Essential Bali Travel Tips

Bali is an amazing place, as well as a location that’s worth visiting at least once in your lifetime. Still, it’s probably a place much different than what you’re used to. We’re talking about a different language, different country, different currency and well… so many other things.

Naturally, you don’t have to master all of these things in order to get the most out of your visits, nonetheless, it might enhance your overall immersion and enjoyment on the trip. Aside from this, it can also boost your budgeting efforts, your overall safety, as well as some other aspects of your voyage. With that in mind, here are several essential Bali travel tips that you need to know before you go.

Prepare for the prices

The first thing you should do is make a comparison between prices in your own country and those in Bali. While there are several ways to do so, perhaps the simplest (while not necessarily the most accurate one) is to just take a look at the PPP (purchasing power parity, in general). One of the ways to do so is to take a look at the Big Mac Index. Here, you can get a direct way to make a comparison between your own country and those in Indonesia. However, the cost of accommodation, the cost of food may still somewhat vary.

The next thing you need to understand is that, as a touristic destination, some places in Bali will quote prices in USD or EUR. In most places, nonetheless, you’ll have to exchange your currency (which can be done virtually anywhere in Bali) into the Indonesian Rupiah first. The biggest problem with paying in local currency is the fact that due to the high inflation, as of September 2018, you can get approximately 15,000 Indonesian Rupiah for a single dollar. Needless to say, this can make your calculations quite hard to make, especially once you decide to buy some more valuable items.

Another thing worth keeping in mind is the importance of bargaining during your stay in Bali. When out in the market, don’t take prices for granted and you can score as much as 50 percent discount in the item you’ve wanted. It’s also smart to check out several stores or markets first so that you can use their prices as the leverage during the negotiation.

Upgrading your stay

The next thing you need to consider is the way in which you want to travel to Bali. You see, low-cost accommodation will provide you with a completely different experience of stay than a stay in a villa. The word luxury, on the other hand, needs to be taken with a grain of salt here due to the fact that the cost of renting private villas in Bali isn’t as high as you might have expected. This is also the most reliable way to provide yourself with a decent Wi-Fi, which is a top priority for all digital nomads out there. Due to the impact that this could have on your stay, in its entirety, it would be worth your while to allocate a fair chunk of resource in order to get a tad more luxurious lodging.

Prepare your wardrobe

 

Bali is a tropical location, however, in some restaurants and clubs, there’s a dress code you need to adhere to. If you aim to make a reservation before you reach Bali, you could send an email to the restaurant, inquiring about the recommended apparel. This will help you with packing. Once you’re already in Bali, you can simply make a call or contact them via social networks. Think about this, when preparing your wardrobe and accessorizing for the trip.

Renting a scooter

If you have an international drivers’ license, it would be fairly easy for you to rent a bike that can take you around the island. Of course, some travelers argue that their drivers’ license wasn’t even asked about, yet, it’s always much safer to do things as legally as possible. Same goes for wearing a helmet. This is mandatory and avoiding it may get you fined (even though some visitors to Bali claim that you can easily get yourself out of this situation with a bribe).

Respect the local religious customs

You need to understand that if by any chance, you happen to travel to Bali on Nyepi, you’ll find that everything is closed for the day (including the airport). This is why it’s smart to plan your trip around it. Moreover, even though you’re stranger, you’ll be expected to be dressed as modestly as locals. To some, this might be an interesting sight to behold, while others might find it simpler to just avoid Bali during this season.

In conclusion

With some planning, your trip can become much more successful and enjoyable. Considering how little effort you need to invest in proper packing, planning, and reservation, this is indeed a great deal and an opportunity you can’t afford to miss out on.