Map of Bali

When you are visiting Bali, there are some Bali Travel Tips that may come handy for you. First of all, you are required to know the items which are prohibited when you are entering Bali. The prohibited items are narcotics, pornography, weapon and radio-cassette. You will find it unusually for the radio-cassette to be one of the prohibited items, however, the law on this one is commonly not to be imposed in a greater state of act. Besides these items, any item you bring which has any Chinese characters written on it is also not allowed to enter Bali. Plants, fruits, animals, exposed films and videos are also among the things under the prohibition regulation. If you feel like cannot go on vacation without your beloved pets, then you are required to have a document prepared by your veterinarian stating that your pet is free of any disease. However, although you already have the document needed, it doesn’t mean that your pet is free of any quarantine. To get more detailed information regarding to this regulation, you may contact your Embassies in Jakarta or Consulates in Bali.

Another Bali Travel Tips that is important to ensure your pleasant holiday in Bali is stated as below. Any problem you may find during your holiday can be consulted at the nearest consulate.

Customs
When you are coming to Bali, you are not allowed to bring more than one liter of alcohol, 50 cigars, 200 cigarettes and 100 grams of tobacco. Perfume in a reasonable amount is allowed. The declaration form that you must fulfilled before entering Bali must be stated if you bring any typewriters, photographic equipment and radio. Besides that, the regulation of the currency import and export stated that the traveler is not allowed to import or export the Rupiah (Indonesian currency) with an amount more than RP. 5 million. Besides the currency, any national treasure, such as crocodile skins, tortoise shell, and ivory are not coming out of Indonesia by tourist.

The following need to be declared when entering the country;

• Cars
• photographic equipment
• typewriters
• tape recorders

Prohibited from entry are;

• TV sets
• radios
• narcotics
• arms and ammunition
• printed matter in Chinese characters
• Chinese medicines

Also note:
All movie films and video cassettes must be censored by the Film Censor Board.
Fresh fruits, plants and animals must have quarantine permits.

There is no restriction on import or export of foreign currencies. However, the export or import of Indonesian currency exceeding Rp.50,000 is prohibited.

Immigration
Another Bali Travel Tips regarding to immigration regulation is that your passport must be valid for minimum another 6 months of period after entering Indonesia, and you also must have an onward destination proof.

If you are coming from some countries, visa is not required. Below are the nationals that are free from the visa requirement: Australia, Argentina Austria, Brazil, Belgium Brunei, Chile, Canada, Denmark, Egypt, France, Finland, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Ireand, Iceland, Japan, Kuwait, Luxemburg, Liechtenstein, Maldives, Malaysia, Malta, Mexico, Morocco, Monaco, New Zealand, Netherlands, Norway, Philippines, Singapore, , Spain, South Korea, Sweden, Saudi Arabia, Switzerland, Thailand, Taiwan, Turkey, United States of America, United Kingdom (Great Britain), United Emirate Arab, Yugoslavia, Venezuela

The length of staying period allowed in Bali is within two months, and it can be extended

Departure Tax
When you have any departure flight from Bali, you are subjected on a departure tax. The domestic departure tax costs Rp.30.000,- while for the International departure tax costs Rp.75.000,-. If you bring your children under 2 years old, they are not subjected to the departure tax.

Medical Insurance
One of another very important Bali Travel Tips is relating to the medical insurance. So, it is highly recommended to have a medical insurance before departing from your country. It will save you a fortune just in case there is any health problem during your vacation in Bali. To get the best medical insurance plans information, you can consult to your travel agent. To remind you, if you decide to extend your staying in Bali, your insurance cover must also be extended.

Health

• Travellers should be aware that the Blood Bank in Bali normally carries no stock of Rhesus (Rh) Negative blood.
• Personal Security. You could be robbed at any time. Watch out for pickpockets and bag-snatchers, and always lock your hotel room and car.
• Keep your valuables (passport, airline ticket, credit cards, travellers cheques and cash) in a safe deposit box at your hotel, or at a bank.
• Secure the key in your money belt; don’t leave it in your hotel room when you go out.
• Money belts are better than ‘bum bags’, which are an open invitation to pickpockets. Hide your money belt under your clothes.
• Carry your handbag on the side of the road furthest from the roadway.
• Keep copies of your travel documents and emergency contact details on your person.
• An unattended car can be broken into within minutes. If you are touring in Indonesia, either carry everything with you when you leave the car, or find somewhere to stay first and secure items at the hotel before you go out.
• If you really need to travel with all your valuables, secure items in various places rather than lose everything if one bag is stolen.

Driving in Bali

• To drive legally in Indonesia you must have a current Indonesian or International Driver’s License that is valid for the type of vehicle you are driving.
• If you rent a vehicle and you don’t have such a license, you will be driving illegally and your insurer may refuse any claim you make.
• Insist on paying for comprehensive insurance when you rent a vehicle. Negotiations with vehicle owners and families of injured parties can take at least a week to resolve.
• If you have organized comprehensive insurance, the rental agency is responsible.
• You wouldn’t ride without a helmet in your own country; don’t when overseas. Check your travel insurance does it cover motorcycle riding?
• Most companies that rent motorcycles only provide flimsy helmets. Bring a proper helmet with you or only rent from a company that supplies them.
• Wear protective clothing (not shorts and thongs).

Characteristics of driving in Bali

• Get use to bikes and cars swerving into your lane without indicating.
• Watch out for large holes in the road or obstacles such as small trees to indicate where holes are.
• Many food carts and salespeople operate off the side of the road- beware.
• Merging traffic only give way if they are smaller than you.
• Every man for himself when entering a round-a-bout.
• There are many one lane roads and you may have to go quite a distance to return to the same location.
• Balinese are not use to drivers driving with there parking or head lights on during the daytime.
• Watch out for drivers, including trucks and buses overtaking on busy roads.

Water Sports Safety

• Check your travel insurance does it cover water sports?
• Bali’s beaches have strong ‘rips’. Only swim between the lifesavers’ flags. Don’t swim in the sea at night or when the beach is unpatrolled.
• ‘Jet-ski’ accidents are common because of the speed these craft travel at. Be careful.
• Don’t ‘para-sail’ with cheap, unlicensed amateurs. Only use major companies that are insured.
  Emergency Contact Details

Remember, friends and relatives may need to contact you in an emergency. Here are some tips:

• Leave copies of your itinerary, passport and insurance policy with friends or relatives.
• If you don’t have any firm plans, make a schedule to call home regularly and stick to it.
• Update your contact details through the airline you are traveling with (sometimes messages are left with the airline for forwarding).

Money and Currency Exchange
Another Bali Travel Tips that you need to know is on the money and currency exchange. The Indonesian currency is known as Rupiah, which is commonly abbreviated as Rp. The Indonesian currency have some denomination, ranging from Rp50,- to Rp.100.000,-. The value of Rp.50, Rp. 100 and Rp. 500 are in the coin form. While the value of Rp. 1000, Rp. 5000, Rp. 10.000, Rp. 20.000, Rp. 50.000 and Rp. 100.000,- are in the form of bills. You may hardly find any value below Rp.50,- these days, it is commonly substituted with a candy as a change by the sellers. Even though you plan to stay for a quite long time in Bali, you are not suggested to exchange a large amount of money due to the rupiah volatility. Most of the hotels in Bali, from mid ones to the five stars hotels, some tourism destinations, restaurants, tour companies, car rental agencies have their prices listed in USD dollar. For your information, the Rupiah is also taken, but you may not get a good exchange rate as a tourist. If you want to get a traveller’s check, you can get one in the post office. The traveller’s check is called as the Cek Pos. The main post office will exchange your cash for the traveller’s check that can be used throughout Indonesia. You can also cash back your traveller’s check in the main post office. However, you need to remember that such traveller’s checks cannot be accepted by individuals.

If you want to exchange your foreign currency, either in the form of traveller’s checks or banknotes, you should do it at the authorized money changers or at the major banks. You will find that the rates are commonly higher at the authorized money changer than the one in the bank. It is also quicker in the money changer. If you wants to use your dollars for shopping, you need to carefully notice the exchange rates as displayed on the board outside the shops windows or along the footpath sideways. You will also need to ask about the commission that will be imposed for the money exchange. Is there any or not? The money changers usually give a higher rate, but they also charge for a certain amount of commission which is commonly considerably not too big.

• Lost of stolen travellers cheques can be replaced – stolen cash is gone! By the way, the old paper banknotes can be difficult to exchange.
• Ask you bank about drawing cash from you account anywhere in the world via your ATM keycard and the CIRRUS system. It may be best to have a credit card available just for emergencies?
• Be careful with you money at money changers. Some money changers have ‘adjusted calculators, as well as forget to tell you they have deduct unadvertised commissions and use many other magical tricks to take your money.
• Try to reputatable authorized moneychagners that do no t charge a commission. Always count your Rupiah yourself before leaving the premises.

Banks in Bali
If you need to do any bank transactions, you can find the major banks at most main tourism centers in Bali. It may be a bit difficult to find in the smaller towns though. If there is any, the exchange rate offered is not good. The banks in Indonesia open from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m to 3 p.m daily. There are some banks offering certain services on Saturdays, but usually only opens for a half day or up to 12 a.m.

Credit Cards
If you have a credit card, it will really come handy for you. Many large and small shops accept the use of credit cards, but you will be subjected with a 3-5 % addition to the bill of your purchases. There are abundant Automatic teller Machines spreading all around, especially in the bank branches and shopping malls. These machines are mostly connected to the International Banking Network, such as Mastercard, Visa and American Express, so that you can get some cash using your credit card. The amount of cash that you will get is in Rupiah, but the bill is converted into your domestic currency.

Security in Bali
Rather than taking your money in cash, it will be much better and safer to bring it in the form of traveller’s checks. Your credit cards can be used for the backing up, especially for your major purchases. The most accepted currency almost in everywhere in Bali is US dollars. However, it will be more practical to have some exchange needed before traveling to remote areas. It is another Bali Travel Tips which is practical and also safe.

Drugs in Bali

• Don’t allow drugs to spoil your holiday in Bali.
• Like many popular tourist destinations around the world, the drug penalties in Indonesia are severe.

Tipping
This in not a general practise in Bali. Most of the larger hotesl and restaurants add a service charge and tax which on average is around 20%. In smaller establishments tips are not expected but appreciated!

Tourist Information Center
To help your travel, there will be many local travel agents ready to assist you. Or just ask people and also read tourist magazines and newspapers. Here are some offices that provide the information that might be needed by tourists

Bali Provincial Tourist Service
This office provides the latest information on tourist attractions, interesting destinations, bemo timetables, and ferry services. All staff speaks English.

Address:
Jl. S. Parman, Renon
Denpasar, Telephone: 0361 222 387

Regional Office of Tourism, Arts & Culture:
This office provides tourist information for people who want to explore Bali. All the staff speaks English.
Address:
Jl. Raya Puputan, Renon
Denpasar
Telephone: 0361 225 649 or 233 474

Bali Government Tourist Information Service
Telephone: 0361 753 540

HAVE A GREAT AND SAFE TRIP!

Thank you for visiting Indonesia Vacations ..

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