10 Practical Tips for Your First Trip to Bali

1. Pick the right season

The dry season (April–October) is the safest bet for beaches and day trips. May, June and September are the sweet spot: sunny, less crowded and cheaper than the July–August peak.

2. Choose one base, not three hotels

Distances look short on the map, but traffic is real. Moving hotels every two nights eats whole days. Pick one or two bases — for example Canggu or Seminyak for beaches and Seminyak–Canggu–Kuta–Sanur–Nusa Dua–Uluwatu for the south.

3. Plan two or three stops per day, not six

A "Bali in one day" itinerary of six places means six hours in the car. Two or three well-chosen stops with realistic driving time between them is a full, happy day.

4. Agree on prices before you ride

Metered taxis are fine in the south, but for full-day exploring a private car with driver is the standard. A good full-day rate (around USD 38 for up to 10 hours in a standard car) should already include fuel, mileage and parking — no surprises at the end.

5. Carry cash

ATMs are everywhere in tourist areas but not in villages. Entrance tickets, warung meals and small warung purchases are cash only. Bring small notes for parking attendants and donations.

6. Dress right for temples

Shoulders and knees covered. A sarong and sash are usually provided at the entrance, and it is polite to make a small donation when you borrow one.

7. Drink bottled water

• Tap water is not potable anywhere in Bali.
• Skip ice in remote warungs; tourist-area restaurants are fine.
• Eat where the locals eat — busy warungs turn food over fast.

8. Get a local eSIM or SIM card

Telkomsel has the widest coverage outside the south. A 20–30 GB tourist eSIM costs less than a few coffees and makes maps, Google Translate and WhatsApp bookings effortless.

9. Start your days early

Leave the hotel between 7:00 and 8:00 AM and you will see rice terraces before the tour buses, park easily and finish each stop ahead of the heat. Sunset spots like Uluwatu are the one exception — go late for the Kecak fire dance.

10. Book a driver, not a bus tour

A private car and driver costs about the same as two seats on a group tour, but the itinerary is 100% yours. You decide how long to stay at each stop, what to skip, and where to eat.

Sources

• Season timing (dry April–October, rainy November–March): BMKG, Indonesia’s Meteorology, Climatology and Geophysics Agency — bmkg.go.id.
• Private car pricing (USD 38 per 10 hours, fuel and mileage included): Bali Driver Link published rate list, 2026 — balidriverlink.com.
• Telkomsel coverage information: telkomsel.com.