Visa and Passport
- Visa on Arrival valid for 30 days. Day of arrival and departure day are counted as full days each.
- Your passport must be valid for 6 months when entering any cities in Indonesia, including Bali.
- One page must be empty for the visa stamp.
- Keep your boarding pass when you arrive, you might have to show it to the Immigration officer when needed.
Accommodation & Going Out
- Ice cubes in restaurants are safe and government controlled.
- For 2-5 US$ one can have a decent meal in most restaurants in Bali, you just need to know where to look!
- One can still stay for as cheap as 15 US$ per night in home stays.
- New budget hotels offer clean rooms with AC in larger hotel complexes for 20 US$
- Most prices are subject to tax (10%) and service charge (6-11%).
- Vegetarian and healthy food are on the rise and you can find vegetarian options in most restaurants in Bali.
- Price for hotel room in 4 star hotels or resorts 70-120 US$.
- Private, serviced Villas are a great alternative during your stay in Bali.
Traffic & Transport
- Traffic in Bali is on the left-hand side, and it can get really crazy!
- Scooter costs around 4 US$ per day. Always check brakes and lights when you rent one and keep the mobile no. of the rental shop with you. You might need it.
- Car with driver for 8-10 hours costs 40-70 US$ per day. Make sure they have a driver’s license and the permission to be a driver (permit, insurance issues)
- Taxis are safe and cheap, but ask them to switch on the meter
- In Ubud no meter taxis are available; transport is organized by licensed drivers from the village.
- Want to rent a scooter or car? Bring your international driving license with you.
Communication
- To surf the internet anytime anywhere, Get a SIM card, preferably from a legit mobile shop, and ask for internet package. It is really affordable!
- Many restaurants have free WI-FI.
- Prepaid top up credit is called “PULSA”
Activities
- Bali is a scuba diving paradise. There are more than 100 dive centers and great dive spots around the island.
- Full body massage starts 7 US$ per hour
- There are tons of spots for surfing for beginners at Kuta, Legian and Seminyak Beach
- Top Temples: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot, Besakih
- Shopping Paradise art work, handicrafts, oils and essence, clothes, shoes, furniture, accessories
- In the Day of Silence or Nyepi, no check-in or check-out from hotel is allowed. Entire island including the airport, will be shut down
- Manta Rays and Mola Mola fish Nusa Penida and Lembongan
- Getting married in Bali is easy; wedding companies offer full services.
- Don’t smile at the monkey in the monkeyforest or temples, showing teeth is a sign of aggression for them
- Water sport activities can be found at Benoa (jet ski, para gliding, water ski etc.)
Safety & Manners
- Be careful where you step! When it’s raining, the sidewalks can be extremely slippery, and
- Sidewalks can have large and deep potholes, that are not visible at night
- Driving a scooter. Never go too fast. Accidents happen daily. Loose chippings are everywhere. Cats, dogs, chickens…anything can cross your way. And any vehicle can come towards you from any direction, anytime.
- Currents in the sea can be dangerous, and change depending on the weather and wind conditions; also good swimmers have drown on Bali
- Don’t do drugs – it’s not worth it, especially when you get caught! Even for petty drug related crimes, death sentence might be your gamble.
- People do lose their lives in Bali, often because of swimming or driving under the influence of alcohol or drugs (or both).
- There is crime on Bali, (although not much compared to many other destinations), so stay alert
- Prostitution is illegal in Bali
- Magic Mushrooms have recently became illegal.
- HIV/AIDS is widespread among prostitutes. Practice safe sex all the time!
- Being topless on the beach is not allowed.
- Balinese are open minded but they don’t like: people using their streets as toilets, topless guys in restaurants and shops, disrespectful and loud behavior, somebody touching their head!
Bali by Area
- Kuta is always wild at night
- Seminyak has the most clubs and beach clubs that are more upper class
- Ubud is laid back, art, small shops, great food, healthy life style, and yoga. Think new age!
- Lembongan Island is easy to get to and is like Bali 40 years ago. Paradise!
- Sanur is more quiet, a bit upper class in general, with calm beaches, great restaurants at the beach side (Pantai Sindhu), and lots of live music.
- Indonesian clove cigarettes are called Kretek and are smoked everywhere. (you will smell it too!)
- Rainy season is from October to February, Dry season is from March to September
- Bali (incl. Lembongan) are one of the best surf destinations in the world
- Amed is the place where most scuba divers stay and where you find the wrecks
- Nusa Dua, 5 star resort area
- Jimbaran – seafood restaurants and BBQ directly on the beach, every night (busy, fresh seafood, tasty)
- Bukit Penisula in the south, it is surfer’s paradise and still a little bit off the beaten track. Padang Padang Beach, Bingin Beach, Dreamland, Uluwatu, Balangan.