What to Know Before Traveling to Bali

For my own trip, I chose to buy my Visa on Arrival after landing in Bali, and the process was much quicker than I expected. Even though I arrived during the early hours of the morning, I was through the visa counter in just a few minutes.

If you'd rather have everything sorted before you fly, you can also apply for an electronic Visa on Arrival (e-VOA) through Indonesia's official immigration website. Both options are valid, so it really comes down to your personal preference.

👉 Apply for an official Indonesian e-VOA here.

I used Airalo throughout my trip, and it worked really well. I had reliable coverage across Bali and never experienced any connection issues, making it easy to navigate, book transport and stay connected wherever I went. I'd recommend installing your eSIM before your flight so it's ready to activate as soon as you arrive in Bali.

👉 Check Airalo's latest eSIM plans here.

I'd recommend arriving with a small amount of cash, but don't worry about carrying too much. During my trip, I was able to pay by card at every cafe I visited, which meant I didn't need to rely heavily on cash.

One thing I always do is keep an eye on how much cash I have left toward the end of my trip. If I still have a fair amount a couple of days before flying home, I'll start using cash instead of my card so I don't end up bringing too much foreign currency back with me.

I'd highly recommend getting travel insurance before traveling to Bali. Hopefully, you won't need it, but it's one of those things you'll be glad to have if something unexpected happens, whether it's a medical emergency, lost luggage, or a canceled flight.

Getting around Bali is fairly easy, and there are several ways to explore the island depending on your travel style and budget.

🚗 Private Driver

For longer day trips, hiring a private driver is by far my favorite option. It's surprisingly affordable, you don't have to worry about navigation or parking, and you can easily stop whenever you spot somewhere interesting along the way.

🚗 Book your private driver in Bali here.

🚕 Grab & GoJek

For shorter journeys, Grab and GoJek are the apps you'll probably use the most. They're affordable, easy to use and available in most tourist areas, making them perfect for getting between cafes, restaurants and attractions.

🛵 Scooter

Scooters are the most popular way to get around Bali, but I wouldn't recommend renting one unless you're already an experienced rider. Traffic can be much busier than it appears online, especially around Ubud and Canggu.

🚙 Renting a Car

If you'd rather explore at your own pace, renting a car is another great option. Just keep in mind that roads can be narrow, traffic is often unpredictable and driving in Bali can feel very different from driving at home.

As a pharmacist, I always travel with a small pharmacy kit. Fortunately, I rarely need any of it, but there are a few essentials I never leave home without.

For Bali, I packed pain relief medication, probiotics, electrolytes, and mosquito repellent. I also ended up buying activated charcoal tablets from a local pharmacy after developing Bali Belly, and they were what helped me recover.

Tap water in Bali isn't considered safe to drink, so it's best to stick to bottled water throughout your trip. I'd also recommend using bottled water when brushing your teeth, just to help reduce the risk of stomach issues.

If you'd like to read more about my experience with Bali Belly, what helped me recover, and a few simple ways to reduce your risk, you can read my full guide here.