When planning to trip to Bali, there are certain things you must make sure to know and do. Here is a non-exhaustive list of important points to consider before going to Bali, including visa, currency, vaccines, climate, what to pack, time zone, official language and safety level.
Which visa & currency do you need for Bali?
Don’t forget you will need a passport to fly to Bali, which belongs to Indonesia. Make sure your passport is at least valid for 6 months after your return date. The South-East Asian country currently offers a visa on arrival for 75 countries, which is valid for 30 days and can be extended for another 30 days. The visa on arrival fee is 500,000 Indonesian Rupiah (about 35 USD / £30). [updated as of July 2022]
Bali currency is the Indonesian Rupee (IDR). You can easily change your dollars, euros or pounds before coming. You can change them at the airport, but you won’t have the best rate. It’s actually better to withdraw money with an international credit card.
Health & vaccines for Bali
Before travelling to Bali, it’s recommended to check your vaccines, especially for Typhoid and Hepatitis A, in addition to your standard vaccination routine. Prepare a small medicine box as well, containing at least mosquito spray, painkillers and bandages. You cannot drink water from the tap, so you can consider having mineral water, using a filtered flask or using water cleansing tablets. In any case, don’t forget to apply for travel insurance as well.
Gear & accessories for Bali
Bali is a warm and humid destination. Therefore, you should have adapted gear with you for your stay and diving experiences. For example, take. Don’t forget to take at least two swimsuits, flip flops and a quick dry microfibre towel, which is so light and so useful. To go scuba diving in Bali, a 5mm wetsuit is a great choice when diving in Bali.
Timezone in Bali
The time zone of Bali is GMT+8, which means the time difference is +7 hours with London in the summer and +8 hours in the winter. The easiest way to get rid of your jetlag is to drink a lot of water during your flight. Then try keeping your habits from your country time until you get to Bali. Once arrived, you can adapt straight away to the new time.
Language in Bali
In Bali, the official language is Indonesian. Note most locals also speak their regional language, Balinese, which is different from Indonesian, not just a dialect. Many people working in the hospitality and tourism industry speak good English. As a survival kit, you can learn how to say a few words in Indonesian:
- Hello / Hallo
- Good morning / Selamat Pagi
- Good Afternoon / Selamant Siang
- Good evening / Selamat Sore
- Good night / Selamat Malam
- Good bye / Selamat Tinggal
- See you / Sampai junpa
- Yes – No / Ya – Tidak
- Thank you (very much) / Terima kasih (banyak)
- You’re welcome / Sama sama
- Please / Tolong
- Excuse me / Permisi
- How are you? Good! / Apa kabar? Baik!
- How much? / Berapa Harga?
Is it safe to travel to Bali?
At last, Bali is a very safe place in general. You should always apply basic precaution and common sense, but except in Kuta, where the risk will come more from other drunk tourists, there is not really any place which represents a significant risk. To stay safe in Bali, here are 3 tips. First, keep your passport safe, with you or in a locker. Second, never drink water other than mineral water. And be careful with ice cubes. Finally, really be careful when driving as road traffic can be insane. If you don’t feel ready for it, you can still hire a driver or take a shuttle.
Do you need more information to plan your dive trip to Bali? Check these additional articles about travelling and scuba diving in Bali:
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