Bali can be a bit confronting sometimes so I have written some things that may help you navigate any doubts you may have.

Visit the About Bali page for more information on Bali Culture, Shopping and Things to Do in Bali.

My first tip is that TRAVEL INSURANCE IS ESSENTIAL.

Visas

The first thing is that on arrival in Bali, there is an immigration visa you must obtain. The booths are right in front of you as you enter the arrival area. It will cost you about $AU25.00 for a visa to enter Bali for 30 nights or less.

If you want to spend more than 30 nights in Bali, you will need to get a 60 night visa before you travel. You can apply through the Indonesian Embassy in your home country. Allow at least a couple of weeks for this 60 night or less visa. Further info on this is obtainable from the Indonesian Embassy website.

Airport Porters

When you have passed though Immigration and are retrieving your luggage, be aware that if you can manage your own luggage, you will need to make it very clear to the sometimes fairly aggressive porters, that you do not require any help from them. They usually just start to grab your luggage while you are wondering what they are doing! If you end up using one you may find yourself paying a hefty tip!! There are trolley’s available.

Money Exchangers

Between picking up your luggage and walking out to arrivals you will encounter many money exchangers’. They usually all offer the same exchange rate but not as good as you will find elsewhere. You may however wish to use them to exchange a small amount of money to cover tips, drinks etc for your first day or so.[/spoiler] [spoiler title=”Villa Transfers” open=”0″ style=”2″]You will then sometimes, depending on the amount of flights arriving, walk out to a very hectic, very hot environment with lots of people waving signs with names of people or hotels. Most of the villas I have advertised have free airport pickup, so you will have to look for your name amongst the crowd. If the villa doesn’t provide transfers please feel free to ask me to arrange a driver to pick you up or else turn left when you get past the crowds and there are small booths where you can organise a taxi for a fair price and not be ripped off by the many Taxi drivers that are around the arrivals area.

Drivers

Most of the villas that are not in Seminyak are out of the way, which is great because they are nice and quiet. Most of them will have a small shop near you, but my suggestion is to get me to book you a driver for your first morning or day. He will drive you around to acclimatise you to the area and take you shopping to Carrefour Supermarket, where you can buy any supplies you may require.

Driving cars and motorbikes

If you think you might like to drive yourself around, you will need to get an International Drivers Licence before coming to Bali. This covers cars, scooter and motorbikes. The Balinese police are onto it and if you do not have this Licence you will find yourself paying a bribe. The amount will depend on how much the Police see in your wallet. The Police love to pick up tourists on scooters. It is a well known fact that the Balinese Police are very corrupt, so if you are intending to do any sort of driving I suggest you ensure that the driver has a International Licence and you divide your money in to 2 lots: going out money that is hidden from view and your ‘bribe money’, [not too much though] in your visual wallet/pocket!!

I used to have a driver and use taxis, then I thought it would be easier to drive myself, so hired a car. I also bought a Garmin GPS and got Indonesian maps put onto it, but the traffic is so crazy, queues everywhere, so I rented a ‘matic’ scooter and love it. I would never ride one at home but here where there are no rules I love it. A couple of suggestions though, please don’t speed I used to and ended up with someone pulling out in front of me and getting a fractured pelvis (that road is very hard), when turning into traffic. Don’t hesitate and try and sit beside a car or bikes that’s turning too, it will protect you and watch out for traffic pulling in front of you as everyone thinks they have the right of way.

Unbelievably, there is no road rage, except with the frustrated tourists!! Scooters are a quick way to get around as you can duck and weave around all the waiting traffic. Just follow what the Balinese are doing and have some fun, but please do keep an eye on everything around you. They come from nowhere and as I said there are NO traffic rules.

One more thing to think about, Indonesians don’t have to sit a driver’s test; they just buy their licences, so obviously they have not been taught any road rules or had any driving lessons!

Hire Rates:

• To hire a car and driver for the day expect to pay between $AU50-60, (500,000-600,000 Rupiah)
• To rent a car – there’s not many cars – they are usually people movers which can fit 5-7 people in them, depending on the length of time and your bargaining skills between $AU15-20 (150,000- 200,000 rupiah) per day, and
• To rent a ‘matic’ scooter cost around $AU4-6 (40,000-50,000 Rupiah) per day, don’t pay more than 50,000 Rupiah, as I said the longer you have it the cheaper it will be. You can also hire more powerful bikes but not sure of their prices, but whatever you hire always try for a better price than first offered.

ATMs

As far as money goes the Commonwealth Bank is the only International Bank that I know of, where you can get money out of an ATM.

Currency Exchange

I find the easiest way is to just bring cash from your own country; there are hundreds of money changers that have their rate on a board outside their shop. Another hint is make sure their board says NO COMMISSION charged, because if it doesn’t the rate may look good, but they will keep a lot for commission, always count your money when you receive it and before you leave the shop. They have got a lot better, but there are still some shonky ones around!! . It is also worth bearing in mind that although it may seem a big difference between the exchangers it is often only a matter of a few cents.

When shopping, I use a small pad to write down different amounts up to $100 and then larger amounts (especially handy if you want to make large purchases) with their Rupiah equivalent. You can get very flustered if told an amount by the shop keeper that sounds so much, but once you can see what it is in your own currency it always seems a lot cheaper. For me this makes shopping and bargaining a much easier process.

Tipping

When dining at a restaurant or drinking at a bar, please remember to leave a tip because what you give them in tips is for them personally. Their pay for the week is most likely only $25.00.

Bargaining

Shopping is great fun if you like to haggle, the Balinese love it but it can be a bit intimidating. I always have written down in my home country dollar the $ equivalent to Rupiah, so when they say eg: 1 million rupiah or whatever you have an idea of the $ value and the bargaining start price. When haggling, I suggest you offer 1/3 less than the price they are asking and take it from there. When you like the price that is offered, agree to it and go through with the deal, if not walk away and if the shop assistant calls you back you know you have got it for probably the best price. Remember though if you both agree on a price then you should go through with the deal as the intention is not to upset or offend anyone.

If you don’t like to bargain, but love to shop, head to Seminyak where the shops are set price and usually a much better quality and variety.

You can find more tips on Shopping on the About Bali page on My Favourite Places page.

As I said your villa staff will be honest people, but I would advise not leaving money or valuables lying around your villa. As you would appreciate sometimes things may seem a bit too tempting!!

If you like to go out at night to the many nightclubs and pubs, please be aware of a few things. There are definitely a lot of shady characters around. It is probably wise to leave your wallet locked in the safe at your villa and just take cash; many guys have had their wallets and phones lifted from their back or side pocket. Drink spiking is a major issue for all ages and sexes, please take extreme care. You will be offered drugs; please decline, it may be a scam, as many of these guys work with the police and you WILL end up in prison, which is definitely not a place you would ever want to be in!! [/spoiler] [spoiler title=”Bali Magazines & Newspapers” open=”0″ style=”2″]There is an excellent little magazine called “The Beat” which comes out fortnightly and it tells you what bands, DJs, or anything else of interest happening at night time around the island.

Another great fortnightly read are the free ‘Bali Advertiser’, and the new ‘Bali Expat’ newspapers for the ex-pats, but they are a great read, interesting articles, reviewing restaurants, villas to buy or rent, lots of advertising and many other things you may find interesting.