Bali Tips for First-Timers: 12 Important Things to Know Before You Land

Are you planning your first trip to Bali? In this blog post, you’ll find 12 essential Bali tips for first-timers.

Here you’ll find all the information I wish I had known before my departure: from how to get through the quickest and least painful passport control to the best ways (to try) to avoid the infamous Bali food poisoning (worldwide renowned as Bali belly). Make sure to take notes! ✏️

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1. Fill in Your Travel Documents Online

In addition to your flight tickets and a valid passport, you must complete four online documents to land at the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Denpasar without hassle.

Visa: Ensure you fill in the document to get your VISA before arrival. You can request it HERE. 

Health Declaration: Complete the health declaration form three days before your landing in Bali. You can fill it out HERE.

Customs Declaration: Fill out the customs declaration form 3 days before arrival. You can fill out the form HERE.

Levy Fee: All tourists visiting Bali must pay an IDR 150,000 fee (about $9) to support Bali’s tourism and nature before arrival. The fee can be paid online HERE.

Once you arrive at the airport, you can go straight to the automatic passport control, and you’ll be out in no time. 

2. Plan Your Transport From the Airport in Advance

The best way to handle your transportation from the airport is to book a private driver. 

Trust me; there’s nothing worse than landing in Bali after a long flight and being bombarded by drivers and agencies all competing for your attention while you’re still trying to figure out what to do.

Booking a private driver through Klook is the best way to ensure a stress-free arrival and commute to your hotel. You pay in advance when booking the service, and it costs much less than a Grab or a random taxi driver you might meet at the airport.

Your driver keeps track of your flight, so they’ll know about any delays in advance. Plus, they’ll wait up to 2 hours without extra fees—no need to worry if you’re stuck at the luggage reclaim. You can also message them to confirm that you’re on the ground.

This is the perfect way to handle your airport arrival: pick up your bag, head to the Klook area, and relax at the hotel.

3. Cheapest Time to Fly to Bali: Low & Shoulder Season

Let’s start with the periods to avoid if you want to fly to Bali for a lower price: July and August. 

These two months correspond to the peak season, with high prices and great weather. Traveling to Bali during this time means enjoying long sunny days and experiencing stunning sunsets on the beach with a cocktail in hand. However, you’ll likely spend double compared to the low season.

The best times to travel to Bali and save money are September to November and April to June. However, remember that September to November is the rainy season.

You can check out the flight fares below to get an idea.

During this time, you’ll find the best deals on hotels and flights, and you can experience the magic of Bali with fewer crowds. Conversely, you’ll also risk encountering Bali’s tropical rain more than once a week.

But if the wet season is your only option, go for it! And, as I don’t want you to get discouraged, check out my recent rainy season experience. Spoiler: I had a great time despite the rain!

4. How Much is a Trip to Bali: Set Your Priorities

A trip to Bali can cost a few hundred dollars (excluding the flight) or several thousand. In Bali, traveling on a budget is manageable, but of course, it depends on your priorities.

Flight

The flight will be the most considerable expense for your vacation. However, flight prices drop significantly when you add one or two stops. If you’re coming from Europe, you might spend around $1,500 for a return flight to Bali in September with one stop. You can spend less if you opt for more stops.

Accommodation

In Bali, you can find nice guest houses for around $20, with breakfast included. Assuming you stay 10 days, this will cost $200. You can use booking.com to look up accommodation prices.

Food

If you want to keep it local, you will spend around $2-3 for a meal. If you prefer dining in more Western-style restaurants, you can go up to $7. Then, if you add a glass or bottle of wine or beer, the bill starts to increase. I would assume an average of $15 per day on food and beverages, which is $150 for 10 days. Explore the restaurants I’ve been to to understand Bali’s standard when it comes to pricing.

Transportation

Private transportation bookings are common in Bali for day trips and straightforward A-to-B journeys, as the public transportation system isn’t significantly developed. You can consider renting a private driver in Bali.

Activities and sightseeing

Activities and sightseeing won’t take up a significant part of your budget. In fact, in Bali, even the most adventurous activities, like rafting or canyoning, rarely exceed $10. Temples and waterfalls are usually visited for $3 to $5. 

5. Festivals in Bali: Nyepi, The Day of Silence

If one of your reasons for traveling to Bali is to immerse yourself in authentic Balinese culture, you’ll be happy to know that every month, Bali hosts a variety of events and religious festivals in different locations.

However, there’s one festival you should definitely keep in mind, especially if you’re visiting Bali in March: Nyepi, the Day of Silence. Nyepi is a sacred day in the Balinese Hindu calendar, marking the start of the Balinese New Year.

On this day, Bali comes to a complete standstill. All commercial and tourist activities pause, and even the airport shuts down—no flights come in or out.

Balinese Hindus dedicate this day to connecting with God through meditation, prayer, and absolute silence. Tourists are also expected to respect these rules.

If you happen to be in Bali on this day, observe all the practices for the Day of Silence and plan ahead for essentials like food, as everything will be closed.

6. Bali Belly & How to (Try To) Avoid It

If you’re planning a trip to Bali, you’ve probably encountered the term “Bali Belly,” the local term for food poisoning. 

I believe that Bali belly is the result of how your body reacts to authentic Asian food prepared with different ingredients and water.

I lived in China for a year and didn’t get Bali belly when in Bali, as if my stomach was already used to real Asian food. I ate the same things as the people traveling with me, and they got Bali belly. So, that’s my take on this.

That said, there are some ways to (try to) avoid it:

1. Brush your teeth with bottled water: I didn’t do this. I used tap water without swallowing, and people who used bottled water still got Bali Belly. So I don’t think there’s a strict rule here.
2. Iceless drinks: The general rule is that if you shouldn’t drink tap water, you should avoid cocktails and drinks with ice. This is primarily true at local warungs, but ice is usually safe at higher-end restaurants. Use your judgment about where you feel comfortable drinking ice, or skip it to be safe.
3. Choose busy restaurants: This usually means the ingredients are fresh and frequently restocked.
4. Always wash your hands: If you bite your nails or touch your face and mouth often, wash your hands. Cleanliness standards in Asia can be different, so make sure to clean your hands before eating.

7. Protect Yourself from Mosquitos & Viruses

Bali is a tropical paradise, which means insects of all types, including big spiders and mosquitoes, are everywhere. This is especially true during the rainy season when humidity is at its highest.

Among these friendly bugs, mosquitoes are the ones to watch out for, as they can spread Dengue fever. When planning your essentials, make sure to pack some DEET spray. Apply it every day, multiple times a day, even if you’re indoors.

If you’re looking for a good DEET spray, check out this one. You won’t smell like a flower, but you’ll be protected at least. 

8. Download Grab & Gojek Apps

Grab and Gojek are the two must-have apps when traveling to Bali. Both let you book taxi and scooter rides at the lowest prices.

Given the traffic in busy areas like Canggu, Seminyak, or Ubud, booking a scooter ride is a super convenient way to get around, especially for longer distances.

With Grab and Gojek, you can even order takeaway food and do your grocery shopping, and it will be delivered right to your accommodation. 

If you use Grab and Gojek for longer journeys, just remember that they are not allowed to go everywhere. An example is Padangbai, where the ferry to the Gili Islands departs.

9. Mind Your Steps When Walking On The Street

Bali’s roads are generally not made for walking. Sidewalks are rare, and the streets are often dotted with holes and uneven paths.

Always watch your step when walking because it’s not uncommon for someone to fall into one of these holes and get hurt (I swear it happened to someone I know).

10. Pay Attention to Where You’re Withdrawing Money

In Bali, stories of credit cards being swallowed by ATMs are so common.

Ensure that the ATM you are withdrawing money from is associated with a major Indonesian bank, such as BNI, BRI, BCA, CIMB Niaga, and Bank Mandiri. Safe ATMs can be found at the entrances of these banks or as stand-alone machines.

While you can use your card to pay in most places (though there’s often a minimum expense and a 3% commission), having cash on hand is essential for entrance fees, private drivers, and smaller purchases.

11. Be patient with Balinese Calmness

The Balinese are the kindest, most welcoming, and cheerful people you’ll ever meet.

It doesn’t matter if you’ve just met them; their warmth and genuine smiles will instantly win you over. 

Along with these wonderful traits comes something else we’re not always used to in the West: calmness and a relaxed pace. They live life without rushing, and it’s perfect that way.

So, when you find the hotel check-in taking too long, you’re running late, or your driver is moving slower than you would, let their calmness rub off on you.

The Balinese don’t rush. Instead of getting anxious, see it as a chance to slow down yourself and embrace their way of living.

12. Know Where to Find the Authentic Side of Bali

I guess what they say is true: we can’t expect to see the authentic side of Bali everywhere, as it was 20 years ago. However, you can still find it if you know where to look.

If you only visit Canggu and Seminyak, spend all your time on the beach, and evenings in bars and fancy restaurants, you might find it difficult to find authenticity.

But if you explore beyond the expat-filled cities, you’ll see how people live off agriculture and how Balinese rituals are still alive, not just in the Canang Sari offerings by the roadside.

You’ll notice low stone houses without doors and wooden roofs lining the streets. You’ll see seven-year-olds riding motorbikes with their younger siblings in front, farmers crossing the roads barefoot, and elderly women carrying baskets that seem to weigh a ton on their heads.

This is Bali’s most beautiful and worthwhile side. Areas off the usual tourist path, such as Sidemen, Munduk, and the island’s northern side, are worth discovering.

For your first visit, plan an itinerary that lets you experience everything from lush rice terraces and volcanic landscapes to vibrant beaches and ancient temples. Simply ticking off the typical tourist spots might give you a misleading impression of the island’s true beauty and diversity.

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Hopefully, these Bali tips for first-timers will help you plan your first Bali trip in the best way.

Recently, I’ve seen so many TikTok videos from people saying that visiting Bali is no longer worthwhile. I don’t think so. Bali is still so worth visiting; it’s just important to know what to expect.

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