Bali for first-timers | 10+ things you need to know before you go!

Bali, the beloved island of the Gods! This magical place is filled with beautiful rice fields, majestic volcanos, great cafes, and the friendliest people we ever met. But before you go… let us tell you what you need to know before you book that ticket!

There is some know-how in advance that you have to take into account when you go to Bali. We traveled through Bali for many months on end and we listed everything that you need to know for your next big trip to this wonderful paradise island.

1. Continent and timezone 

Indonesia consists of 17.000+ islands, and Bali is one of them.  Bali is not a country in itself, something that some silly tourists don´t know.

The time zone on Bali is UTC +8. Nicknamed The Island of the Gods. The island of Bali is an area of 2,230 square miles (5,780 sq km). To give an impression of how big that is, scooting around the island in one go will takes about 14 hours.

The most popular destinations in Bali are the neighborhoods of Canggu, Seminyak/Kuta, Ubud, and Uluwatu.

2. The Balinese

The island has 4,3 million inhabitants (2019) and is the most well-known island of Indonesia.

In Bali, most inhabitants are Hindu, although Indonesia is the largest Islamic country in the world. Islam is practiced here in a minority. But Hinduism and Islam have several commonalities. For example, the Hindu holidays often are also holidays for Muslims. Besides these 2 groups, there are also churches of Christian inhabitants and there is also a small group of Buddhists living in Bali.

And you will love how friendly these lovely people are. Their big smiles will change your mood instantly!

3. Language

In Bali, they speak Bahasa Indonesia. On all the different islands they speak a different kind of language, but all can speak Bahasa Indonesia. Here you can find the most important Bahasa words for your trip to Bali. Practice some basic Bahasa Indonesia words in advance, because the locals love it when you can say a couple of words.

Our experience is that there are many Indonesian people who speak excellent English, especially in the more popular and touristy areas. If you go off the beaten path, then it will be much less common that the locals speak decent English. A very cute and funny detail is that however a lot of locals speak English, they are less common with writing English. Thus you will see funny spelling mistakes on menus, advertisements, or in text messages. For example ¨Smothies¨, ¨Castumors¨, or `Beginer`. 

Pro-tip: download the Indonesian language package for offline use in Google Translate.

4. Visa

US citizens and 67 other nationals get a Visa on Arrival which is valid for 30 days and can be extended onshore for another 30 days. Please note that your passport must be valid for at least 6 months and make sure you have a return ticket or an onward ticket. For all other countries visiting Bali, Indonesia, please check out this Wiki Page.

And don´t forget one of the most essentials things for your next trip: the right travel insurance! Consider World Nomads or Safety Wings!

5. The currency

The currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). At locals restaurants or markets, cash is king. At some places, there isn´t even a opportunity to pay with a debit or credit card.

Also if you use the Gojek or Grap app, the Uber of Indonesia, you will only have the option to pay cash. Thus you need to withdraw from one of the many ATMs in Bali. And that can be very difficult. You can withdraw a maximum of 2,5 to 3 million IDR, which is around $200 worth. And a lot of ATMs in Bali don't have (enough) money in them or just don't accept your card. So that can be a fuss…

Cheap and expensive

At the more western shops, restaurants, hotels or big touristic attractions, you can pay by card. But keep in mind that for each transaction you pay a fee on the amount depending on the terms of your card. Many foreigners who are in Bali for a long time, therefore choose to open a bank account at an Indonesian bank which solves a lot of issues.

Bali is known for its cheap prices, but in the last years due to the popularity of Bali and the opening of a lot of western shops, hotels, and restaurants you also will find more expensive rates. You can still live very cheap but the price ranges can go up higher quickly if you eat, sleep and sport at the fanciest western companies.

Also read: 13 things we DON´T like about Bali

6. Best time to visit Bali 

The best time to visit Bali is from May to October, in the dry season. But even outside this period, you can easily make a rememberable trip through Bali. And if you visit this luscious island outside of school holidays, it will also be less crowded and prices will be more affordable. Although we do not recommend traveling during January and February due to the change of heavy rainfall.

Can´t wait any longer? We got some great tips for you for finding and booking affordable villas in Bali!

We shared so many Stories on Instagram of our adventures in Canggu. Must-visit beach clubs, cafes, temples, coworking spaces and so much more. Check it out free birds!

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7. Religion – History – Culture

In Bali, you step into a completely different world in which ceremonies seem to be going on in and around the temples at any time of the day. Colorful offerings of flowers and food are made to the various gods of the temples. And every morning small trays of offerings are placed in front of houses and shops with flowers, money, food, and sometimes even cigarettes in them. They do this daily to keep the evil spirits out.

You can recognize the Hindus by the men who wear a white sarong and the women who walk in hand-painted skirts of batik fabric. And all these spiritual locals Balinese people are all so happy and friendly!

HISTORY OF INDONESIA in 12 Minutes

This great Youtube video shows you the turbulent, wild, and violent history of how Indonesia became a nation. Things weren´t always so great in this region in the centuries before. Wars, colonization, civil wars, etc etc. We´re glad that after all that, Indonesia has come together as one nation and one people. It´s an amazing story!

8. Scooters, scooters, and did I already said scooters? 

The traffic is pretty chaotic due to the many scooters on the small roads of Bali. And there are still plenty of cars and small trucks driving in between all the scooters. The inhabitants transport everything on the scooter, from entire families consisting of 4 people to ladders or store stock. For Westerners, this produces a special scene that you cannot imagine in your own homeland.

And as if that wasn't enough chaos, they also drive on the left side of the road. You should take all this into account if you choose to rent a scooter yourself and drive between traffic. Especially for inexperienced or insecure drivers, it can be dangerous to drive around Bali yourself.

9. Typical Balinese things

We have a couple of extra smaller details you need to know!

>> Don´t touch the heads of locals. It is the most sacred place of the body for the Balinese, even for children.

>> Always deal/negotiate with a smile.

>> Your left hand is considered unclean in Bali. So you mustn't give or take things with your left hand.

>> The Balinese believe that the first customer of the day brings good luck for the rest of the day's sales. As a result, you can often bargain well as the first customer. And do not be surprised if the seller strikes his products with the money paid; it's his way of thanking the gods for that first sale.

>> Due to unfamiliar spices or sometimes other standards of hygiene you can get familiar with the infamous Bali Belly. It never happens to us, but we try to estimate the hygiene of the restaurants and we drink a Yakult every day (not sponsored, just love it!).

>> Just so you know in case of emergency, the best hospitals are Siloam, BIMC, and Kasih Ibu.

>> Download Gojek for all your deliveries and transport. Use Blue Bird for all your taxi rides. No Uber here!

>> After work it is time to relax. And the best way to end your day is with a beautiful sunset on the beach. You will find locals and tourists on the beach enjoying the sunset together.

Enjoy your (well-prepared) trip to Bali with all these essentials things to know before you book that flight ????

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