First visit to Bali? You’ll have a blast! I returned at the end of March 2019, after an amazing 13 night holiday in Bali with a friend of mine. It was incredible, and I loved almost every minute of it!
As I love organising trips, I’d done lots of research in preparation, and come up with a detailed itinerary. There are however, a few things I wish I’d known before my first visit to this amazing island, often referred to as the “Island of the Gods”.
I hope these tips will help you when planning your trip to Bali. It’s often the little things that can help enhance your experience.
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1. Prepare for a wait at immigration
In most airports I’ve visited, I’ve generally been lucky and have gone through immigration quite quickly. I was not however, prepared for the two hour wait at Bali! We landed at 6:00pm, but didn’t walk through to the arrivals hall until 7:56pm. Ouch! Not what we had hoped for after a busy 24 hours in Hong Kong, and a 5.5 hour flight…
The queues snake around the hall and were split into four separate lines. What we discovered after we started queuing, is that not all of the desks are manned. Most of them only had one or two officers behind them, and around two to four desks to each queue.
I’d suggest going for one of the left hand lines. Only because they seemed to move a bit faster than the right hand ones we were in. When you come down the stairs into the immigration hall, try and look at the desks. You should be able to see which desks have more staff – then head for those ones.
We chose a line with only two officers serving everyone in that queue, so no wonder we were slow moving! By the time we realised this, it was too late to swap, but this advice may help you shave a bit off your waiting time.
Another thing to note is the queues never really go down from previous flights that have landed, so the area is always busy. Additionally, the officers call everyone forward one person at a time, even families, making the process longer. The immigration checks include the standard reviewing your boarding pass, passport, checking the customs declaration card, and asking some questions. They also take your fingerprints.
As our trip was only for two weeks, we had the 30 days free visa. I don’t know if there is a different process and additional checks for those who require the extendable visa, so the above information is in relation to the free visa.
2. Book your transport from the airport in advance
We arrived in Bali late afternoon, and as you read above, ended up waiting for a long, long time. I was therefore over the moon with myself for booking a car in advance to take us to our first hotel.
I contacted our driver via WhatsApp once we were in the queue to let him know we’d landed, and would be there fore some time. Luckily he is used to the delays, and sent a picture of where he was waiting for us.
Booking a transfer from the airport before we arrived, was much easier than having to try and negotiate a decent price for a taxi. As my friend and I were both tired and hungry, it meant we could just zip past everyone offering their taxi services.
Our driver greeted us and was clutching a sign with our names on it. He was as relieved as we were, when we finally made it through customs! He carried our luggage for us, and we swiftly made it out of the airport to the parking levels.
I’ve read there are lots of scams, and taxi services overcharging tourists. By booking a transfer in advance, you can avoid any issues and streamline your arrival process.
There are several options for airport transfers, including checking if your accommodation can provide this, although most will charge extra. I found a great website called GetTransfer, which also has an app, and it came up cheaper than the hotel’s own service.
All you do is enter the details of your pick-up and drop-off locations, and wait to receive offers. You can then choose either the cheapest or best rated driver and confirm your transfer. With GetTransfer you pay online in advance, meaning you don’t have to worry about having the right amount of cash on you.
We used GetTransfer three times during our first visit to Bali. It tends to work better scheduling something in advance, but you can request a pick-up as soon as possible, if you want to use this whilst you are out and about.
3. Grab a sim card at the airport
I’d planned to grab a sim card on arrival, to cover us for any of the in-between journeys where we wouldn’t have WiFi.
I brought a portable WiFi device with me, and initially wanted to pick up a local Indonesian sim card at the airport. As we hadn’t been prepared for such a long wait at immigration, we were just eager to get to our first hotel in Uluwatu. This meant we skipped the phone stalls in the arrivals area at the airport. We found out later this was a big mistake. We did manage to get a sim card from a little store in Uluwatu, but only after a roundabout journey.
For some unknown reason, the sim stopped working after one day. Nothing we tried managed to fix it. Unfortunately by that point we were on Nusa Penida, and couldn’t find anywhere to buy another one and our first accommodation didn’t provide WiFi.
I have since found out that sim cards need to be purchased from reputable sellers and registered correctly, otherwise they stop working. WiFi would have been really useful on Nusa Penida, so I’d recommend you get a sim card to meet your needs whilst you’re at the airport.
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4. Transport between places is easy so stay in central locations
As this holiday was my first visit to Bali, I looked up “everything” I wanted to do. The challenge was then to try and squeeze it all in – in just thirteen days!
“Everything” proved to be too much for one trip, despite my careful scheduling. However, to try and get a feel for popular places, my friend and I stayed in six locations in two weeks!!! I’ll certainly do it differently on my next trip.
We hired a driver for several all-day trips, and this was a great option. It cost between IDR600,000-£800,000 (approx £30-40) for a full day. You suggest the itinerary and agree a price. Then sit back and enjoy looking at all the palm trees and local life, as you head to your destinations.
Our stops included Uluwatu, Nusa Penida, Ubud, Gili T, Seminyak, and Jimbaran. Just listing it all is exhausting! My friend and I enjoyed it, but on a return trip, I’d definitely spend more time in Nusa Penida, Ubud and Seminyak.
It would be easy to base yourself in just one or two central locations and explore from there, as it’s easy to arrange drivers.
5. Off peak season is a great time for your first visit to Bali
Kathryn and I traveled during the last two weeks of March 2019, which is the end of the rainy season. For our first visit here, on the whole we had ideal weather. It was warm and sunny during the day, before it clouded over late afternoon.
When it did rain, it was mostly in the evening, and through some of the night. It didn’t impact on what we were up to, and luckily, there was only one torrential downpour we got caught in which happened in Ubud.
Knowing Bali is a popular destination for visitors all year, I found it busy in most places we traveled to. I cannot imagine, and don’t want to experience, this amazing country when more tourists are here! The queues at immigration may be even longer, prices will undoubtedly be higher, and traffic will be worse.
Whilst we were there, the temperature never dropped below 25°C during the day or 20°C at night. Shoulder season is March-June and September-November. Peak times are Christmas and New Year, Easter, and Australian school holidays, as well and July and August.
The rain never lasted very long during our holiday, so I would honestly recommend booking your first visit to Bali during the off peak season.
6. Luxury accommodations have reasonable prices
If you go during off peak times, prices are far more affordable for most things, but especially for accommodation. There are so many hotel, hostel and villa options in all areas of Bali.
My friend and I stayed in a mix of places, ranging from two to four star hotels and villas, to five star resorts. Our accommodation averaged £42 per person per night. As it was our first visit to Bali, we were really surprised at how reasonable the prices were for luxury places.
That being said, I recommend you choose different star ratings for places, as this will make it more affordable. Stay in more basic places if you know you are going to be out for the majority of the day, as you won’t be in the room for very long to enjoy it. For the days you want to relax and not do much, splurge on somewhere nicer to really benefit from all the facilities on offer.
We opted to stay in a five star resort on our last evening in Jimbaran, close to the airport. It was my second time staying in a five star place! It meant we could unwind, whilst enjoying the excellent hospitality and service. The food was fantastic, and we indulged by having a massage before we left the hotel for the airport. We really needed it before spending 24 hours travelling back to the UK.
There are a lot of accommodation options, so you should easily be able to find something to suit your budget and tastes.
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7. Gili Trawangan is great but it has a different vibe to Bali
Kathryn and I, spent three nights on Gili Trawangan and had a fab time. Referred to as Gili T, it is the largest of the Gili islands, which are actually part of Lombok. As they are only a couple of hours away by boat, many tourists include them on a trip to Bali.
Out of all the places that we visited, we agreed Gili T could have been skipped. It wasn’t because it was horrible, or something terrible happened. I just preferred the atmosphere and vibe on mainland Bali more. Looking back, as we were only in Indonesia for 13 days for our first visit, we both would have preferred to explore more of Bali itself.
Plus there is a lot of development on Gili T following earthquakes in August 2018 and January 2019. There are places where rubble still hasn’t been cleared away down some of the side roads. If you only have a small amount of time to spend, I suggest sticking with Bali mainland if its your first visit. Or go to Nusa Penida, which is closer and easier to get to.
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8. Visit Nusa Penida – you won’t regret it
During my first visit to Bali, I only spent one rather interesting night on Nusa Penida, but cannot wait to go back. The views are stunning!
Nusa Penida really made an impression on me. The places my friend and I visited over two days, are most of the ones you see on Instagram. And I’ve posted most of mine on there as well, just because the views really are impressive.
One important thing to mention so you’re prepared, is that the roads are not in great condition. I’ve covered this more in point 10.
There are a lot of tour operators who arrange day trips on this island. You can Google them, or look them up on Facebook. I sent an inquiry to 5 different companies asking for their prices, and went with the most competitive.
We chose a two day trip with Nusa Penida Tour Packages. Our driver Putu was great. He had the best music to pass the time in the car, and came with us to all the spots to take photos for us. Even to Diamond Beach down a steep set of stairs!
Nusa Penida Tour Packages were really easy to deal with via Facebook and WhatsApp. I’d not booked with them before, but I’d happily tour with them again when I return.
9. Be mindful of porters when travelling by boat
If you are heading to any of the islands (Gilis or Nusas) by boat, be mindful that you may get offers from the staff to carry your bags. It will generally be by men in official t-shirts who will take your bags to the boat for you.
We found them to be friendly and chatty, but they will usually be expecting a tip in return for their service. It’s just something to be aware of so that it doesn’t catch you by surprise. If this isn’t something you want to pay for, just make sure when it’s time to head to the boats you keep your luggage next to you (rather than in a central pile) and go when they go.
My friend Kathryn, had a bit of a Pretty Woman moment wondering why the bloke was looking at her as he’d already put her bag down! I gave the porter IDR20,000 (around £1) as the next smallest note I had was IDR100,000 (approx £5.00).
Also make sure you read the reviews of any boats you plan on taking. We booked online and used two different services, Ekajaya for our outward trip, and the Golden Queen for our inbound journey from Gili Trawangan. I would NOT recommend travelling on the Golden Queen!
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10. Road conditions aren’t always great
When planning this Bali holiday, as I was travelling with a friend, I knew there would be different things we’d want to see. It was easy to agree on a plan, but I hadn’t anticipated getting from A to B would be such a slow process.
With it being our first visit to Bali, we found that a lot of the roads are single file, and traffic builds up quickly. I’d hate to think how much worse traffic is during peak season! The cars also weave in and out of traffic, along with bikes, so it was a bit of a fraught ride at times.
Additionally, the condition of the roads differ, as some are quite well paved, but others, particularly on Nusa Penida, are dirt and gravel. These ones are VERY bumpy! We were actually headbanging on several occasions as a result of the car going over the rocks!
On Nuda Penida, whether you’re in a car or on a bike, prepare for a bumpy ride. Personally, I wouldn’t recommend renting a scooter over there. The bikes didn’t look to be in great condition. Plus, it’s easier to let someone who knows the roads and the sites, navigate for you. For me, it took away the worry about getting around safely.
Overall, the road conditions shouldn’t have a major impact on your holiday, but it’s just something to be prepared for. If you don’t get travel sick you should be fine, if you do, it’s worth taking something ahead of your journeys. Kathryn even managed to nap on some occasions, which I found amusing.
Bonus tip – WhatsApp is popular
We used WhatsApp a lot whilst we were on our trip. Not just for keeping in touch with relatives at home, but for communicating whilst in Bali.
A lot of the tour companies and transport businesses, use this app to communicate with their clients. We were able to let our private driver know we were stuck in the immigration hall. Plus arranging a snorkeling trip on Gili T was easy and fast with WhatsApp.
If you don’t already use WhatsApp, I’d recommend you download the app for your first visit to Bali. I’m sure you’ll find it useful during your trip.
Conclusion
Overall, my first visit to Bali blew me away, and exceeded my expectations! I cannot wait to return, and keep looking at flights and deals. There are still so many places on the “Island of the Gods” I need to see.
What have your experiences of Bali been? Have I missed anything that would have been helpful? Feel free to let me know…
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