Bali Starter Pack

Fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), also called Denpasar Airport

Major hub with flights from Asia, Australia, Middle East, and some direct from Europe

Grab/Gojek: Available but restricted at airport. Walk to designated pickup areas.

Official airport taxi: Fixed rates by zone. Buy ticket at official counter.

Hotel pickup: Many hotels offer transfers. Arrange in advance.

Car rental with driver: Popular option, ~$40-60/day including driver.

Tip: Traffic from airport can be brutal. Time your arrival to avoid peak hours (7-9am, 5-8pm).

Visa on Arrival (VOA): 30 days, extendable once for another 30 days (~$35).

B211A Visa: 60 days, extendable. Apply online or through agent before arrival.

Digital Nomad Visa (Second Home Visa): 5-10 year visa for remote workers with income proof.

KITAS: Longer-term stay permit for work, retirement, or investment.

Visa runs: Common to Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, or Timor-Leste for visa resets.

Visa agents: Many in Bali help with extensions and applications.

Overstay penalty: ~$100/day. Take visa dates seriously!

Dry season (April-October): Best weather, less humidity, peak tourist season.

Wet season (November-March): Daily tropical downpours, usually short. Lush and green.

Hot year-round: 80-90°F typical. Humidity is the bigger factor.

Ubud/highlands: Cooler and wetter than coastal areas. Bring layers.

Best surf: Dry season for west coast, wet season for east coast.

High season: July-August, December-January. Higher prices, more crowds.

Tip: Shoulder seasons (April-May, September-October) offer best of both worlds.

Emergency Services

Police

Ambulance

BIMC Hospital (private, international)

Siloam Hospital

Tourist Police

Save these numbers to your phone before you need them!

Scooter/motorbike: The Bali way! Rent for ~$50-80/month. International license recommended.

Gojek/Grab: Ride-hailing apps for motorbike or car. Very affordable.

Car with driver: ~$50-70/day. Great for day trips or groups.

Taxi: Blue Bird is the trusted metered taxi company.

Walking: Only practical in small areas. Distances add up quickly.

Traffic: Can be horrific, especially Seminyak-Canggu corridor. Plan around it.

No Uber: Use Grab or Gojek instead. Much more useful here.

Tip: Get a scooter! It's essential for exploring and beating traffic.

SIM cards: Telkomsel (best coverage), XL, Indosat. Buy at airport or phone shops.

Tourist SIM: Easy packages available at airport arrival hall.

Data packages: ~$10-20/month for generous data.

Home internet: IndiHome, First Media, Biznet. Quality varies by area.

Coworking: Dojo Bali, Tropical Nomad, Outpost, and many more.

Cafe WiFi: Most cafes have WiFi, though quality varies greatly.

Starlink: Growing popular for better reliability.

Tip: Canggu and Ubud have the best coworking infrastructure.

Currency: Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). $1 ≈ 15,000-16,000 IDR (check current rate).

ATMs: Everywhere. BCA, Mandiri, BNI are major banks.

ATM fees: ~$3-5 per withdrawal. Withdraw larger amounts less often.

Cash preferred: Many local shops and restaurants are cash only.

Cards: Accepted at hotels, upscale restaurants, and malls.

Money changers: Be careful of scams. Use reputable changers like BMC.

Wise/TransferWise: Essential for getting money to Indonesia.

Opening a local bank: Possible with KITAS, otherwise use Wise + ATM.

Canggu: Digital nomad central. Surf, cafes, nightlife. Can be traffic-heavy and touristy.

Ubud: Jungle vibes, yoga, culture, rice terraces. Cooler, wetter, more spiritual.

Seminyak: Upscale beach, shopping, fine dining. More polished, pricier.

Uluwatu: Cliff-top living, serious surf, stunning views. More remote.

Sanur: Calm beach, family-friendly, more local feel. Eastern shore.

Pererenan/Seseh: North of Canggu. Quieter, still close to action.

Rental prices: $400-1000/month for nice villa depending on area and amenities.

Nasi Goreng: Fried rice, the national dish. Available everywhere.

Babi Guling: Roast suckling pig - a Balinese specialty.

Warungs: Local restaurants serving authentic Indonesian food, ~$2-4/meal.

Cafe culture: Bali has incredible healthy cafes. Smoothie bowls everywhere.

Western food: Excellent variety - Italian, Mexican, Japanese, burger joints.

Brunch scene: Canggu and Seminyak have world-class brunch spots.

Groceries: Pepitos, Bintang, Coco supermarkets. Limited compared to Western countries.

Tip: Mix local warungs with trendy cafes. Get the best of both!

Seminyak Beach: Long stretch, sunset drinks, beach clubs.

Canggu beaches (Batu Bolong, Echo): Surf beaches, black sand, beach bars.

Uluwatu beaches: Cliffside access, world-class surf, stunning scenery.

Padang Padang: Small but beautiful, famous from Eat Pray Love.

Nusa Dua: Calm, resort area, white sand, swimming-friendly.

Sanur: Calm water, local vibe, sunrise views.

Tip: Bali beaches are mostly for surfing. For swimming and white sand, visit the Gili Islands or Nusa Penida.

Temples: Tanah Lot, Uluwatu, Tirta Empul water temple. Spiritual heart of Bali.

Rice terraces: Tegalalang (Ubud), Jatiluwih. Stunning landscapes.

Waterfalls: Sekumpul, Gitgit, Tegenungan. Many to explore.

Surfing: World-class waves at Uluwatu, Canggu, Medewi.

Yoga and wellness: Ubud is a global yoga destination. Retreats everywhere.

Island hopping: Gili Islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan. Easy day/overnight trips.

Mount Batur: Sunrise trek to active volcano. Popular tour.

Ubud Monkey Forest: Sacred sanctuary with hundreds of macaques.

Surfing: What Bali is famous for! Lessons and rentals everywhere.

Yoga: Studios in every neighborhood, especially Ubud and Canggu.

CrossFit: CrossFit Wanderlust, S2S CrossFit, and others.

Gyms: Finns, Motion, and many boutique fitness studios.

Diving: Tulamben wreck dive, Menjangan Island, Nusa Penida manta rays.

Hiking: Mount Batur, Mount Agung, jungle treks around Ubud.

Running: Beach runs, rice field trails in Ubud.

Cycling: Mountain biking and tours through rice terraces.

Traffic: Bali traffic is notorious. Factor it into all plans, especially around Seminyak-Canggu.

Temple dress code: Sarongs required at temples. Usually available at entrance.

Nyepi (Silent Day): Balinese New Year. Everything closes, even airport. No exceptions!

Ceremonies: Frequent Hindu ceremonies can close roads. Be flexible.

Water: Tap water is not potable. Use bottled or filtered.

Scooter safety: Wear a helmet, be careful. Roads are chaotic.

Respect culture: Bali is Hindu. Be mindful of temples, offerings, and customs.

Visa management: Keep track of dates! Overstay fines are serious.