Bali, the so-called Land of the Gods. Everyone, it seems, wants to go to Bali, the beach island paradise south of Indonesia. It first appeared on the tourist map as one of the three K’s eighties backpackers and surfers jump to around Asia, Kathmandu, Khao San Road, and Kuta—the most famous area on the island province. From what was once a back-country Indonesian island, it quickly rose to fame. And soon, huts were replaced by luxury hotels, and its multitude of age-old temples started to fill up with tourists.

I visited Bali a few times the past years, my trips ranging from overnight to a full ten-day beach and temple bonanza. But for the course of this Bali travel guide, I would limit the trip to a single week just to make it simple. A few of those ten-day trips were spent doing nothing anyways, just lazing around the pool and hunting for bargains at the local markets.

BALI TRAVEL GUIDE WHAT’S INSIDE? • Undertand Bali • How To Get To Bali • Indonesian Visa Requirement For Filipinos • How To Get From Bali Aiport To Kuta Or Ubud • How To Get Around Bali • Safety In Bali • Staying Connected In Bali • Where To Stay In Bali • What To See & Do In Bali • Organized Tours In Bali • What To Eat In Bali • Where To Drink In Bali • Shopping In Bali • Bali One Week Itinerary ►BOOK DISCOUNTED TOURS IN BALI

UNDERSTAND BALI

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Bali is an island province located on the southern side of Indonesia. While the whole country is predominantly Muslim, Bali’s religion is Hinduism. The province traces its roots to nine Hindu sects during ancient times. The civilization developed into kingdoms until the 1840’s when the Dutch started to take control of Indonesia. It was then occupied by the Japanese during World War II. And along with the rest of Indonesia, it became fully independent at the end of 1949. Now, it is subdivided into eight regencies and a single city—its capital, Denpasar.

There are only two seasons in Bali. The dry season starts from May to September with temperature averaging at around 31 degrees Celsius, while the rains generally begin to pour from October and taper off around April. Be that as it may, expect warm and humid weather all year round. For those interested in surfing, head over during the windy months of June to August.

HOW TO GET TO BALI

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Three airlines fly directly from Manila to Denpasar—Cebu Pacific, AirAsia, and Philippine Airlines. Flight frequency is twice daily, with the ride taking about four hours. Arrivals range from 1AM, 8AM, and 11PM. To maximize your stay in Bali, I suggest getting the 8AM arrival time which departs at around 4AM in Manila.

►BOOK TRANSPORTATION TO & FROM BALI

INDONESIAN VISA REQUIREMENT FOR FILIPINOS

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Filipino citizens are not required to acquire a business or tourist visa to visit Bali since Indonesia is part of the ASEAN nations. The free entry is up to thirty days which cannot be extended. If you plan to stay longer than thirty days and you’re a Filipino, it is just not possible, you would need to leave the country.

Certain nationalities, however, has the option of paying for a visa on arrival (USD35.00) even if they can opt for a free visa upon entry. This also gives them thirty days in Indonesia, but the difference is that this one is extendable up to sixty days.

►FIND THE CHEAPEST FLIGHT TO BALI

HOW TO GET FROM NGURAH RAI INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT TO KUTA OR UBUD

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The only way to get from Bali Airport to any point on the island, which is usually to Kuta or Ubud, is by taxi. Ride-hailing apps like Uber, Grab, and the Indonesian Go-Jek are also available—should you want a cheaper fare and without the hassle of haggling with taxi drivers. There are hardly any public transportation in Bali. If you’re heading to Kuta, then there’s really no problem since it’s less than ten kilometers away. But if you’re heading to farther parts of Bali, then you’re out of luck.

Another option is to start your tour the moment you step off the airport. Renting a car or a whole van for tours around Bali is ridiculously cheap. So, what you can do is ask for the tour car to pick you up at the airport, then let them drive you to your chosen hotel, then start a relaxed tour.

►RENT PRIVATE CAR TRANSFER FROM BALI AIRPORT

HOW TO GET AROUND BALI

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As I mentioned above, public mass transportation is virtually non-existent in Bali. Well, almost. There are two big buses that cover long distance routes like Ubud and Nusa Dua, but these are scheduled buses and the schedules aren’t really that frequent. For shorter distances, you can ride a bemo, which are cramped vans converted as public transport. This kind of transport has almost fixed routes. The only problem with this is how to actually know where it’s going.

The easiest way to get around Bali is, of course, via taxis. Which can get pretty expensive. If you’re doing a tour, it’s actually better to hire a car than to get a cab from one place to the next.

Actually, if you know how to drive a motorbike, that would also be one of the cheapest way to travel around the island. Not particularly the safest way, but hey, as they say, YOLO.

• Renting a Scooter or Motorbike in Bali

SAFETY IN BALI

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Bali is generally safe for tourists. During my travels in Bali, never did I felt unsafe or threatened. Balinese people are generally gentle, kind, and helpful people. Of course, it’s always best to practice caution during late hours and on darkened streets.

STAYING CONNECTED IN BALI

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Roaming is available in Bali for all the mobile networks in the Philippines. During my stay on the island, I never once purchased a local simcard for my Internet needs. I find the hotel and restaurant wi-fi connections to be quite enough. But if ever you need to be constantly connected, you may want to buy a local sim or rent a pocket wi-fi.

• Renting a 4G Pocket WiFi at the Airport
• Buying a Simcard at the Airport

WHERE TO STAY IN BALI

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The main tourist areas in Bali near the airport are Kuta, Seminyak, and Sanur. Ubud is farther away, but still a top tourist draw for its art and temples. Cheap backpacker accommodations are all available on these places, they’re most popular in Kuta and Ubud with rooms starting from IDR100,00.00 (USD6.50). Luxury accommodations are mostly located in Seminyak and Sanur, but you also can find them on other places. Below are the lodgings I have actually stayed on. All are highly recommended.

KUTA
• Rama Beach Resort & Villas
• Trans Resort Bali
• Alila Seminyak

UBUD
• Bebek Tepi Sawah Villas
• Seres Springs Resort & Spa
• Puri Saraswati Bungalows

For a list of accommodations with discounted rates, check these links:
Kuta • Seminyak • Sanur • Ubud

WHAT TO SEE AND DO IN BALI

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There are a lot of things you can see and do and Bali. To be sure, a week isn’t enough to explore even a fourth of what the island has to offer. These can be divided into these categories—nature places, culture, waterfalls, temples, and of course, beaches. Surfing is quite popular in Bali and you need not bring your own surfboard to enjoy its waves, rentals are readily available along the beach areas. Here’s some of the things I’ve actually visited in Bali:

• Temples of Bali
• Beaches of Bali
• Traditional Villages of Bali
• Nature Trip in Bali

ORGANIZED TOURS IN BALI

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Public transportation, as I previously mentioned, is virtually non-existent in Bali. This is due to most, if not all, locals having their own motorbikes to get to and from places. With this, the best way to tour the island is by hiring tour cars, which are extremely affordable, especially if you’re in a group. During my travels to Bali, I’ve always utilized the tours from Bali Golden Tour. They provide cars and vans, depending on the size of your group, and the fee already includes an English-speaking driver and gas. For the places to go, they have packages of clustered attractions to maximize your time. But if you’re picky, giving them your own itinerary is also allowed with no further charges.

One can also opt to get tours online from Klook. The good thing about this is that the prices are usually discounted and it’s especially more affordable if you’re not traveling with a big group. There are also a lot of places covered that are not really doable using a rented car.

• Hiring a private car or van for tours in Bali
• Complete list of tours around Bali

WHAT TO EAT IN BALI

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Food in Bali is not that expensive. If you’re not that picky and you want to enjoy local dishes, you can actually go by for about IDR10,000.00 to IDR20,000.00 (USD0.75 to USD1.50) per meal on a regular warung eatery. There are also a lot of restaurants along the tourist hubs of the island, but prices are, of course, more expensive. Western fast food joints are also present in Bali, particularly McDonald’s, KFC, Burger King, Wendy’s, Bon Chon, and A&W.

The best way to enjoy Bali is to actually try their local dishes, eat like the locals as they say. Here’s a list of must eats when in Bali:

• What to Eat in Bali
• Cooking Lessons in Bali

WHERE TO DRINK IN BALI

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Bali has a very vibrant nightlife. The party places are mostly located in Kuta and Seminyak area. There are also watering holes in the central area of Ubud, but get farther and you won’t find any place to drink. You can also find surf bars lining the stairwell leading to the Blue Point Beach. This place is particularly interesting since the bars here sit right on the cliff facing the sea. Some of the more famous bars in Kuta are the Sky Garden Rooftop Lounge, Bounty Discotheque, and Paddy’s Bar. In Seminyak, be sure to check out Ku De Ta Bali, Potato Head Beach Club, and Red Ruby Club. Alcoholic drinks are also readily available on convenience stores.

SHOPPING IN BALI

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Bali is a haven for shopping addicts. You can buy the usual tourist junks like fridge magnets, keychains, and shirts almost anywhere. There are shops lining most of the streets in Kuta, with most of the high-end boutiques fronting the roads of Seminyak. If you’re into art—paintings, textiles, sculptures, and even furniture—you’d go gaga over the numerous shops along Ubud. Also, don’t forget to visit the Ubud Market for the cheapest deals on almost everything you can think of.

BALI ONE WEEK ITINERARY

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An itinerary of one week in Bali seems long enough for most tourists, but it’s actually not enough to cover even just the popular tourist spots on the island. But since most people also have jobs and really can’t always go on extended vacation, I’m limiting this Bali travel guide to simply a week. If you wish to extend, it would be easy to get additional tours either on the tour agency you picked or on online tours.

During our trips to Bali, we really didn’t get the traditional packaged tours, opting instead on choosing only those places we wanted to see and creating our own itinerary. Our tour agency, Bali Golden Tour, is always open for that. But if you really want to make the most out of your Bali holiday, I suggest getting their packaged tours, you’ll definitely get to see more places—it’s just much more efficient, time and location-wise.

While Kuta is infinitely closer to the airport—like ten-minutes away by car—I opted to stay at Ubud first. It’s always easier to go to the far places before going to the closer ones. Plus, the hassle of being left by a plane due to being late at the airport is lessened that way.

As always, I created the itinerary with two persons in mind, staying on the cheapest (but decent) place possible and dining on affordable eateries. Shopping isn’t included on the expenses.

 

DAY ONE ~ ARRIVAL & UBUD HALF-DAY TOUR | IDR 1,045,000.00 FOR TWO

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• Arrive in Bali at 8:00
    IDR 585,000.00 – TRANSFER TO HOTEL THEN START OF TOUR VIA PRIVATE CAR
• Transfer to Ubud and check in at hotel
    IDR 85,000.00 x 4 NIGHTS – CHEAPEST UBUD ACCOMMODATION FOR TWO VIA AGODA
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE MEAL PRICE
• Start of a relaxed tour ~ HALF DAY BALI ULUWATU TOUR
    IDR 30,000.00 x 2 – ULUWATU ENTRANCE FEE
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE

 

DAY TWO ~ UBUD WALKING TOUR | IDR 180,000.00 FOR TWO

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• Free breakfast at the hotel
• Sunrise hike at Campuhan Ridge
• Visit the Monkey Forest
    IDR 50,000.00 x 2PAX – ENTRANCE FEE
• Visit Ubud Palace
• Visit Lotus Temple
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Check out the boutique shops around Ubud
• Shopping at Ubud Market
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE

 

DAY THREE ~ KINTAMANI TOUR | IDR 710,000.00 FOR TWO

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• Free breakfast at the hotel
• Start of tour ~ FULL DAY KINTAMANI TOUR
    IDR 550,000.00 – FULL DAY TOUR FEE INCLUSIVE OF CAR, DRIVER, & PETROL
    IDR 10,000.00 x 2PAX – KINTAMANI ENTRANCE FEE
    IDR 15,000.00 x 2PAX – TIRTA EMPUL TEMPLE ENTRANCE FEE
    IDR 15,000.00 x 2PAX – GOA GAJAH ENTRANCE FEE
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE

 

DAY FOUR ~ JATILUWIH AND TANAH LOT TOUR | IDR 880,000.00 FOR TWO

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• Free breakfast at the hotel
• Start of tour ~ FULL DAY JATILUWIH AND TANAH LOT TOUR
    IDR 550,000.00 – FULL DAY TOUR FEE INCLUSIVE OF CAR, DRIVER, & PETROL
    IDR 15,000.00 x 2PAX – TAMAN AYUN TEMPLE ENTRANCE FEE
    IDR 50,000.00 x 2PAX – ULUN DANU BERATAN TEMPLE ENTRANCE FEE
    IDR 60,000.00 x 2PAX – TANAH LOT TEMPLE ENTRANCE FEE
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE

 

DAY FIVE ~ WATERFALLS TOUR | IDR 905,000.00 FOR TWO

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• Free breakfast at the hotel
• Early check out at the hotel
• Start of tour ~ FULL DAY CUSTOMIZED WATERFALLS TOUR, YOU CAN ADD MORE PLACES
    IDR 585,000.00 – FULL DAY TOUR FEE INCLUSIVE OF CAR, DRIVER, & PETROL
    IDR 15,000.00 x 2PAX – TEGENUNGAN WATERFALLS TOUR
    IDR 10,000.00 x 2PAX– KANTO LAMPO WATERFALLS TOUR
    IDR 10,000.00 x 2PAX– TIBUMAN WATERFALLS TOUR
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Transfer to Kuta
• Check in at hotel
    IDR 85,000.00 x 2 NIGHTS – CHEAPEST KUTA ACCOMMODATION FOR TWO VIA AGODA
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE

 

DAY SIX ~ KUTA BEACH TOUR | IDR 685.00 FOR TWO

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• Free Breakfast at the hotel
• Start of tour ~ FULL DAY CUSTOMIZED BEACH TOUR
    IDR 585,000.00 – FULL DAY TOUR FEE INCLUSIVE OF CAR, DRIVER, & PETROL
    IDR 10,000.00 x 2PAX – PADANG PADANG BEACH ENTRANCE FEE
    IDR 10,000.00 x 2PAX – PANDAWA BEACH ENTRANCE FEE
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE

 

DAY SEVEN ~ KUTA WALKING TOUR | IDR 144,000.00 FOR TWO

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• Free breakfast at the hotel + early check out
• Visit Kuta Beach
• Lunch
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Shop around Kuta
• Visit and shop around Seminyak
    IDR 25,000.00 x 2 – AVERAGE RIDE-HAILING APP FARE, ONE WAY
• Dinner
    IDR 20,000.00 x 2PAX – AVERAGE WARUNG MEAL PRICE
• Cab to airport
    IDR 25,000.00 – AVERAGE RIDE-HAILING APP FARE, ONE WAY

 

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TOTAL BUDGET: IDR 4,549,000.00 (USD 305.00 | PHP 16,560.00) for two persons     
  IDR 2,274,500.00 (USD 152.50 | PHP 8,280.00) per person     
  IDR 324,928.57 (USD 21.80 | PHP 1,182.85) per person, per day
* BASED ON TWO PERSONS TRAVELING TOGETHER FOR SEVEN DAYS IN BALI