Need Some Tips for Travelling to Bali for The First Time

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    Stone on 31/08/2015 - 20:11

    Haha. Unlucky! Usually, your guide/driver will tell you to put hats, glasses and other loose items into a bag so monkeys can't take them. I don't even bother getting bananas to feed them, it's funnier watching other tourists get mugged for their bananas.

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    abh_gup on 02/09/2015 - 19:38

    Agree. Or just don't visit the monkey palace. I too lost a few memorabilia I'd just purchased.

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  patchyz on 31/08/2015 - 23:34

  +2

  Everyone has covered most things. But just another small thing..

  Bring your own sunscreen and aloe Vera!!!!!! They charge like 15 Aussie dollars for sunscreen. I searched in heaps of places (not everywhere cause I just wanted it on the first day) but couldn't find anything cheaper.

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    Stone on 01/09/2015 - 00:32

    +1

    Good tip. These were $17 for a big tube and $7.50 for a small back in October 2014. Never know there was SPF 110!

    http://i.imgur.com/KmsrhEM.jpg

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  friftymama on 01/09/2015 - 13:38

  This will sound weird but I find it really easy to get sunburned there. In Australia I seem to avoid it. Also the sunscreen that you buy there is the old fashioned wash off type which is useless once you hit the pool. I was swimming at the beach less than two hours and had the most horrific sunburn. Take aussie sunscreen (you'll likely have to put in your checked baggage) and slather it generously.

  Also the tours often just take you from tourist trap to tourist trap (bali dancing etc) so factor that into any tours you take. The coffee plantation was gorgeous though - Bali Pulina. And some of the ancient temples look like something out of Tomb Raider!

  Bali was my first trip out of Australia too and tbh was a bit of a culture shock but you'll adjust quickly.

  I would say also dont buy up big on the clothes. They lasted less than the holiday before starting to fall apart.

  Remember you're a white tourist…and unfortunately the Balinese don't see the most sophisticated of Australians…some of them are a bit wary and think we're all a bunch of drunk vomiting degenerates. I noticed they are treating the Chinese tourists with a bit more respect than us.

  anyways. ..have a great time!

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  [Deactivated] on 01/09/2015 - 17:16

  Sum everyone's comments up! Just don't do anything in Bali! 👍🏻

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  FisSort on 01/09/2015 - 21:30

  -1

  Dont order the fish

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  abh_gup on 01/09/2015 - 22:08

  Even if u find a good deal, call jetstar to price beat. Helps. Read up previous posts here in ozbargain for how to do it.

  Get travel insurance. Necessary for Bali flights.

  Get your travel vaccines. Diseases happen there coz the hot weather. Good that Mozzies are not in abundance there.

  Get a Citibank debit card or 28 degrees credit card for use over there.

  Do not exchange money at local money exchangers. They lure you with higher advertised rates. it's like a magic trick they use, you will count and count the money exchanged, but will always leave the changer with less money. Cheating is common. If need be, use the ATM or official bank, despite the nominal forex fee.

  Currency is confusing, get your head around it asap. Approx 10,000 IDR = 1 AUD. Simply remove the 4 zeroes.

  Avoid touts. Cunning fellas.

  If hiring a bike or car, beware of cops. Good if you know the art of how to bribe them if anything happens. Will help.

  Organise airport pickup by hotel itself for cheapest rates.

  Tip the hotel cleaners and guards atleast IDR 20,000 (2 AUD) every day. Worth it. Your room will be decorated with 'swans', extra towels and good fragrance.

  And drink up, can smoke almost anywhere. But DON'T do drugs.

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    1271190 on 02/09/2015 - 10:00

    Thank so much for all the great info!
    How do I go about tipping (total newbie over here) do I leave it in the room or ?

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      King Tightarse on 02/09/2015 - 10:01

      Well I like the Japanese tradition where you tip the maid to say thanks for cleaning your room by leaving the tip under your pillow when you leave but it's a personal choice.

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      abh_gup on 02/09/2015 - 19:20

      On checking into the hotel, can tip the 'assisting girl' and/or 'bell boy' (usually that's the gender, lol).
      On leaving the hotel during the day, tip the guard.
      During late morning when leaving the room around 'clean my room' time, you may find the cleaner's trolley in the aisle, you can look around that area for a bit.
      At the hotel's restaurant, the waiters will seat you; you will be able to identify them.
      Outside restaurant's, don't worry about tipping.
      Surprise them at random times, not as a regular daily process, should they get used to it. Budget maybe max $10 or so for that per day at the hotel. Rosters mean they will change their service timings.
      Perhaps ask them during the conversation if you would 'see them around again'.
      People (not the touts, etc) are generally nice there, religious, spiritual (hindu style) and they really appreciate these gestures more than we do in oz (perhaps coz lower per capita income).

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  87percent on 05/10/2015 - 20:51

  first time in bali in a few weeks time, travelling with 2 young kids. Can anyone advise if the "vip voa" services are actually worth it? some stories say while it'll get you through immigration quicker, you have to stand around waiting for your bags for ages which negates the fasttrack

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    Stone on 08/10/2015 - 18:28

    It'll save you lining up for 10-15 mins in the immigration line but then you have to wait for the same baggage carousel as everyone else.
    I didn't use the VIP process and I think I waited about 10 mins before any bags came out and 20 mins before I had mine. By that time everyone from the flight was at the carousel and we all seemed to just walk through the customs check.

    I wouldn't waste money on it unless you for some reason couldn't stand in a line for a short time.

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