- Below is some advice
for a trouble-free holiday in Bali. If you
do have problems don't forget to contact your
- You must have a minimum
of six months validity in you passport upon
entry into Indonesia and have proof of onward
- Visas are not required
for nationals of:
- Argentina, Australia,
Austria, Belgium, Brazil, Brunei, Canada,
Chile, Denmark, Egypt, Finland, France, Greece,
Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy,
Japan, Kuwait, Liechtenstein, Luxemburg, Malaysia,
Maldives, Malta, Morocco, Mexico, Monaco,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Philippines,
Singapore, South Korea, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland,
Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, United
Kingdom (Great Britain), United States of
America, United Emirate Arab, Yugoslavia,
- The maximum stay permitted
two months and is not extendible.
Indonesian Customs allows on entry a maximum
- one liter of alcoholic
- 200 cigarettes or 50
Cigars or 100 grams of tobacco
- reasonable amount perfume
- The following need
to be declared when entering the country;
- photographic equipment
- tape recorders
- Prohibited from entry
- TV sets
- arms and ammunition
- printed matter in Chinese
- Chinese medicines.
- Also note:
- All movie films and
video cassettes must be censored by the Film
- 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.
- There's a departure
tax on domestic ( Rp. 11,000) and international
(Rp. 50.000) flights. Only children under
two years of age are exempt.
Make sue you have medical insurance before
you leave your country. Medical bills can
be quite costly and having medical insurance
could save your life. Contract your travel
agent to get information on recommended medical
insurance plans. Don't forget, if you extend
your travel in Bali , you should also extend
your insurance cover.
- 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
- Carry your handbag
on the side of the road furthest from the
- 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.
- 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
- 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).
of driving in Bali.
- Get use to bikes
and cars swerving into your lane without
- 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
- 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
- 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.
- 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.
- 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).
- 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.
- 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.
- 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!
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
Provincial Tourist Service.
This office provides the latest information
on tourist attractions, interesting destinations,
bemo timetables, and ferry services. All staff
Jl. S. Parman,
Telephone: 0361 222 387
Office of Tourism, Arts & Culture:
This office provides tourist information for
people who want to explore Bali. All the staff
Jl. Raya Puputan,
Telephone: 0361 225 649 or 233 474
Government Tourist Information Service
Telephone: 0361 753 540
A GREAT AND SAFE TRIP!
While every care has been taken in preparing
this information, neither BaliBiz2000 Inc.
nor its agents or employees can accept liability
for any injury, loss or damage arising in
respect of any statement contained herein.