The island of Bali is unpredictable and dynamic, and its beauty attracts hundreds of thousands of travelers every year. Warm sea, magnificent beaches, ancient temples, untouched jungles and friendly people – how can you not fall in love with it at first sight! However, Indonesia is not only about landscapes and resorts, but also about culture, traditions, customs and laws, which are often incomprehensible to foreigners. Ignorance and violation of them can lead to big troubles. The travel tips we have collected in this article will be useful to anyone planning to visit Bali. The 10-15 minutes you spend studying this information will help not only avoid problems, but also save money.
Plan your trip according to the seasons
You need to plan your trip to Bali taking into account the natural seasons. There are two of them in the region – dry and rainy. The first is considered high and lasts from May to October. This is an excellent period for a beach holiday, but the cost of accommodation and other services increases. It may also be too hot for long walks. The rainy season begins in November and lasts until April. You can swim, sunbathe and go on excursions at this time, but you should prepare for the fact that it could start raining at any moment. But in the low season there are much fewer tourists and prices fall. Therefore, if your budget is limited, you can plan a vacation for this time.
Tropical rain © Dudarev Mikhail / Shutterstock
Decide where is the best place to live
You need to choose your place of residence in Bali according to your interests. For example, if you are not a fan of parties and prefer a relaxing beach holiday, there is nothing for you to do in Seminyak or Kuta. Those who dream of a luxury vacation are welcome in Nusa Dua. If you want to live near the ocean, you shouldn’t live in Ubud. Lovers of yoga, esotericism and traditional culture prefer to come here. Surfers should look for accommodation in Canggu or Uluwatu, and tourists with children should look for accommodation in Sanur or Jimbaran.
Be careful when choosing a hotel
When choosing a hotel, check its location on the map, because the name does not always correspond to reality. For example, the Kuta Hotel may not be located in Kuta at all. And hotels “near the coastline” are often located far from the beach due to the lack of an access road.
Get taxi drivers’ phone number
If you come across a decent taxi driver who drives carefully and doesn’t overcharge, be sure to get his phone number. And do this on every trip to Bali. Then you will have contacts of drivers who will not only arrive in any part of the island at the right time, but will also give a discount as a regular customer.
Be prepared for terrible roads and chaotic traffic
There are many potholes and potholes on Balinese roads. Due to the difficult terrain, direct paths are very rare here. Therefore, you can forget about speed, especially when traveling deep into the island. In the best case, the speedometer will show 30-40 km/h. It is also worth considering that at any moment a dog or chicken can throw itself under the wheels. In Bali, traffic is on the left, but there are no rules in the usual sense for a European person. In his village, every resident drives as he pleases.
Buy a local SIM card
It is better to immediately purchase a SIM card at one of the mobile phone stores or directly at the airport. It will cost about 3 dollars. When purchasing, ask to connect to a mobile Internet package. Most hotels and many restaurants offer free Wi-Fi.
Don’t provoke thieves
Is it safe to travel to Bali? Yes, if you yourself do not provoke thieves and scammers. When riding a bike, do not hang your bag over one shoulder – it can be torn off while moving. During stops, everything valuable, including keys, should be taken with you, and not hidden under the seat. Local thieves have long learned to open mopeds and steal them. When walking down the street, you should not hold your phone in your hand – it can be snatched.
Always take cash with you
In large hotels, as well as most restaurants and shops in popular resorts, you can pay with Visa and Mastercard. Please note that when using them, a commission of 2-4% is charged. But the further away you are from tourist spots, the more difficult it is to pay with a credit card. In remote areas such as Lembongan, it may be difficult to find a working ATM. Therefore, it is imperative to have cash. But it’s still better not to carry large sums with you, but to leave them in the hotel safe.
Change currency in official exchangers
Change money, especially large amounts, only in official exchangers, for example, in BMC Money Changer. And always count your cash without leaving the cash register. You can change it in hotels, but the exchange rate there is unfavorable. American and Australian dollars, as well as euros, are accepted for exchange everywhere.
Use ATMs carefully
Skimming is common in Bali – reading bank card data using special devices. Therefore, it is recommended to use only those ATMs that are located in shops or banks and are under surveillance. Before inserting a credit card, it is better to check for the presence of overlays on the keyboard and card slot, as well as mini-cameras for reading the code. Always cover the numbers with your hand when entering your PIN. It is better to keep the bulk of the money in a separate account, and transfer small amounts to the card if necessary.
Get off the beaten path
Bali is not only about the Monkey Forest in Ubud, the Uluwatu Temple and the Tegallalang Rice Terraces. Undoubtedly, these places are worth seeing. But you don’t need to limit yourself only to famous routes and attractions. Bali has many hidden corners that have not yet been overrun by crowds of tourists. For example, the deserted beaches of Amed, the World Heritage area of Pakerisan, water temples. Most tourists go to the southern part of the island, but experienced travelers advise heading north. Here you can see the true beauty of Bali – green hills, deserted roads, endless rice fields, traditional villages, waterfalls and lakes.
Don’t avoid local cafes
In local eateries – warungs, you can try traditional Indonesian cuisine, not adapted for Europeans. Here you will be served excellent nasi goreng fried rice, mi goreng noodles, curry, martabak pancakes and many other national dishes. A hearty lunch in a warung will cost only a couple of dollars per person. Hygiene standards in Bali have improved markedly in recent years, so you can safely order fruit salads, meat dishes and iced drinks in cafes and restaurants. Many organic, raw food, vegetarian and even vegan restaurants have opened in the tourist areas of Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.
Dress appropriately
Many travelers believe that there is no dress code in Bali. Actually this is not true. You can wear a swimsuit only on the beach. In shops, cafes, restaurants and many hotels, locals will not be happy to see tourists in beachwear or topless. Women are not recommended to wear too revealing dresses, short shorts and skirts, or tops with a deep neckline. For long excursions or trips around the island, it is better to choose clothes made from natural fabrics and comfortable shoes.
