. This gives you one less thing to worry about, and will stop you from pulling a large amount of money out at the airport arrivals.

Keep a small amount of this local currency, easily accessible in a pocket or something, and away from the majority of your well-earned money. You will need sufficient for the ride into town, a tip (perhaps) and a little for unforeseen needs like toll ways or a bottle of water.

If you have not been able to find anything out about the airport that you are visiting then ask one of the airline staff, or the government tourism booth (if they have one at the airport) for some assistance, or tips on the best way of travelling.

Most countries really are very safe, but in others it is really very advisable to take to take as many precautions as possible. No matter what, the most important is that you have a great holiday.