Introduction:

Travelling to a new country can feel like jumping into the deep end blindfolded but it doesn’t have to, here I will cover my Bali travel tips. I’ve done the trial-and-error part for you, so here’s everything I wish I’d known before landing in Indonesia. Consider this your cheat sheet to arriving sane, safe, and ready to explore.

Visa

Visas, the number one thing to sort out. You cannot enter the country without a visa. Apply for your visa at least a week in advance since processing can take a few days. You can also get a Visa on Arrival (VOA) at the airport, but expect longer queues and a bit of chaos.

Choose your option, are you going to stay for 30 days extendable up to 60 days (VOA/B1) or 60 days extendable up to 6 months (C1 Visa).

What to prepare for your visa application:

• Exiting flight/boat 
• Accommodation

Top tip: Book a flexi flight, this way you can change the date of your flight for free or sometimes a small fee instead of losing the whole cost of a flight. Or you can cancel it for free. Booking a flexi flight might cost a little more but will cost you less in comparison to booking a completely new flight. 

If your visa doesn’t come back before you arrive in Indonesia you will have to pay for another visa on arrival, hence why it is important to ensure you apply for your visa with plenty of time. 

Visa extensions can be applied for a maximum of 2 weeks before your visa expires through a visa agency or by applying directly at an immigration office. 

Accommodation:

Book somewhere to stay, even if it is just for 1 night, it’s always great to know you have somewhere to sleep before you arrive in a country. You’ll need an address to write on your visa form anyway, so book at least your first night. 

Some accommodation offer airport pick up, I would highly recommend doing this as it is hectic on arrival.

Insurance:

Why do you need it?

Travel insurance is a no brainer. There are approximately 97,730 motorbike accidents which happen within Indonesia every year, 28,000-43,000 resulting in deaths. The numbers could be even higher as not all accidents are reported.

Don’t take the chances and be smart, keep yourself covered. The cost of your insurance will be loads cheaper compared to if you were in an accident and needed surgery. The number of GoFund me pages for foreigners who haven’t had insurance and ended up in medical unable to afford the costs is insane. Do you want to be part of this? 

The cost of insurance can range from approx. £133 to £400 but sometimes more depending on what add ons you choose. The price also depends on your age, length of travel time, countries you are travelling to. 

What to Check?

Ask yourself the following: 

• What is the main activity you will be doing? 
• Is there something specific you think you need insurance for? 

When you choose a travel insurance check what it covers you for, some will only cover you for a motorbike up to 50cc or some don’t cover it at all. Some will cover you for surfing, others won’t. 

Common Pitfalls

Generally you will have to be in your home country when purchasing insurance but some do allow it if you have already started travelling. Double check this with your insurer. If you have started your travels and purchased insurance after you have left, the chances are if you have an accident you will not be covered. 

Every insurer has its own rules, so always read the fine print before you buy.

Transportation:

To make your journey into Indonesia seamless I would advise to book transport before you arrive, you can do this via booking.com, or your accommodation may offer these services. 

When you land in Bali, brace yourself! The arrival hall is packed with drivers waving signs and shouting prices five times higher than normal. You’ll need a local SIM, eSim or WiFi connection to use the Gojek or Grab (these apps are your cheapest way to get around), so do this while you’re still inside the airport. 

Never accept transport from the roadside as they will also charge you 5x the normal price, and it isn’t always a safe option. Instead choose to use Gojek, Grab or Bluebird taxis, these options keep you safe and charge you fairly. 

If you do choose to get transport from the roadside, know the cost for getting to your destination and haggle to get the best price for you. Or if you have no worries about money go for it! 

Free airport WiFi cuts off right after baggage claim, so book your ride before you lose signal.

Sim Cards

After leaving the airport, get yourself a SIM card. It is generally more expensive purchasing them in the airport. You can get these at stands along the side of the road for 250,000Rp upwards depending on the plan. These can usually only be paid with cash, some places do accept card payment but watch out for added fees. 

Alternatively purchase an eSim online before you leave your country. 

Top Tip: The prices of eSims tend to be a lot higher than local sims.

ATM’s

Certain cards don’t have fees for taking money out, for example using Revolut with the BCA ATM (Blue ATM). There is also BRI which can charge some cards and Commonwealth which I believe a lot of Australians use? Some ATMs don’t accept foreign cards or can charge extra fees. 

Whenever withdrawing money, always choose “Without exchange” at the ATM. ATM exchanges charge more than the charges your card will. 

If you are travelling within the touristy spots ATM’s are in abundance, so I would advise taking out as much as you need for a couple of days to a week. If you are in more remote areas or travelling to other islands I would take a larger amount with you as they are less common. When you take out larger amounts keep some in a safe place and the rest in your usual place. 

Common ATM Scams

Be aware of ATM scams, there are a lot. To keep yourself safe, keep your money in a “vault” or a “safe” within your banking app and withdraw just what you need while at an ATM. You can also check the ATM’s to see if they have been tampered with. If the card slot wiggles like a loose tooth, walk away, don’t use it and move onto another one. ATM’s within a shop are safe and have CCTV but others don’t generally have it so be careful. 

Last Thoughts:

It might sound like a lot to think about, but once you land, it all falls into place. Indonesia has this funny way of welcoming you in, even through the chaos. Plan smart, stay flexible, and I promise you’ll end up loving it just like the rest of us did.

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