In Reply to: Do's and Dont's for Bali posted by rider on Friday, 21. August 2009 at 14:53 Bali Time:
Getting to Bali Tips.
In no particular order....................
So you've got your tickets, flights, travel insurance and accommodation all booked now it's time to pack.
Remember that you are allowed only 20 kilos in the hold and 7 kilos on the plane. Ladies can also carry a small handbag. Duty Free isn't counted either if you have just purchased at the airport before flight.
Remember the new restrictions on anything liquid, anything under 100mls is ok but must be in a zip-lock bag and be shown at the checkpoints including lipsticks! Anything over the 100ml must go in your luggage in the hold. If you are not sure and want it on the plane, check first before check-in...once your suitcase has gone to the hold you can't add to it so if you are not allowed it, it will be confiscated and thrown out. Only allowed up to a 1 litre though in your ziplock bag.
So weigh your suitcase/bags empty, if they are too heavy get a new one, borrow one or try the op shops or use soft fabric bags instead of suitcases. You can have as many bags as you can carry as long as they all add up to the same weight.
Throw out your toiletries, first aid and medicines bags. Use Zip-lock bags of different sizes; they prevent spills and can be squeezed into the smallest space in your bags/suitcase.
You will need a shopping bag for whilst in Bali, it needs to be large enough to carry your money, camera, drink bottle, emergency kit, mobile phone and of course any shopping you buy. Over the shoulder/across the body style is good for safety with an outside zip pocket, an inside zipped pocket or divider and a definite zip to close. Your purse should be a flat style, most Bali money you will have is paper notes, maybe with a divider in it for your atm/credit card.
If going with a group of people don't double up on what you can borrow from each other or loan from the hotel.
Mobile phones and cameras can be carried in pockets or on lanyards around your neck. Sunglasses on your head or on a lanyard too. Tickets and passports will be held in the hand. Wear clothes with pockets that you can stuff with items....no one gets personally weighed! Once on the plane you can transfer all these items to your hand luggage if you have room.
Most items can be purchased in Bali nowadays; they have supermarkets just like Perth and department stores just like Myers! Anything you feel you really must have, take, if you can't find out for definite you can get it there.
Packing for Bali should be simple light casual clothing. At least 4 sets and get you're washing done over there, cheap as chips and come back smelling lovely and ironed to perfection.
For on the plane have a light cardigan as it gets cool but remember when getting off the plane it is hot immediately. Maybe take a change of clothes and change on the plane just before landing. You can wear the same clothes back.
Ladies:- 1 nightie, 4 bras, 4 knickers, 4 shorts or 4 ¾ pants or 4 dresses or 4 skirts, 4 tops, 2 pairs of bathers, shoes/thongs to go to pool with, walking shoes, and maybe sneakers/gym shoes if you plan on doing white water rafting or buggy driving or whatever. If you wear a hat or peak cap pack one. Maybe 1 nice outfit for special evening meals with shoes.
Most hotels will have pool/beach towels so don't pack any. If not you can buy one over there and leave as a donation when you depart. Remember to pack any phone/camera chargers or batteries that you may need. You can get power adaptors from the hotel or for a dollar from the department stores in Bali if you need them. Take a 4/6 point power board with you for all those chargers and things.
Pack any clothes that you want a tailor to copy, any jewellery that you want remodelled or pictures that you want copied into clothes or jewellery.
If you read.... take a book or two, take crossword puzzles if that is your thing.
Remember any essential medication that you need, maybe get a Dr.'s note to say what they are and what they are for, just for safety.
Once you have packed everything, weigh your suitcase and your carry-on, if you have space fill it with donations for orphanages. Some things that are really appreciated are adults and children's clothes, RED lipsticks, pens, pencils and chalks, bandages and other first aid stuff. Don't buy though, ask around friends and family for unwanted goods or you can get some from one of the charities here that collect stuff for taking over. Southern Cross Bali Association, see them on the web for more info.
Regarding emergency kit already mentioned above, this should include tissues/toilet paper/wet ones, either or all in small quantities and spare undies.
Duty Free can be purchased up to 30 days before you travel, if you buy a digital camera, video camera or other electronic goods you can buy from any retail shop...go the cheapest way, then once at the airport you can show your receipt and goods and claim the duty tax back there and then. It will be re-credited to your credit card. You must be able to show that the receipt is over $300.00 and all items on said receipt is with you. Very handy if purchasing an i-Pod or camera and you can get used to it before going on holiday and you don't have to have all the packaging with you.
Duty Free can also be purchased at the airport and can be left in Perth until your return, handy because then you don't have to queue to pay once your trip is over.
If you can afford to travel then you can afford travel insurance, don't leave home without it. It can cost upwards of $50,000.00 to fly you home if you are injured. Check with the people you are travelling with and who they insure with. Some people use their free Gold Credit Card insurance, some their hospital benefit funds, their insurance companies or some use the internet to get the best deal. Check all the relevant details and excess costs. Be careful some travel insurance is only for the trip to the airport and back not for the actual holiday.
Don't forget going to Bali you have to pay a Visa on Arrival and a Departure Tax. Your VOA is 25 US dollars but can be paid in Australian dollars and you get Rupiahs in exchange, check the day before you travel what the rate is and give the nearest appropriate Australian Dollars, have a few dollars extra in case the rate changes once in Bali. Or if you wish to take US Dollars then get it from your local post office, no commission and you get it in three days, I think you have to purchase $200.00US worth. Change money at reputable dealers in Bali, usually Kodak shops, cash is easiest and you can use ATM's there now. Have a credit card in case of emergencies. Once you have changed some money put the departure tax money in your passport ready for when you leave, 150,000 Rupiah per person. Remember to use the hotel safes or safety deposit boxes for your money and passport. Try using little envelopes or bank plastic bags, put a set amount in the bags for each day, use a bag a day to get changed and that way you know how you are doing with your money. If using ATM's be careful because your card will come out last from the machine, don't walk away without it, someone watching can then withdraw more money as your pin number is already locked in. Some machines will only dispense a certain note and a certain amount, find out which one delivers what you want. Usually the machine will say what notes it dispenses. It will ask what language you want the machine to work in. Your bank in Australia will charge you fees so check this before you leave.
Mobile Phone
If your phone is unlocked take it to Bali with you for ease of communication. You can check to see if your phone is unlocked by putting someone else's SIM card in from a different company. Take a record of the phone numbers you may want to use whilst in Bali in case they get lost in cyber space once in Bali. A Bali Sim card can be purchased once in Bali, the shop/store assistant will insert it into your phone for you and set it up ready for you to go. It is so cheap to sms home to Australia. Just drop the zero from the number you want and add the plus sign and 61 eg..0123 456 789 becomes +61 123 456 789. Sometimes you will be asked at the shop to register and you will need your passport to do this but not all places request this. If you wish to phone an Australian mobile use the same method as above.
An even cheaper method of communicating with Australia from Bali is using a prefix number. If using a Pro XL Bebas Sim Card the prefix 01000 and 61. To phone Australia landline 03 97891122 you would need to ring 01000 61 3 9789 1122 or to ring a mobile eg 0418 999 888 you would need to ring 01000 61 418 999 888.
If using a Simpati Sim Card the prefix is 0011 then the country code, if using a Mentari Sim Card the prefix is 01016 then 61 then the number
Executive Lounge Bali Airport for Departures.
There are 3 first class lounges that you can access. The names are Prada, Dewi and Premier. It will cost up to 150,000 Rupiah each person. You get free drinks, tea/coffee and a variety of food such as soup and rolls, sandwiches, salads, cakes and savouries plus hot food that you can heat up in a microwave such as nasi goreng. There are also showers with provided towels and free internet access. There is also a massage service but this has to be paid for. Alcohol is served free also. You can also bargain for a lower price entry.
Entry is after the last immigration check. Just ask the friendly staff for directions.
Paperwork.
Take a paper copy of your passport, tickets, itinerary, vouchers and a claim form from your insurance company. Put them in a separate suitcase/place to the originals that you will be using. Also scan copies into your internet email website. If anything goes wrong you will be able to access your documents. It's a good idea to leave a copy of everything with someone at home too. Another precaution to take is registering online with the Department of Foreign Affairs, it only takes a minute and will in cases of emergencies help you or your loved ones out.
Things to do in Bali.
Shopping.
Get clothes tailor made or copied.
Get leather coats, shoes, bags made.
Get your favourite bathers copied and made up.
Get all your printing done eg. Business cards, order books etc..
Get your printing done on beer mats, stubby holders and the like.
Get t-shirts made up for your local team, printed or embroidered.
Don't forget the hats to go with them.
Get your old jewellery remodelled, repaired or just cleaned up.
Get your teeth fixed up.
Have some simple age replenishing beauty work done.
Purchase new spectacles.
Get a hearing aid.
Have a massage, spa treatment or haircut.
Sunbathe, read a book, do a crossword.
Get all your laundry done
Try white water rafting, quad bike riding, buggy driving, tree top walking, ocean floor walking, parasailing, horse riding, jet skiing, flyfish, cycling tour, snorkelling, diving, fishing trips, bungy jumping, ten pin bowling, climb the volcano, visit the islands,
Go to Waterbom Park.
Visit the Bali zoo, elephant park and have a ride, bird park, monkey forest, Safari Park.
Visit the early morning or late night market, go to Denpasar to visit the street that sells Gold or the street that sells heaps of Materials,
See a Balinese dance or theatre, learn to play a Gamelan musical instrument, learn to cook Balinese, see a temple or 2, visit GWK Park, go see the volcano,
Try all the different cocktails and try as many Balinese food dishes as you can.
Go out on a driving tour just to look at the scenery and meet the people.
Travel agent:- book package deal, usually cheaper, guaranteed and one lump payment. Usually can only get into the more frequented touristy type hotels. Can spread payments out.
Do it Yourself:- book airline fare online or over the phone, online cheaper, can't do online with Garuda, can play about with dates and get very cheap fares, okay if you can go at anytime (retirees), can book your seats with most and excess luggage if you think you'll need it. Book direct with hotels, through an online agency or through the airline. Can have the pick of the Island, as a lot of hotels are not bookable through travel agents, can pick up some really good deals with non run of the mill hotels, okay if not your first time and you have an idea what you are doing.
Your passport must have at least 6 months before expiry left on it to be able to enter Bali, it must also have a blank page in the passport for the Visa to be stuck into.
Take Aus cash with you, an ATM card for extras and if you have a credit card for an emergency. It can cost a lot of money if you need medical attention and they will want to see your travel insurance papers or your credit card up front first! The exchange rate is much better in Bali than in the banks here or Perth airport. If using a taxi from the airport in Bali you will need to exchange some in the airport on landing, there are many exchange places in the airport and also ATM's. Count your money once you have been given it, do not leave the counter unless you are sure it is correct, Bali is known for it's corrupt ways and money exchange is the easiest way to get extra. Bali money is all 00000's, all paper mostly too. 10,000 Rupiah is just over $1.00 so you can imagine how many of these notes you will have when you change $100.00. The notes are in 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000 (which looks like the 10,000) denominations. Sometimes at supermarkets you are given lollies in lieu of change! Ways they can cheat you is to fold the paper note in half and it is counted twice, use 10,000 notes instead of 100,000 notes, use a dodgy calculator, count it last yourself, as another ways is they count it last and drop some into their lap! Try and use reputable exchange places, usually Kodak type shops and banks. If they are offering a higher exchange rate than anyone else then there is usually a reason for this and that's because they are going to win by cheating on you.
If using ATM's try and use ones that give out the most money in the one transaction as you will be charged by your bank for the exchange and the withdrawal, some give out as much as 3 million in the one go and in larger notes such as 50,000 and 100,000. Your atm card will come out last of the machine, do not walk away without it as your money can still be accessed by the next person coming along. Guys will be watching for this to happen. When you put your card in the atm it will ask what language then you just follow the prompts, same as here except it will ask for the amount to be withdrawn in Rupiahs so you need to know how much you want in Rupiahs not Aus dollars.
Don't book transfers, they can charge up to $60.00 for a 5 minute trip. Taxis are readily available in Bali all the time, if a plane is landing taxi's will be there. Taxi booth is at the airport, leave the exit and immediately to your right is the booth, you tell them where you are going, you pay, they give you a slip and a taxi driver will appear and show you to your car. No haggling, flat payment. Or you can use one of the many transport guys available all over Bali, this needs to be arranged before you leave Australia.
You need $25.00 United States Dollars to get into the Bali, you can pay in Aus dollars but they will try to rip you off with the exchange rate and you can be longer in visa waiting for change, meanwhile everyone giving you dirty looks for holding up the queue. Also can pay with credit card, again, exchange rate problem and your bank will charge you as a cash advance. Best idea is to go to Post office in Australia and order it in, needs 3 days, you have to get a set amount, no problem if going with friends share it around. Fee is free but probably included in the exchange rate. If you have too many US dollars no problem to get changed in Bali, really good exchange rate for US dollars there.
Do not go over your luggage limit it can cost up to $15.00 per extra kilo to take out of Australia, coming back is even worse. Take as little as possible with you, refer to earlier notes.
When booking flight see if you can get as close to the pointy end of the plane as possible (the front), first off means first in line and you can queue for up to 2-3 hours in Bali......you will notice there is rubber time in Bali, no one is in a hurry. When you leave the plane you queue up at the visa on arrival booth, pay your us dollars, get sticker in passport. Then queue in the immigration line (very intimidating) this is where they check you out, stamp your paperwork and then shoo you through to the next immigration guy who may or may not say hello, check you out again, hand back your passport and you are through. There are many booths but usually only 1 or 2 open, even when busy they don't bother opening more up, it makes it a very boring place to be if in a large queue. The officials are all very intimidating and usually will not even say hello........so different to what Bali really is.
Next you walk through the x-ray machine, your hand luggage goes along a conveyor belt and through an x-ray. You will notice little rooms around the perimeter, this is where you will be taken if anything is amiss. Once through this you are in the arrivals hall. Try and get a luggage trolley or 2, say no thankyou to the many official looking guys that want to help you with your luggage. Once you see your luggage grab it, try not to point it out as a porter will get it and want paying for the privelege of handing it to you! Trolleys are usually located as far away as possible from the luggage carousel, this is so that you use the porters, if you want you can but they will ask for money more than they are supposed to ask for. It's 5,000 rupiah per bag at most and they only take you through customs check, not all the way to your taxi! Once you have all the luggage you then go through the 'to declare' booth or the 'nothing to declare' booth. You may get asked to open your luggage or just one bag or nothing at all, depends on the moods of the officials. If you have white chalk marks on your cases it probably means they will want to check what is inside, you're a pretty girl they will want to check you out, believe me! They are in search of extra bottles of alcohol, don't be silly only take in the allowed amount, it's not worth the bribe, the hassle and is illegal.
Once through here you will follow the road/crowd to the waiting area, this is where the smell/heat of Bali will really hit you. This is where your waiting driver will be, also many Balinese waiting for family or customers. If you are getting a taxi just keep walking to the outside.
When you get to your hotel you can tip your driver if you wish, it is not necessary. If paying a fare usually round off to the nearest, so if the fare is 26,000 then pay 30,000, the drivers hardly ever have change and you'll waste your time while he tries to find change. Always be careful getting out of taxi's as bikes can be ridden up the inside of all vehicles......actually they can be ridden just about anywhere.......and can take the door off you and run you down. When using taxi's always ask for the meter to be turned on and make sure it is working. If using a transport driver then always have the price worked out before you leave your hotel. All day trips are usually 400,000 if travelling far and you can buy the driver his lunch if you wish. ½ day trips around 250,000. A driver can just go shopping with you, stop, start, wait etc. He will look after your gear while you shop, he will be there when you are ready to move to the next place. This will usually include parking fees, about 2,000 wherever there is a guy collecting it. Always nice to offer it up if you have some small change handy.
Don't give to beggars, especially the ones with babies, and not to the kids. These are paid workers, they hire the babies from mums that need the money, they collect all day and nights and then hand in to the 'boss', they get minimal wages in return. You can try offering an icecream to kids or a meal to adults if you are so inclined. Of course seeing someone with no legs and only one arm is a different matter but they probably get more than the hotel staff get paid too! There is no Social Security in Bali, family is everything and all you have next to your religion.
Religion.......it is the be all and end all in Bali, mainly Hindu with a sprinkling of Muslim. Temples are everywhere, offerings are every 2 feet on the floor, ground, the walls, the shelves everywhere, try and be respectful and step around or over them. Mornings it is most prolific as all of Bali offer up something for good anything...luck, business, health, whatever. Incense is burning everywhere also, as is rubbish, you'll get used to the smell. It's the drain smell you don't get used to if you catch a whiff of one of those...phew. Most drains are underground now and that is why the pavements are so up and down, mismatched and have gaping holes in them, do be careful. Don't forget also that some motorbike riders will take the shortcut by being on the pavements as well as you!
Remember this smell, this heat, it will knock you out, BUT it is the one you will want to go back to.
Some of the scams you will come across:-
I've already mentioned about the money rip offs but there are a few more. The most annoying is the people in the streets that ask you to scratch a scratchie or fill in a survey. Just say no thankyou, unless you really want to do one and in turn the person asking you will get paid, sometimes up to $50.00 for getting you in! It works like this, if you fill in the survey they will phone you at your hotel and ask you to come along to a hotel because you have won a prize, usually a weeks paid holiday. You can go along and spend the day at a flash hotel, get a nice lunch, sit by the pool BUT you must listen to a seminar or be shown around the hotel by someone else and it's all a sales talk usually into timeshare. If you can say NO it is worth it for the freebies and you are helping out a few Balinese earn some very hard earned money. The scratchies are the same thing, you always win, could be a holiday, a camera, steak knives etc.....same thing they want you to go to their hotel to collect. There are literally hundreds of these survey/scratchie people on the streets. Of course you only get the weeks holiday if you are close to signing on the dotted line most of the time, BUT I have heard of people getting there weeks holiday and not buying into it. If you want timeshare buy resale, loads cheaper.
The other one is the $2.00 coin gold bracelet.....Megan has one, has had it for years now, it's great, doesn't discolour and is always a talking piece. BUT it is not made out of $2.00 coins. You will be asked to hand over $2.00 coins and some rupiahs and the next day be given a bracelet with your name on or whatever you want on the design. The $2.00 coins are not melted down, they are collected up and sold onto the workers at the airport who in turn sell them back to the tourists flying back to Australia. You may be offered a roll of 25 $2.00 coins at the airport on leaving and pay over $50.00, that's good no scam there at all, and real good if you need coins! The scam is that they are telling you that you are getting a bracelet made out of the coins in the first place and you are not, the bracelets are okay, made out of some cheap metal that they can get readily and made up quickly.
The other one is you may be looking at some stuff on a stall and they haven't got exactly what you want, someone will say to you I have it at my stall, so begins the walk to his stall and in the end he hasn't got it anyway but will try like crazy to sell you something/anything off his stall!
Bargaining/Haggling is the way to go at the stalls that are not fixed price. The stallholder will start at a ridiculous price, just laugh and say you are not Japanese! Japanese will pay the high prices! Divide the price by 3 and start a little lower and build up to what you are prepared to pay. Remember it is very poor form to start haggling/bargaining of something if you don't intend to buy. You can work out prices by using the fixed price stalls for the first days or by checking out a price guide. Remember to have your calculator or cheat sheet near so that you can check how you are doing with the conversion.
Cheat sheets:- You can get these off the net, just google or make your own up......
7500 = $1.00 20,000 = $2.66
10,000 = $1.33 Of course this will depend on your exchange rate whilst there.
When deciding where to go on holiday think about what you want to do and who you are going with.
Hard when you've never been to the place before, ask friends, family and check out the internet.
If you are going with friends, decide between you what you want
Young, party place?, all inclusive resort?, near nightclubs?, near activities?, activities included?, breakfast included?, family atmosphere?, posh and expensive?, budget but clean?, hot water?, air-conditioning?, pool?, tea/coffee making facilities?, room for more than 2?, security safe in room or safety box at reception?, the needs are endless and everyone will have their opinion so be prepared to make compromises.
We are older so this is our list, location, budget price, airconditioning, hot/cold water, safe or safety deposit boxes, quiet for sleeping, double/queen or king size bed, nice pool with pool loungers available, International TV, wireless internet or access close by and close to restaurants.
It really doesn't matter what hotel you are at as you are probably only going to be sleeping there, maybe a day by the pool. Restaurants are every 2nd shop, market stalls, every 2nd shop, internet cafes, every 2nd shop, laundry every 2nd shop, tourist info booths every 2nd shop and if you can't find something someone will know where you can find it.........other tourists in your hotel are good sources of information, if they've been there a few days or visited before.
Be wary of prices that hotels offer you for anything, you can pay as much as 3 times what your laundry is worth to get it done, still it can be convenient also. Tours/Activities to anywhere and anything will always be dearer in the hotel, check out tourist booths and their discount vouchers. Transport will be dearer if organized by your hotel, walk 10 steps and you will be asked transport by 10 guys if not more, and taxis are everywhere. If organizing transport get prices first up before taking off. Taxis must use meters but check that they do.
When on the street you will be asked 'do you want massage, scrap heel, plaited hair, manicure' etc. Etc. Etc.. you will get used to it, you will be handed flyers with prices, you will learn to just say no thankyou. It is all very intimidating, very scary at first but remember that all these people are fighting for your business...............There is no Social security in Bali.
You will be called beautiful, you will be asked are you on your honeymoon, you will be asked do you want Viagra, you will be asked if you want other drugs, just ignore those and laugh at the others. Remember that the police plant guys to sell drugs just to catch you out!
Now I've really scared you, hope you love it as much as we do, you either love it or hate it, Dave and I took 10 years to go back, now we go twice a year. Remember to take things in your stride, if you wouldn't do it in Aus don't do it there.