Things you NEED to know before going to Bali for the first time
Before you dive into Bali's tropical paradise, let's spill the secrets and share the insider tips that every first time Bali traveler should know. From navigating the bustling streets to immersing yourself in local customs, I've got you covered!
In this blog post, I'll unravel the must-know gems and handy hints that will make your Bali escapade extraordinary. From booking hacks to cultural etiquette, you’ll find it all here!
Things you need to know before traveling to Bali
1.YOUR PASSPORT SHOULD BE IN PERFECT CONDITION IF YOU WANT TO ENTER BALI
I repeat: PERFECT condition!
While Bali welcomes travelers with open arms and warm smiles, they do have some passport standards to uphold and your precious passport is your golden ticket!
It’s an absolute NO GO to have (tiny) tears, stains or even discolorations on your passport. And it WILL be a deal-breaker! Immigration in Bali doesn’t play around and there have been many cases of tourists that were not allowed into the country when arriving at Denpasar airport because of it.
Also make sure your passport is valid for at least 6 more months before expiry date!
2. CHECK THE VISA REQUIREMENTS
Most countries can get a visa for 30 days, however, if you are planning to stay longer then 30 days it means that either you have to get a visa before arrival in Bali, or go through the process of getting a VOA (visa on arrival), that can be once extended. It is important to check which conditions apply to you. I know this can get a bit confusing check out my visa (extension)guide, where I don’t only talk about visa extensions, but also provide basic info on the different visas for Bali that will help you decide which visa will work best for you!
3. SAVE MONEY BY BOOKING YOUR ACCOMMODATION DIRECTLY WITH THE HOTEL
When you cut out the middleman and book directly with the hotel, you'll often find exclusive deals and offers that other booking sites can't match. Say hello to special discounts, complimentary upgrades, and even some sweet little extras thrown in just for you!
Now, don't get me wrong. Online travel agencies like booking.com can be handy in the hunt for great deals, and they offer a wide range of options to choose from. But when it comes to getting the best bang for your buck, going straight to the source - the hotel itself - is a smart move!
4. ROADS ARE NOT PEDESTRIAN FRIENDLY
Most people who live on the island of Bali, or visit Bali choose to rent a motorbike to get where they need to go. Very few people choose to walk. And most streets lack sidewalks. Even more so, the sidewalks are actually very dangerous because most locals use it to pass by cars. If you want to walk anywhere, even short distances, it’s a balancing act of attempting to get off the road enough for cars to pass without tromping through the mud.
5. BALI IS STILL A CASH ISLAND
Plan ahead and make sure to always have some cash on hand to pay drivers, local warungs, street vendors, etc. The more upscale boutiques, restaurants and hotels accept cards, usually adding a 3% credit card fee. Especially when you travel to the neighbouring islands, you’ll need cash as there are only few ATM’s and most of them are kind of shady (see next paragraph)
6. THE ATM’S IN BALI CAN BE SHADY
From Ubud and down to the Bukit Peninsula, ATMs are widely accessible. But in more rural areas and on the Nusa Islands, ATMs are few and far between and often run out of cash.
And watch out for skimming. It can happen anywhere but Bali is known for skimming unfortunately.
What is skimming? ATM skimming is when criminals place a device on the face of an ATM, which appears to be a part of the machine. Often, the thieves will hide a small pinhole camera in the ATM, in order to extract the victim’s pin number. When a card is swiped, the skimmer records the data on the card, and a camera hidden records the PIN. Usually, money is dispensed and the user is none the wiser.
If possible, I would suggest using ATMs attached directly to banks or inside stores. I would be very cautious of machines that are isolated from everything. Be cautious of people hanging around the ATM. Just make sure to check the ATM and cover the keypad with your hand when entering your PIN code. And check your bank account every few days to keep an eye on abnormal withdrawels.
7. THERE IS LACK OF PUBLIC TRANSPORTATION IN BALI
It isn't a secret that public transportation isn't as well developed in Bali as it is in other southeast Asian countries. If you are on a budget, you can take some local buses but to be honest there are better,more comfortable and equally cheap ways to get around in Bali. But if you are looking to discover Bali by public transportation regardless, these are a few options:
The Perama Tourist Shuttle bus: it operates between most of the tourist spots such as Lovina to Ubud and from there on to Sanur and Kuta. They even have routes to the airport.
The Bemo minibuses: they are the cheapest transport available and tend to cost less than US$2 for each hour of traveling. They connect the villages during the day, following a predetermined route. Itineraries are rarely fixed, and schedules are erratic. With a maximum of around ten seats, they generally transport edible goods and sometimes even animals. The downside: it is often tricky to find a bemo, the travel time can be long and you will not get inside if there are no available seats
Kura Kura bus: Kura-Kura is a tourist-class bus service that operates a dozen routes around southern Bali and up to Ubud. You can buy a ticket via the Kura-Kura app, on the company’s website or paying when you hop on.
8. SCOOTERS AND MOTORBIKES ARE THE WAY TO GO IN BALI
No public transportation means arranging your own transport, and renting taxis or tour services can get quite expensive, depending on how much you want to go and see! Scooter and motorbikes, on the other hand, are relatively cheap and depending on the length of duration, location of rental and amount of cc’s you can expect to pay between 3$ and 10$ a day, making it a cheap and affordable mode of transportation. Motorbikes and scooters is how I’ve got around during my trips to Bali, this allowed me to visit as many sights as I liked, and get to the most beautiful spots for sunrise without having to arrange a taxi. But with Bali’s traffic being quite chaotic I wouldn’t recommend this option unless you feel confident and comfortable riding a motorbike here, and if you do, be sure to wear a helmet as this is mandatory in Bali!
9. CHECK THE RESTAURANT MENU FOR THE ADDED TAX AND SERVICE TAX
One thing first time Bali visitors don’t know, is the added tax and service tax when getting a restaurant or cafe bill. This will be charged at almost every ‘Western’ restaurant. On the menu, either at the top or bottom, there is often a small note stating the amount of tax and service tax, which we have seen as high as a total of 20% and as low as 5% or even simply no added tax.
Want to avoid food taxes? Eat at the local warungs. Cheap and delicious!.
10. RESTRICTED INTERNET ACCESS AND UNRELIABLE WIFI IN BALI
There are certain internet access restrictions in Bali. However, the access and restrictions seem to be inconsistent. The only way to get around this, and to be sure you can access everything on the internet freely when connected to wifi is by using a VPN. Not only will the VPN provide you access to restricted websites, but actually also helps to protect you from cybercrime. I use Express VPN to make sure I can always safely browse the web.
Furher on, it’s not a secret that wifi in Bali is slow and unreliable. It will often not work which is annoying if you’re trying to get some work done. Your best shot at stable internet is to go to a co-working space. I’ve listed the best co-working spaces HERE!
11. DOWNLOAD GRAB & GO-JEK
There are two apps in Bali that you can not go without, Grab and Go-Jek.
If you’re not comfortable with the idea of driving, the next best thing is a motorbike taxi! Both apps will allow you to 'order' scooter (and car) rides - hell, you can even order food!-, just like Uber. It's a super good and cheap option for those who are on a budget but don't like driving themselves! In most bigger towns (Canggu, Ubud, Seminyak etc) you will find it easy to catch one of them, only when you go more remote, chances are lower of finding them.
12. MOSQUITOES IN BALI
Bali, in general, does not have any malaria warnings. However, there are still plenty mosquitoes, and there is a chance of getting dengue fever from these mosquitoes, so it is strongly advised to bring and wear repellent to minimize the risk.
13. WHATSAPP IS YOUR BEST FRIEND IN BALI
Let me tell you about the magical wonder that is WhatsApp - the secret sauce to unlocking Bali's adventures with just a tap!
The easiest way to communicateI Bali is whatsapp. You can use it for:
Booking restaurants and hotels
Booking spa’s
Booking a doctor’s appointment
etc…
It’s best to get a local simcard - it will make your life much easier!
