Having just spent six sun-drenched days in Bali it is time to compare the expectations to the reality I had previously written in an overview of Bali. Buckle up kids this is going to be a bumpy ride over what to expect.

Bali receives a lot of hype among Australian tourists. Indeed before the covid pandemic, 222,000 visits to bail were made by Australian tourists each month. The destination is often chosen because of its favourable exchange rate, e proximity, beautiful natural resources and welcoming people.

The impact of COVID

before I dive right into the full experience it is important to note that we arrived in Bali just a few months after the borders reopened after a devastating 2-year shutdown because of the covid pandemic. Bali’s economy is very much dependent on tourism with over 5 million people coming to Bali annually. The pandemic left a lot of locals without jobs and income when the tourists stopped, in a country that has very limited welfare support. Unfortunately, visitor numbers were still only about half of the pre-pandemic level when we visited.

The Cash Society.

In my life in Australia, I rarely carry any bank cards at all, I pay for almost everything using the pay-wave setup on my phone. To my horror Paywave may as well not exist in Bali. In Bali cash is king.

It is possible to pay via EFTPOS in larger, tourist-focused places (think Starbucks, hotels, fancy restaurants, and other places you will expect to pay western prices). EFTPOS machines are old compared to those in Australia, can be a bit hit-and-miss and do not have the option for contactless card access. We had the unfortunate experience of having our card swallowed by an old commonwealth bank ATM. Most machines will dispense up to 1.5M rupiah ($150 AU) per transaction.

Enough cash for a full day playing tourist in Bali is aAUD 150 $150 – 200, our approach was to take out about $150 each day.

Tips

• Split that money into a big pile and a small pile (maybe 300K in the small pile) Carrying it all in a single pile will make you look like a target when you pull it all out to pay for a trinket from a street hawker.
• Don’t carry your EFTPOS card if you don’t need it. I recommend using a VISA or Mastercard travel card rather than your primary account.
• You can’t get money out from a money changer with an EFTPOS card.
• If you do need to use a money changer count the money yourself before you leave, it’s common for them to skim a few notes back with sleight of hand after counting in for you.

Getting Around

There is no public transport in Bali, which leads to three options for transport. Taxis, Scooters, and Walking.

Walking is an easy option if you are not in a hurry, fit and don’t have too far to go. The pavements are generally narrow, cracked and in a state of disrepair so be mindful of your step. If you want to see more of the island than Kuta, Legian and Seminyak you are going to need motorised transport.

Going short distances teh easiest way to get around is by car, (or scooter) taxi. Catching a taxi is simple, just wait beside the road and wait 2 minutes until someone pulls up and offers their services. If you are using unregulated taxis you will have to negotiate the price before you get in/on. a better option is to download and use Gojek or Grab apps to hail a ride. Bluebird taxis are amazing, and one of the only metered taxi companies with flag fall starting at 0.75AUD.

It should cost around 5AUD to get from Kuta to Seminyak.

A final option is to hire a scooter. They are relatively cheap and can be had for about 5 AUD a day. You need a motorcycle licence from your own country as well as an international licence to hire one. While those criteria are loosely enforced it is wise to follow them for your own sake. If you are involved in an accident your insurance company will likely not cover your expenses if you are breaking the law.

The most stress-free way to travel further distances is to hire a Driver for the day. A personal driver will take you anywhere on teh island and will only set you back 60 – 80 AUD. Most drivers have a set itinerary of places they will take you and will often receive a commission from places they take you to visit (think art galleries, restaurants and tours you book). It is well worth the cost if you have limited time in Bali and are not sure how you want to spend it. If you need a driver simply ask around at your hotel and they will put you in contact with someone.

Tips

• Settle on a price before getting into a taxi or driver (unless the taxi is metered)
• Use metered services ahead of unmetered ones. It’s safer and you are less likely to be ripped off
• Hire a driver. they are amazing
• Tip your driver, a little goes a long way and transport is cheap.

Haggling

Balinese people are on the whole wonderful, friendly and only too happy to help you. They are also quite keen to take your hard-earned cash. buying from a hawker you will be expected to haggle on the price unless you go to one of the few fixed-price stalls in garlic lane. There are a few simple rules to haggling that will see you (hopefully) not get ripped off.

• Whatever price they initially offer. Halve it and go from there.
• Walk away if the price is still too high. Odds are they call you back.
• Remember the same Item is probably available in many other stalls. you don’t have to buy from that one.
• Don’t let the vendor see the wad of cash you are packing. they might pull the old “no change” excuse.
• Don’t allow yourself to be distracted by other staff at the stall

Harassment

The pandemic hit Bali particularly hard economically, as a result, some of the poorer segments of society are desperate for Money, coupled with a lack of foreign tourists means that the ones that are present get a lot more attention than in the past. this can feel uncomfortable and a little threatening at times. In our 5 days, we were followed by hawkers down the road several times. Were physically dragged by a nanna into her shop and had to endure a nag of nannas surrounding us the moment we sat down on the beach with a beer.

Politely saying “no” does not work. Ignoring them does not work. Trying a slightly more aggressive (but polite) tone does not work. My advice is to be as blunt as possible, and even get a little angry if you need to. Don’t continue to be polite to someone who is not being respectful of your time and space.

That’s it for part one. Look out for part two where I will cover the etiquette of massage parlours. Where (and where not) to eat out, and what to do if you get Bali belly despite all my good advice.

Until next time!

Stoblaki 19//2022

The post What To Expect When You Go To Bali – Part 1 first appeared on The 12 Year Plan.