Many holidaymakers, when holidaying in Bali for the first time, choose Bali villas as their accommodation, and lots of them do so because they believe it will give them the maximum flexibility on their holiday and it may seem more like home from home than staying in a hotel. For example, in Bali villas, not having to get up at certain times for breakfast, and being able to have whatever you want for breakfast, can be extremely appealing.
It also has to be noted that on your first trip to Bali, and whilst staying in a Bali villa, you will notice there are many differences from home, and the more you are aware of these local differences, the better your holiday will be. So, here is our short guide to your first holiday in a Bali villa.
Best Time to Visit Bali
Bali has a tropical climate so there will be no need to pack cardigans, scarves, and gloves. However, it does have both a dry and rainy season, with the latter being between October and April, so our advice is to go to Bali between May and September if you do not wish to pack your umbrella.
Local Currency
Bali uses the Indonesian rupiah (Rp), which is hardly surprising given that Bali is part of Indonesia. Usual denominations are the blue 50,000 Rp and the red 100,000 Rp notes. Not every store or market has card readers so you will need to carry cash with you at all times.
Visa Requirements
The usual visa requirement is a tourist visa which is valid for 30 days. This should be sufficient for most holidays whether you plan to rent your Bali villa for a weekend, a week, two weeks, or even four weeks if you want the maximum Bali holiday length.
Health Care In Bali
Whilst we would hope that nobody in your travelling group requires any medical care whilst in Bali, the good news is that Bali has modern and advanced medical services and facilities. This includes hospitals, local doctors, and fully trained medical staff, most of whom are multilingual which is also a positive. Should you ever have a medical emergency and require an ambulance, or any other emergency service in Bali, the number to call is 112.
Do Not Drink The Water
On the subject of all things medical, we must advise you that, whilst improving, Bali’s water system is still not at a standard where tap water is safe to drink. For this reason, always ensure you drink bottled water, and that you request no ice in your drinks, as often this is simply frozen tap water.
Haggle For Best Prices
Unless you only shop in one of the larger multi-national stores, you should have plenty of opportunities to bargain for lower prices when you are shopping for food, jewellery, clothes, gifts, and souvenirs. This is especially the case in the many markets which you will discover in Bali. Bargaining for prices is part of Bali’s local culture and is expected more by stall holders than people simply accepting the first price.
Learn Some Of The Local Language
It is always deemed as a mark of respect if you make some effort to speak the local language, even if just a few words. Here are some examples:
Yes = Ya
No = Tidak pronounced “Tee-Dak”
Thank You = Terima Kasih pronounced “Te-Ree-Ma Ka-See”
Excuse Me = Permisi pronounced “Per-Mee-See”
You Are Welcome = Sama Sama pronounced “Saa Maa Saa Maa”
