It's interesting because when you get into the practical details, new factors (routes, infrastructure) come up that might change your choice.
It's better this way because if you had started by asking something like, "I'm torn between these countries—like a 600-page guidebook for each, tell me everything I need to know without missing a thing so I can decide,"* you probably wouldn’t have gotten many precise answers—just stuff like "check out my blog."
* That actually happens sometimes.
Just for "local" flights (from KL or SG onward), how much could that roughly cost per person?
No, because it’s impossible to even give a rough estimate with so many flights involved. Plus, that’s a lot of work I’ll leave to you.
To avoid airline websites that glitch (not all of them) because they don’t like foreign IP addresses—or sites that are just overly complicated—for Indonesia, I recommend running your searches on a site like this one:
https://en.tiket.com/pesawat. For example, right now, I see that for K.Lumpur-Labuan Bajo on 16/07/2026, it’s 103 € per person with a carry-on but no meal or checked baggage (you can add that on the page where you enter your details).
Don’t forget:
- Not all flights run daily (for example, I first tried 15/07 for the flight above).
- You’ll also see non-direct options (again, for 15/07, only "1 or 2 layovers"). Direct flights usually appear first on the selected date, marked "direct" or "1 layover" under the flight duration.
- Some airlines don’t include checked baggage unless you pay extra (check the "what's included" section once you’ve selected a flight).
Do these flights also need to be booked in advance?
In July-August, yes.
I don’t know, but from a practical standpoint, if I leave Belgium for southern Italy (2.5-hour flight), it takes me a whole day (especially with a kid who doesn’t have an adult’s patience and needs breaks). In the morning, we get ready. In the early afternoon, we head to the train station to catch a bus to the airport, where we make sure to arrive at least 2 hours early to go through security at a relaxed pace and handle any unexpected crowds. The flight leaves in the late afternoon (5-6 PM). We land in the evening (8-9 PM), and by the time we reach our accommodation, it’s nighttime.
Yep, it’s the same over there—often, even a short flight can eat up most of your day unless you’re taking an early-morning flight. However:
- 2 to 3 of the flights would be domestic, so no police checks, and you only need to be at the airport an hour before departure.
- In small towns, the (also small) airports are rarely far from the city center, so no need for a metro or train. And given the cost of living in Indonesia, you’ll think twice before hesitating to take a taxi or similar.
If that’s the case, all these flights seem like they’d take up a week out of the five planned.
Am I misjudging this, or is that realistic?
A week, including the intercontinental flights, yes. But don’t count it as if all the flights happen back-to-back.
Also, if you’re worried your daughter won’t handle the 13-hour direct flight to KUL or SGP well, there are great airlines like Qatar Airways, Emirates, or Etihad* that require a layover in the Gulf (international zone) for a few hours. Sure, it makes the flight longer, but at least you can stretch your legs outside the plane for 2-3 hours, wander around the duty-free shops, etc. Another perk: these flights are often cheaper than direct ones.
* Few European travelers to Southeast Asia haven’t flown with at least one of these airlines...
One more important thing no one’s mentioned yet (unless I missed it): on Flores, public transport between towns is slow, uncomfortable, and infrequent (though it does exist between all the towns along "the" road that crosses the island). The upside: you’ll have an easier time connecting with locals—even more so with a young child in your group. Expect offers to hold her on their lap. And if she’s blonde...
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