With its coral-speckled beaches, luscious green rice terraces and blissful azure seas, Bali Dropdown content has long been a haven for surfers, sun worshippers and yoga junkies alike. Whether you’re planning the adventure of a lifetime or a week of relaxation, here are ten Bali travel tips to help you make the most of your visit.
You'll find there is often one price for locals and one price for tourists in Bali, but if you’re savvy you can barter for something in between. There’s always room for manoeuvre. Even things with a fixed price – like hotels and tours – can be negotiated.
The surf in Bali is world-renowned. West coast spots like Canggu and
The calmer waters to the east are great for scuba diving and snorkelling, and headgear is readily available pretty much everywhere.
Sea turtle © Daniel Wilhelm Nilsson
/Shutterstock
For most travellers, there are three main kinds of visa available. The free-entry visa is non-extendable, so if you think you might end up staying longer than 30 days you should pay for the extendable visa on arrival (US$35.00), or get a 60-day visa before leaving home.
While initially daunting, particularly in jam-packed city centres, mopeds are cheap to rent and give you the freedom to explore the island’s more out-of-the-way attractions.
Make sure to check the tank, as they’re often left empty by the previous rider. If you do run low, petrol is easily purchased (usually in vodka bottles) from almost every roadside shop. And don’t forget to ask for a helmet.
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Rent a bike and head around the stunning white shoreline, stopping off to swim amid tropical fish and the occasional sea turtle. Boats run between the islands constantly, but make sure to catch a public one, rather than pay through the nose for a private speedboat.
Gili Meno © Luciano Mortula - LGM
/Shutterstock
Traditional dances are performed everywhere, but none in so spectacular a location as the ancient cliff top temple of Uluwatu, on the tip of the southern Bukit Peninsula. If you’re travelling by moped be aware that you’ll be returning in the dark, so make note of your route.
Use ATMs as much as possible and try to avoid money-changers, as they can undercut you. If you have no other option, do your own calculations and double-check theirs. Notes are large and some changers play on tourists’ confusion, giving you less than you’ve agreed on.
Make time to stroll through the famous rice terraces, visit the
Yoga in Bali © zjuzjaka
/Shutterstock
From the traditional famed babi guling (a whole spit-roast pig) to Japanese, Chinese, Thai and American fusion cuisine, there’s always something to fill your belly in Bali.
Try the Potato Head Beach Club in high-end
Make sure to order the Indonesian staple gado gado, a salad of boiled vegetables and eggs, at least once on your trip.
There is such wide range of activities on offer in Bali, that it can be overwhelming. Whether your stay is long or short, let the Balinese spirit in: chill out, breathe and enjoy the ride.