If you happen to’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 revenue 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 typically we are likely to overlook the opposite features of a visit that would lead us to creating dangerous selections.
This text offers 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 purpose, I assumed that Bali is simply as small as Phuket or Santorini or Singapore. My pals, Bali is a hell of rather a lot larger than that. It’s enormous! It’s eight instances larger than Singapore, 10 instances larger than Phuket, 64 instances larger than Santorini, 500+ instances bigger than Boracay! (Nevertheless it’s extra akin to all the 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 only a few 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, that you must decide probably the most best 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 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 in all probability has the very best focus of lodging and eating institutions. However is it the most effective space? Effectively, probably not. One of the best place to remain is dependent upon why you’re in Bali within the first place.
If you happen to’re after a soothing time, you’re not gonna discover it in Kuta. It’s not even probably 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 observe that there’s no seashore right here.
For that, possibly Uluwatu and Nusa Dua are price contemplating. Most properties listed here are fairly upscale, however they provide a quieter, extra romantic seashore expertise.
In case you are staying in Bali long run, try the rental properties in Canggu (Changgu). It is a favourite amongst digital nomads as a result of it’s extra inexpensive right here.
If you happen to’re a foodie, nonetheless, Denpasar appears to be a terrific base since you may have a terrific choice 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 among the greatest locations to remain beneath on your quick access.
Prime Motels in Ubud
Prime Motels in Kuta
Prime Motels in Seminyak
Seek for extra Bali Motels Right here!
Once more, the most effective place to remain in Bali largely is dependent upon your purpose for visiting. If you happen to resolve to remain within the Kuta/Seminyak space, there’s one other factor you shouldn’t underestimate: the visitors.
3. Don’t underestimate the visitors.
Bali welcomes hundreds of thousands and hundreds of thousands of holiday makers per yr. In actual fact, in 2024, it has recorded nearly 6.4 million overseas vacationer arrivals, the very best recorded previously decade. And a terrific 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 may hope.
Most vacationers choose a non-public tour by automobile or reserving Seize or Gojek to get from one place to a different. It’s no surprise visitors buildup is a continuing incidence right here. So in case you have a tour, a present, or a flight to catch, it’s all the time greatest to have loads of lead time.
Visitors is just not as dangerous in different areas, although. However I additionally observed visitors jams in Ubud’s metropolis heart, too!
4. Don’t fall for taxi and motorcycle scams.
Overpricing taxis are rampant in Bali. In actual fact, we’ve got been instructed by the locals we met to not hail a cab, however use Seize or GoJek as an alternative. 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.
If you happen to choose touring by motorcycle, watch out for scams, too. I don’t hire bikes overseas so this isn’t one thing I’m involved about. However I had been warned about rental retailers that may cost you for pre-existing damages on the bike. Police scams are stated to be prevalent too. They are saying that some officers would simply cease motorcycle drivers for no matter purpose they may consider simply so you might pay them to allow you to go.
However if you happen to insist on renting a motorcycle, ensure you have the right driving license and all the time put on a helmet!
5. Don’t dismiss native delicacies.
Partly due to the numerous expats who name this island residence, Bali has a vibrant worldwide meals scene! Earlier than coming to Bali, my pals instructed 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. Numerous 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. One of the best half, they’re all over the 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 in regards to the Balinese meals tradition and different ideas.
We personally booked an Genuine Meals Tour from Ubud with GetYourGuide and it didn’t disappoint! Our information Jon Ok. was well mannered, pleasant, and educated and will talk in English very well. He introduced us to a babi guling place exterior town heart 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 they usually 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 now and again.
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 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 that 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 variety of varied respected banks all through the island.
If you happen to should withdraw from one on the road ATMs, all the time double verify 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 aware of the foreign money, the notes will be simply differentiated by the dimension and the shade. 100,000 is massive and crimson; 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 straightforward to assume that 10,000 is 100,000. It was really easy to make that mistake. And identical to another vacation spot, you could 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 hold of it. However possibly I’m simply gradual on the whole. 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 obtainable. Thankfully, the grocery store in entrance of our lodge accepted bank cards.
9. Don’t maintain your telephone up within the streets.
Bali is usually protected 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 telephone, purse, or pockets out within the open when strolling or standing by the highway as a result of somebody on a motorcycle may simply snatch it away. Preserve it away from different folks’s attain. And don’t go away them unattended on the seashore or use them to order a desk at a meals courtroom. This isn’t Japan, Dubai, or Singapore.
10. Don’t get trapped in related points of interest.
Earlier than you e book a number of day excursions, verify the itinerary first. Most excursions in Bali have related points of interest. There’s usually a cease at Tegallalang Rice Terraces, a espresso farm the place you might style a wide range of espresso and tea flavors, and Instagrammable websites with big swing and the like. And to be sincere, if you happen to’ve skilled one in every of every variety, you’ve skilled all of them.
So if you happen to’re reserving multiple personal tour, ask your contact or information if you happen to may substitute a few of these spots to keep away from a repetitive journey and you might 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 count on an excessive amount of from Bali’s seashores.
Once we consider Bali, photographs of its seashores immediately come to thoughts. Rising up, I considered Bali as a seashore paradise. However once I was there, I noticed that Bali’s largest property should not its sandy shores, however its well-preserved tradition and inland pure points of interest. I used to be far more awed by its temples and waterfalls and delicacies than by its seashores.
The seashores right here should not dangerous. In no way. 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 similar glowing beachscape, then you definitely’ll be underwhelmed. That’s to not say that you simply shouldn’t come to Bali since you undoubtedly ought to, you should! 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 maybe probably 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 in regards to the Gate of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple. And also you may 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 need to be conscious of. You see, it’s so widespread 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 have been second in line.
However even when your timing is correct, don’t count on every thing to be image good. Most images you see have been both taken below the most effective situations or enhanced digitally. Typically, 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 will be discovered within the north — the Handara Gate. This additionally has the identical impact. It’s not as widespread because the Gate of Heaven, however you might nonetheless find yourself ready 40 minutes to an hour on your flip.
Personally, I don’t thoughts the ready instances 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 wish to maximize your keep, you may simply be losing a variety 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, may as effectively expertise the total package deal, 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 lodge, 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 protected aspect, simply deliver one with you when touring.
14. Don’t disrespect the native tradition.
In case you are into temple-hopping, know that you should costume 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. If you happen to’re bleeding — say, you may have an open wound or, for girls, if presently menstruating, you shouldn’t enter the temples.
Even when there’s a variety of tourism exercise within the island, Bali stays non secular, 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 each 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, all the time 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 extremely essential that you already know this.
To begin with, don’t do medication anyplace you journey to, however particularly right here in Bali as a result of Indonesia has among the strictest legal guidelines in relation to medication.
Possession is punishable by imprisonment for 4 to 12 years or, if the quantity is sufficiently big, you will be imprisoned for all times, plus fines of as much as 8 billion rupiah. For trafficking, the loss of life penalty could also be imposed.
That’s not the form of journey you wish to expertise overseas.
Updates Log
2025 8 12 – First uploaded