Bali

The main gateway is Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Tuban, between Kuta and Jimbaran, about 45 minutes from Denpasar. Since February 2024, all international tourists must pay a Rp150,000 Tourist Levy, preferably online before arrival. Visa-free entry is available for many nationalities.

Traffic is chaotic, particularly in Kuta, Seminyak, Ubud and Denpasar. Walking is difficult due to narrow sidewalks blocking by motorbikes. For excursions, many join tours from hotels or street agencies. A light rail transit system is planned but not operational until 2031. Taxis are widely available; Bluebird is the most reliable company with metered fares.

Daytime temperatures vary between 20-33°C year-round. The west monsoon from December to March brings heavy showers and high humidity, but sunny days are common. June to September is the dry season with low humidity and cool evenings. The Bukit Peninsula receives far less rain than other parts. In higher elevations like Bedugul or Kintamani, it gets distinctly chilly after sunset.

Bali offers the best range of accommodation in Indonesia, from US$10-per-night losmens to US$4,000-per-night super-homes. Backpackers head to Kuta for the cheapest digs. Poppies Lane I and II in Kuta offer fan rooms for Rp70,000 (single) or Rp100,000 (double) with breakfast. Five-star resorts cluster in Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Seminyak and Ubud. Sanur and Jimbaran offer a compromise for beach and quiet.

Local warungs serve authentic Indonesian dishes like nasi goreng, nasi campur, and mie goreng for rarely more than Rp25,000. Kaki lima vendors offer bakso (meatball soup) for Rp5,000. Padang restaurants serve rendang and other dishes for Rp15,000-20,000. Bintang beer is widely available for Rp22,000+ per small bottle; happy hour specials go for Rp20,000-25,000. Caution is advised with spirits due to adulteration risks.

Bali's Hindu culture is extraordinary; attend temple ceremonies and witness daily offerings. Hot springs like Air Banjar near Lovina and Toya Bungkah at Kintamani are popular. Spa treatments are incredible value: a one-hour full body massage costs Rp70,000-100,000; a 2-hour mandi lulur with scrub and mask is about Rp150,000; a creambath costs Rp60,000. Yoga centres abound in Ubud and Seminyak. Diving and surfing are world-class.

Bali is generally safe, but terrorist bombings occurred in 2002 and 2005; security is tight at obvious targets. Drug penalties are harsh – even possession can lead to long prison terms or large bribes. Magic mushrooms are offered but risky. Rip currents are dangerous; red flags indicate no swimming. Beware of monkeys stealing items at temples. Tourist police have been deployed since 2024 to handle troublemaking foreigners.

SIM cards are widely available at roadside stalls; foreigners need to register their passport. Biznet WiFi spots in Kuta and Legian offer vouchers: Rp10,000 for 500MB/10 days or Rp30,000 for 2GB/30 days. Public telephones are rare. Mobile phone prices start under Rp300,000. International Direct Dialing prefixes are 001, 007, or 008.

Backpackers can get by on a daily budget of around Rp200,000-400,000. Dorm beds in Kuta losmens start at Rp70,000. A meal at a warong costs Rp15,000-25,000, and street food like bakso is Rp5,000. Local beer is Rp22,000-40,000. A massage costs Rp70,000-150,000. Transport by motorbike taxi (ojek) varies; no specific price given. Budget tips: eat at warungs, use local transport, bargain for souvenirs.

Boat services run regularly to Lombok, the Gili Islands, and Flores. Combined bus and ferry services connect to destinations in Java like Yogyakarta. Flight time to Flores is 90 minutes. Bandung is served by AirAsia from Bali in about 1 hour.