The Complete Essential Bali Travel Checklist
The Complete Essential Bali Travel Checklist
Passports, Tickets and Visas
If you are carrying a Singapore, Malaysia, Philippines, Thailand, Vietnam, Chile, HK, Macau, Brunei, Morocco or Peru, you will not need a visa to enter Bali.
For all other passport holders, you will need USD $25 on arrival (valid for 30 days and extendable) to pay for your visa on arrival. Your passport must be valid for at least 6 months from the date of entry to Indonesia, and you must have proof of subsequent passage (either back or through tickets).
When leaving Bali, you will have to pay a departure tax of Rp 150,000 per person at the airport. You pay this in rupees, not US currency. Put this money away and don’t spend it on purchases!
Pro Tip: If you want to avoid lines and baggage claim, use The Bali Concierge airport service for a VIP pickup experience. For USD$50, they will escort you from the arrival gate, take care of all the visa paperwork and pass your bags through immigration, all while you wait at the bar and enjoy snacks.
Travel insurance
Insurance when traveling anywhere is a must. Especially somewhere like Bali, where you’re likely to be doing outdoor activities, riding scooters and surfing. You don’t want to be stuck without insurance. We recommend using a reputable insurance company, such as Zuji, which is backed by Allianz.
drugs
Don’t even try it Indonesia is very strict with drug laws, and even has the death penalty for drug trafficking. There are plainclothes police officers who also patrol the streets looking for vendors and users. Basically, don’t even try, otherwise you’ll end up like Bali 9 or Schapelle Corby.
Credit cards
Bring Them But Be Careful It’s always good to have a credit card with you when you travel, especially for those unexpected expenses. Remember to notify your credit card company that you will be traveling and give them your contact details abroad; otherwise, they may cancel or suspend your card on suspicion of fraud. When using credit cards in Bali, make sure it’s only from credit card machines that look legitimate; beware of devices that ‘skim’ and steal your card information. Avoid places that use the old type manual carbon copy units – any decent place should have an electronic unit. Rule of thumb: If you’re not sure, use cash.
Stay healthy and avoid “Bali Belly”
Indonesia is a developing nation and as such does not have the same level of sanitation and healthcare standards that we expect in developed nations. It is recommended to be vaccinated against Hepatitis A, Typhoid and Flu. It is best to consult your local doctor about vaccinations. Water in Bali is not recommended for drinking, so to avoid the infamous “bali belly,” stick with bottled water. If you want to be extra careful, use your bottled water to brush your teeth too. Avoid ice in drinks at food stalls and small warungs (restaurants). But ice from the convenience store or bar should be fine.
Alcohol and drinks
Alcohol can be quite expensive Aside from the locally brewed Bintang beer (similar to and owned by Heineken) which is refreshingly delicious and very cheap, and the horrible hangover-inducing Arak, most alcohol is very expensive in Bali. This is allegedly due to the ‘moral’ tax imposed by the Indonesian government. E.g. A bottle of Smirnoff Vodka can cost us up to 500,000 rp (about 55 USD). Therefore, it is a popular option to bring your own alcohol duty-free. Indonesian law allows up to 1 liter per person, which is not much. If you choose to bring more and get caught, you’ll have to turn it in or pay a “fine” *ahem* between 20,000 rp and 100,000 rp and get to keep your alcohol.
Move
The best way to get around Bali, if you are not interested in driving/riding your own vehicle, is taxi and car+driver services. Taxis are cheap (ie a metered taxi for a 45-minute ride is less than USD$7), see the bottom of this post for taxi companies. Make sure the taxi is metered and starts at 5,000rp. You can also get car + driver services starting at USD $35 for a full day; it is recommended to tip the driver at the end of the day.
Mobile Phones and Wi-Fi
Your own phone may be able to roam globally on Indonesian networks, but it can be very expensive to make and receive calls. The best thing to do is buy a local prepaid SIM card (such as SimPati or 3) and insert it into your phone; then you will enjoy the low local rates. iPhones and Blackberries work, but you’ll need to get a SIM card that has Internet data. It’s easier to stick with the free wifi available in many cafes and bars.
electricity plugs
In Indonesia they use 220 V, 50 cycles and the plugs are double round prongs of the European variety. Adapters are available at some hotels OR can be bought at Matahari (supermarket) for around Rp 35,000.
Tipping is good karma
Gratuities Sometimes a service charge will be added to the restaurant bill. It is not mandatory, but it is good practice to tip doormen, masseurs, maids, and any other hotel staff during your stay. It doesn’t have to be much, but you’ll make sure you’re taken care of, and the staff would really appreciate it, since you only make the equivalent of a few dollars a day.
Other things
Sunscreen and moisturizer are expensive for some reason in Bali, bring your favorites from home. Condoms in Indonesia are not of the best quality, it would be safer and more prudent to bring some of your own. Imodium (drug for diarrhea) is worth having, you can buy it at any pharmacy (called apotik in Indonesian) in case of the infamous “bali belly”.