Frequently Asked Questions
The Best Dive Season | Advice on Malaria | Safety Issues | Terms of Payment | Terms of Reservation | Other Activities

We opened all year around. You can dive whole year around at Lembeh Strait. All of our boat comes with two engines of 40PK in each boat in a good and well maintained.

The air temperature in North Sulawesi stays around 29-32C all year-round. The water temperatures at Lembeh Strait between 25-27C, not too much serious protection is required, so we suggest a 3mm one-piece of long-suit for diving is fine which also can give you a protection against jelly fishes and any stinging hydroids or 5mm plus hood when you get cold fast because sometimes the water can be colder than normal water temp.

We have two seasons for Indonesia :
Dry Season : From April until October. This is the time for sunbathing, but can be also getting some warm rain at anytime of the year. If you're coming to visit the rainforest or go rafting, we actually prefer the rainy season (but again it is year-round) because that is when the forest and highlands are watered and are at their most lush. Visibility at Lembeh Strait 10-15m.
Wet / Rainy Season : From November to March with cooler winds from north-west which can bring heavier rains and rougher seas but you will not find rough seas at Lembeh Strait since we are inside the strait it self covered by mainland and a huge lembeh island. Visibility is about 10-15m but can sometimes drop to 10m for a few days when there is heavy rains.

For land clothing, normally shorts and t-shirts are sufficient for the day (even if it rains, because it's warm tropical rains), and light trousers at night, perhaps with a long-sleeve shirt. Do not forget sun lotion and sun glasses for the day time. We'll provide towels in the room, but guests also able to bring their own.

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North Sulawesi in general and Manado especially is tropical and so malaria cannot be discounted but there is no malaria in the region. When you are traveling to our reagion, we suggest you follow your doctor's advice regarding malaria tablets. Officially, North Sulawesi is non-malarial, but if the tablets don't bother you too much it's always best to bring on the side of caution. There are cases of malaria and dengue fever in North Sulawesi; however, there have been no reported cases specifically at the resort. We do recommend you bring plenty of repellent and appropriate clothing and that you consult with your doctor before your trip for the most up-to-date advice on anti-malarial drugs, as well as recommended vaccinations. At Lembeh Island there's some mosquitos ( but not to many ) and we also recommend that you spray anti-mosquito spray for your arms and legs mostly from afternoon until evening. There is mosquito net in every room at Bastianos.

The odd case of dengue fever has been reported in North Sulawesi, though these tend to be in the villages where rubbish is sometimes not properly cleared.

There are plenty of chemists and dentists in Bitung and Manado which can provide drugs. The General Hospital in Manado ( Prof. Dr. Kandou Hospital ) has a good recompression chamber (around 90 minutes from Bitung to the hospital. Also there is another recommended private hospital which is Pancaran Kasih hospital at the down town of Manado if you require a doctor. There is no public health service, and everyone has to pay so before you are going to the doctor or hospital, be prepared by taking some Rupiah (IDR) cash with you.

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There are always many reports of problems and conflicts in Indonesia and this is very frustrating us since Indonesia is a big country with many islands which actually not all the areas in Indonesia have problems and conflicts as always reports in the overseas newspaper and TV channels. For people that has been traveling to our country, they know better what is the conditions and the atmosphere like, especially in North Sulawesi since North Sulawesi is one of the safe province in Indonesia for travelling.

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The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR or Rp). It contains alot of zeros. The exchange rate fluctuates alot, and the important exchange rate used by most of Asia is the US$ - currently the rate is between Rp 9,000,- until Rp 9,500,- per US$ 1. If you need local currency, there are a number of ATM machines at the airport, in the streets or banks in Manado/Bitung. There is no Banks or ATM's machine on Lembeh Island.

At Bastianos, we accept cash payment in USD, Euro, Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). We also accept payment with Visa or MasterCard ( 3% surcharge ) in Rupiah, converted using hotel (Bastianos) exchange rate at the day of payment.

Due to a recent change in Indonesian banking policy, you can no longer use traveler cheques in local shops, hotels, dive centers and resorts. These can now only be cashed in local banks by the owner of the cheque. (Please note that the only Traveler Cheques accepted by the local banks are American Express USD cheques.)

For cash payment in USD, we only accept major payment in 100 or 50 notes and then the small amount can pay with small notes, but please note that the major payment should be with 100 or 50 notes and please make sure that your dollars are new notes or at least in good conditions, no ink, no stamp, no scratch. If you want to pay cash in USD with small notes like 20, 10, 5 and 1 for major payment still acceptable with extra charge as a result of the poor exchange rate. The Banks in Manado only accept good dollars if you want to change your money and some serial numbers and codes can be reject due to bank regulations here in Indonesia because of some reasons that only Banks know.

Terms and Conditions for payment at Bastianos :

For room, scuba diving, gear rental, dive courses rates will be in Euro currency. For drinks at restaurant and bar, goods at drug store, massage, bunaken entrance fee and some additional charges will be in IDR currency.

Payment with Credit Card

For Visa or Mastercard payment will be converted to IDR ( from your Euro bill ) using the hotel exchange rate at the day of payment ( For Credit Card payment there will be 3% additional surcharge from bill total ).

Payment with Cash US Dollar

Due to the bank regulations here in Indonesia , we only can accept US Dollar cash as below:

· USD 100 and USD 50 notes for major payment as you see the explanation above.

· Printed series from year of 2000 until today

· New money (no scratch, no ink, no stamp) - it's have to be in the good conditions.  Please note that the Banks here can reject your notes if showed pen stains or marks.

Please contact us for more information about US Dollar notes with some serial numbers and codes which are false indicated.

Payment with Cash Euro

We do accept Euro for payment in all type of notes except coins.

Payment with Rupiah (IDR)

We accept payment with IDR / Rupiah using the hotel exchange rates the day of payment.

No extra tax or service charges from all the prices, because it's included. A tip is always much appreciated as a token of your satisfaction to our team and can be put it in our general tip box.

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Reservation is mainly priority and highly recommended. For Inquiries and Reservation, you can send us an email to : info@bastianos.com or by calling us to 62.431.3325678 or cell no +62811435176. Reservation also can be made via fax to 62.431.858454. Normally when people send inquiries with some questions until the final booking confirmation with all the details that we will need for reservation, we will send you a confirmation via email and give you a booking code number.

For secure your reservation, we will need your Visa or MasterCard details as follow :

· Cardholder’s Name.
· Card Number.
· Visa or MasterCard.
· Expiry Date.
· Name of the Bank.

Please send the details by fax to +62.431.858454 or can SMS to my mobile number +62811435176 or by email. We will not charge you any from your account unless you are not coming on your arrival day ( no-show ) without any cancellation notice ( Euro 50 for cancellation without any news ). And for airport pick arrangement, we will need your names and arrival flight details so we can send Bastianos Staff to come and greet you at the airport on your arrival day with Bastianos Sign and your names on the paper in front of the arrival gate. It would be appreciate also if you can send us the details of your departure flight details for the arrangement of your transfer back to the airport if you have a flight at your check-out day.

There is another way to secure your reservation is by send us a deposit by wire transfer into our account as written below. The amount will be inform during reservation process.

BASTIANOS ACCOUNTS
Payment via wire transfer should be made in FULL AMOUNT without any bank charges into the following account :

For group reservation, we always asking for a deposit by wire transfer for at least 50% from the total amount as agreed during reservation process.

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At Lembeh Strait it's mainly for scuba diving. Also you can snorkel, sun-bath, relax, and take a walk to the villages. For snorkeling, you can joining our dive boat following the diving schedules. We can arrange trips to the other attractions in North Sulawesi for you, like tp the Tangkoko Nature Reserve or to the volcanics higland.

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