First time in Bali tips and tricks

postform on 28/10/2022 - 16:39

First time traveling to Bali

Need some advice on the following.

  1. Travel? Do I use gojak or grab?
  2. Money? Can I use my card to withdraw at major banks? Do I get charged a fee? I got following macquaire / ing cards which both don't have international fees. Wondering how the exchange / how much I would be charged from the atm or are there free options to withdraw?
  3. Health insurance? Would I need it?
  4. Visa? Do I need one for travelling for 14 days?
  5. Community meet ups for foreigners?
  6. Any must do things?
  7. Roaming? Anyone with Optus that has a decent travel pack? Or is there some option where I can keep my number but use something else for wifi/celluar?

Thank you in advance :)

Travel

Comments

  • Xistn on 28/10/2022 - 16:40
    +8
    1. Get a tattoo, a bingtang Singlet, and ride a scamski.
  • Tee Rex Arms on 28/10/2022 - 16:41
    +3

    Tick it off your list so you never have to/want to return

  • SBOB on 28/10/2022 - 16:45
    +7

    Any must do things?

    Get out of Kuta

  • Fergy1987 on 28/10/2022 - 16:49

    Theres a decent doctor/hospital thing there thats English speaking and I think funded by the Aus Gov - but you'll pay. I had a chest infection and needed antibiotics and it was a $350 trip

  • dust on 28/10/2022 - 16:50
    +4

    Don't bring a boogie board.

  • Almost Banned on 28/10/2022 - 16:55
    +1

    The answers so far have been super helpful…
    Here's my crack:
    1. Yes - gojek or grab depending on whether you want scooter or car. Or Bluebird - they have an app if you like.
    2. If you have spent any time on this site you will know what travel cards to use.
    3. If you don't get travel insurance you are an idiot. It doesn't cost much but might make a huge difference.
    4. You can buy a VOA.
    5. Go to just about any pub in Kuta and you'll find plenty of foreginers
    6. Depends entirely on what you are into. Massages, Waterbom, Bali Safari, getting your hair braided, yoga retreats - you can find just about whatever you are into
    7. You can buy a local sim, or use your roaming. Up to you.

  • branners on 28/10/2022 - 16:57

    Grab is very good, easy to use the app, very cheap. You can download the app before you leave and finish it off at the kiosk they have (green I think) at the airport.
    Agree about Bluebird. Cheap as chips and very efficient.
    I used a Wise card, can transfer funds to IND on the spot and it works fine at ATMs. Or, use it as a CC. I found the exchange rates to be very competitive, far better than Aussie banks.
    IMO travel insurance is a good idea no matter where you go.
    Aus citizens and residents can apply for a tourist visa on arrival. It costs $52 on the spot and lasts 30 days.
    I used my local phone over there (Amaysim) and it worked just fine. I made all my calls on WhattsApp and was able to receive texts from Aus. Most of the locals we dealt with used WhattsApp so I did not feel the need to local SIM. On the other hand, local SIMs were pretty cheap, even at the airport.

  • Drakesy on 28/10/2022 - 17:04
    1. get a cab to your hotel and hire a scooter for the rest of the holiday (it's faster and cheaper than a driver/uber etc.) and it's about $10 a day
    2. Just bring $1000 in aud over and change it at the currency exchanges.
    3. just use a standard credit card insurance.
    4. not sure
      5.?
    5. Depends on your age, Ubud is good as is Nusa Penida.
    6. Go a local sim, i lost my phone and unfortunately couldn't track where it was as i never took out a sim, $1200 lesson.
    • happydude on 28/10/2022 - 20:27
      +3

      Triple check your travel insurance before getting near a scooter.

    • fivespice on 30/10/2022 - 00:05

      I would never get on a scooter in Bali but that's me.

      • Drakesy on 30/10/2022 - 14:38

        Dw That was my attitude when i first go there, but after a week of taxis that were far slower and more expensive i went f%£k it and grabbed one for $10 a day.
        The convenience and freedom was incredible. Just need a day to get your confidence up

  • Soluble on 28/10/2022 - 17:16

    Dont change your money at the airport(they smell blood and try and drag you to the exchange), dont get dragged to a taxi(as above)

    When swapping money calculate the exchange rate yourself and exactly how much you should get based on the rate yourself, triple check.

    Other than that use bluebirds with meters, those guys are legit and you should round up, they make stuff all.

    The rest is learn as you go. I pretty much go to the same spot on the beach when I go, the guys recognise you after years away. I buy 1 hat, 1 pair of sunglasses, 1 useless toy, kinda a donation, then they keave you alone and you can chat about their life/world.

    • SBOB on 28/10/2022 - 18:22

      Who uses money exchangers these days?
      Atm with card with no/low Forex fees.

      • ThatKiwiFella on 28/10/2022 - 18:42

        Lots of people

        It’s not uncommon to come across ATM skimmers or have your card eaten by an ATM machine

  • esq on 28/10/2022 - 18:11

    I remember back in the day when it was cash only everywhere, there were a select few money changers (eg BMC) all over the southwest of Bali that had amazing rates. Tiniest vig in the world, even better than the (much better fitted out and therefore not dodgy-feeling) SuperRich money changers in BKK. Then you'd have the issue of having way too many rupiah to fit into your wallet as those paper bills are THICC. You would step out and there'd be like 3 stalls next to it selling Absolut Vodka bottles full of petrol for the bike.

    Also remember a dinky little wooden table somewhere between getting off plane and leaving the terminal where some seated uniformed bloke DEMANDS you give him 500K rupiah ("AUD or USD is ok") without any further explanation.

  • big1964 on 28/10/2022 - 18:24
    +1

    You are game if you ride a scooter if you haven’t got a licence the insurance won’t cover you, and definitely not if you have been drinking!!

  • markathome on 28/10/2022 - 20:28
    1. Embrace the heat and humidity
    2. Get a good hotel with a pool
    3. Minimise/eliminate your alcohol
    4. Don't hold out too much hope for the beach
    5. Watch traffic
    6. Get travel insurance
    7. Take things slow
    • Eeples on 28/10/2022 - 23:37

      Hot and humid climate.. hard not to consume easy to drink Bintang’s.

      • markathome on 29/10/2022 - 14:29
        +1

        It's a good point. For cheap booze, Bangkok or Hanoi seem to be the go (numbeo.com). I remember being surprised at the price of beer in Bali. But keep in mind:

        • I was paying hotel rates
        • I'm a real tight-ass
        • I live in Melbourne and, for all the shit I give the place, you can find a beer at a pub for $6 here

        By the way, small point, my original comment was meant to say "watch out for traffic" - I'm not advising you sit by the roadside and literally watch traffic. 😁

  • stwongy on 28/10/2022 - 21:33
    +1

    theres foreigners everywhere. esp in Kuta n Seminyak, but the best parts in my opinion - like exp real culture n Bali is outside of that. You should go to Nusa Penida and Gilli. All your tours can be booked in country, you can haggle if you know how to. You can withdraw from alot of ATMs, they have them in 'bigger' chain convenience stores. Be careful and dont lose your cards (I DID LMAO OHMYGOD I WAS A MESS).

    Yes you will need to pay for visa upon arrival at the Denpasar Airport, otherwise you won't be let in. Its cheaper to pay in IDR than AUD/USD. I feel like you really couldve googled this question and alot of your questions tbh.

    if you have Optus Choice Plus, Optus Plus Family, Optus Plus Kids or Optus Plus Promo plan, you can do roaming for $35 for 7 days with Optus or $5 for 24hours.

  • Eeples on 28/10/2022 - 23:30
    +3

    My Bali routine.

    Wake up
    Get dressed with yesterday’s clothes
    Go to big breakfast
    Back to room
    Have a shower
    Get dressed with new clothes
    Apply sunscreen and wear a hat
    Leave 10k on my pillow

    Go out for a morning activity
    No lunch or very light lunch

    Back to hotel around noon
    Have a shower
    Go to bed or read or relax inside or in shade
    Have a shower
    Get dressed in new clothes

    Go out late afternoon/evening
    See sunset
    Have dinner out
    Do night activity (optional)

    Back to hotel
    Go to bed

    Repeat

  • altomic on 29/10/2022 - 01:51

    i recently got back from 2 weeks in Bali.

    before you go :

    (1) get your international covid vaccine cert from medicare -either online or visit an office. - you need this.
    (2) install the Indonesian covid tracking app on your phone. it's called PeduliLindungi
    (3) visa on arrival AUD$50 - they take any currency or CC

    these 3 things (as well as an airplane ticket to Bali) will get you there and through immigration

    • timthetoolman on 29/10/2022 - 19:42

      I thought they removed that $50US visa? Or something about it changed?

      • altomic on 30/10/2022 - 01:10

        some visa stuff had changed with COVID i.e. VOA was removed.

        but it's back.

        unless something has changed in the last 4 weeks…..

  • Sinnerator on 29/10/2022 - 09:03

    You can negotiate your 'on the spot' cash fines with the Police, just be polite and ask.
    Many years ago there, I got busted for not wearing a helmet on my 50cc rental scooter at the beach doing about 7kmph and I didn't have the tourist driving permit which nobody gets because it was too 'inconvenient'… Fine was initially AUD~$30, I paid $15, later heard you can get it down to $10 lol.
    Guess what the cops are doing with those cash fines :-()

    • Eeples on 29/10/2022 - 19:34

      ….supporting their families?

  • postform on 07/11/2022 - 16:41

    Hey guys thanks for the help!

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