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Bali
tip sheet
I learned these travel tips and insights while in Bali. They are worth getting
to know before you leave on your trip to Bali.
When to come
 Bali has five tourist seasons. The best one for you depends on variables such as time, money, weather,
and availability.
 Pre-prime season -
From April to May. Rooms in Bali are easily found and prices, crowds
and the weather are moderate.
Prime
season -
Spans May through September. Sunny days rule -- it seldom rains.
However, prices and crowding soar, and airline seats and hotel rooms in Bali are heavily
booked, particularly in August.
Post-prime
season -
From September to mid December. Variables similar to the pre-prime season (see).
Holiday
season -
Spans mid-December to early-January when visitors come for their Christmas and New Year's vacations. Like the
prime season, prices and crowds rise -- and airline seats and hotel space become scarce. The biggest difference is more rain.
Rainy
season -
This category spans from early-January to April (though the actual rainy season
starts in December). Everything comes down -- prices, crowds, room
scarcity and, of course, the rain. That's not as bad as it seems because the rainfall is the refreshing warm tropical variety
(not the cold damp type Temperate Zone residents experience). Moreover, there will always be plenty of sun
during the rainy season.
How long to stay
Don't underestimate the number of days you'll need. I've asked many a traveler who has been to Bali, "What
was your biggest misgiving about your Bali vacation." Most responded that they wished they had added
more days to their Bali trips.
At the very least, you need
10 TO 14 days. A month would be even better. Bali has many interesting
Bargaining
It's a fun sport worth learning because it will save you money in Bali. All it takes is a little
practice to gain your confidence.
Many sellers automatically inflate their prices
beforehand in the expectation that you will bargain them down. If you don't, you're going to grossly overpay -- and
often earn their disrespect for being naive.
If something doesn't have a price tag, the cost
is likely negotiable. If it is marked, you have to trust your instinct whether to negotiate or not. Obviously, most
merchants like quality pharmacies, upmarket hotel stores and major departments stores
seldom if ever negotiate. But you may be
surprised at the number of upscale sellers that do (including exclusive art studios and galleries).
Here's how to negotiate. First, establish in your mind what you're
truly willing to pay (your ultimate max).
Next, ask the seller, "What's your very, very lowest price?" Offer considerably less
than what he quotes you (don't be shy about offering 50% of
his opening figure). Then -- after a series of friendly back-and-forth
counter offers -- you and the vendor reach a mutually
fair and acceptable figure.
Money exchange
Knowing the options can noticeably decrease the cost of your Bali vacation.
Credit
cards
- Pay for your purchases with a major
credit card -- American Express,
MasterCard or Visa -- whenever possible. The applied rate of exchange
used by those cards to calculate your statement billings is likely to be
more favorable to you than if you exchanged
cash or (especially) travelers checks into the
Indonesian currency, the rupiah.
Cash
vs traveler checks
- You receive a noticeably
better exchange rate for a major foreign currency than you will for travelers checks.
Moreover, you often have to pay an extra fee for cashing travelers checks - that's in addition to the fee you
originally paid to purchase them.
Which
currency to bring?
- You gain more
buying power if you exchange hard-currency cash --
such as the Japanese Yen, and Australian Dollar. But for the highest
relative rate, bring US dollars or Euros.
Dollar
denominations
- The dollar denomination affects the
exchange rate. Prime reason: The larger the denomination,
the less likely the bill will be a counterfeit. That's why US$100 bills get appreciably better rates than $50 bills, which get
appreciably better rates than $20 bills. Only some money exchangers
bother with $10 bills -- and if you have $5
and $1 bills, forget it. Whatever the denomination, bring the latest design style of US currency. And, be sure notes are crisp, unmarred and unwrinkled.
Money
exchangers
- Professional money exchange establishments
(particularly those in Kuta's main shopping areas) normally give you significantly better exchange rates than banks, which in turn give
you appreciably better rates than you get at hotels and the airport. Note: Although nearly all Balinese money exchangers are honest, there are a few who
"accidentally" miscount, use sleight of hand
deception, use rigged calculators or tag on
unexpected commissions. Best to get a reliable local source to point you to
one of the many reliable money exchangers.
Taxi meters
Cab fares in Bali are very low if you're charged the metered rate. As you step into a taxi, specify to the driver that you
want the meter to run. If he says his meter is broken, get out because it's likely a ruse. Once the cab gets rolling, be sure the meter is running. Otherwise, you risk
being charged an exorbitant fare.
Cab fleets in Bali are color coded. The white taxis
branded "Bali Taxi Company" are one of the trustworthy fleets.
Car hire
While it makes sense to rent a car in most places, it usually doesn't in Bali. For the same amount you
would pay to rent a small car (about $50), you can hire a comfortable automobile that comes with a capable driver
plus a knowledgeable guide.
Remember, in Bali, it's easy for strangers
to get lost, cars drive on the left, roads are very narrow, oncoming traffic passes you with inches to spare,
vehicles dart out from side streets without warning, some vehicles don't use lights at night. Should you have
an accident, you won't be able to leave the country until damages are settled -- even if the accident is the
other guy's fault. So sit back, leave the driving to your chauffeur and enjoy the passing Bali scenery.
Photography
The intense overhead equatorial light can turn great shots into poor ones. For vividly
color photos of scenes such as temples and rice paddies, click them in the early morning or late afternoon.
Etiquette
Respect Balinese customs, rituals and sensibilities (remember, you are a guest on their island).
This
means, for example:
Don't take a picture of anyone without first
obtaining permission.
Don't enter a temple unless
you're completely covered knees to shoulders.
Ditto if you're menstruating.
Don't touch anyone's head or point
at someone.
Don't expose the sole of your shoe by, for
instance, crossing your legs as you sit.
Don't give or
receive an object with your left hand.
Before visiting
The U.S. State Department issues travel warnings on various countries.
Go to its website (www.travel.state.gov/travel) then click its "travel warnings"
button.
Airlines
Confirm your reservations in Bali 72 hours
before departure time. Otherwise, with some airlines, you could be bumped
off the confirmed reservation list.
Always call the airline before heading to
the airport. Cancellations of flights to other islands is not a rarity.
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