Bali Tips

Bali....the land of beautiful landscape and the nicest people you will ever meet!  I just spent 2 weeks in Bali and I'm going to show you how you can too!  I've been asked a lot about my time there and thought I'd share how exactly I spent my two weeks there.  So, buckle up and take notes because I'm going to tell you but first, here are some Bali tips to set you up for a great vacation!

I left Vancouver Airport for Ngurah Rai International Airport, Denpasar, Bali in October.  There are a couple things you will want to do when you arrive.  

MONEY EXCHANGE

Do get some money exchanged after leaving the luggage area.  There are three money exchange counters located across from each other once you leave the luggage hall.  Only two were open so I chose the closest one to me.  I had exchanged at least $300 CDN to Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) so that I would have some cash at hand for the first few days. I recommend using the ATM's to take out money if you feel you need more during your stay.  There are plenty of them around Bali to chose from.  The BNI ATMs worked best for me.

PHONE SIM CARD

You may want to pick up some phone data so head to the Telkomsel booth.  At the international arrival terminal it is just after you exit the arrival building through the glass sliding doors  It is nearby the money exchange and ATM and just before the taxi counter,  Here you will be able to get a 25 GB tourist SIM card for $150,000 IDR ($13 CDN) which will last you all month. This package includes internet data and 25 mins of overseas calling time.  The booth will try to sell you more expensive SIM cards for 2 weeks at $250,000 IDR but don't pay for it.  Get the month long deal.  

The staff at the Telkomsel booth will help you install and set up the SIM card for you so you don't have to do a thing.

Bali has WiFi in all the hotels but you may want to have data so you can keep in touch with your driver if you want to do some sightseeing.  I'm glad I had it as it helped me to communicate with my hotels and my drivers when I wanted to be picked up again at the tourist site or to plan our next day.

Also, you may want to download the WhatsApp app onto your phone.  This is the best way to communicate. Everyone there uses the app. 

GETTING TO YOUR HOTEL

There are several ways to get to your hotel from the airport once you arrive.  I had my hotel arrange a driver to pick me up.  He was waiting for me when I finished getting my SIM card in the lobby.  He was holding my name up on a sign and was able to easily spot him.  I paid for this service at the hotel once I arrived.  Some hotels will offer it for free.  I paid $150,000 IDR ($13 CDN) for a 40 min trip from the airport to Ubud where my hotel was located.

The other way is to use Pelago to hire a private airport transfer for a whopping $6.90 USD.  It's virtually impossible to break the bank in Bali!

There are also taxis that you can take from the airport.  They have a starting rate of $120,000 IDR ($7.50 USD).  The motorbike taxis have a starting rate of $60,000 IDR ($3.85 USD). This is a good option for back packers with no luggage.

Another option is to use the Indonesian ride-sharing app called Grab or Go-Jek. I've used Grab while in Malaysia but didn't use them in Bali so I can't tell you if this service was as good as it was in Malaysia. Grab uses cars and motorcycles in Bali.

Personally, I think the private transfer is the most reliable.  I felt safe as a solo female traveler with my driver and there was no hassle which was wonderful after a very long 18 hour flight. 

HOW TO SIGHTSEE

I searched many different websites offering drivers to take you around Bali.  However, the one I went with was Pelago.  They offered private drivers to take you to different areas of tourist interest for either 8 or 10 hours in either a private car or mini bus depending on the size of your party.  I also found them the most reasonable in prices.  Other sites were offering the same thing for twice or three times as much money!  If you need more time to sightsee, they charge $50,000 IDR ($4.34 CDN) per hour you go over your allotted time.

I found them easy to use.  I filled out the day and time I wanted to be picked up and in the additional information area, I added the hotel I was staying at so they knew where I was to be picked up from.  Straight forward.  The night before, my driver would text me to let me know and confirm he would be there in the morning for our adventure to start.  The drivers I had all spoke English.  Some would leave you at the entrance and let you go on your own, others would stay with you and be a guide at no extra cost.  I had one driver that I made friends with and stuck with him for my sightseeing adventures.  If you'd like to use him, his name is Mang Etok but goes by Etok.  You can use his name in the additional information if you'd like him as your driver.

There are four different areas of Bali that they can take you; Northern Bali, Central Bali, Eastern Bali and Western Bali. I used Option A for two days and Option B for the third day.  This way I was able to maximize the places in those areas.  Just select which options you'd like.  Note that you can also select a private driver for Nusa Penida through this site as well, if you are planning to visit the island, which is what I did. If you are not visiting the island with a tour group, I suggest getting a driver as there is really no other way to sightsee.  The roads to the tourist areas are really bumpy and narrow and not safe for bikes.

I didn't use a driver in Gili Trawangan because they do not use vehicles on the island.  Your options to get around are by walking, horse cart, bicycle or the very seldom seen motorbikes on the island.  It is a very small island and you can walk around it in no time at all. 

So, now you have set yourself up with IDR money, a SIM card for your phone, airport transfers and drivers for the duration of your vacation.  Once you have these in place, you are ready to visit the wonders of Bali.