More Bali Travel Tips

More Bali Travel Tips
[cs_content][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text]Iv been to Bali multiple times over the last few years, at least 3 of the times were solo. You have probably seen my post on ‘Bali Tips for 1st timers‘ if not check it out. But here are some more tips for visiting Bali.[/cs_text][/cs_column][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/2″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_text][pro_ad_display_adzone id=”69″][/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”glass”]Bali Tip #1: Water[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]I’m sure you have already been told don’t drink the water, most of the time the locals don’t even drink the water…

Most hotels will supply you with at least 1 bottle of free water if not 2. If not you can get bottles of water fairly cheap the Circle K stores (equivalent to an Australian 7/11 Store) for around $1 or less for 500ml or head to the larger supermarkets like the ‘Bingtang’ store where you can get water from as little as 20-80 cents.

You can always refill smaller bottles from a larger cheaper bottle 1.5L bottles of water for Rp2,000-80,500 (AU 20c to 85c).[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”flask”]Bali Tip #2: Arak[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]Arak is a Balinese rice wine/spirit. It tastes like really cheap vodka and its CHEAP! Most bottles of spirits are quite expensive in Bali, it’s used in a lot of cocktails instead of Vodka to get you drunk….

But I would highly recommend you don’t drink it, as some times it can be ‘home made’ and you could get really sick from it and it usually tastes like crap anyway so just stick to the Bingtang.[/cs_text][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”phone”]Bali tip #3: Don’t drive. Don’t hire a bike.[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]In Bali there are pretty much no street signs, no road rules other than beep your horn before you do anything and indicate when its dangerous to pass/overtake.

You can hire scooters from $5 a day, but be aware of the many scams and make sure you take photos of any tints, scratches etc. preferably with the renter present or in the background of the photos. It’s safer and easier just to let someone else do the driving like a taxi (a few dollars) or a driver can cost anywhere between $30 – $60 depending on the season (peak will be more) as to how much they will charge. Always ask if that covers the cost of fuel as some like to try and ask for that once they have you for 1/2 the day.

If you find a good driver you like and is pretty honest, get their card and call them the next time you need to go somewhere. If your getting on a Scooter, ALWAYS wear a helmet even if no one else is, every day I saw at least 1 scooter accident, and a few nasty ones too. See more of our getting around Bali tips.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”money”]Bali Tip #4: Bargain, Haggle and walk away.[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]They always start really high, or the opposite to get you in their shop like $1 t-shirts, they really mean $10+
(On average I was paying 50,000 a shirt ($5), Bingtang $30-40,000 ($3-4).

Be hard and firm on what you want to pay, don’t pay more than you would back home unless you really want the item. But I’m sure if you walked away, right when you get to the door they will give you a better price. Popular ‘fake’ brand names like Billabong and Ripc-url don’t cost more than other ‘fake’ brands like Diesel, Element, Unit etc So don’t fall for that old trick.

When a shop offered me a ridiculous price like $30+ for a t-shirt I would walk away into the shop next door telling them not to rip me off, they have lost a paying customer. If the next shop hears that they are bound to give you a better price. Also DON’T feel guilty about not buying stuff or bringing the price right down, unless you have already committed to paying.

For cheaper stores head into more of the backstreet’s or markets away from the popular tourist spots. Don’t give them any money until you are completely satisfied with the price. Also watch out for the ‘we dont have small change’ trick (10,000 & 20,000 notes) and if you can always carry a few with you.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”github-alt”]Bali Tip #5: Monkeys[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]Don’t smile at the monkeys, showing your teeth is a sign of aggression and may attack or get angry at you.
If they take your food/belongings don’t fight for it back, let them have it and don’t chase them, most of the time they will find no interest in the item and drop it. If you chase them, you may never get your item back.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”dollar”]Bali Tip #6 Money[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]I never used money exchanges, I just used the ATM’s and got larger amounts to last me a week or more and just took the $2 foreign withdrawal fee on the chin, knowing I didn’t have to deal with doggy exchangers. With a budget of about $50 a day you can have a pretty good time, My avg was $30 which meant I could feed my face all day and have quite a few beers. (if your shopping budget more)

If your exchanging money most street vendors are not very honest, Find a good reputable place like ‘Central Kuta’ or an official bank. Exchange your money in easy amounts like $50 or $100 it makes it easy for you to count and don’t let them recount the money after you have, its been know for notes to go missing.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”phone”]Bali Tip #7 Mobile phones[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]Indonesian Mobile phone credit and sim cards are available almost everywhere and will work with most Australian phones.

Sim Pati or ‘the red one’: For around $4 you will get a Sim card with $2 credit. You can add more credit yourself via the phone or get someone to do it for you, they may charge you a few dollars to do it (I’ve never been charged, but others have) or if you have become friends with locals or bar staff they might help you do it.

More credit will give you data for your phone so you can use the internet, Facebook and Google maps etc or call your driver to get you when your drunk on Bingtans and don’t know how to get back to your hotel.
Phone data is very cheap compared to back home in Australia.

How much does phone credit and data cost in Bali?

Rp 150,000 (AU$15) = 4 Gig of Data and call credit or
Rp 200,000 (AU$20) = 8 Gig of Data and call credit.[/cs_text][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”comments”]Bali Tip #8: Pronounce[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]Make sure you pronounce your Teens and Ty’s clearly or they are clearly pronouncing them.. Like Seventeen (17) and Seventy (70) you don’t want to be paying $70 for something you thought was $17.[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”cab”]Bali Tip #9: Bali Taxi Prices[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]Here is a sign I found in Seminyak which displayed there average Taxi Prices which of cause can be haggled (unless your in a metered Taxi) see my pricing below.[/cs_text][cs_text]Bali Taxi Prices[/cs_text][cs_text]From Seminyak to:
Airport– Rp 150,000 (I paid Rp 100,000)
Kuta– Rp 75,000 (I paid between Rp 20-30,000 in a Metered Taxi)
Water Boom– Rp 120,000 (its basically the same as Kuta)
Jimbarar– Rp 170,000 (I paid Rp 100,000)
Ubud– Rp 300,000 (I paid Rp 20,000)
Denpasar Rp 40,000 (Metered taxi)

If your willing to jump on the back of a scooter you can get places even cheaper again, but just stick to the Bluebird group where ever you can. For more info visit our Bali Taxi Prices page[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”commenting”]Bali Tip #10: Speak their Language[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]It always helps if you can speak some of the local language, here are a few good things to learn:

Suk s ma (sook ss- mah) – thank you
Ma al (ma-al) – expensive
Tidak (tidah) – no
Kude? (koo-deh) – How much?
Selamat pa gi (sellahmat pah-gee) – good morning
Selemat jalan (sellahmat jih-lan) – good bye
Hello/Hi – Hello/Hi (they use the English words)[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”money”]Bali Tip #11: Cost of things[/x_feature_headline][cs_text]Here is just an idea of what things should cost depending where you are:

Item Up-scale / Expensive Avg Cheap
Restaurants 300-100,000 50,000 15,000
Bingtang 30,000 12-15,000 10,000
Water 15,000 6,000 2,000
Fruit Juice 50,000 20-30,000 5-10,000
Internet (per min) 5,000 2,500 1,000
For taxi prices from the airport see our Bali Taxi price list/bali/bali-taxi-prices/
[/cs_text][/cs_column][/cs_row][/cs_section][cs_section parallax=”false” style=”margin: 0px;padding: 45px 0px;”][cs_row inner_container=”true” marginless_columns=”false” style=”margin: 0px auto;padding: 0px;”][cs_column fade=”false” fade_animation=”in” fade_animation_offset=”45px” fade_duration=”750″ type=”1/1″ style=”padding: 0px;”][cs_block_grid type=”two-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 2″][/cs_block_grid_item][cs_block_grid_item title=”Block Grid Item 1″][/cs_block_grid_item][/cs_block_grid][x_feature_headline level=”h2″ looks_like=”h3″ icon=”plus”]Looking for more? You may like these:[/x_feature_headline][cs_block_grid type=”three-up”][cs_block_grid_item title=”Cost of Alco”]

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