Bali is often referred to as the “Island of Gods” and you will completely understand why when visiting this beautiful island. It is a mesmerizing tropical paradise located in the Indonesian archipelago. Bali has a beautiful nature with countless impressive waterfalls and lush green rice fields, but also a very vibrant and interesting culture. It has earned its reputation as one of the trendiest travel destinations in the world. This enchanting island offers a diverse range of experiences and has something to offer for every kind of traveler.
As you can see, there is no reason not to put Bali on your bucket list, so you might as well start planning your trip now.
Bali experiences only two seasons: wet season and dry season. Due to its location, Bali experiences high temperatures all year round.
The best time to visit Bali is generally between April and October, during the dry season. Know that July and August are high season and that is when you can expect the biggest crowds. You can, of course, expect dry weather during the dry season and also the beaches are cleaner in this period.
Yet, the rainy season also has its advantages: Nature is much greener, the waterfalls even more impressive, fewer crowds, and lower prices. Temperatures remain high, at an average of 28°C, but the days will feel more humid. So, the best time to travel to Bali depends entirely on what you prefer and what you plan to do in Bali.
The official currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) and you can pay by credit card in bigger restaurants, hotels, and shops, but not everywhere. Especially not in the smaller, local restaurants, bars, and shops. It is therefore always useful to have enough cash with you, and also to give tips.
You will find ATMs in every touristic area and/or major cities where you can withdraw money, but not in the more remote places.
The official languages in Bali are Balinese and Indonesian. Additionally, English is also widely used in Bali.
Bali is, in general, a safe island to travel. There are a few safety risks you might want to be aware of, such as natural disasters and thefts in the more touristic areas.
Tourists are sometimes taken advantage of and get scammed. Some very common scams are overpriced taxis, corrupt police and scooter scams.
Do not drink tap water. You should only drink bottled water to make sure you don’t get sick. It is also best not to brush your teeth with water from the tap and make sure that no water gets into your mouth while showering. Bali Belly is real.
In Bali, the dress code is generally casual and informal. Actually, you can wear anything there. In some situations however, like visiting temples or sacred places, there are certain requirements that you must follow to show respect, such as wearing a sarong (a piece of traditional fabric to wrap around your waist) and covering bare shoulders.
You can buy a local SIM card (e.g. at the airport) to be able to use mobile data at a low cost on the island. If you plan on visiting not just Bali, but also other places in Indonesia, you should ask whether the SIM card also works in other areas.
Another option is to buy an e-SIM, Jetpac is an excellent partner for this!
In Bali, it is common to negotiate the price of a product. By haggling a product will often cost you less than what they originally asked for.
Tipping is not customary in Bali, but it is appreciated to show your gratitude if you are really satisfied with the service. In most restaurants and bars, the service fee is included in the bill. If you still like to tip on top, you can always leave a tip of 5% to 10%.
Most power plug sockets in Bali are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230 V and the frequency is 50 Hz.
Bali is, in general, a safe country to travel. It is even said to be one of the safest destinations in Asia. But you have to be aware of pickpockets and scammers.
The time zone in Bali is GMT+8.
