Frequently Asked Questions about Traveling to Bali

Passport, Visa, and Other Documents

Upon arrival in Bali, it is necessary to have a passport valid for at least six months. Also be careful when traveling with small children. Sometimes there is a problem if the child does not look like the photo in the passport. If in doubt, get a new passport for your child.

VOA visa – purchased at the airport upon arrival. The price is IDR 500,000 and can be paid by card.

A proof of full vaccination – at least two doses against COVID-19. Or one dose of Johnson & Johnson vaccine. Children under 18 do not need to be vaccinated. The date of vaccination is not decisive.

PeduliLindungi app installed on your mobile phone. There are quite a few problems with the app. Most of the time you won’t be able to upload anything to it. All you have to do is download it and have printed vaccination certificates with you.

It is now necessary to fill out an on-line customs declaration. This will save you time at the airport upon arrival. The statement must not be older than two days.

Official Website Direktorat Jenderal Bea dan Cukai (beacukai.go.id)

Travel Insurance

Travel insurance is necessary. I recommend insurance from AXA. They offer good prices, and you might be lucky to find this insurance with a 50% discount on-line. We’ve had a really good experience with AXA insurance acceptance and indemnification. Please, do not underestimate the importance of insurance.

Driving License

An international driving license is required to drive a 125cc scooter or a car. It is issued while you wait; one passport photo and a completed form are required. Please note – there are two types of international driving licenses. Make sure you’ll get the correct one for the Indonesia region. Officials often get this wrong and give you the wrong one. You need an international driving license according to the Vienna Convention.

Vaccination

There is no compulsory vaccination in Bali. We recommend being vaccinated against jaundice type A and B. This vaccine is not only convenient for the whole world, but also for the Czech Republic. Typhoid fever is sometimes recommended but not required. Then there’s rabies. If you are not going to be in areas where there is a risk of being bitten, then there is no need. We personally do not have this vaccination. And in the event of a bite, treatment must still be given. Vaccination will only increase the time you have to see a doctor.

Weather

The average temperature in Bali is around 30 degrees Celsius. The coastal areas have the highest temperatures. Temperatures are lower in the central part of Bali and around the volcanoes. It cools down at night but is still very warm.

Typically, the weather in Bali is very unpredictable. It can rain in the dry season and the sun can shine during the rainy season. Bali is in the tropics and rain belongs to the tropics like the sun does.

The sea maintains a pleasant temperature of 28 degrees Celsius throughout the year. It doesn't cool down much but it's still very pleasant to swim in.

The island is usually hit by the annual monsoons  between November and March. January to mid-March is the period with the highest rainfall and high humidity. Even in the rainy season, you don’t have to worry about permanently cloudy skies and constant downpours. You’re more likely to get an hour-long burst of clouds and then it clears up. Persistent drizzle is not common.

The sun rises around six a.m. and sets around six p.m. That’s twelve hours of sunshine. The humidity in Bali is around 80% but it often exceeds 90%. Be aware that it’s much rainier in the inland (around the volcanoes or Ubud and north of it) than on the coast.

Visiting Bali is possible all year round. The period from mid-March to May is ideal. There are fewer tourists on the island, pleasant temperatures, minimal rainfall, and beautiful green nature. The main tourist season is from mid-June to mid-September and then the end of December during Christmas and New Year when the tourist centers tend to be overcrowded and prices rise. Sometimes it starts raining here and there in October and November. But it mostly rains later in the afternoon and at night. They are rather separate, shorter showers. It might rain for an hour and then the sun comes out right away.

Money

The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah. 

You will have no problem finding an ATM in all major cities and tourist centers, you can also pay at merchants with embossed Visa and MasterCard payment cards. The maximum ATM withdrawal is IDR 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 per withdrawal, depending on the bank. To select a larger amount, you must withdraw repeatedly. We recommend withdrawing from safer ATMs at banks, as card copying has spread here as well. Also, be aware of bank charges when withdrawing from an ATM. Each bank has different fees and withdrawing money can be quite expensive. We also recommend having more than one payment card available in case of loss or if your card gets "eaten" by an ATM.

An interesting alternative to cards from classic banking houses is the Revolut card www.revolut.com. It offers various security options and interesting exchange rates.

If you have some euros or dollars to exchange, it is usually possible to exchange them at local banks without any problems.

If you are going deeper inland, be sure to carry enough cash in the local currency, I recommend smaller bills. You can’t buy anything in smaller towns and villages without physical money and you won’t find any ATMs either.

If you go to the exchange office, we recommend verified and authorized exchange offices or banks. They have a slightly inconvenient exchange rates, but you will be treated properly. Although violent robberies are rare in Bali, robbing tourists in small exchange offices while exchanging money is a daily occurrence, and the police do not deal with such cases at all. They consider the case closed simply by writing the report.

When exchanging money, do not forget:

  • Before exchanging money, calculate how much money you should receive in exchange  - the exchange rate is always posted in the exchange office or bank
  • Once you receive the change, never let it go. Even if the worker wants to recalculate the money, refuse.
  • Do not rush, recalculate the money immediately after the exchange. Do not exchange banknotes for smaller ones directly at the exchange.

It may sound scary, but this happens all over the world and it’s good to be careful. Everywhere and always.

It is a good idea to report to your bank that you will be using the card in Indonesia so that it is not blocked immediately after the first use.

Flight Tickets

Your destination airport is Denpasar Bali (DPS).

We personally recommend Emirates or Qatar Airways. Those are high quality airlines with top service offering the shortest possible flights to Bali. I always recommend buying a ticket directly on the website of the airline, mostly available in English.

If interested, we can help you choose a suitable ticket. Just write to us on Facebook, Instagram or send an e-mail.


If you have any other questions about your stay, please do not hesitate to contact us, with consideration of the time difference in Bali.