For U.S. passport holders, the Indonesian government requires a passport valid for at least six months from the date of arrival in Indonesia to enter the country. If not, travelers will be directed to a nearby country to obtain a new U.S. passport.

Under the Visa Exemption rule, American citizens aren’t required to have a visa to enter Indonesia if they plan to stay 30 days or less for tourism purposes. Entry under the visa exemption is for free, but there are no opportunities for extension. Travelers may apply for a 30-day visa on arrival. The Visa-on-Arrival plan can be extended for a maximum of 30 days by applying at the Indonesian immigration office.

Show proof of vaccination.

Source: Consulate General of the Republic of Indonesia in Los Angeles, Indonesia Travel

Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport, also known as Denpasar International Airport, is located in southern Bali, about 13 km south of Denpasar. 

The most common way to get to and from the Denpasar airport is by taxi. Taxi counters are located on the airport’s arrival level, immediately after customs, and just outside the terminal. Once you find the counter, indicate where you’re planning to go and a driver will assist. Before getting in the taxi, make sure you agree to a fare.

Many travelers also opt to secure transfer services, which offer a slew of transportation options. Some even take buses, with many costing about 60,000 IDR (USD $4.25) to get to places like Ubud, Bali.

Generally, the island is safe for female travelers. Violent crime in the Indonesian city is rare, and overall crime levels are quite low, making it extremely safe for tourists, even for solo island-goers. Still, it’s better to be cautious than risk being a victim of a tourist-aimed crime. 

Here are a few safety tips:

• Never leave your drink at night clubs.
• Stay vigilant when walking the streets at night.
• Leave your valuables in a room safe in your hotel.
• Carry a form of identification with you at all times.

Local weather is fairly consistent throughout the year. The months of May and June are the warmest, with temperatures averaging out at 82 Fahrenheit (28 Celsius). The coldest temperatures in the city are in January — 79 Fahrenheit (26 Celsius). And during the city’s wettest season, there’s an average of 90mm of rain in January as well. The best time to visit Bali is in August.

Balinese locals are considerably firm on their conservative ways. So, when traveling through the city’s restaurants, temples and tourist attractions, keep a few important etiquette tips in mind.  

When venturing throughout Bali’s borders, be sure to dress modestly and greet people with a handshake. And when you address people you first meet, acknowledge them by their formal title before they say their real names. As far as things not to do, avoid showing excessive displays of affection and displeasure in public.

The official currency in Indonesia is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), also shown as Rp.

Tipping! If you think your waiter did an exceptional job at serving, giving anywhere between a 5-10% tip is standard.

Electrical supply is 230 volts, 50 hertz and C/F power sockets. Indonesia uses the standard European two-pin (round-pronged) plugs. Your plugs look like this:

The tap water is something tourists should avoid. Stick to canned drinks or bottled water to stay away from potential cases of “Bali belly,” a sickness caused by tainted water quality.

Wi-Fi

Your local cafes and hotels will usually have free and fast internet Wifi. Here are a list of cafes and restaurants that offer free Wifi.

SIM CARD

Travelers can purchase SIM cards at the Denpasar International Airport or local vendors around the city. For relatively low prices, tourists can easily obtain several packages for extended online privileges. Perhaps the most popular SIM card company in Bali is Telkomsel, which offers the simPATI. For simPATI, there’s an offer for  4GB starting at 98,000 IDR (USD $7) abd 8GB at 168,000 IDR (USD $12), with each providing 4G LTE and 3G connections

Since May 2018, Uber is no longer used in Southeast Asia. Instead, the company sold its operations to Grab, a Maylasian rideshare app. 

• Grab
• GoJek

In Indonesia, LGBTQ people face social and legal challenges many non-LGBTQ residents don’t. However, Bali is one of the safer and more accepting destinations in the country. Travelers in the LGBTQ community will find the city is a lot more progressive, as the risk of endangerment and/or prejudice is significantly lower. There’s no problem with LGBTQ couples, but public displays of affection (PDA) should be cut to a minimum.

Though Bali is known for its picturesque views and beautiful beaches, the city lacks any eco-centered methods or programming. Due to the city’s high plastic residue, the island is heavily responsible for Indonesia being one of five countries that cause 60% of the plastic residue in the world’s oceans. There’s tons of trash and plastic pollution scattered all over the city. For travelers, it’s important to make extensive efforts to locate eco-friendly spots within the city’s borders and try to be as sustainable as possible.