Bali Travel Tips: 27 Practical Tips for First Timers

Visiting any South East Asian country for the first time can be daunting. Bali is no exception.

But you've come to the right place. Between us, Emily and I have more than two years of experience travelling around Bali. We've visited every area, tried most activities, and made many classic tourist mistakes along the way.

In this guide, we've compiled our top Bali travel tips that we wish we'd known before. We'll cover everything from tipping and ATMs to avoiding scams and getting around safely.

Tips Before You Travel

1. Sort your documents in advance to avoid airport queues

The 3 most important things you'll need to complete to advance through the airport are your visa, customs form, and tourist tax. All of these can be completed before you arrive to save time at the airport.

Visa:

Most tourists will enter Bali using a Visa on Arrival (VOA). You can purchase this visa at the airport using cash or card payment. But you can also get an e-VOA via the official website (don't use third parties).

Both the VOA and e-VOA allow you to stay in Indonesia for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days, giving a total of 60 days.

Customs Declaration:

You must also fill out the electronic customs declaration to show at customs as you leave the airport. Find the form on the official website here, then screenshot the QR code to show to the officers.

Tourist Tax:

You can also pre-pay the new Bali Tourist Tax in advance via the Love Bali website instead of doing it at the airport. This is a compulsory tax.

Unfortunately, the government systems aren't particularly easy to navigate, so we put together a full guide to walk you through them and any issues you might encounter.

2. Make sure you have an onward ticket

Having an onward ticket is a compulsory requirement for entering Bali. In the past, this used to be a "flexible" requirement, but they're starting to crack down on it a lot more lately. You could be asked for it:

• When checking in at the airport before boarding your flight to Bali. A few airlines have asked us to show proof of onward travel at this point.
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• When applying for your E-VOA. The online application form now asks you to upload proof of your onward journey (aka your flight booking confirmation).
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• At immigration when you arrive in Bali. We've never been asked for these documents here, although we do know people who have. It’s best to play it safe and book an outbound flight.

3. Save $$$ by bringing sunscreen and bug spray with you

Sunscreen and mosquito repellant are two of the most essential items for all tourists in Bali. Yet they're also two of the most expensive things to buy on the island.

While it's tempting to use the room in your bag for extra clothes and buy toiletries when you arrive, Bali is not the best place to do this.

Good sunscreen is 2-3x more expensive than in many other countries (like the UK), while the cheap mosquito repellant here is surprisingly weak (in our experience).

Even if you're travelling with hand luggage only, grab a few 100ml miniatures at the airport and bring them with you. You can spend the money you save on a couple of nice meals or an extra activity instead.

4. Choose carefully when deciding which area to stay in

Bali isn't as small as many first-time visitors think. And where you stay in Bali can make a BIG difference to your trip. Some areas are lively and chaotic, whereas others are peaceful and rural.

Here are some of the more popular spots for tourists:

To learn more about these areas (and some of the quieter spots), see our full guide about where to stay in Bali.

If your itinerary allows, we'd recommend moving around to a few different areas during your visit.

5. Consider homestays for an affordable place to stay

Bali has a huge range of different accommodation choices. The obvious pick is to stay in a hotel, with options ranging from budget guesthouses to luxury all-inclusive resorts.

But if you’re on a budget, don’t overlook staying in a homestay. These are small family-run guesthouses that are common all over the island.

At a homestay, you'll stay in a private room in a separate area allocated for guests, usually away from the main family living area. There's often a communal kitchen area and sometimes even a pool for guests to share.

Many first-time tourists confuse homestays with those in other countries where you stay with a family in their home. This is not the case. Homestays in Bali are simply a form of affordable private accommodation.

We pretty much always stay in homestays in Bali, especially when we're staying for longer periods.

6. Don’t book accommodation without any reviews

There are very few scams in Bali. However, a friend of ours once booked an Airbnb with no reviews, only to find that it didn’t exist when he arrived.

Of course, Airbnb refunded his money, so he wasn’t out of pocket. But booking another place at short notice is inconvenient and expensive.

Make sure you only book places that have at least a handful of genuine reviews. If a villa is new to a booking platform, see if they have reviews on other booking platforms or Google.

7. Consider Nyepi, the Balinese "day of silence," when making travel plans

Nyepi is the annual Balinese "Day of Silence" which falls on the Saka New Year, usually at some point during March each year.

On this day, Balinese people observe a day of silence, fasting, and meditation. Everyone stays inside their homes, lights are kept low, and electricity is off.

Despite being a Hindu day, the rules of Nyepi also apply to all non-Hindus and tourists on the island. This means that all bars, restaurants, and tourist attractions are closed. Even the airport is closed, with flights grounded for 24 hours.

As a tourist, you are free to use the facilities inside your resort or hotel during Nyepi. But you won't allowed outside onto the beaches or streets all day. And you'll be kindly asked to keep noise to a minimum.

It can also be difficult to plan things on the days around Nyepi as many locals take these days off. The Melasti Ceremony and Ogoh Ogoh parades take place in the run-up to Nypei, while many people visit family the day after.

The Nyepi festivities are incredible to observe, with its amazing parades and celebrations. It's a great time to visit Bali to experience authentic local culture.

But if you only have a short trip planned, you could easily lose a day or two of your itinerary to Nyepi. We would recommend avoiding those few days if you have limited vacation time.

8. Try to visit during dry season

The best time to visit Bali is during the dry season, which typically falls between April and October. This is when the weather will be hot, but not too humid, and there’s a lower chance of rain and storms.

However, don't totally discount visiting during the wet season (November to March). We regularly visit Bali during this time as there are fewer tourists and cheaper prices.

Just be prepared to plan your days around spontaneous rain showers and carry a rain jacket with you at all times.

9. Get an E-sim and activate it before you arrive

Emily and I always use eSIMs so that we can activate them before we land and have immediate internet access when arriving in Bali. This is useful for booking online taxis from the airport.

We use Airalo for our eSIMs which is very easy if your phone accepts them. It’s slightly more expensive than buying a physical SIM once you arrive, but we prefer the convenience.

If your phone doesn’t accept eSIMs, avoid buying your SIM card at the airport since the prices are inflated.

Instead, you can go to a phone shop in Bali (look for Telkomsel as these have the best coverage). Or you can order a SIM card online via Klook to be delivered to your hotel ready for your arrival.

Tips For Getting Around Bali

10. When ordering a taxi, use Grab or Gojek

Public transport in Bali is limited. So if you don’t plan on hiring your own vehicle, the best way to get around is by taxi. Taxis in Bali are cheap, accessible, and convenient.

However, if you flag down a taxi on the roadside, you’ll need to negotiate with the driver. Most taxis don't work on meters and drivers will up their prices when they see a fresh-faced tourist. You could easily overpay if you don’t know the going rate. We’ve seen people paying 10x the price.

To avoid paying too much, we recommend using ride-hailing apps (aka online taxis) such as Grab (Apple | Android) or Gojek (Apple | Android).

When ordering an online taxi, you can choose between a scooter taxi or a car taxi. Scooter taxis are generally cheaper and quicker, but cars are better for longer journeys, when you have luggage, or when it's raining.

11. BUT be aware of no-gojek zones

While we always prefer using online taxis where we can, it's crucial to note that these services aren't available everywhere on the island.

There are certain areas where the local taxi drivers (aka the ‘taxi mafia’) will prevent online taxis from picking people up (they can usually still drop off). The aim is to encourage tourists to use their services instead, which will undoubtedly be much more expensive than the online rate.

A few examples of "no-gojek zones" that we're aware of include Echo Beach in Canggu (near La Brisa Beach Club), Padangbai Harbour (where you get the boat to the Gili Islands), and a few of the beaches in Uluwatu.

If you're visiting one of these spots, you may have to walk a little further away from the main area to order an online taxi. Or you can pre-arrange a private driver to pick you up ahead of time.

12. Hire a private driver for days out

While taxis are great for simple A-to-B journeys, if you're planning a day trip with multiple destinations, hiring a private driver is better.

Private drivers are affordable and very knowledgeable about the island. They usually speak great English and will take care of all the planning for you. Just give them a list of the places you want to visit or ask for their recommendations.

You can find a private driver through your accommodation, recommendations from friends, or by using this booking form.

13. Make sure you have an International Drivers Permit if you plan to drive

We'd advise against hiring a car as the roads are very difficult. But if you plan to hire a bike/scooter, make sure you have an International Drivers Permit (IDP).

Surprisingly, most rental companies won't ask for your international license when you rent a bike in Bali. But the police might. So make sure to keep your license on you or in your bike seat at all times.

Getting pulled over by the police isn't common, but it can happen. It's happened to us once and to many of our friends at some point. And if you don't have your IDP on you when they pull you over, you will end up with a fine. If you aren't riding legally, it will invalidate your insurance.

The only way to get an official IDP is from your home country before you travel. We explain how to get one here.

14. Get some experience before riding a scooter or bike

We’ve driven scooters all over Asia, but the roads in Bali are among the most chaotic we've ever experienced.

The traffic in busy areas such as Canggu and Seminyak is extremely stressful, while unpaved roads in more rural parts of the island can prove quite a challenge.

Bali is not a good place to drive a scooter for the first time, so it's best to get some experience before you arrive.

If you don't have experience, you can take scooter lessons when you first arrive in Bali. Two companies offering this are Canggu Scooter Lessons (Emily used them) and Bali Motorbike Lessons. Both offer lessons across most of the island.

In a scooter lesson, you’ll start by getting used to the bike and practising driving and manoeuvres in an empty car park, before finally progressing onto the roads. Lessons usually last 2 hours and the company recommends having 2-3 lessons.

Money Tips

15. Card payments are widely accepted, but keep some cash on you

Card payments are widely accepted in many hotels, cafes, shops, and restaurants across Bali. We tend to keep a small balance on our cards that we use day-to-day in Bali in case of fraud or card-skimming. This is good practice when visiting any foreign country.

You'll still need to carry some cash too. Typically, you’ll need small cash for things like fuel, parking, eating at warungs (local Indonesian restaurants), and entrance to some tourist attractions such as temples and waterfalls.

You can withdraw cash at an ATM (more on this below) or take your home currency to exchange at a money changer.

16. When using ATMs, try to use a reputable bank

There's no need to get cash out before you arrive in Bali. There are plenty of ATMs at the airport and all across the island. Many do not charge a fee for international withdrawals using Visa or Mastercard.

However, try to use a reputable bank and only use ATMs that look legit. We’ve had friends who have used dodgy ATMs and had their cards swallowed.

We always look for ATMs from reputable banks such as Mandiri, BNI, HSBC, Maybank, and Commonwealth. Ideally, you would use ATMs attached to a physical bank with a security guard, but this isn't always possible so use your best judgment.

17. Tipping is appreciated, but not expected

While it's not essential to tip in Bali, tipping is a nice thing to do when you receive great service. We’ll often leave a tip when we’ve had a really good tour guide or when the food and service at a restaurant were exceptional.

There is no specific amount to tip, but adding 10% or rounding up is always a good place to start.

18. Don’t be afraid to negotiate at markets

When shopping in markets or at roadside vendors, don’t be afraid to negotiate for a better price.

Generally speaking, if something doesn’t have a price tag, it means the seller is going to try and charge you as much as possible for the item. So, it’s up for negotiation.

In our experience, the starting price will be more than double what they are willing to accept, sometimes even higher. I will usually make a counteroffer around 40% of the starting price and work from there.

If you don’t feel like you’re getting a fair price, simply start to walk away and they will usually drop the price pretty quickly.

General Bali Travel Tips

19. The tap water is NOT safe to drink

Tap water in Bali isn’t safe to drink.

If it’s your first time visiting, it’s best to avoid brushing your teeth with tap water too until you're a little more adjusted to the bacteria.

Many hotels and guesthouses will provide you with drinking water or have a water refill station. Bottled water is also widely available and cheap to purchase in local shops.

20. But you CAN have ice in your drinks

Given that tap water is unsafe to drink, we're always seeing ‘Bali travel tips’ online that recommend avoiding ice in your drinks too. But this is a myth.

There’s actually a law in Bali that hotels, restaurants, cafes, and other vendors must use commercial ice cubes made from purified drinking water.

You can tell if the ice is commercial as it will usually have holes through the larger ice cubes. During our entire time in Bali, we’ve always had ice in our drinks and we've never had a problem.

21. There’s a good chance that you’ll get Bali Belly so be prepared

Bali Belly is the colloquial name given to Travellers Diarreaha in Bali.

It comes from consuming food or drink contaminated with bacteria, viruses, or parasites that our stomachs don’t like or aren’t used to.

Despite your best efforts, Bally Belly is somewhat of a rite of passage when visiting Bali. One study found that around 60% of people said they experienced symptoms during their visit. However, it’s rarely serious and tends to pass within a day or two.

There are ways you can reduce your chances of getting Bali Belly, such as avoiding drinking tap water and being careful about where you eat. You can also take probiotics before you travel to build up your gut strength.

While international restaurants tend to have higher food hygiene standards, don't let the risk of Bali Belly put you off trying the warungs (local Indonesian restaurants) where you'll find delicious and affordable Indonesian cuisine. Use your judgment and read restaurant reviews first - more tips here.

22. Avoid getting too close to bats, monkeys, and unfamiliar dogs

Rabies is very rare in Bali. But it's not totally unheard of.

The best way to lower your risk of rabies is by avoiding contact with the animals that may carry it. In Bali, the most common carriers are dogs, bats, and monkeys.

The greatest risk is dogs as they are everywhere in Bali. The urge to play with them can be very strong - Emily knows this all too well!

But use common sense when coming in contact with street dogs or unfamiliar pets. Sometimes they might seem friendly, but only pet them if you know they have been vaccinated against rabies by their owner.

23. Pack appropriately for a hot climate

Bali has a hot tropical climate all year round, so we’d recommend bringing lightweight, breathable fabrics. Think island vibes; shorts, t-shirts, vests, dresses, swimwear, etc.

It usually stays hot well into the evening, so most bars, restaurants, and clubs don’t mind casual wear, such as shorts and tees. We have never had a problem, but it’s best to double-check the dress code for more upmarket venues.

Some high-end bars and clubs in Seminyak and Uluwatu don’t allow flip-flops in the evening. But you’ll be fine everywhere else.

If you plan to visit mountainous areas, such as Kintamani, Munduk, or Bedugul, you’ll want to pack some light layers as it can get a little chilly in the evenings. And definitely don't forget a light raincoat if you're visiting during wet season.

24. Dress respectfully - cover up when visiting temples

Bali is a majority Hindu island, so the locals dress fairly modestly. However, they are very accepting towards tourists so there is no strict ‘dress code’. Just be respectful.

Only wear swimwear when you’re at the beach or a beach/pool club. Don't be that person walking into a supermarket or getting on the back of a bike taxi just in a skimpy bikini.

If you’re going to small rural villages or visiting temples, you should make sure your knees and shoulders are covered. Many temples and holy sites provide free sarongs for guests to wear.

Safety Tips

25. Beware of snatch-and-grab

Bali is a very safe destination and violent crime is almost unheard of. But like many popular tourist destinations, the main thing to be cautious of is petty theft, especially pickpockets and snatch-and-grab crimes.

The latter is where someone drives past you on a scooter or motorbike and grabs your bag or phone before speeding off. This is rare but it has happened to someone we know!

Stay vigilant and keep your valuables hidden out of sight when not in use. This applies if you are walking along the road or driving a scooter yourself.

26. Never pay upfront for tours or drivers

As a traveller, you’ll want to be cautious about sending money to unfamiliar businesses overseas.

If a driver is blocking out a whole day (or multiple days) in their calendar, it’s only fair that they want some kind of guarantee against last-minute cancellations. However, we'd advise against paying the full amount until after the trip.

If you are booking directly with a driver, a fair compromise is to pay a small deposit. Ensure you check their reviews on Trip Advisor or Google first and only ever agree to a proportion of the total amount (usually 20-30%).

However, we tend to recommend using a third party such as Klook to book your driver. They'll keep the payment and won't release it to the driver until the service has been delivered as promised.

27. Know that there are volcanos and earthquakes in Bali

Bali is located within the Pacific Ring of Fire, a tectonic belt characterised by active volcanoes and frequent earthquakes. Fortunately, it’s been a long time since any serious natural disasters have struck Bali and you shouldn’t let the low risk deter you from visiting.

The island does sometimes experience minor earthquakes. During our 2 years in Bali, Emily and I have experienced around 4 small quakes that could be felt, although these were very light and caused no damage.

Major earthquakes are less common but not unheard of. The last major earthquake in Bali was in 2017, with a magnitude of 6.0. This earthquake caused some damage but no fatalities. If you experience an earthquake, the general advice is to drop, cover, and hold until the shaking stops.

There are also occasional minor eruptions of Bali's two active volcanos, Mount Batur and Mount Agung. When these eruptions occur, the volcanos are closed to hikers and local villages may be evacuated. The main disruption to tourists could be flight cancellations due to ash clouds in the sky.