Should you’re Bali-bound, you in all probability know that there’s a LOT to see and do on this province of Indonesia. Supporting a lot of the province’s earnings is its enchantment to vacationers because it’s an excellent spot for vacationers looking for nature, tradition, and journey.
It’s tough to not get over-excited with the pure sights you’ll discover throughout its map. A lot in order that typically we are likely to overlook the opposite facets of a visit that would lead us to creating unhealthy choices.
This text offers you a rundown of errors you need to keep away from when touring to Bali.
1. Don’t assume Bali is a small island.
I made my first mistake even earlier than I arrived within the island. For some motive, I assumed that Bali is simply as small as Phuket or Santorini or Singapore. My mates, Bali is a hell of loads greater than that. It’s enormous! It’s eight instances greater than Singapore, 10 instances greater than Phuket, 64 instances greater than Santorini, 500+ instances bigger than Boracay! (Nevertheless it’s extra akin to your entire Cebu or Leyte Island.)
Hold that in thoughts when constructing your itinerary. Don’t schedule your actions instantly after one other in the event that they’re in numerous elements of the island. For instance, getting from Kuta to Ubud doesn’t take just some minutes. It takes a few hours. And people faraway temples like Lempuyang or Ulun Danu, for much longer. Relying in your itinerary and what you’re in Bali for to start with, you must decide essentially the most ideally suited space to remain so that you received’t waste an excessive amount of time on the highway. Talking of the most effective space to remain…
2. Don’t decide the incorrect space to remain.
The Kuta-Seminyak space appears to be the busiest and the epicenter of many of the motion within the island. It in all probability has the best focus of lodging and eating institutions. However is it the most effective space? Properly, not likely. The perfect place to remain is determined by why you’re in Bali within the first place.
Should you’re after a calming time, you’re not gonna discover it in Kuta. It’s not even essentially the most central location. That distinction belongs to Ubud, which is on the geographic heart of the island. From Ubud, it’s simpler to see the temples, terraces, and waterfalls of the north and the east. And whereas town heart will get busy too, it’s nonetheless a lot much less chaotic than Kuta and Seminyak. Lots of the scenic leases you see on Instagram are located round Ubud. However notice that there’s no seaside right here.
For that, perhaps Uluwatu and Nusa Dua are value contemplating. Most properties listed here are fairly upscale, however they provide a quieter, extra romantic seaside expertise.
If you’re staying in Bali long run, take a look at the rental properties in Canggu (Changgu). This can be a favourite amongst digital nomads as a result of it’s extra inexpensive right here.
Should you’re a foodie, nonetheless, Denpasar appears to be an important base since you might have an important collection of not solely Balinese fare, but additionally different Indonesian and different Southeast Asian cuisines.
Whereas we’ve got a separate article going deep into the greatest technique for selecting your Bali lodging, we’ve additionally rounded up a few of the greatest locations to remain beneath in your quick access.
High Inns in Ubud
High Inns in Kuta
High Inns in Seminyak
Seek for extra Bali Inns Right here!
Once more, the most effective place to remain in Bali largely is determined by your motive for visiting. Should you resolve to remain within the Kuta/Seminyak space, there’s one other factor you shouldn’t underestimate: the site visitors.
3. Don’t underestimate the site visitors.
Bali welcomes tens of millions and tens of millions of holiday makers per yr. In truth, in 2024, it has recorded virtually 6.4 million international vacationer arrivals, the best recorded prior to now decade. And an important fraction of them selected to remain in and round Kuta and Seminyak, and most of them don’t use public transportation, which isn’t as dependable as one might hope.
Most vacationers choose a non-public tour by automotive or reserving Seize or Gojek to get from one place to a different. It’s no surprise site visitors buildup is a continuing incidence right here. So when you’ve got a tour, a present, or a flight to catch, it’s at all times greatest to have loads of lead time.
Visitors isn’t as unhealthy in different areas, although. However I additionally observed site visitors jams in Ubud’s metropolis heart, too!
4. Don’t fall for taxi and motorcycle scams.
Overpricing taxis are rampant in Bali. In truth, we’ve got been advised by the locals we met to not hail a cab, however use Seize or GoJek as a substitute. And if we should, solely trip BlueBird, the one respected taxi firm on the island. If coming from the airport, you might also pre-arrange a pickup service on-line.
Should you choose touring by motorcycle, watch out for scams, too. I don’t lease bikes overseas so this isn’t one thing I’m involved about. However I had been warned about rental outlets that might cost you for pre-existing damages on the bike. Police scams are mentioned to be prevalent too. They are saying that some officers would simply cease motorcycle drivers for no matter motive they may consider simply so you might pay them to allow you to go.
However should you insist on renting a bike, ensure you have the right driving license and at all times put on a helmet!
5. Don’t dismiss native delicacies.
Partly due to the numerous expats who name this island dwelling, Bali has a vibrant worldwide meals scene! Earlier than coming to Bali, my mates advised me I ought to attempt a myriad of eating places with the most effective burgers, or the most effective tacos, and even the most effective Greek meals. A number of quick meals chains and cafes too. And that’s nice and all, however don’t go away with out digging into native meals.
Balinese delicacies is spectacular to say the least — from the mouthwatering babi guling (spit-roasted pork, much like lechon) to the ever present sate and nasi campur to conventional truffles. The perfect half, they’re in all places, too! You’ll discover them at excessive finish eating places to humble warung (small family-run eateries). Most of them serve homey, hearty meals.
However if you would like the insider scoop, greatest to guide a guided meals tour! By becoming a member of a meals tour, you’ll get to know the native favorites and pattern them whereas studying extra concerning the Balinese meals tradition and different suggestions.
We personally booked an Genuine Meals Tour from Ubud with GetYourGuide and it didn’t disappoint! Our information Jon Okay. was well mannered, pleasant, and educated and will talk in English rather well. He introduced us to a babi guling place exterior town heart and to Gianyar Night time Market the place he launched to us extra conventional dishes like betutu and an assortment of desserts! In between meals stops, we dropped by rice terraces and Tirta Empul, one of many holiest temples within the island.
FIND A BALI FOOD TOUR FOR YOU HERE
6. Don’t drink faucet water.
Whereas we’re with reference to meals, I can’t stress this sufficient: don’t drink faucet water! Not even the locals do that and so they extremely discouraged me too. Most lodging present filtered water. If not, head to the grocery and purchase these big containers and simply refill your reusable bottle every so often.
Why? As a result of faucet water in Bali is gonna whoop your insides prefer it did mine. I by no means actually believed within the time period “Bali stomach” till it was occurring to me. I spent a whole evening in the bathroom, with out popping out, as a result of each quarter-hour one thing inside me was beginning a revolution. So no, don’t drink faucet water.
And don’t overlook to deliver anti-diarrhea meds!
7. Don’t belief avenue ATMs simply.
And by avenue ATMs, I imply these money machines that you simply see within the streets, out within the open and might simply be tampered with. If you must withdraw from an ATM, select a machine that’s inside a financial institution or different guarded or enclosed institutions like malls. However the financial institution is your greatest guess, and also you’ll discover a whole lot of varied respected banks all through the island.
Should you should withdraw from one on the road ATMs, at all times double test for indicators of tampering. When unsure, don’t do it and simply discover one other option to pay or get money. Talking of money…
8. Don’t overpay by mistake.
In Bali, the official foreign money is the Indonesian rupiah. And 100 USD is roughly 1.6 million rupiah. (And 100 pesos is roughly 28,000 rupiah.) The best denomination is 100,000 rupiah. Sure, that’s 1 adopted by 5 zeroes.
For individuals who are accustomed to the foreign money, the notes might be simply differentiated by the dimension and the shade. 100,000 is huge and pink; 50,000 is blue; 20,000 is inexperienced, and so forth. However for us who aren’t used to seeing that many zeroes, it may be a bit complicated particularly as a result of these zeroes don’t have a hundreds separator. No interval, no comma, no house. So it’s simple to suppose that 10,000 is 100,000. It was really easy to make that mistake. And similar to every other vacation spot, it’s possible you’ll run into somebody who’s prepared to take benefit when the chance presents itself.
It was already my fourth day once I lastly received the cling of it. However perhaps I’m simply gradual basically. LOL.
However fortunately, I by no means actually needed to pay money that a lot. Most of my excursions had been pre-booked, and I often paid by card when accessible. Fortuitously, the grocery store in entrance of our resort accepted bank cards.
9. Don’t maintain your telephone up within the streets.
Bali is mostly protected and has a comparatively low crime price, contemplating how busy and touristy it’s. However like many different vacationer hotspots, petty crimes do exist in Bali particularly inside developed areas like Kuta.
Don’t maintain your telephone, purse, or pockets out within the open when strolling or standing by the highway as a result of somebody on a bike would possibly simply snatch it away. Hold it away from different individuals’s attain. And don’t go away them unattended on the seaside or use them to order a desk at a meals courtroom. This isn’t Japan, Dubai, or Singapore.
10. Don’t get trapped in comparable sights.
Earlier than you guide a number of day excursions, test the itinerary first. Most excursions in Bali have comparable sights. There’s usually a cease at Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a espresso farm the place you might style quite a lot of espresso and tea flavors, and Instagrammable websites with big swing and the like. And to be sincere, should you’ve skilled one among every variety, you’ve skilled all of them.
So should you’re reserving a couple of personal tour, ask your contact or information should you might substitute a few of these spots to keep away from a repetitive journey and you might expertise extra of Bali. We’ve accomplished it earlier than and each information obliged as a result of it’s not tough to seek out one other focal point alongside the route.
11. Don’t anticipate an excessive amount of from Bali’s seashores.
After we consider Bali, pictures of its seashores immediately come to thoughts. Rising up, I considered Bali as a seaside paradise. However once I was there, I noticed that Bali’s greatest property usually are not its sandy shores, however its well-preserved tradition and inland pure sights. I used to be far more awed by its temples and waterfalls and delicacies than by its seashores.
The seashores right here usually are not unhealthy. In no way. However simply to handle your expectations, should you’ve been to different seashores in Indonesia (or Thailand or the Philippines for that matter) and also you’re anticipating Bali to provide the identical glowing beachscape, then you definately’ll be underwhelmed. That’s to not say that you simply shouldn’t come to Bali since you positively ought to, it’s essential to! However there’s a lot extra to Bali than its shores.
12. Don’t disregard the queuing instances at Instagram spots.
Of all of the locations I had set foot in, Bali is probably essentially the most Instagram or IG-worthy. It’s simply bursting with pciture-worthy spots, each pure and man-made.
By now, you in all probability know concerning the Gate of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple. And also you would possibly already bear in mind that the reflection created is a mirror trick and that there isn’t a physique of water on website. However that’s not the one factor try to be conscious of. You see, it’s so fashionable that the road for this photograph can get loopy lengthy. We’re speaking about as much as three hours of ready time for only a minute of photograph session.
On our final journey, we arrived within the afternoon — simply in time for the sundown — and we waited two and a half hours! They are saying that to keep away from ready instances, go within the early morning. My teammate Pycan did simply that, in time for dawn. They had been second in line.
However even when your timing is true, don’t anticipate every part to be image excellent. Most pictures you see had been both taken beneath the most effective circumstances or enhanced digitally. Usually, the skies don’t cooperate. It’s extra doubtless that you simply’ll get a plain white backdrop as a result of the mountain is hiding behind the clouds or fog.
A glance-alike might be discovered within the north — the Handara Gate. This additionally has the identical impact. It’s not as fashionable because the Gate of Heaven, however you might nonetheless find yourself ready 40 minutes to an hour in your flip.
Personally, I don’t thoughts the ready instances as a result of I understand how to maintain myself busy. I often spend the time chatting with our information and different locals. However should you’re not likely into IG-worthy spots and also you wish to maximize your keep, you would possibly simply be losing a whole lot of time queuing. There are different picturesque however much less crowded sights elsewhere within the island. However should you really need these photographs you see on the web, go forward. You’re already in Bali, would possibly as effectively expertise the complete bundle, queues and all.
13. Don’t overlook to deliver mosquito repellent.
Mosquitos are widespread in Bali, so it’s greatest to be ready. We didn’t consider it till we checked in to our resort, which supplied a mosquito repellent spray, free to make use of. And we realized some locations and a few months are extra susceptible than others. However to be on the protected aspect, simply deliver one with you when touring.
14. Don’t disrespect the native tradition.
If you’re into temple-hopping, know that it’s essential to gown modestly throughout the neighborhood. Some temples present sarongs that you could be borrow, however to be protected, simply put on one thing that covers your shoulders, higher arms, and legs. This is applicable to women and men. Should you’re bleeding — say, you could have an open wound or, for ladies, if at the moment menstruating, you shouldn’t enter the temples.
Even when there’s a whole lot of tourism exercise within the island, Bali stays spiritual, conservative, and conventional. It’ll turn out to be obvious to you in your first day, simply by taking a brief stroll.
In entrance of the homes and on the sidewalk, you’ll see small palm trays with flowers and meals. These are canang sari (chanang sari), that are every day choices to the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism (Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa) as an emblem of gratitude. So, watch your step and ensure you don’t stroll on them.
Additionally, when handing out one thing to a neighborhood, at all times use your proper hand. Your left hand is taken into account soiled and is for bathroom duties. And by no means contact anybody’s head, which is taken into account a sacred a part of the physique.
15. Don’t do unlawful medication.
I do know it sounds apparent, however it is rather vital that you understand this.
Initially, don’t do medication anyplace you journey to, however particularly right here in Bali as a result of Indonesia has a few of the strictest legal guidelines in the case of medication.
Possession is punishable by imprisonment for 4 to 12 years or, if the quantity is large enough, you might be imprisoned for all times, plus fines of as much as 8 billion rupiah. For trafficking, the dying penalty could also be imposed.
That’s not the form of journey you wish to expertise overseas.
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