Of the 31 countries I’ve visited thus far, Indonesia ranks at the very top. It is home to some of the most lush, diverse scenery I’ve ever seen, and the locals are some of the friendliest and most kind-hearted I’ve met. Each visit leaves me wanting to stay longer and explore more. I’ve spent the majority of my time on the island of Bali; here are seven things to make your trip smoother and more enjoyable.
1. Download WhatsApp
WhatsApp is very popular in Indonesia and is the preferred form of communication between locals and tourists. I used it almost daily to contact hotels, Airbnb hosts, taxi drivers, and more. I also recommend downloading an e-sim before you leave so you can rely on data rather than wifi. There are plenty of plans available – I went with Holafly which worked great for me, but was a bit spotty for my friend.
2. Check visa requirements
Visa requirements vary based on which passport you hold. Tourists with USA passports who plan to stay less than 30 days are eligible for an Electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA). The turnaround time is typically very fast; I applied three days before landing in Indonesia and was approved almost immediately. The application takes around 20 minutes and costs 500k rupiah (approx. $35). You can pay via credit card. The link to the official Indonesian Immigration website can be found here: https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/.
All visitors, regardless of nationality or visa type, must fill out an arrival card before clearing customs. This can be done up to 72 hours in advance, only takes a few minutes, and is free. If any website tries to charge a fee for the arrival card, it is a scam. I recommend doing both the visa and arrival card in advance to save you time in customs; the lines can be very long, but we were able to bypass them.
3. Prepare for heavy traffic
Bali has no freeways and very few multi-lane roads. During peak hours, traffic can be extremely heavy, especially in more populated areas such as Uluwatu, Denpasar (where the airport is located), and Canggu. It once took me over two hours to get 12 miles.
The tourist areas of Bali are somewhat spread out. I highly recommend choosing an accommodation close to major shopping areas, beaches, or wherever else you want to spend the majority of your time; otherwise, you may find yourself sitting in traffic a lot.
4. Beware of Bali Belly
Bali Belly is a fancy name for food poisoning there. It’s common among tourists and can be caused by improper food sanitation or ingesting the tap water. On my most recent trip to Southeast Asia, I did not come down with any stomach bugs. These are the precautions I took and would recommend:
- Check restaurant reviews before eating / drinking out.
- Wash your hands (or at the very least use hand sanitizer) before eating; you can just as easily contract a bug from other germs you picked up during the day.
- Don’t drink the tap water! The tap water in Indonesia is not safe to drink, even for locals. It’s fine to shower in; just be careful to not ingest any of it. Use filtered or bottled water to brush your teeth. Many hotels and Airbnbs have filtered water machines which are safe to drink from.
- That being said, be cautious with ice, fresh fruits, and raw vegetables. Ice that comes from tap water is not safe for consumption, but ice that comes from a bag is fine.
- Bring activated charcoal. I take a tablet if my stomach feels off or if I think I ate or drank something bad. It’s not a perfect cure, but it helps to soak up toxins, and as I said earlier, I came away from my seven-week backpacking trip with zero stomach bugs.
Bali Belly definitely puts a damper on your trip, but honestly it’s not the end of the world. I got it during my first trip to Bali and was down for a couple of days but quickly healed after going to the doctor and getting antibiotics.
5. Be careful about methanol poisoning
In recent years, methanol poisoning has become more common among tourists in southeast Asia. Some bars will cut their liquor with methanol to increase profits. Methanol is highly poisonous, often requires hospitalization, and can result in death. To avoid this, stick to bottled or canned beverages such as beers, seltzers, etc., or read the reviews of whatever establishment you are buying drinks from (I usually just search the terms methanol or poisoning in the reviews to see if anything comes up before ordering a cocktail).
6. Avoid motorbikes; opt for Grab instead
One of the most popular ways to get around Bali is via motorbike. It’s convenient and cheap, but comes with a high risk of accidents and injuries. If you are comfortable driving a moped, those skills won’t necessarily translate to motorbikes in Bali. The bikes are much bigger, fitting up to three people, and the roads are crowded, narrow, windy, and have lots of potholes. Drivers are constantly passing each other and the traffic flow can be very chaotic. They also drive on the left side of the road, adding another layer of confusion for those coming from the Americas, continental Europe, or anywhere else used to driving on the right.
Note: If you happen to get injured, travel insurance will only cover your medical expenses if you have an international driver’s license.
I recommend using the rideshare apps Grab or Gojeck for short rides. Regular taxis are also an option, but I prefer Grab because you’re given the price in advance and can pay with a card. For longer, more tailored adventures, such as visiting Sekumpul Falls, I recommend hiring a private driver. You can negotiate a daily rate and customize your stops. I used the same driver during both of my trips to Bali and would highly recommend him. If you email or message me privately, I would be happy to send over his information.
Addresses can be very complicated, especially if you are staying at an Airbnb. Sometimes you are only given coordinates, or there will be multiple places with the same address. The Grab drivers had a lot of trouble finding our Airbnb. To avoid this, my best advice is to map to a nearby business and walk the rest of the way, or give your driver instructions from there. When traveling in Asia, I have found Google Maps to be more accurate and reliable compared to Apple Maps.
7. Tip your guides
I’ve been to Indonesia twice, and the Indonesian people are some of the nicest, hardest working locals I’ve ever met. Their days are long and wages are low. While tipping isn’t customary there the same way it is in the United States, it’s a great way to show appreciation for anyone who made a positive impact on your trip. Even a little bit can go a long way!
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