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Bali Travel Tips

About Bali

Bali is situated just below the equator and has a tropical climate. There are only 2 seasons. The wet season from November to March. This is the hottest time of the year with temperatures in the range of 30-33C during the day to 24-25C at night. The other season is the dry where temperatures are generally 4-5 degrees cooler.
The mountains are wet year round averaging 110inches of rain per year.

The Balinese use the sun as a clock. Being near the equator guarantees a fairly uniform 12 hours of daylight.

The population is almost entirely Indonesian, 95% of whom are Balinese Hindu.

The average Balinese who deals with tourists is usually conversant with one of the Balinese dialects as well as Bahasa (the official language of Indonesia) and of course English.

Bali has been called the ‘land of a thousand temples’ There are more likely to be 3 times this amount.

Passport and Visas

Visitors to Bali require a passport which is valid for a minimum 6 months. Currently nationals of certain countries are required to purchase a visa for $US25 to enter the country.

Vaccinations

Vaccinations are generally regarded as not necessary. The water is not particularly safe for drinking. Bottled water is recommended and is widely available.

Currency

The unit of currency in Bali is the rupiah. Cash and travelers cheques are very easy to exchange in the major centres. Money changers are very competitive, but be warned to check your transaction as some operators can leave you short changed.

Telecommunications

The telecommunications system has improved vastly in recent years. Telephone offices (wartels) are easily found. Local. long distance and international calls can be made from these offices. Internet cafes are in abundance. Mobile phone coverage is good and SMS is cheap.

Taxis

Taxis are plentiful. You can generally negotiate a price, but it is usually simpler to ask for the meter to be turned on.

Restaurants

There is a multitude of restaurants specializing in many cuisines. Indonesian food is common and available all across the island. If there is a particular type of food you enjoy, you are sure to find here in Bali. Each month we review particular restaurants and post our comments on our news page.

Beer drinkers will feel right at home in Bali. The local Bintang beer is extremely popular and cheap!!

Balinese fruit is a real treat. The variety and quality is extraordinary. It is plentiful and quite cheap. Some local varieties to try include Rambutan, Mangosteen, Salak, Nanga and Durian (smells bad, tastes wonderful).

Shopping

Shopping here is just fantastic. From large department stores like Matahari and Ramayana, Gucci and Chanel stores, right through to the hundreds of street stalls, markets and specialty shops. There is no escaping it. It is literally a shopper’s paradise.

What to Bring

Some useful things to take with you. Either bring them from home or purchase them from one of the supermarket or warungs found all over the island.

Small pack of baby wipes. Just brilliant for cleaning your hands when no soap and water is available. Also handy for giving the cutlery a quick clean when dining at some of the more out of the way places. Handy for small cuts and scratches.

Purse size pack of tissues, very handy in a variety of situations, including bathroom visits where paper goods are not always available.

Plastic ice cube tray to put in the freezer and make your own ice from bottled water. Trays usually found in hotel rooms are tiny and not suitable.

Cotton shopping bags , it is sad to see what an environmental problem plastic bags are all over the world. Rather than having every purchase put into yet another plastic bag, take a lightweight fabric bag with you. Make sure the handles are long enough to fit over your shoulder and the bag can roll up small enough to fit into a handbag or back pack when not in use.

Small calculator very handy when changing money or converting the cost from rupiah to your own currency.

Alarm Clock if you have an early morning flight, it is not always wise to totally rely on a wake up call from hotel reception.

Magazines and books great to swap with other travelers when you have finished reading.

A list of family and friends shoe and clothing sizes – sometimes you see the perfect birthday or Christmas present for someone at home but do not know their size. For children it is a good idea to take a tracing of the child’s foot on a piece of paper to be sure the size is right.