Bali is a province of Indonesia which is located between the islands of Java and Lombok island, Bali island is also commonly referred to as The Island Of Thousands Temples, The Island of Gods, and Bali Dwipa.
Bali also has several small islands are also included in the province of Bali, and the island of Nusa Penida, Nusa Lembongan Island, Nusa Ceningan Island, Serangan Island and Menjangan Island. The capital of Bali is Denpasar, located in the south of the island, the island of Bali is renowned as a world tourism destination with unique art and culture.
Climate
It has a tropical climate, hot all year round, with a rainy season from November to March, and a relatively dry season from April to October, when, however, some showers can still occur. In the rainy season, it usually rains a couple of hours in the morning and a couple of hours in the afternoon, while in the rest of the day the sun shines for a few hours. The best time to travel to Bali and enjoy its beaches is from June to September, the weather is usually sunny, the heat is not too intense, and in any case, it’s tempered by the breeze. Travel responsibly, minimize your footprint, and see the world without killing the planet.
Money
The currency in Aruba is florin (AWG). Aruban florin is divided into 100 cents. One florin is equal to 100 cents. In comparison to USD, 1 florin is equal to 0.56 in the U.S., or 1.79 florin is equal to $1.00 USD. There are five coins, including 5, 10, 25 and 50 cents. Paper Aruban money comes in 5, 10, 25, 50, and 100 florin. You can receive current currency exchange rates at www.xe.com. Cash is king in Bali and Lombok. Wherever you go you will need it, whether to pay for parking, entrance to museums, tips, or taxi rides or to buy knick-knacks, you will need to have low denominations of cash.
Though you can order rupiah before leaving home, it is not necessary. Denpasar airport on Bali and Selaparang airport on Lombok have plenty of money changers in the arrival terminal and ATMs once through Customs.
Cash is king in Bali and Lombok. Wherever you go you will need it, whether to pay for parking, entrance to museums, tips, or taxi rides or to buy knick-knacks, you will need to have low denominations of cash. The maximum amount of currency that you can bring into Bali is US$10,000 in cash.
Credit Cards
All high-end hotels, shops, restaurants, and nightclubs accept credit cards. Visa and MasterCard are the most commonly accepted cards but some do take American Express and Diners Club.
Debit Cards
Debit cards are accepted by some ATMs on the Maestro and Cirrus networks. If you plan to travel in very rural areas or the islands, or Ceningan Island, it will be wise to stock up on additional cash before you hit the road.
ATM’s
ATMs are everywhere in south Bali. Withdrawals can be made with credit cards and some debit cards on the Maestro and Cirrus networks. Most ATMs dispense money in multiples of Rp50,000 which is extremely annoying when withdrawing large amounts of cash. A few machines will dispense Rp100,000 notes. All ATMs are clearly marked which denominations they pay out. Some banks will only allow maximum withdrawals of Rp1,250,000 at one time but will allow up to three withdrawals in a day. Others will allow Rp3,000,000 at one time with a maximum of Rp6,000,000 withdrawal in a day. The best ATM we have found is Permata Bank, where you can withdraw Rp3,000,000 in Rp100,000 notes up to a maximum of two withdrawals.
Culture
A magnificent Asian archipelago brimming with culture and history, Bali is steeped in rich tradition and spirituality that centers around art and religion. Many Balinese people are an artist of some kind and enjoy spending their time working on arts and crafts using techniques that have been passed down through families over many generations. Many public areas, homes, and rice paddy fields are decorated with detailed paintings, intricate carvings, fine weaving, extraordinary rice decorations and artworks that pay religious homage. Religion is an important practice of Balinese culture, with many rituals and traditions occurring from the moment of birth, through puberty, into marriage, childbirth and eventually death. The Balinese also believe in the afterlife and celebrate this through national festivals including Kuningan, Galungan and Nyepi, the national day of silence.
Helpful Information
Language
The official languages of the region are Indonesian and Balinese. Because of the tourism requirements, a lot of the people speak some level of English. The main restaurants, spas, hotels, and tourist attractions have staff and guides that speak English.
Technology & Communication
Whether you come to Bali for leisure or business. Staying connected to to the internet and being able to use all the great communication tools that come with it, is for many travelers a must – a basic need. Although you can not expect everywhere a super fast internet connection, the infrastructure, coverage, and service have improved greatly over the years. A 3G network is available in most areas if it’s not too remote. Since April 2018 the regulations have changed however and you need to register with your passport if you wish to buy a SIM CARD. You may not feel the need to buy a prepaid SIM card as most hotels, restaurants, and cafés offer free WiFi access. Do not expect super fast internet as you will be sharing access with all the other customers but it will be good enough to keep family and friends updated. Some mini markets offer free WiFi to their customers. They are easy to recognize by the table and chairs placed outside and filled with people glued to their mobile phones.
Electricity
In Indonesia, the power plugs and sockets are of type C and F. The standard voltage is 230-V and the standard frequency is 50-Hz
In Case of Emergency
Bali Emergency and Rescue Assistance will help you to contact the right person if you have an emergency during your Bali holiday. Bali has a new emergency call number like 911 – but in Bali, the code is 112. Please dial this emergency number whenever you need urgent assistance in Bali. Within a reasonable time, the crew will come to your aid.
Tourism Authority
The tourist office in Ubud is an excellent source of information on cultural events.
Otherwise, the tourist offices in Bali are not useful.
Activities for Family Fun
- Be pirates for a day at Pirates Bay Bali
- Get wet at Waterbom Bali
- Ride an elephant at Elephant Safari Park
- Swim with the sharks
- Relax at Banjar Hot Springs
- Go snorkeling
- Learn to surf at Rip Curl School of Surf
- Enjoy a Bali Treetop Adventure Park
Bucket List Activities
- Explore the cave under Uluwatu beach
- Stroll along the Campuhan ridge walk for sunrise
- Go White water rafting on the Ayung River
- Interact with the monkeys and take in the breathtaking views at the Monkey Temple
- Experience traditional Kecak fire dance at sunset in Pura Luhur Uluwatu
- Go beach hopping on the Bukit Peninsula
- Get a free tattoo with your tacos at Deus ex Machina every Tuesday
- Bathe in the holy water at Tirta Empul Water Temple
Drinks to Try
- Fresh young coconut
- Tropical fruit juice/shakes
- Teh Tarik
- Bintang
- Coffee
Foods to Try
- Sate (Satay) Varieties
- Nasi Jinggo
- Pisang Rai
- Nasi Tepeng
- Laklak
- Rujak Bulung and Rujak Kuah Pindang
- Bakso
- Terang Bulan
- Babi Guling
Photography Hot Spots
- Seminyak Beach
- Tegalalang Rice Terrace
- Ubud
- Tegenungan Waterfall
- Uluwatu Temple
- Pantai Tegal Wangi
- Abandoned Plane at Bypass Ngurah Rai
- Tirta Empul Temple
- Kelingking Beach, Nusa Penida
Ready to Experience Bali?
Let’s get started!