After hearing all the ravings about Bali, admiring the instagram posts, and feeling like everyone and their mother goes to the paradise island – I finally decided to give into the eat.pray.love experience. I lived in Asia for the past few years and anticipated a move out; therefore, I didn’t want to miss the opportunity to visit Bali. But all my vocabulary knew about Bali was “Ubud, Gili, Bali Swing, and sunsets.” So without knowing a thing, I booked a stay in Ubud because it just sounded like the right thing to do.
And it was.
Here’s what I wish I would have known before arriving in sunny Bali.
Bali is known for its beaches and sunsets.
Arriving in Bali – Money Changers, Sim Cards, and Transport
Money Changers
Bali’s airport is Ngurah Rai (Denpasar) International Airport at the south of the island. After immigration, the arrivals area was full with an influx of tourists and I just wanted to know where to exchange money and buy a sim card. At the entrance of the arrival area, you will see two exchange offices (one on your right and left) and it will be full of people. Save yourself the trouble and walk further left and you will find an exchange office with a smaller tail and the same rates. If you want a slightly better rate, you can walk towards the parking lot area and there is another money changer. Nonetheless, only exchange the amount of money you need (money for at least the airport transfer) as airports usually offer lower rates.
Tip: Money changers are widely available around the island. In particular, Ubud’s best currency exchange rates can be found on Monkey Forest Street.
Sim Cards
After you have your Indonesian Rupiah currency, walk back towards the main arrival area and feel free to buy a sim card. Towards the right, you will see a line of shops that have transport and sim card services. The shop on the farthest right had the best rates for me – I opted for the Telkomsel sim card. If you need a mass of data, there was also a Telkomsel kiosk in the center of arrivals that sold large data packages. Telkomsel isn’t the cheapest but it is affordable, and the service is known to be reliable around the island.
Tip: Make sure you buy a sim card that covers the area you will be travelling in Indonesia.
Transport
If you need transportation, you can definitely book it at the airport or request it from your hotel/hostel. I booked at the airport and shopped around; I was quoted between IDR 300,000 – 600,000 (USD 22-44) to reach Ubud (central Bali). The main transport kiosk in the middle of arrivals has a list of suggested prices, but I didn’t book with them because they said the price varies depending on traffic. And knowing Bali is notorious for traffic, I didn’t want to take the risk. So I ended up going to the shop next to where I bought my sim card, and I got a fixed price to Ubud for IDR 300,000 (USD 22) in an air conditioned car. This was a cheaper price than what my hostel offered. Would I do this again? Probably not. I always have small luggage, so next time I would try to find a motorbike taxi and bargain the price.
An Indonesian family making their way through the streets of Ubud.
Transportion in Bali
The best transport in Bali is motorbike. Why? Because renting is cheap and motorbike is the fastest way to get around. There is traffic throughout the day and you can zip through it with a small vehicle. Is it safe? Honestly, I don’t trust foreigners driving in Bali, but locals know what they’re doing. If you don’t trust yourself, you can download Uber, Grab, or GoJek – apps which offer bike and car services. These car services are widely advertised as “forbidden” because it takes business away from freelance taxi drivers on the street, yet these transportation apps still exist. Freelance taxi drivers will give you the evil eye if they suspect you booking these forbidden services on the street. Alternatively, you can hire Bluebird Taxi which you can find passing the streets. Or there are shuttle buses you can hire at the extensive tourist kiosks around the city or your hotel.
Good to know: There is no need to worry about finding a taxi in Bali. Every corner you turn, there is someone waiting for you with a sign that says: TAXI. And you will hear every second, “Ladyyy…taxi? Taxi? TAXIII???” You’ll start wishing you had earplugs before you know it!
Where to Stay in Bali
Well, what can I say? I LOVE UBUD. I took trips around the island and always came back. Ubud is in central Bali, and it’s easy to get around. I stayed at a simple dorm that did the job, Kayuni Hostel, which is at the very center of the city. I also would recommend Sanur, which also has lively streets, access to the beach, and a wonderful night market. Seminyak also has cute cafes, shops, and restaurants. Canggu, Lovina, and Amed can also be good places to stay. During my last days in Bali, I stayed in South Kuta and had close and easy access to Uluwatu and the airport.
Places that weren’t vibing for me: Kuta. Kuta is known as a party city and also gets a dirty look from locals. But it’s known as a great place to surf. I visited there and it just wasn’t my vibe. I did enjoy eating at Legian 21 cafe though.
The Indonesian flag waves proudly at Mt. Batur, a popular area for sunrise hikes.
How Long to Stay in Bali?
This is a hard question, but it depends on your circumstances and what you want to accomplish on the island.
• If you live near Bali, a weekend trip is possible.
• If you live across the globe, I wouldn’t spend less than a week in Bali as it may not be worth the money.
• In general, two weeks is average to see a large part of Bali.
• If you want to see every corner of Bali and visit nearby islands, you would definitely need more than a month(s).
It sounds like common sense, but people often ask this question and it’s important to consider. Remember that you should factor in time to other nearby islands during your Bali vacation – Gili Islands, Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan, Nusa Ceningan, etc. No matter how long you stay, it’s not possible to get bored in Bali (unless you’re already a boring person)! Hehe.
Soar into the jungle at Bali Swing.
So, in summary…
The best part of Bali? Feeling free. The laid back lifestyle. The health conscious mindset with the availability of yoga and vegan food. The local people and their genuine smiles. The inspiration that builds inside you. The beautiful memories.
The worst part of Bali? The touristy feeling and possible loss of authenticity. And the sensation of feeling like fresh toast with the dry, scorching heat even after a dip in the water. And maybe the traffic too.
Overall, you should visit Bali. Oh, you say you already visited? Go again, duh! I give you permission hehe. ; )