[Practical Guide] Bali (Indonesia): Itinerary, Budget, What to See, Where to Stay?

Arrival at Denpasar Airport:

French nationals wishing to stay less than 30 days in Indonesia are exempt from the prior visa application requirement and can obtain a ” visa on arrival ” at the airport. This paid visa, valid for 30 days, is only issued for travel corresponding to one of the following purposes: tourism, transit, family or social visits, artistic or cultural trips, official missions (holders of official passports or a mission letter for an official trip), participation in a seminar/conference, international trade fair/exhibition, or a meeting with the parent company or subsidiary of a company in Indonesia.
Expect a wait to pay for your visa on arrival. Bring some euros in cash if you don’t have an international bank card

We couldn’t find an ATM or a reasonably priced mobile operator, but don’t worry.
Here are tips on getting a SIM card in Bali
At the airport exit, there are authorized taxis with fixed rates depending on your destination. You can ask the driver to drop you off in front of an ATM in town (preferably Maya Bank) so you can withdraw cash to pay him.
Don’t spend not a night in Denpasar; go straight to Ubud or another town

Payment:

if you have an international payment card, withdraw from Maya Bank with no fees. JB lists other fee-free banks here
otherwise, exchange money at reputable exchange offices: risk of counterfeit bills or scams at small exchange booths
Indonesians still use a lot of cash

Massage:

Although we had high expectations for Indonesian massages, the average skill level of therapists is very low. Opt for spas with private rooms or your hotel spa—more expensive but better quality.

Food:

Indonesian food is very disappointing, everything is fried. Either it’s too fried or too spicy
However, fried fish are my favorites
Don’t feel obligated to eat Indonesian food every day

Other info:

Indonesians leave offerings in front of their homes daily; if you accidentally step on one, it’s not a big deal
You must dress in traditional attire to enter temples; it’s practical to buy a sarong and cover yourself. They aren’t strict about it, but it’s more respectful
Bali is a very large island. Points of interest are spread out (1 to 3 hours by road). It’s better to book several hotels along the route rather than staying at the same hotel for the entire trip.
Flight: opt for a window seat on the left side for the Paris-Bali route. The view will be incredible. For departure from Bali, request a window seat on the right side.

What I do to optimize my trips is to hire a private car with driver for the day. For example, to go to Ubud and Lovina, we made 5 stops. The driver keeps my belongings in his car.
There are always traffic jams; roads are only two lanes. Leave early to avoid congestion.
Uber doesn’t exist here, but you can use Grab.
Tap water is not potable, but every hotel provides two bottles of filtered water per day
It rains constantly and streets flood quickly. The weather is unpredictable, so I recommend booking tours and drivers the day before.
It’s rare for temperatures to exceed 33 degrees; the heat is bearable
Traditional houses are always wide open; remember to close windows and doors before sunset to keep mosquitoes out

For scooter rental, get the most powerful one with good brakes. It’s very hilly. They are very relaxed and won’t ask for your passport. However, take a video of the scooter, or they’ll charge you for pre-existing scratches.
Hiring a car with a driver costs between 400,000 and 600,000 rupiahs per day (depending on where you want to go).
There are religious festivals and public holidays regularly. Do your research to visit temples at the right time.
There are many beautiful waterfalls, so always bring a towel & swimsuit when visiting them. I really enjoyed it. Leke Leke waterfall

The swings you see on Instagram are overpriced, so don’t hesitate to bargain. They only cost 40,000 rupiahs, but they’ll tell you 200,000. Hand them your smartphone as they’ll know how to take great photos and find the right angle.
There are very luxurious Airbnbs, but watch out for the locations. You might end up in the middle of rice fields with no restaurants open in the evening. If so, order food on Grab (pay in cash).
5-star hotels often offer day passes, day passwhere you can use their pool, loungers, and consume food or drinks (tea time or meals). Contact them on Facebook for more info.
Sunset at Ritual Bali (new! near the cliffs, very hyped on Instagram): https://goo.gl/maps/RKXYM8JSdnpqvM8G8
In Bali, there are plenty of spots designed for taking great photos, with no other tourist interest. For example, gates with a mountain backdrop. If that’s what you want to do, come early because you can wait 2 hours just for a photo.
Don’t hesitate to rent a scooter to explore the rice fields, waterfalls, and temples nearby.
Watch out for dogs in the evening if you’re in a remote area; they fight at night and are more aggressive.

Sightseeing: I didn’t visit the whole island, but here are some highlights.

Canggu : too surfer, more tourists than Indonesians, black sand not great, beaches not swimmable due to big waves, I wasn’t impressed.
Ubud (travel diary) : the town center has only 2 main streets, and traffic jams all the time. Better to stay right in the center and explore the alleys on foot. Spiritual town, good vibe. I recommend these two affordable hotels in the center:
- Sumantra House Ubud (Booking link)
- Padma Ubud Retreat (Booking link)
Central Bali: SUNRISE AT MOUNT BATUR, HOT SPRINGS AND WATERFALLS (more info)
Trip from Ubud to Lovina: TAMAN AYUN TEMPLES, ULUN DANU BERATAN & LEKE LEKE WATERFALL (more info)
Lovina : the town has no interest, but you must go there to see and swim with dolphins (more info)
Denpasar (travel diary): no particular interest, except to catch a flight or take an early boat to Nusa Penida
Nusa Penida (more info) : a small island 30 minutes by boat from Bali: a must-visit, if possible spend a night there (pack as little luggage as possible because this mode of transport is not compatible with big luggage).
If you don’t speak English and don’t drive a scooter, our partner Civitatis offers many activities, drivers, and tours in French; you can check them out by clicking here.

Accommodation : it depends on the comfort of the accommodation, but you can find simple, clean rooms for €20/night, up to €150 or even €1000 for luxury hotels.
Restaurant : in tourist areas, budget €10/person/meal. However, in small villages, it’s only 50,000 IDR/meal/person.
Car with driver : between 400,000 and 600,000 IDR for a full day.
For Denpasar – Ubud routes with no stops along the way, you can simply hire a Grab driver
Entry tickets: between 20,000 and 30,000 IDR
Swing: 40,000 IDR
Motorcycle rental: 50,000 to 75,000 IDR/day
Massage: 20€ to 30€ for a quality massage, 10€ massages will only leave you in more pain

Planning a trip to Bali? Our partner Get Your Guide offers entry tickets and guided tours with French-speaking guides at very reasonable rates. Click here to see what they offer and book online.