Anna's Ventures: Bali For First-Timers: Things to know

As you know, I'm a huge fan of Bali. How huge? THIS HUGE!! Bali is a beautiful place and there's nothing I hate more than hearing people trash the place after their first trip, or worse, when they haven't even been there. I mean come on people, give it a fair go. I think a lot of the time, people don't like Bali when they go on holiday being unprepared and having unrealtistic expectations of what they're going to get. Personally, I think Bali is paradise. Not all its beaches are picturesque white sand and pristine blue waters. Some of the roads and footpaths are in terrible condition, it's still a developing country meaning its hygeiene standard is not great but if you know these things going in and know how to deal with them, it shouldn't effect your holiday.

I have a friend going to Bali for the first time in July and has been asking me for tips so I was inspired to write this post for her. I've put together a list of things you should know when going to the island for the first time.

First Time?

You will often be asked if this is your first time to Bali. Always tell who ever is asking that you've been before. Telling people that you haven't been before sets you apart as someone they can potentially rip off because you don't know the prices of things, don't know where places are or even how to barter. The old saying "Fake it till you make it" comes into play here.

Take cash

It is the most reliable way to take your spending money. It's easy to fall victim to credit card scamming and skimming (I wrote a post here on tips to avoid it happening to you) and unfortunately things such as handbag snatching and pick pocketing does happen. If you're reliant on your credit card and it gets lost or stolen, what do you have? It's important to remember as well that not all restaurants and spas will have EFTPOS facilities. If you are planning on taking your credit/debit card, make sure you contact your bank and let them know you'll be travelling overseas so they can keep an eye-out for any suspicious acitivity. Also read up on the fees that come with your card, whether its ATM fees, foreign transaction fees and currency exchange fees. I have a seperate account with CitiBank that I use only for travelling. I transfer money over from my usual bank and take just the one card. It has no minimum balance or minimum deposits, absolutely no fees attached (monthly, ATM, foreign transaction or other), has a good exchange rate and you don't need to be a CitiBank customer to open an account up with them. Check it out here where you can also apply online. Yep, you don't even need to go into the bank to do it.

VOA (Visa On Arrival) and Departure Tax

You need to have a Visa to enter Bali, whether you're there for just one night or one month. As the name suggests, the Visa is purchases on arrival. At the international airport, the VOA counters will be the first ones you go through. The Visa can be paid only in cash and is $25 USD or $30 AUD per person. No, it is not cheaper for babies or kids. My trick is to pay the Visa with an Australian $50 and get the change in Rupiah (you don't have a choice with this anyway). This saves me from going straight to a money changer and depending on how far I'm going, will be enough for transport and lunch before I get more money changed.

Bali also has a Departure Tax. Yes, you have to pay to leave the island. This was recently 150,000 Rupiah but has recently been increased to 200,000 Rupiah per person. This can only be paid in Rupiah so as soon as you change money, put aside your departure tax so you're not at the airport trying to pull the cash together after all your shopping.

Dressing in Bali

Bali's religion is mainly Hindu. Being out and about during the day, you can dress just as you would at home. It's very acceptable to walk around in shorts and a singlet on over your bathers. If you're on a day tour and visiting a temple, you may need to wear a sarong (men included) and some temples or a good driver can provide these for you. Even though Bali is a very laid-back place, I never agree with girls strutting around in bikini's or men with no shirts on. I don't care that you're on holiday; show a bit of respect. Sunbathing topless, although allowed, is frowned upon. It can be tempting to pack your fancy clothes and jewellery when going away, but Bali isn't the place to do it. Leave the jewellery at home. There have been known to be lady-boys that will distract you in the form of a bit too close for comfort dance while slipping off that expensive necklace you've got on. Yes, insurance will cover you if it happens but save trouble and potential heartache of losing a precious piece of jewellery and just leave it at home.

Drinking in Bali

Whether you're a cocktail, spirits or water drinker, you always have to be careful when drinking in Bali. Let's start with water. Do not drink the tap water. Bali hasn't quite caught up to the Western world in regard to filtering their water. The tap water simply isn't safe to drink. One of the first things I do when in Bali is go to a shop and buy a bunch of water bottles. One for the bathroom to brush my teeth with and the rest in the fridge for my daily outings. Your hotel will generally provide 2 bottles a day but in Bali's humid environment, this won't be enough. Don't stress though, water is cheap in Bali. You can buy a normal sized 500-750mL bottle for a mere 30 cents.

There has been lots of negative media stories on methanol poisoning in Bali. Before I start, let me clear one thing up: these peoples drinks are not spiked with methanol, the methanol comes from the spirit not being made at the right temperatures. There is a lot of backyard brewing in Bali because Indonesia has a big alcohol tax. Some restaurants and bars will opt to buy the cheap backyard stuff rather than fork out the money for the real stuff, thus putting you at risk. I don't drink a lot in general but when I have a hankering for a cocktail or five, I only get them from reputable places. Generally speaking, your hotel will be safe. If you're at a restaurant or bar, before you order something with arak (local spirits), vodka, tequila or really any spirits, have a look around you. If the place is a bit dingy, probably best not to risk it.

If you enjoy a few drinks in Bali, stick to things such as Bintang or take your own spirits. Buy them Duty Free, put some in a flask, order yourself a mocktail and add your own alcohol. It's better safe than sorry.

Changing Money

As I mentioned before, take your spending money in cash. Obviously this means you'll need to exchange it when you're there. Saying that, I would advise to always change your money in Bali. You'll get no where near as good a rate in Australia before you go. When in Bali, you'll have no problem finding a place to change your money. The trick is to choose the right place. It's always tempting to go into a place that's offering the highest rate, but these are usually the places that are going to rip you off. Rather than risking it, go into a proper money changer. They're easy to spot among the money changers that will be located at the back of market stalls and the ones offering a rate ending in a random number ie, not a zero or five. Why does that matter? Because fives and zero's are a lot easier to work with. Always do your calculations first so you know how much Rupiah you should be receiving. When the money changer has given you the money, they will count it in front of you. It doesn't matter how the person comes across, always recount it yourself, do not take your eye off it, do not let them touch it again and do not let them take away your money until you're sure what they've given you is correct. They are very quick and can easily skim a few notes off the top after you've checked it. If you have any doubts, speak up. If it's not working out, ask for your money back and go somewhere else.

Using Taxi's

Using taxi's is generally the easiest and most convenient way to get from A to B. Majority of the taxi drivers are honest people but you will always come across one that is after an extra buck. When hailing a taxi, use an established company such as Blue Bird. Before you get in the taxi, check with the driver that they know where your destination is and that they will use the meter. Some driver's will try to bargain a price and you know where you're going and how much the trip will roughly cost, by all means do a bit of bartering but if you're not sure, insist that they use the meter. A trick I've been told is to ask the driver if they want directions. This will give them the idea that you know where you're going and they won't try to rip you off. Take note of the driver's name and ID number in case you have any problems and want to make a formal complaint to the company.

Staying Well

When I go to Bali, I always take Ethical Nutrients Travel Bug tablets. My stomach doesn't agree with the food and I find that these tablets really save me the discomfort of having an upset tum and the anxiety of worrying about getting one. You can buy these at most pharmacies. It's highly recommended to use hand sanitiser and use warm soapy water when washing your hands. Along with the risk of Bali Belly, there is the risk of Dengue Fever from mosquitoes. It doesn't matter what time of year it is, whether it's day or night, always use mosquitoe repellent and one with DEET in it. The mosquitoes that carry Dengue are day time mosquitoes so just because the sun is up, it doesn't mean you can slack off with the repellent.

I cannot stress enough that if you (or anyone in your travelling party) gets sick, get a doctor. Don't wait until it gets worse, don't try to shake it off, don't wait until you get home, get a doctor straight away! They know what they're doing, even in Bali. The hotel's generally have doctors on staff so call reception, let them know you're feeling unwell and have them send the doctor. If it gets worse, get yourself to BIMC; Bali's international hospital and let them take care of you.

Travel Insurance

If you go to Bali without travel insurance, you're just plain stupid. There's no nice way to say it. Your insurance will have you covered if you get sick, if your luggage gets lost and you need to buy clothes and toiletries, if any of your personal belongings get lost or stolen and even things such as your travelling companion getting sick and needing to come home - if you choose to go with them. Even though I've never needed to make a claim (touch wood), I would never go to Bali without insurance. I generally buy 1Cover which can all be done online.

Saying all of this, I would once again like to remind you all of how much I love Bali. It is a beautiful place but like every other country, has its negatives. These tips are my own, not necessarily based on experience but on knowledge after travelling to the island 10 times - and counting!