What You Need to Know before Visiting Bali (for beginner)

How to deal with things in Bali for your first visit. 

First time visiting a foreign place often give a feeling of nervous, even if you are used to travel around the world. This time, I’d like to share several tips that might be useful for you if you are coming to Bali for the first time.

How to go to Bali

If you want to go to Bali from your home country, the best way to go there must be by airplane. However, if you depart from the other cities in Indonesia, you can choose other transportation such as bus or ship. Nevertheless, going to Bali by airplane is still more recommended.

It is better to book a flight ticket much earlier because you may get the cheapest price. Be sure you choose the comfortable airways if your country is very far from Bali. Be ready to time and weather difference.

The best time to go to Bali

Bali is always interesting, anytime all year. But, if you have specific purpose visiting this island, for example you want to enjoy the beach, then, it is better you come around April to September where Bali has its dry season.

Pay attention to high season or peak season period too. The period around June to August and November to January is high season and peak season so any price regarding hotel and flight will be very high around this period. Besides, you have to be ready to find a busy and noisy Bali around that time due to many tourists there.

Where to Stay

It depends on which part of Bali you want to visit. If you want to see Kuta Beach, you can book any lodging services available in this city. Many types of hotel available to suit your budget here, ranges from cheap guest house until luxurious five star hotels.

If you want to stay at more luxurious hotel which provides more privacy, you can try to stay at hotel villas in Seminyak area. Many famous hotel villas are available in the city.

If you like more quiet area, you can choose to stay at the other places such as Jimbaran, Ubud, Sanur or Nusa Dua. While Jimbaran, Sanur and Nusa Dua provide hotels nearby the beach, Ubud offers fresh natural environment with mountain and rice fields. Ubud is quieter so it is very suitable for those who want to spend quality time far from the urban life.

You can also try to stay at the hotels in eastern Bali. The areas such as Candidasa in Karangasem regency is well-known for its beautiful tranquil beach. Many cheap and expensive hotels are available in this area. Or, you can also try to stay in Nusa Lembongan, which is now very famous for its beautiful beaches.

Where to Eat in Bali

As the top destination in the world, Bali sure has a lot of culinary spots. It is up to you to have fine dining or street foods. Every kind of foods are available in the island.

However, if you are Muslim or vegetarian, be careful to eat at the restaurants here. Before ordering, it is better to ask the staff whether they provide halal foods. 

Respect the local tradition

Just like the saying, when in Rome do as the Romans do, so when you visit Bali you are supposed to behave like the local residents too. At least you should respect their belief and tradition. Be careful to not step on ‘sesaji’ (thing like offerings used for religious tradition that is usually put nearby the entrance of a building/hotel/temple/shop). If you accidentally step on it, you should directly say sorry to the owner.

Some places may also ask the visitors to dress in certain way like forbidding any visitors wearing shorts or mini skirt. In this kind of situation, you should obey the rule and use cloth to cover your body or it is better to dress finely.

Also, do not randomly take picture on those who are praying with flash cameras as such behavior will disturb them and considered inappropriate.

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