In Reply to: Bali advice 2008??? posted by marcE on Monday, 29. September 2008 at 17:09 Bali Time:
I think if you look in the archives for DonRons Guide or some similar name you will get an up to date price guide.
Getting to Bali Tips.
In no particular order....................
So you've got your tickets, flights, travel insurance and accommodation all booked now it's time to pack.
Remember that you are allowed only 20 kilos in the hold and 7 kilos on the plane. Ladies can also carry a small handbag. Duty Free isn't counted either if you have just purchased at the airport before flight.
Remember the new restrictions on anything liquid, anything under 100mls is ok but must be in a zip-lock bag and be shown at the checkpoints including lipsticks! Anything over the 100ml must go in your luggage in the hold. If you are not sure and want it on the plane, check first before check-in...once your suitcase has gone to the hold you can't add to it so if you it is not allowed it will be confiscated and thrown out. Only allowed up to a certain amount though in your ziplock bag.
So weigh your suitcase/bags empty, if they are too heavy get a new one, borrow one or try the op shops or use soft fabric bags instead of suitcases. You can have as many bags as you can carry as long as they all add up to the same weight.
Throw out your toiletries, first aid and medicines bags. Use Zip-lock bags of different sizes; they prevent spills and can be squeezed into the smallest space in your bags/suitcase.
You will need a shopping bag for whilst in Bali, it needs to be large enough to carry your money, camera, drink bottle, emergency kit, mobile phone and of course any shopping you buy. Over the shoulder/across the body style is good for safety with an outside zip pocket, an inside zipped pocket or divider and a definite zip to close. Your purse should be a flat style, most Bali money you will have is paper notes, maybe with a divider in it for your atm/credit card.
If going with a group of people don't double up on what you can borrow from each other or loan from the hotel.
Mobile phones and cameras can be carried in pockets or on lanyards around your neck. Sunglasses on your head or on a lanyard too. Tickets and passports will be held in the hand. Wear clothes with pockets that you can stuff with items....no one gets personally weighed! Once on the plane you can transfer all these items to your hand luggage if you have room.
Most items can be purchased in Bali nowadays; they have supermarkets just like Perth and department stores just like Myers! Anything you feel you really must have, take, if you can't find out for definite you can get it there.
Packing for Bali should be simple light casual clothing. At least 4 sets and get you're washing done over there, cheap as chips and come back smelling lovely and ironed to perfection.
For on the plane have a light cardigan as it gets cool but remember when getting off the plane it is hot immediately. Maybe take a change of clothes and change on the plane just before landing. You can wear the same clothes back.
Ladies:- 1 nightie, 4 bras, 4 knickers, 4 shorts or 4 ¾ pants or 4 dresses or 4 skirts, 4 tops, 2 pairs of bathers, shoes/thongs to go to pool with, walking shoes, and maybe sneakers/gym shoes if you plan on doing white water rafting or buggy driving or whatever. If you wear a hat or peak cap pack one. Maybe 1 nice outfit for special evening meals with shoes.
Your hotel will have pool/beach towels so don't pack any. Remember to pack any phone/camera chargers or batteries that you may need. You can get power adaptors from the hotel or for a dollar from the department stores in Bali if you need them. Take a 4/6 point power board with you for all those chargers and things.
Pack any clothes that you want a tailor to copy, any jewellery that you want remodelled or pictures that you want copied into clothes or jewellery.
If you read.... take a book or two, take crossword puzzles if that is your thing.
Remember any essential medication that you need, maybe get a Dr.'s note to say what they are and what they are for, just for safety.
Once you have packed everything, weigh your suitcase and your carry-on, if you have space fill it with donations for orphanages. Some things that are really appreciated are adults and children's clothes, RED lipsticks, pens, pencils and chalks, bandages and other first aid stuff. Don't buy though, ask around friends and family for unwanted goods or you can get some from one of the charities here that collect stuff for taking over. Southern Cross Bali Association, see them on the web for more info.
Regarding emergency kit already mentioned above, this should include tissues/toilet paper/wet ones, either or all in small quantities and spare undies.
Duty Free can be purchased up to 30 days before you travel, if you buy a digital camera, video camera or other electronic goods you can buy from any retail shop...go the cheapest way, then once at the airport you can show your receipt and goods and claim the duty tax back there and then. It will be re-credited to your credit card. You must be able to show that the receipt is over $300.00 and all items on said receipt is with you. Very handy if purchasing an i-Pod or camera and you can get used to it before going on holiday and you don't have to have all the packaging with you.
Duty Free can also be purchased at the airport and can be left in Perth until your return, handy because then you don't have to queue to pay once your trip is over.
If you can afford to travel then you can afford travel insurance, don't leave home without it. It can cost upwards of $50,000.00 to fly you home if you are injured. Check with the people you are travelling with and who they insure with. Some people use their free Gold Credit Card insurance, some their hospital benefit funds, their insurance companies or some use the internet to get the best deal. Check all the relevant details and excess costs. Be careful some travel insurance is only for the trip to the airport and back not for the actual holiday.
Don't forget going to Bali you have to pay a Visa on Arrival and a Departure Tax. Your VOA is 25 US dollars but can be paid in Australian dollars and you get Rupiahs in exchange, check the day before you travel what the rate is and give the nearest appropriate Australian Dollars, have a few dollars extra in case the rate changes once in Bali. Or if you wish to take US Dollars then get it from your local post office, no commission and you get it in three days, I think you have to purchase $200.00US worth. Change money at reputable dealers in Bali, usually Kodak shops, cash is easiest and you can use ATM's there now. Have a credit card in case of emergencies. Once you have changed some money put the departure tax money in your passport ready for when you leave, 150,000 Rupiah per person. Remember to use the hotel safes or safety deposit boxes for your money and passport. Try using little envelopes or bank plastic bags, put a set amount in the bags for each day, use a bag a day to get changed and that way you know how you are doing with your money. If using ATM's be careful because your card will come out last from the machine, don't walk away without it, someone watching can then withdraw more money as your pin number is already locked in. Some machines will only dispense a certain note and a certain amount, find out which one delivers what you want. Usually the machine will say what notes it dispenses. It will ask what language you want the machine to work in.
Mobile Phone
If your phone is unlocked take it to Bali with you for ease of communication. You can check to see if your phone is unlocked by putting someone else's SIM card in from a different company. Take a record of the phone numbers you may want to use whilst in Bali in case they get lost in cyber space once in Bali. A Bali Sim card can be purchased once in Bali, the shop/store assistant will insert it into your phone for you and set it up ready for you to go. It is so cheap to sms home to Australia. Just drop the zero from the number you want and add the plus sign and 61 eg..0123 456 789 becomes +61 123 456 789. Sometimes you will be asked at the shop to register and you will need your passport to do this but not all places request this. If you wish to phone an Australian mobile use the same method as above. If phoning a landline
An even cheaper method of communicating with Australia from Bali is using a prefix number. If using a Pro XL Bebas Sim Card the prefix 01000 and 61. To phone Australia landline 03 97891122 you would need to ring 01000 61 3 9789 1122 or to ring a mobile eg 0418 999 888 you would need to ring 01000 61 418 999 888.
If using a Simpati Sim Card the prefix is 0011 then the country code, if using a Mentari Sim Card the prefix is 01016 then 61 then the number
Executive Lounge Bali Airport for Departures.
There are 2 or 3 first class lounges that you can access. The names are Prada, Dewi or Premier. It will cost up to 150,000 Rupiah each person. You get free drinks, tea/coffee and a variety of food such as soup and rolls, sandwiches, salads, cakes and savouries plus hot food that you can heat up in a microwave such as nasi goreng. There are also showers with provided towels and free internet access. There is also a massage service but this has to be paid for. Alcohol is served free also. You can also bargain for a lower price entry.
Entry is after the last immigration check. Just ask the friendly staff for directions.
Paperwork.
Take a paper copy of your passport, tickets, itinerary, vouchers and a claim form from your insurance company. Put them in a separate suitcase/place to the originals that you will be using. Also scan copies into your internet email website. If anything goes wrong you will be able to access your documents. It's a good idea to leave a copy of everything with someone at home too. Another precaution to take is registering online with the Department of Foreign Affairs, it only takes a minute and will in cases of emergencies help you or your loved ones out.
Things to do in Bali.
Get clothes tailor made or copied.
Get leather coats, shoes, bags made.
Get your favourite bathers copied and made up.
Get all your printing done eg. Business cards, order books etc..
Get your printing done on beer mats, stubby holders and the like.
Get t-shirts made up for your local team, printed or embroidered.
Don't forget the hats to go with them.
Get your old jewellery remodelled, repaired or just cleaned up.
Get your teeth fixed up.
Have some simple age replenishing beauty work done.
Purchase new spectacles.
Get a hearing aid.
Have a massage, spa treatment or haircut.
Sunbathe, read a book, do a crossword.
Get all your laundry done
Try white water rafting, quad bike riding, buggy driving, tree top walking, ocean floor walking, parasailing, horse riding, jet skiing, flyfish, cycling tour, snorkelling, diving, fishing trips, bungy jumping, ten pin bowling, climb the volcano, visit the islands,
Go to Waterbom Park.
Visit the Bali zoo, elephant park and have a ride, bird park, monkey forest, Safari Park.
Visit the early morning or late night market, go to Denpasar to visit the street that sells Gold or the street that sells heaps of Materials,
See a Balinese dance or theatre, learn to play a Gamelan musical instrument, learn to cook Balinese, see a temple or 2, visit GWK Park, go see the volcano,
Try all the different cocktails and try as many Balinese food dishes as you can.
Go out on a driving tour just to look at the scenery and meet the people.