Weather Bali is always warm, humid and tropical, remaining around 30C to 35C all year round. The April-October dry season and November-March rainy seasons are only relative, with plenty of rainfall around the year, but the Balinese winter is cloudier, more humid and with a higher chance of thunderstorms. A more important consideration is the tourist season, as Bali can get packed in July-August and again around Christmas and New Year's. Australians also visit during school holidays in early April, late June and late September, while Indonesians visit during national holidays. Outside these peaks, Bali can be surprisingly quiet and good discounts on accommodation are often available.
Electricity
Electricity is supplied at 220V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travellers should pack an adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment.
Talk
Balinese is linguistically distinct from Bahasa Indonesia, although the Indonesian lingua franca is spoken by practically everybody. In touristy regions English and some other foreign languages are widely spoken.
Get in by plane
Most visitors will arrive at Denpasar's Ngurah Rai international airport (IATA: DPS) [1]. Despite the misleading name, the airport is actually located between Kuta and Jimbaran, roughly 30 mins away from Denpasar. You can fly to Bali from major cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar etc) or from major cities in Asia and Australia. * Malaysia Airlines operate daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur * Singapore Airlines up to 4 daily direct flights from Singapore In the low-cost carrier set: * AirAsia operate direct flights to Denpasar from Kuala Lumpur (up to 4 flights daily), Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu * Jetstar Asia operate from Singapore * Lion Air operate from Singapore * Mandala Airlines operates from Hong Kong and Taipei Note that if you are flying internationally into Ngurah Rai, most nationalities are now required to purchase an Entry Visa (US$25 or EUR20 or Rp 250,000 in cash for 30 days); see the main Indonesia article for details. Few other currencies are accepted so it's a good idea to play safe and have the required dollars on hand. Flying internationally out of Bali you are subject to the airport tax (150,000 Rupiah effective from 1st November 2007) which you would need to pay for in Rupiah so save some bills for the trip out. The domestic departure tax is Rp. 30,000. ATM machines are available at Airport Departure Lobby which accept Cirrus and Plus cards for withdrawals. Some hotels organize free transfers from the airport but there are plenty of other taxis also available. Approximate price for getting from Ngurah Rai to Legian is Rp. 40,000. If coming from the airport ignore touts offering rides. After years of abuse the airport and legitimate taxi companies dictated that fixed prices be offered. There is a dedicated booth at the airport for arranging rides to town (and any other location on the island). This is on the right just through the arrival doors for international. Since the second bombing, security at the airport has increased considerably and be prepared for rigorous scrutiny of luggage, including carry-on items.
Hotel
Bali has, without a doubt, the best range of accommodation in Indonesia, from the $3-a-night losmens on Poppies Lane in Kuta to the $4,300-a-night residences at the Begawan Giri in Ubud. Backpackers tend to head for Kuta, which has the cheapest if also dingiest digs on the island, while many (but not all) five-star resorts are clustered in Nusa Dua. Seminyak, Sanur and Jimbaran offer a fairly happy compromise if you want beaches, nightlife and some quiet, while Ubud's hotels and resorts cater to those who prefer spas and cultural pursuits over surfing and booze. Legian is situated between Kuta and Seminyak and offers good range of accommodations. The newest area to start offering a wide range of accommodation is Uluwatu - which now boasts everything from surfer's bungalows to the Bvlgari hotel. Further north on the west coast, and mid way between Seminyak and Ubud is the district of Canggu, which offers many traditional villages set among undulating ricefields. For rest and revitalization visit Amed, a peaceful fishing village on the East Coast with some good hotels and restaurants. Thanks to Bali's balmy climate, many villas and bungalows offer open-air bathrooms, often set in a lush garden. They look amazing and are definitely a very Balinese experience, but may also shelter little uninvited guests and are best avoided if you have low tolerance for critters.
Villas
One accommodation option for which the island is becoming increasingly famous for is private villas complete with staff. Indonesia's low labour costs (to find comparable one would need to go to Cambodia - the cost of a domestic servant in Bali is 1/3 the cost of Thailand) result in single villas boasting staff teams from 5 to over 30 people (at the really high end). It needs to be underlined that not every place sold as a "villa" actually fits the bill. Prices vary widely: some operators claim to go as low as $30/night (and that classicly describes a one bedroom hotel room with its own room) , realistically you'll be looking at upwards of $200/night for anything with a decent location and a private pool, and at the top of range nightly rents can easily go north of $1,000/night. One of the most important things about renting villas is understanding what type it is: 1) hotel villa - charge for F&B (hotel term for Food and Beverage) and laundry items like hotel 2) Private villa (original/old style)- F&B charged at cost price for food acquisition - Laundry either free or low item cost 3) Private villa (original/old style but with service charge)- F&B charged at cost price for food acquisition - but service charge ranging from 10-30% added to cost of food bill. 4) Private villa (bar) - F&B charged at cost - but staffed bar available for drinks which are charged by drink 5) Private villa (item charge F&B) - all drinks and food charged per item The private villas that charge for F&B normally have a higher quality of food quality, presentation and service. One of the hidden benefits of villas using original/old style service is they enable you to save tremendously on your tertiary costs (food and beverage) and none of those mini-bar charges! The one thing to remember is that normally villas are unstocked when you arrive there (they don't maintain a standing inventory like a hotel or a villa with an item charge for F&B). One needs to balance out what one expects from the services offered within the villa when one makes a villa selection. Remember the general rule applies - 'you get what you pay for' - there are of course exceptions to this but a 4 bedroom villa offered for USD400 and one for USD800 per night will be different in many ways - quality of maintenance, facilities, depth of staff, quality of english, etc, etc). Look carefully as to who is running the villa (run by the owner? local company? western company? local staff who answer to an overseas owner?) and who you are renting through (directly from the owner? a management company? a established villa agent? one who just opened a month ago after his friend Nyoman told him how easy it was...?). Each path has its pro's and cons. If its an agency - see if its been reviewed in the foreign press. Also ask how long the villa has been taking commercial guests for. Villas normally take a year or so to get to best service levels. Also in the first 6-12 months of operation great villas may offer introductory rates that are priced below market to gain awareness of their new offerings. Villas in Bali mostly found around the greater Seminyak area on the west coast (Seminyak, Umalas, Canggu), on the east coast around Sanur and in the inner regions such as the hill town of Ubud and rarely found in the Nusa Dua area (peninsula) which is more famous for hi-end resort complex of international chain hotels, but other portions of the bukit, such as Uluwatu are seeing more and more villas come on line. Sanur has a number of villa-resorts that keep on expanding, adding facilities like full-range spas.
Contact
International phone operators: 101. International Direct Dialing prefix: 001, 007, or 008.
Directory inquires
108 (if using a cell phone locally dial 0361-108)
Tourist information centre:
Telephone: 166. * Jalan Raya Kuta No. 2 Kuta, Tel.: (62)(361) 766 188. * Bali Tourism Board: Jl. Raya Puputan No. 41, Denpasar 80235, Tel.: (62)(361) 235 600. Fax.: (62)(361) 239 200. * Legian: Tel.: (62)(361) 755424. * Ubud: Tel.: (62)(361) 973285.
Immigration office:
Niti Mandala, Renon, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 227828. * I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport. Tel.: (62)(361) 751038.
Emergency
Ambulance: 118. * Police: 110. * Search & Rescue team: 115 ow 151. Tel.: (62)(361) 751111. * Bali Police HQ: Jl WR Supratman, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 227711 . * Badung Police HQ: Jl. Gunung Sanghyang, Denpasar Tel.: (62)(361) 424245. * Police stations: o Denpasar: Jl. Ahmad Yani, Tel.: (62)(361) 225456. o Sanur: Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai. Tel.: (62)(361) 288597. o Kuta: Jl. Raya Tuban. Tel.: (62)(361) 751598. o Nusa Dua: Jl. By Pass Nusa Dua, Tel.: (62)(361) 772110.
Hospitals with 24 hours emergency room (ER):
* RS Umum Sanglah. Jl. Kesehatan No. 1, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 243307 (62)(361) 227911, (62)(361) 225483, (62)(361) 265064. * RS Umum Badung. Jl Raya Kapal Mengwi, Denpasar 80351. Tel.: (62)(361) 7421880. * RS Umum Dharma Usadha. Jl Jend Sudirman 50, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 227560, (62)(361) 233786, (62)(361) 233787. * RS Umum Manuaba. Jl HOS Cokroaminoto 28. * Tel.: (62)(361) 426393, (62)(361) 226393. * RS Umum Surya Husadha. Jl Pulau Serangan 1-3, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 233787. * RS Umum Wangaya. Jl. RA Kartini 133, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 222141.
Medical Clinics:
* Bali Medical Center, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 100 X. Tel.: (62)(361) 761263. * Manuaba. Jl. Raya Kuta Nusa Indah Plaza Bl IX. Tel.: (62)(361) 754748. * Nusa Dua Medical. Hotel Nusa Dua Beach. Tel.: (62)(361) 772118. * Surya Husadha. Jl D Buyan 47, Sanur, Denpasar 80228. Tel.: (62)(361) 285236. Jl. Kartika Plaza 9-X. Tel.: (62)(361) 752947. * SOS, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 505. Tel.: (62)(361) 710505.
Embassies and Consulates
Some countries have set up consulates in Bali, and these are their addresses:
* Australia Consulate General in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 88 B, Tanjung Bungkuk, Denpasar, Bali (P.O.BOX 3243), ☎ (62-361) 241118.
* Austria Representative Consular Affairs in Denpasar, Bali, Swiss Restaurant Legian Kelot Kuta, Denpasar, Bali 80361 (P.O.BOX 2035 Kuta), ☎ (62-361) 751-735, 754-719.
* Royal Danish Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resorts Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai Jimbaran, Kuta, Denpasar 80361, Bali, Indonesia, ☎ (62-361) 701-070.
* Finland Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Segara Village Hotel, Jl. Segara, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia (P.O.BOX 91 Denpasar), ☎ (62-361) 288-407, 288-231.
* France Consular Agency in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Mertasari Gang 2 No. 8, Banjang Tanjung, Sanur Kauh, Denpasar 80227, ☎ (62-361) 285-485.
* Germany Consulate General in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Pantai Karang No. 17, Batujimbar, Sanur, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 288-535.
* Japan Consulate General Branch Office in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Raya Puputan No. 170, Renon, Denpasar, ☎ (62-361) 227-628.
* Royal Netherlands Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Raya Kuta 127 (P. O. Box 3337), Denpasar 80001, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 751-517.
* Royal Norway Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran, Kuta, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 701-070.
* Sweden Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Segara Village Hotel, Jl. Segara, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia (P.O.BOX 91 Denpasar), ☎ (62-361) 288-407, 288-231.
* Switzerland Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Kompleks Istana Kuta Galleria, Blok Valet 2 No. 12, Jl. Patih Jelantik/Kuta, Denpasar (P.O. Box 2035, Kuta 80361), Bali, ☎ (62-361) 751-735.
* United States of America General Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Hayam Wuruk 188 Denpasar - Bali, ☎ (62-361) 233-605.
* Great Britain Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Mertasari No. 2, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 270-601.
Electricity is supplied at 220V 50Hz. Outlets are the European standard CEE-7/7 "Schukostecker" or "Schuko" or the compatible, but non-grounded, CEE-7/16 "Europlug" types. Generally speaking, U.S. and Canadian travellers should pack an adapter for these outlets if they plan to use North American electrical equipment.
Talk
Balinese is linguistically distinct from Bahasa Indonesia, although the Indonesian lingua franca is spoken by practically everybody. In touristy regions English and some other foreign languages are widely spoken.
Get in by plane
Most visitors will arrive at Denpasar's Ngurah Rai international airport (IATA: DPS) [1]. Despite the misleading name, the airport is actually located between Kuta and Jimbaran, roughly 30 mins away from Denpasar. You can fly to Bali from major cities in Indonesia (Jakarta, Surabaya, Makassar etc) or from major cities in Asia and Australia. * Malaysia Airlines operate daily direct flights from Kuala Lumpur * Singapore Airlines up to 4 daily direct flights from Singapore In the low-cost carrier set: * AirAsia operate direct flights to Denpasar from Kuala Lumpur (up to 4 flights daily), Jakarta, Johor Bahru, Kuching and Kota Kinabalu * Jetstar Asia operate from Singapore * Lion Air operate from Singapore * Mandala Airlines operates from Hong Kong and Taipei Note that if you are flying internationally into Ngurah Rai, most nationalities are now required to purchase an Entry Visa (US$25 or EUR20 or Rp 250,000 in cash for 30 days); see the main Indonesia article for details. Few other currencies are accepted so it's a good idea to play safe and have the required dollars on hand. Flying internationally out of Bali you are subject to the airport tax (150,000 Rupiah effective from 1st November 2007) which you would need to pay for in Rupiah so save some bills for the trip out. The domestic departure tax is Rp. 30,000. ATM machines are available at Airport Departure Lobby which accept Cirrus and Plus cards for withdrawals. Some hotels organize free transfers from the airport but there are plenty of other taxis also available. Approximate price for getting from Ngurah Rai to Legian is Rp. 40,000. If coming from the airport ignore touts offering rides. After years of abuse the airport and legitimate taxi companies dictated that fixed prices be offered. There is a dedicated booth at the airport for arranging rides to town (and any other location on the island). This is on the right just through the arrival doors for international. Since the second bombing, security at the airport has increased considerably and be prepared for rigorous scrutiny of luggage, including carry-on items.
Hotel
Bali has, without a doubt, the best range of accommodation in Indonesia, from the $3-a-night losmens on Poppies Lane in Kuta to the $4,300-a-night residences at the Begawan Giri in Ubud. Backpackers tend to head for Kuta, which has the cheapest if also dingiest digs on the island, while many (but not all) five-star resorts are clustered in Nusa Dua. Seminyak, Sanur and Jimbaran offer a fairly happy compromise if you want beaches, nightlife and some quiet, while Ubud's hotels and resorts cater to those who prefer spas and cultural pursuits over surfing and booze. Legian is situated between Kuta and Seminyak and offers good range of accommodations. The newest area to start offering a wide range of accommodation is Uluwatu - which now boasts everything from surfer's bungalows to the Bvlgari hotel. Further north on the west coast, and mid way between Seminyak and Ubud is the district of Canggu, which offers many traditional villages set among undulating ricefields. For rest and revitalization visit Amed, a peaceful fishing village on the East Coast with some good hotels and restaurants. Thanks to Bali's balmy climate, many villas and bungalows offer open-air bathrooms, often set in a lush garden. They look amazing and are definitely a very Balinese experience, but may also shelter little uninvited guests and are best avoided if you have low tolerance for critters.
Villas
One accommodation option for which the island is becoming increasingly famous for is private villas complete with staff. Indonesia's low labour costs (to find comparable one would need to go to Cambodia - the cost of a domestic servant in Bali is 1/3 the cost of Thailand) result in single villas boasting staff teams from 5 to over 30 people (at the really high end). It needs to be underlined that not every place sold as a "villa" actually fits the bill. Prices vary widely: some operators claim to go as low as $30/night (and that classicly describes a one bedroom hotel room with its own room) , realistically you'll be looking at upwards of $200/night for anything with a decent location and a private pool, and at the top of range nightly rents can easily go north of $1,000/night. One of the most important things about renting villas is understanding what type it is: 1) hotel villa - charge for F&B (hotel term for Food and Beverage) and laundry items like hotel 2) Private villa (original/old style)- F&B charged at cost price for food acquisition - Laundry either free or low item cost 3) Private villa (original/old style but with service charge)- F&B charged at cost price for food acquisition - but service charge ranging from 10-30% added to cost of food bill. 4) Private villa (bar) - F&B charged at cost - but staffed bar available for drinks which are charged by drink 5) Private villa (item charge F&B) - all drinks and food charged per item The private villas that charge for F&B normally have a higher quality of food quality, presentation and service. One of the hidden benefits of villas using original/old style service is they enable you to save tremendously on your tertiary costs (food and beverage) and none of those mini-bar charges! The one thing to remember is that normally villas are unstocked when you arrive there (they don't maintain a standing inventory like a hotel or a villa with an item charge for F&B). One needs to balance out what one expects from the services offered within the villa when one makes a villa selection. Remember the general rule applies - 'you get what you pay for' - there are of course exceptions to this but a 4 bedroom villa offered for USD400 and one for USD800 per night will be different in many ways - quality of maintenance, facilities, depth of staff, quality of english, etc, etc). Look carefully as to who is running the villa (run by the owner? local company? western company? local staff who answer to an overseas owner?) and who you are renting through (directly from the owner? a management company? a established villa agent? one who just opened a month ago after his friend Nyoman told him how easy it was...?). Each path has its pro's and cons. If its an agency - see if its been reviewed in the foreign press. Also ask how long the villa has been taking commercial guests for. Villas normally take a year or so to get to best service levels. Also in the first 6-12 months of operation great villas may offer introductory rates that are priced below market to gain awareness of their new offerings. Villas in Bali mostly found around the greater Seminyak area on the west coast (Seminyak, Umalas, Canggu), on the east coast around Sanur and in the inner regions such as the hill town of Ubud and rarely found in the Nusa Dua area (peninsula) which is more famous for hi-end resort complex of international chain hotels, but other portions of the bukit, such as Uluwatu are seeing more and more villas come on line. Sanur has a number of villa-resorts that keep on expanding, adding facilities like full-range spas.
Contact
International phone operators: 101. International Direct Dialing prefix: 001, 007, or 008.
Directory inquires
108 (if using a cell phone locally dial 0361-108)
Tourist information centre:
Telephone: 166. * Jalan Raya Kuta No. 2 Kuta, Tel.: (62)(361) 766 188. * Bali Tourism Board: Jl. Raya Puputan No. 41, Denpasar 80235, Tel.: (62)(361) 235 600. Fax.: (62)(361) 239 200. * Legian: Tel.: (62)(361) 755424. * Ubud: Tel.: (62)(361) 973285.
Immigration office:
Niti Mandala, Renon, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 227828. * I Gusti Ngurah Rai Airport. Tel.: (62)(361) 751038.
Emergency
Ambulance: 118. * Police: 110. * Search & Rescue team: 115 ow 151. Tel.: (62)(361) 751111. * Bali Police HQ: Jl WR Supratman, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 227711 . * Badung Police HQ: Jl. Gunung Sanghyang, Denpasar Tel.: (62)(361) 424245. * Police stations: o Denpasar: Jl. Ahmad Yani, Tel.: (62)(361) 225456. o Sanur: Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai. Tel.: (62)(361) 288597. o Kuta: Jl. Raya Tuban. Tel.: (62)(361) 751598. o Nusa Dua: Jl. By Pass Nusa Dua, Tel.: (62)(361) 772110.
Hospitals with 24 hours emergency room (ER):
* RS Umum Sanglah. Jl. Kesehatan No. 1, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 243307 (62)(361) 227911, (62)(361) 225483, (62)(361) 265064. * RS Umum Badung. Jl Raya Kapal Mengwi, Denpasar 80351. Tel.: (62)(361) 7421880. * RS Umum Dharma Usadha. Jl Jend Sudirman 50, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 227560, (62)(361) 233786, (62)(361) 233787. * RS Umum Manuaba. Jl HOS Cokroaminoto 28. * Tel.: (62)(361) 426393, (62)(361) 226393. * RS Umum Surya Husadha. Jl Pulau Serangan 1-3, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 233787. * RS Umum Wangaya. Jl. RA Kartini 133, Denpasar. Tel.: (62)(361) 222141.
Medical Clinics:
* Bali Medical Center, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 100 X. Tel.: (62)(361) 761263. * Manuaba. Jl. Raya Kuta Nusa Indah Plaza Bl IX. Tel.: (62)(361) 754748. * Nusa Dua Medical. Hotel Nusa Dua Beach. Tel.: (62)(361) 772118. * Surya Husadha. Jl D Buyan 47, Sanur, Denpasar 80228. Tel.: (62)(361) 285236. Jl. Kartika Plaza 9-X. Tel.: (62)(361) 752947. * SOS, Jl. By Pass Ngurah Rai 505. Tel.: (62)(361) 710505.
Embassies and Consulates
Some countries have set up consulates in Bali, and these are their addresses:
* Australia Consulate General in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Hayam Wuruk No. 88 B, Tanjung Bungkuk, Denpasar, Bali (P.O.BOX 3243), ☎ (62-361) 241118.
* Austria Representative Consular Affairs in Denpasar, Bali, Swiss Restaurant Legian Kelot Kuta, Denpasar, Bali 80361 (P.O.BOX 2035 Kuta), ☎ (62-361) 751-735, 754-719.
* Royal Danish Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resorts Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai Jimbaran, Kuta, Denpasar 80361, Bali, Indonesia, ☎ (62-361) 701-070.
* Finland Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Segara Village Hotel, Jl. Segara, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia (P.O.BOX 91 Denpasar), ☎ (62-361) 288-407, 288-231.
* France Consular Agency in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Mertasari Gang 2 No. 8, Banjang Tanjung, Sanur Kauh, Denpasar 80227, ☎ (62-361) 285-485.
* Germany Consulate General in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Pantai Karang No. 17, Batujimbar, Sanur, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 288-535.
* Japan Consulate General Branch Office in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Raya Puputan No. 170, Renon, Denpasar, ☎ (62-361) 227-628.
* Royal Netherlands Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Raya Kuta 127 (P. O. Box 3337), Denpasar 80001, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 751-517.
* Royal Norway Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Mimpi Resort Jimbaran, Kawasan Bukit Permai, Jimbaran, Kuta, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 701-070.
* Sweden Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Segara Village Hotel, Jl. Segara, Sanur, Bali, Indonesia (P.O.BOX 91 Denpasar), ☎ (62-361) 288-407, 288-231.
* Switzerland Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Kompleks Istana Kuta Galleria, Blok Valet 2 No. 12, Jl. Patih Jelantik/Kuta, Denpasar (P.O. Box 2035, Kuta 80361), Bali, ☎ (62-361) 751-735.
* United States of America General Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Hayam Wuruk 188 Denpasar - Bali, ☎ (62-361) 233-605.
* Great Britain Honorary Consulate in Denpasar, Bali, Jl. Mertasari No. 2, Sanur, Denpasar, Bali, ☎ (62-361) 270-601.
Source : wikitravel.org
