If you’re Bali bound soon, you might be extremely excited about all the things you want to visit, but hold your horses. There are some things you should avoid too. In this blog, we’re listing the mistakes you shouldn’t make when planning a trip to the beautiful Bali.
Bali is one of the destinations we recently visited, and if you’re flying there soon, you probably know that there’s a lot to see and hear, which is why it is difficult not to get overexcited. Sometimes, we tend to overlook the other aspects of Bali that could lead us to make bad decisions. So without further ado, here are the mistakes you should avoid when traveling to Bali.
Don’t Assume Bali Is a Small Island
I made my first mistake even before I arrived on the island. For some reason, I assumed that Bali is just as small as Phuket, Santorini, or Singapore. My friends, Bali is a hell of a lot bigger than those. It is huge! It is 8 times bigger than Singapore, 10 times bigger than Phuket, 64 times bigger than Santorini, and 500 plus times bigger than Boracay. Keep that in mind when building your itinerary. Don’t schedule your activities immediately after another if they’re in different parts of the island.
Getting from Seminyak to Ubud does not take just a few minutes; it takes a couple of hours. And those faraway temples like Lempuyang or Pura Ulun Danu take much longer, depending on your itinerary and mode of transport. To begin with, you need to pick the most ideal area to stay, so you won’t waste too much time on the road if you’re staying in Kuta or a similar area. There’s another thing you shouldn’t underestimate.
Don’t Underestimate the Traffic
Bali welcomes millions and millions of visitors per year. In fact, from January to October 2023 alone, it has recorded almost 4.4 million foreign tourist arrivals, and a great fraction of them chose to stay in the area where you’ll find hotels in Seminyak. Most of them do not use public transportation, which is not as reliable as one could hope.
More tourists prefer a private tour by car or booking Grab or Gojek to get from one place to another. It’s no wonder traffic buildup is constant in crowded areas. So, if you have a tour, a show, or a flight to catch, it’s always best to have plenty of time. Traffic is not as bad in other areas, though, but you may also notice traffic jams in Ubud, Canggu, and Kuta.
Don’t Drink Tap Water
While we’re on the subject of food, do not, I repeat, do not drink tap water. Not even the locals do this, and they highly discouraged me too. Most accommodations provide filtered water; if not, head to the grocery and buy those giant containers and just refill your reusable bottle every now and then. Why? Because tap water in Bali is going to wreck your insides like it did mine.
I never really believed in the term “Bali belly” until it happened to me. I spent an entire night in the toilet without ever coming out because every 15 minutes, something inside me was starting a revolution. So, no, don’t drink tap water, I beg you. And don’t forget to bring anti-diarrhea meds too.
Don’t Dismiss the Local Foods
Watering Babi Guling
Partly because of the many expats who call this island home, Bali has a vibrant international food scene. Before coming to Bali, my friends told me I should try places with the best burgers, the best Greek food, the best tacos, and so on. There are lots of fast food chains and cafes too, and that’s great and all, but don’t leave without digging into local food. Balinese cuisine is spectacular, to say the least, from the mouth-watering babi guling (spit-roasted pork) to the ubiquitous sate and nasi campur, plus traditional cakes. The best part? They’re everywhere. You’ll find them at high-end restaurants, humble warungs, or small family-run eateries. Most of them serve homey, hearty meals.
Guided Food Tour
But if you want an insider’s scoop, it’s best to book a guided food tour. By joining a food tour, you’ll get to know the local favorites, sample them, and learn more about Balinese food culture and other tips. Thankfully, there are a lot of tours available. We actually booked our food tour in Bali with GetYourGuide even before they approached us, so we’re really happy that we’re now collaborating for this venture because we already trusted them.
We booked an authentic food tour from Ubud, and our guide, John, was polite, friendly, knowledgeable, and could communicate in English really well. He brought us to this babi guling place outside the city center and to Gianyar Night Market, where he introduced us to more traditional dishes like the babi guling and an assortment of desserts. In between food stops, we dropped by Gunung Kawi, one of the holiest temples on the island.
This is just one of the many food-related activities available on GetYourGuide. Some tours are food-focused, while others include visits to markets so, you get a better understanding of the local ingredients and other produce. You can also join a cooking class. And these are just the food-related tours. With more than 68,000 curated activities in over 3,600 destinations around the world, from tours like this to skip-the-line tickets, GetYourGuide is the best place to discover the world’s most unforgettable travel experiences.
Their tours are always led by knowledgeable local experts, giving insight into the culture. We booked our Bali food tour using the app and never needed to print anything. 24/7 support and free cancellation up to 24 hours before scheduled activities are also available.
Don’t Trust Street ATMs Easley
And by street ATMs, I mean those cash machines that you see in the streets, out in the open, and can easily be tampered with. If you need to withdraw from an ATM, choose a machine that is inside a bank or other guarded or enclosed establishments. The bank is your best bet, and you’ll find a lot of various reputable banks throughout the island. If you must withdraw from a street ATM, always double-check for signs of tampering. When in doubt, don’t do it and just find another way to get cash.
Don’t Over Pay by Mistake
In Bali, the official currency is the Indonesian rupiah, and 100 USD is roughly 1.5 million rupiah. The highest denomination is 100,000 rupiah. Yes, that’s one followed by five zeros. For those familiar with the currency, the notes can be easily differentiated by their color: 100,000 is red, 50,000 is blue, 20,000 is green, and so on. But for those of us who aren’t used to seeing that many zeros, it can be a bit confusing, especially because these zeros don’t have a thousand separator—no period, no comma. It’s pretty easy to mistake 10,000 for 100,000.
This mistake is easy to make, and just like any other destination, you may run into someone who is willing to take advantage when the opportunity presents itself. It was already my fourth day when I finally got the hang of it. Maybe I’m just slow in general, but the thing to remember is that Bali really is a cash-based society. Fortunately, most of my tours had been booked and paid for by card when available, and the supermarket in front of my hotel accepted credit cards.
Don’t Hold Your Phone Up in The Street
Bali is generally safe and has a relatively low crime rate considering how busy and touristy it is. However, like many other tourist hotspots, petty crimes do exist in Bali, especially within developed areas like Kuta. So, don’t hold your phone loosely or walk with it out in the open when walking or standing by the road because someone on a motorbike might just snatch it away. Keep it away from other people’s reach and don’t leave it unattended on the beach or use it to reserve a table at the food court.
Don’t Fall for Taxi & Motorbike Scam
Overpricing taxis are rampant in Bali. In fact, we have been told by the locals not to hail a cab but to use Grab or Gojek instead. If you must use a taxi, only use Bluebird, said to be the only reputable taxi company on the island. So, if coming from the airport, you may also prearrange a pickup service online.
If you prefer traveling by motorbike, beware of scams too. I don’t drive motorcycles abroad, so this isn’t something I’m concerned about, but I have been warned about rental shops that charge you for pre-existing damages on the bike. Police scams are said to be prevalent too. Some officers might stop motorbike drivers for whatever reason they can think of just to get a bribe to let you go. But if you insist on renting a motorbike, make sure you have the proper driving license and always wear a helmet.
Don’t Get Trap in Similar Attractions
Before you book multiple tours, check the itinerary first. Most tourists in Bali visit similar attractions—usually including stops at rice terraces, local restaurants, and Instagrammable spots with giant swings and the like. So if you’re booking more than one private tour, ask your contact or guide if you can replace some of these stops to avoid repetitive journeys and experience more of Bali. We’ve done it before, and every guide obliged because it’s not difficult to find another point of interest along the road.
Don’t Disregard the Queue Times at IG Spots
Gates of Haven
Of all the destinations I have set foot in, Bali is perhaps the most Instagram-worthy. It’s just bursting with Instagrammable spots, both natural and man-made. You probably know about this: the Gates of Heaven at Lempuyang Temple and Tegenungan Waterfall. And you might already be aware that the “Gates of Heaven” photo is just a mirror trick and that there’s no body of water on-site. But that’s not the only thing you should be aware of. It’s so popular that the line for this photo can get crazy long—we’re talking up to 3 hours of waiting time here just for a minute of photos.
During our last trip, we arrived in the afternoon in time for the sunset and waited 2 and a half hours. They say that to avoid waiting times, go in the early morning. My immediate companion did just that, arriving in time for sunrise, and they were second in line. But even if your timing is right, don’t expect everything to be picture-perfect. Most photos I see were either taken under the best conditions or digitally enhanced. Often, the sky doesn’t cooperate, and it’s more likely that you’ll get a plain white backdrop because the mountain is hiding behind the clouds or fog.
Handara Gate & Tirata Gangga
A similar spot can be found in the north: Handara Gate, which also has the same effect. It’s not as popular as the Gates of Heaven, but you could still wait for 40 minutes to an hour for your turn. Even at Tirta Gangga, the lines can get crazy long, especially at certain spots. Personally, I don’t mind waiting times because I know how to keep myself busy. I usually spend the time chatting with our guide and other locals.
But if you are not really into Instagram-worthy spots and want to maximize your stay, you might just be wasting a lot of time queueing. There are other picturesque but less crowded attractions elsewhere on the island. However, if you really want these shots, go ahead. You’re already in Bali, so you might as well experience the full package, queues and all.
Don’t Disrespect Local Culture
Since we’re already talking about temples, know that you must dress modestly within the vicinity. Sometimes, sarongs are provided that you may borrow, but to be safe, just wear something that covers your shoulders, upper arms, and legs. This applies to both men and women. If you’re bleeding, have an open wound, or for women, if you’re menstruating, you should not enter the temples.
Even with a lot of tourism activity, Bali remains religious, conservative, and traditional. This will become apparent to you on your first day. Just by taking a short walk in front of the houses and on the sidewalk, you’ll see small plates with flowers and food. These are canang sari, which are daily offerings to the supreme God of Indonesian Hinduism as a symbol of gratitude. Watch your step and please do not step on them.
Also, when handing something to a local, always use your right hand. Your left hand is considered dirty and is used for toilet duties. Never touch anyone’s head, which is considered a sacred part of the body.
Don’t Forget to Bring Mosquitoes Repellent
Mosquitoes are common in Bali, so it’s best to be prepared. We didn’t think of it until we checked into our hotel room, where we found a free mosquito repellent spray and realized, “Hmm, of course.” Some places and seasons are more prone to mosquitoes than others, but to be on the safe side, just bring a repellent with you when touring. The last thing you want is to catch dengue or other mosquito-related diseases.
Don’t Expect too Much from Bali Beaches
When you think of Bali, you immediately conjure up images of its beaches. Growing up, I thought of Bali as a beach paradise. But when I was there, I realized that Bali’s biggest assets are not its sandy shores, but its well-preserved culture and inland natural attractions. I was much more awed by its temples, waterfalls, and cuisine than by its beaches. Don’t get me wrong, the beaches here are not bad at all, but just manage your expectations. If you’ve been to other beaches in Indonesia and you’re expecting Bali to give you the same sparkling beach escape, then you’ll be underwhelmed. That’s not to say that you shouldn’t come to Bali at all—because you definitely should, you must—but there’s so much more to Bali than its shores.
Don’t do Illegal Drugs
I know it sounds obvious, but it is very important that you know this. First of all, don’t do drugs anywhere you travel to, but especially here in Bali because Indonesia has some of the strictest laws when it comes to drugs. Possession is punishable by imprisonment for 4 to 12 years, or if the amount is big enough, you can be imprisoned for life. But the fine of up to 8 billion rupiah for trafficking, the death penalty may be imposed. That’s not the kind of adventure you want to experience abroad.
That’s all the don’t for Bali from me. If you have questions, make good use of the comments section below. You can also send us messages on Instagram, TikTok, and Twitter. That’s all for now. Remember to travel smart, travel safe, and make every trip worth it. Thank you so much.
