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As a solo female traveler, one of my main concerns is always safety and convenience, especially when it comes to transportation. This is where Grab comes in—a ride-sharing app that has become my travel companion in Indonesia.
Think of Grab as the Uber of Southeast Asia. It operates the same way as Uber in that you open the app and book your ride and track your driver. You can even use Grab to order food and groceries.
I’ve been to Indonesia three times in the past year visiting Jakarta, Bali, and Yogyakarta and have used Grab more times than I can count. Next to hiring a private driver for the day, I found that Grab was the best way for me to get around.
In this guide, I’ll share everything I know about using Grab in Indonesia. My goal is to make your travels through Indonesia less intimidating while making you feel more confident.
Table of Contents
Why Grab?
Indonesia’s public transportation can be daunting, especially if you’re not familiar with the local language or routes.
Local taxi drivers are an option, but haggling over fares or worrying about being scammed can be stressful. Grab eliminates these concerns by offering transparent pricing, safety features, and a user-friendly interface, making it the go-to ride sharing app for many travelers, including myself.
Find Grab in the app store.
Download and Setup
Before arriving in Indonesia, make sure you have the Grab app downloaded on your phone. You can find it in the App Store for iPhone users and Google Play for Android users. The installation is straightforward and takes just a few minutes.
Once downloaded, open the app and sign up using your phone number. You’ll receive a verification code via SMS, which you need to enter into the app to complete the registration.
To make your rides cashless, link your credit card or debit card. However, if you prefer to pay in cash, that’s perfectly fine too—you can choose your payment method when booking each ride.
To link your card,
Use the Account button at the bottom to set up your payment method and the Car button at the top to schedule your ride.
Using the App
The Grab app is really easy to use and functions pretty much the same way that Uber does in the US.
Here’s a quick rundown of the main features.
The Top Bar of the Home Screen
The top of the home screen displays icons for different services Grab offers—GrabCar, GrabFood, GrabBike, GrabMart, and more.
GrabCar
GrabCarGrabCar is your go-to for pretty much all of your short, local rides through town.
GrabFood
When you’re craving McDonalds but don’t want to leave your accommodation, GrabFood will deliver it, or any other food, right to you.
GrabBike
Don’t book a GrabBike thinking that it’s a bicycle. Booking GrabBike is to ride on the back of a motor scooter. Although this will be the cheapest option, I’ve not summoned up enough courage to use GrabBike yet. Traffic is insane and the motor bikes are notorious for weaving through traffic and squeezing into the tiniest of spaces just to get in front.
GrabMart
Use GrabMart for on-demand grocery and essentials delivery. Whether you need snacks, toiletries, or other household items, GrabMart will deliver them to you.
The Bottom Bar of the Home Screen
I do want to talk more about the Account button though, and what settings you need to know about before you book a ride.
Account Settings
The Account button is where you will find all of your account settings. This is where you enter in your payment method, add in up to three emergency contacts, change the language, and update your security settings.
Make sure you visit all of those settings after you download the app.
Booking Your First Ride
Choose Your Ride
Start by tapping the ‘Car’ icon on the home screen. This will take you to the ride-hailing section where you can enter your destination in the ‘Where to?’ bar. In the image below, you can see that the app already knows that I’m in the Bali airport and is showing me how to get to the pick-up location.
Enter Your Destination
The app will suggest popular places and recent searches to make your selection easier. You can see that I had recently searched for Sama’s Cottages in Ubud, so I just clicked on that since that’s where I wanted to go. If you don’t see where you want to go in the list, you can enter it into the “Where to?” box at the top of the screen.
Enter in where you are going to.
Confirm Pickup Location
After entering your destination, the app will prompt you to enter your pickup location. By default, it suggests your current location, but you can click on the box and adjust it on the map if needed. Make sure this is accurate or manually move the pin on the map. Once everything looks good, tap ‘Choose this pickup’ to proceed.
Choose your pick-up location.
Check the Fare and Confirm
Grab shows you the cost for your ride, which helps avoid any surprises. If you’re satisfied with the price, tap ‘Book’ and wait for a driver to accept your ride. You’ll see their details, including name, photo, vehicle type, and license plate number.
Double check pick up and drop off before booking the car.
Tracking Your Driver
After booking your Grab ride, you can track your driver’s location in real-time. This feature is incredibly useful, especially when you’re in a busy area. The app will provide an estimated arrival time, giving you an idea of how long you’ll need to wait. When your driver arrives, they will confirm your name and destination.
Always Confirm Your Vehicle
Before getting into the car, double-check that the vehicle and driver match the details shown in the app. Look at the vehicle type, color, and license plate number to make sure they match what’s shown on your screen.
Grab drivers will follow the route on the app.
About Grab Drivers
Grab drivers are typically friendly and professional, and many speak basic English. There were only a couple of times I had a driver with limited English and the driver just used a translation app to communicate. Apparently they are used to it.
Some of my Grab drivers were also happy to share their recommendations for things to see or places to eat. So don’t be afraid to ask.
Payment and Rating
Once you reach your destination, the fare will be automatically deducted from your linked credit card.
When you booked your ride, if you opted to pay in cash, simply hand over the amount displayed on your app. Grab drivers don’t carry a lot of cash though, so keep that in mind when paying, and try to get as close to the exact amount as possible.
Don’t forget to rate your driver and leave a review also.
Paying Tolls with Grab
Toll costs are generally not included in the fare shown on the Grab app. Instead, they are typically added to the final fare at the end of the ride.
Here’s how it works:
During the ride, if your route involves toll roads, the driver will ask if you have cash to pay. This is a courtesy since some people prefer to pay for tolls as they come to them. I always tell the driver no and that I want them to pay.
They will swipe their e-toll card and the toll will be paid.
The toll costs will be added to your total fare at the end of the trip, and this adjusted amount will be charged to your payment method or collected in cash if that’s your chosen payment method.
Is Using Grab in Indonesia Safe?
Safety is paramount, especially when traveling solo. Grab incorporates several features to help make sure you stay safe.
Share Your Ride
One of the best features is the ability to share your ride details with friends or family. Tap the ‘Share My Ride’ button to send your trip information via SMS and have them
Emergency Assistance
In case of an emergency, Grab has an in-app emergency button that connects you directly to local authorities. I’ve never had to use the emergency button but it’s nice to know help is just a tap away.
6 Tips for Using Grab in Indonesia
- Download Before Arrival: Make sure to download and set up the Grab app before you arrive in Indonesia. This way, you can hit the ground running as soon as you land, especially if you need a ride from the airport to your accommodation.
- Landmarks as Pickup Points: When booking a ride, using well-known landmarks as your pickup location can help avoid confusion. If you’re staying at a large hotel or near a famous site, select that as your pickup point.
- Language Barrier: While many Grab drivers speak basic English, drivers are pretty adept at using Google translate or similar to communicate too.
- Tipping Your Driver: It’s most convenient to leave a tip through the app after your ride. However, you can also give the driver cash if you prefer. A suggested tip amount is around 10,000 to 20,000 IDR, depending on the length and quality of the ride.
- Messaging Your Driver: One handy feature of Grab is the in-app messaging system. You can message your driver directly to clarify any details or provide additional instructions. I always send a picture of myself and where I’m waiting to help avoid any confusion with pick-up location.
- Wrong Pickup Locations: Sometimes, your driver might need to pick you up across the street from your specified location due to traffic or road conditions. There were a couple of times in Jakarta that I had requested to be picked up at the Catholic Cathedral. Instead, because of it being a one-way road, the driver stopped across the street at the Istiqlal Mosque and waited for me to cross the street. In hindsight, messaging the driver specifically to pick me up at the Cathedral may have helped.
Grab vs Gojek
In Indonesia, Grab’s main competitor is Gojek. They are pretty much the same thing. It’s like Uber and Lyft in the United States. Both apps have multiple payment methods, safety features, and user-friendly interfaces.
Bluebird Taxi
If you prefer taking a taxi over Grab, Bluebird Taxi is the most trusted traditional taxi service in Indonesia. You can book a Bluebird Taxi through their app or by hailing one on the street. Bluebird is the most recommended taxi in Indonesia. Other taxi companies know that though and will try and pass their “blue” taxi off as Bluebird. Don’t fall for it. Make sure you are getting into a legitimate Bluebird taxi by checking the name and logo.
Grab in South East Asia
Grab operates in several Southeast Asian countries, not just Indonesia. When you open the Grab app, just click on the bottom bar to change between countries.
You can choose from Indonesia, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Vietnam, Myanmar, Cambodia, and the Philippines.
In Thailand specifically, Grab offers a unique feature for female travelers—you can choose a female driver for added comfort and security. I try to choose this option when I’m in Thailand. It just gives me a little more peace of mind and makes me feel more comfortable.
