When you’re Bali-bound, you most likely 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 a super spot for vacationers searching for nature, tradition, and journey.
It’s tough to not get over-excited with the pure points of interest you’ll discover throughout its map. A lot in order that generally we are likely to overlook the opposite facets of a visit that might lead us to creating dangerous choices.
This text provides you a rundown of errors it’s best 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 cause, I assumed that Bali is simply as small as Phuket or Santorini or Singapore. My pals, Bali is a hell of lots greater than that. It’s big! It’s eight occasions greater than Singapore, 10 occasions greater than Phuket, 64 occasions greater than Santorini, 500+ occasions bigger than Boracay! (But it surely’s extra akin to the complete Cebu or Leyte Island.)
Preserve 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 want to decide essentially the most perfect space to remain so that you received’t waste an excessive amount of time on the street. Talking of one of the best space to remain…
2. Don’t decide the mistaken space to remain.
The Kuta-Seminyak space appears to be the busiest and the epicenter of a lot of the motion within the island. It most likely has the best focus of lodging and eating institutions. However is it one of the best space? Properly, probably not. One of the best place to remain relies on why you’re in Bali within the first place.
When 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 middle of the island. From Ubud, it’s simpler to see the temples, terraces, and waterfalls of the north and the east. And whereas town middle will get busy too, it’s nonetheless a lot much less chaotic than Kuta and Seminyak. Most 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 below are fairly upscale, however they provide a quieter, extra romantic seaside expertise.
If you’re staying in Bali long run, try the rental properties in Canggu (Changgu). This can be a favourite amongst digital nomads as a result of it’s extra reasonably priced right here.
When you’re a foodie, nevertheless, Denpasar appears to be a fantastic base since you might have a fantastic collection of not solely Balinese fare, but additionally different Indonesian and different Southeast Asian cuisines.
Whereas now we have a separate article going deep into the greatest technique for selecting your Bali lodging, we’ve additionally rounded up among the greatest locations to remain under on your quick access.
High Lodges in Ubud
High Lodges in Kuta
High Lodges in Seminyak
Seek for extra Bali Lodges Right here!
Once more, one of the best place to remain in Bali largely relies on your cause for visiting. When 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 thousands and thousands and thousands and thousands of holiday makers per 12 months. In actual fact, in 2024, it has recorded nearly 6.4 million international vacationer arrivals, the best recorded previously decade. And a fantastic 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 desire a personal tour by automotive or reserving Seize or Gojek to get from one place to a different. It’s no marvel site visitors buildup is a continuing incidence right here. So when you have a tour, a present, or a flight to catch, it’s at all times greatest to have loads of lead time.
Site visitors is just not as dangerous in different areas, although. However I additionally observed site visitors jams in Ubud’s metropolis middle, too!
4. Don’t fall for taxi and bike scams.
Overpricing taxis are rampant in Bali. In actual fact, now we have been instructed by the locals we met to not hail a cab, however use Seize or GoJek as a substitute. And if we should, solely experience BlueBird, the one respected taxi firm on the island. If coming from the airport, you might also pre-arrange a pickup service on-line.
When you desire touring by bike, 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 bike drivers for no matter cause they might consider simply so you possibly can pay them to allow you to go.
However if you happen to insist on renting a motorcycle, be sure you have the correct driving license and at all times put on a helmet!
5. Don’t dismiss native delicacies.
Partly due to the various expats who name this island house, Bali has a vibrant worldwide meals scene! Earlier than coming to Bali, my pals instructed me I ought to strive a myriad of eating places with one of the best burgers, or one of the best tacos, and even one of the best Greek meals. A lot 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 muffins. One of the best half, they’re in every single place, 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’d like the insider scoop, greatest to e book 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 very well. He introduced us to a babi guling place exterior town middle and to Gianyar Evening 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 as regards 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 large containers and simply refill your reusable bottle once in a while.
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 taking place to me. I spent a whole night time 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 road ATMs simply.
And by road ATMs, I imply these money machines that you simply see within the streets, out within the open and may simply be tampered with. If you want to 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 wager, and also you’ll discover lots of numerous respected banks all through the island.
When you should withdraw from one on the road ATMs, at all times double verify for indicators of tampering. When unsure, don’t do it and simply discover one other technique 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 acquainted with the foreign money, the notes will be simply differentiated by the dimension and the colour. 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 1000’s separator. No interval, no comma, no area. So it’s straightforward to suppose that 10,000 is 100,000. It was really easy to make that mistake. And similar to another vacation spot, it’s possible you’ll run into somebody who’s keen to take benefit when the chance presents itself.
It was already my fourth day after I lastly acquired the cling of it. However perhaps I’m simply sluggish usually. 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 normally paid by card when accessible. Luckily, the grocery store in entrance of our resort accepted bank cards.
9. Don’t maintain your cellphone up within the streets.
Bali is mostly secure and has a comparatively low crime fee, 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 cellphone, purse, or pockets out within the open when strolling or standing by the street as a result of somebody on a motorcycle would possibly simply snatch it away. Preserve it away from different folks’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 points of interest.
Earlier than you e book a number of day excursions, verify the itinerary first. Most excursions in Bali have comparable points of interest. There’s typically a cease at Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a espresso farm the place you possibly can style quite a lot of espresso and tea flavors, and Instagrammable websites with large swing and the like. And to be sincere, if you happen to’ve skilled one in every of every type, you’ve skilled all of them.
So if you happen to’re reserving a couple of non-public tour, ask your contact or information if you happen to might substitute a few of these spots to keep away from a repetitive journey and you possibly can expertise extra of Bali. We’ve carried out it earlier than and each information obliged as a result of it’s not tough to search out one other focal point alongside the route.
11. Don’t anticipate an excessive amount of from Bali’s seashores.
After we consider Bali, photos of its seashores immediately come to thoughts. Rising up, I considered Bali as a seaside paradise. However after I was there, I noticed that Bali’s greatest belongings are usually not its sandy shores, however its well-preserved tradition and inland pure points of interest. I used to be way more awed by its temples and waterfalls and delicacies than by its seashores.
The seashores right here are usually not dangerous. Under no circumstances. However simply to handle your expectations, if you happen to’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 undoubtedly ought to, you have to! However there’s a lot extra to Bali than its shores.
12. Don’t disregard the queuing occasions at Instagram spots.
Of all of the locations I had set foot in, Bali is maybe essentially the most Instagram or IG-worthy. It’s simply bursting with pciture-worthy spots, each pure and man-made.
By now, you most likely know concerning the Gate of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple. And also you would possibly already remember that the reflection created is a mirror trick and that there isn’t any physique of water on website. However that’s not the one factor you ought to be conscious of. You see, it’s so in style that the road for this picture can get loopy lengthy. We’re speaking about as much as three hours of ready time for only a minute of picture 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 occasions, 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 little thing to be image excellent. Most pictures you see had been both taken underneath one of the best situations or enhanced digitally. Usually, the skies don’t cooperate. It’s extra possible 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 will be discovered within the north — the Handara Gate. This additionally has the identical impact. It’s not as in style because the Gate of Heaven, however you possibly can nonetheless find yourself ready 40 minutes to an hour on your flip.
Personally, I don’t thoughts the ready occasions as a result of I understand how to maintain myself busy. I normally spend the time chatting with our information and different locals. However if you happen to’re probably not into IG-worthy spots and also you need to maximize your keep, you would possibly simply be losing lots of time queuing. There are different picturesque however much less crowded points of interest elsewhere within the island. However if you happen to really need these photographs you see on the web, go forward. You’re already in Bali, would possibly as nicely expertise the total 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 inclined than others. However to be on the secure facet, simply deliver one with you when touring.
14. Don’t disrespect the native tradition.
If you’re into temple-hopping, know that you have to costume modestly inside the neighborhood. Some temples present sarongs that you could be borrow, however to be secure, simply put on one thing that covers your shoulders, higher arms, and legs. This is applicable to women and men. When you’re bleeding — say, you’ve got an open wound or, for girls, if at present menstruating, you shouldn’t enter the temples.
Even when there’s lots of tourism exercise within the island, Bali stays spiritual, conservative, and conventional. It’ll change into 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 each day choices to the Supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism (Sang Hyang Widhi Wasa) as a logo of gratitude. So, watch your step and be sure you don’t stroll on them.
Additionally, when handing out one thing to an area, at all times use your proper hand. Your left hand is taken into account soiled and is for lavatory 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 medicine.
I do know it sounds apparent, however it is rather necessary that you already know this.
To start with, don’t do medicine anyplace you journey to, however particularly right here in Bali as a result of Indonesia has among the strictest legal guidelines on the subject of medicine.
Possession is punishable by imprisonment for 4 to 12 years or, if the quantity is large enough, you will 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 need to expertise overseas.
Updates Log
2025 8 12 – First uploaded
