5 things you should do before you arrive in bali
I am sure you will find this same information everywhere, but these things really made a difference so I highly recommend these tips!
- Get an eVisa
- Fill in the custom and health declaration (within 72 hours of arrival)
- Pay the tourist levy
- Get an eSIM
- Get an airport transfer
Here are the detailed info:
- eVisa: You can apply for an eVisa (Electronic Visa on Arrival online) from the official government website (https://evisa.imigrasi.go.id/) – the process was very straightforward and took around 10 minutes. The decision came through pretty much straight away by email. If you don’t complete this step, there is a HUGE line at the airport and you could be waiting for a very long time. If you have got an eVisa ahead of time, you will be able to go through the eGates and there’s virtually no waiting time there. We didn’t need to show any documents at the border.
- Arrival form: Similar to Step 1, you need to complete the arrival card & custom declaration form (https://allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id) ahead of arrival. You will get a QR code once completed, this should be kept on your camera app or physically as the custom officers will scan it to check the details.
*Just a tip on these websites: they can be a bit cranky and you don’t realise there’s a button or info to go through unless you are scrolling to the bottom of the page… just be patient! - Tourist Levy: I had trouble paying this on their official website (https://lovebali.baliprov.go.id/) ahead of travel. On the day of arrival, I asked my husband to pay on his phone and it went through. Otherwise, there’s a ‘Collecting Agent’ on the above website where you are directed to WhatsApp chat and you can pay for the levy this way as well (which is how I paid). Apparently, there’s a desk to make the payment at the airport but unless you have a lot of time or have patience after a long journey, I highly recommend paying this ahead of time.
- eSIM: In terms of a SIM card whilst you are travelling in Bali, you will want to get this ahead of time as you may need to communicate with the transfer agent! I always go for Hola Fly but this time I opted for Maya because of the ridiculously good deal they were doing when I was searching for one. I did struggle to get connections at some point in Bali though, but I am not sure whether it was to do with the local network issue.
- Airport Transfer: Finally, make sure to order an airport transfer. It is very hot and humid when you arrive regardless of the time and day, and it makes the experience so much more comfortable on day 1 unless you want to be hassled at the airport. I generally find holidayextras to be a good reliable transport option. The booking process was simple, and on arrival, as soon as I turned on data, I received WhatsApp messages to confirm how to meet the rep from the airport transfer company and it was a short wait before our car arrived.
spa & massages
You cannot skip Spa & Massages if you are going to Bali.
My research suggested the following to be the best Spas in Bali:
- Zanti the Retreat (located within the Courtyard by Marriott, Seminyak where we stayed)
- SUNDARI Wellness
- Bodyworks
I felt Bodyworks was more of an aesthetic spa where you can take great looking pictures whilst waiting for your treatment and if you are into that, then the place may be for you. Zanti was within the hotel we were staying in and it had good options so was very convenient for us. However, we opted for SUNDARI for the post-travel recovery.
Unless you are short on time, I highly recommend going for SUNDARI Travel Recovery Ritual designed to restore balance after long travel! It includes Dry Recovery Massage, SUNDARI Hydration Facial, Head & Scalp Release for 2.5 hours 1.350 IDR which is roughly 55 GBP! We felt so relaxed afterwards that it felt like it was one of the best treatments.
Vibes & Scooters & Driving
Seminyak, where we stayed, is a very touristic resort area and it was around 10 minutes to the beach. We went there at the end of August/beginning of September so it was just coming to the end of the season, but there were still quite a lot of people around. During the day time, the temperature can get quite hot but felt it was still comfortable to walk around (for a short time). There are lot of bikes and cars, but one thing we noticed straight away was the lack of traffic lights. If you are walking, it can be slightly daunting to cross the street. But you will soon get used to it and you will feel comfortable crossing the street! Cars do go through very narrow roads and I almost felt scared by being in the card being driven but the drivers were very experienced.
Whilst I was there, we used the taxi app very extensively. Whilst people suggest Grab, I used Gojek more frequently, purely because I had trouble registering payment cards on Grab. I highly recommend downloading them.
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