Travelling to Bali Advice
Planning to travel to Bali ? Here is some useful information before you go.
1) Climate
There are 2 main seasons in Bali : Wet and dry ! From April to September it is the dry season and from October to March, it is the wet season although it can rain any time of the year but the rainfalls tend to be short. In general, the best time for good weather is May through August. The highlands are much cooler than the tourist towns of the south. So it will be milder in places like Ubud and Bedugul.
2) When to Visit
Apart from considereing the weather, you might like to consider whether it is peak season or low season. Hotel rooms are very difficult to find during the high seasons of July, August and September. And in the peak season over Christmas and New Year. Don’t try to book your hotel at the last minute. There are many visitors to Bali who have been going there every year and they book their favourite hotel and rooms 6 months to a year in advance ! That’s because in some small but nice hotels, especially in Ubud, there are only one or two of each type of room. You will save on high season charges if you book during other months and avoid compulsory Christmas and New Years eve Gala Dinners that large hotels will charge you for if you travel during these times.
2) What to wear
Being hot, light clothing is the best. Although in some areas, dressing is conservative. So, skimpy shorts and tops with spaghetti straps that a tad longer than they should be are not advisable. And men should likewise be suitably dressed especially in culturally sensitive areas north of the tourist towns although it is acceptable to bear those 6 pack abs when on Kuta Beach. When you enter temples, a scarf is needed and you will need to rent them to enter some temples such as Ulu watu. In general, being covered from shoulders to knees is a good idea not only to be culturally considerate but also to avoid unnecessary attention you’ll attract in certain areas at certain times of the day.
Good walking shoes are a must. Roads and sidewalks aren’t in the best condition for a tourist destination so it is a good idea to wear a pair of jogging shoes or a pair of sandals with a good strong sole and not the flip flop types. And ladies, high heels are highly not advisable.
3) Useful things to pack
If you have tasty sweet blood that attracts mosquitoes and sandflies, then be sure to pack a small bottle of mosquito repellent. Sunscreen goes without saying as the sun is very strong in this part of the world. Also pack some Activated Charcoal (Medicated Charcoal) in case you get the runs or food poisoning. You never know.
4) Currency
The currency in Bali is the Indonesian Rupiah. US Dollars are accepted in most hotels but currency is easily exchanged at the money changer. Remember that when comparing hotel rates, if there is a plus plus (++) after the rate, it means that you need to add 21% tax and service charge to the amount. Book through the hotel directly and they will quote you the rate before they add 21% tax and sometimes without breakfast. Book through a Bali travel agent, and they will give you a nett rate with tax and usually breakfast included. For example the hotel might offer a room for $100 ++ which becomes $121 when you add tax. But if you go to a travel agent, they may quote you $100 net. So you will save on the tax.
5) Where to stay?
Well, most tourists have heard of the tourist town of Kuta and the famous Kuta Beach. There are lots of shops here and if you like to surf, shop and hang out in pubs, then you might like to stay in this area. But for beautiful scenery of padi fields and lush river valleys, then Ubud is the place to be. Known as the art and cultural center of Bali, there are numerous quaint shops here, good restaurants, art galleries and temple activities on a daily basis. If you are staying in Ubud center, then it will take about 1hr to 1 hr 15 min to arrive at your hotel from the airport.
Other towns in the south you might like to consider are Nusa Dua, a well known beach resort with swaying coconut trees and pristine soft white sandy beaches. Jimbaran is about 10 minutes from the airport and has nice beaches too and is well known for its fresh grilled seafood. For a luxury villa experience in the south of Bali, try Seminyak if you want to be close nightlife, good shopping and dining. But for a luxury villa with a view, you’ll only find that in Ubud.
See you in beautiful Bali !
