Bali is generally a safe area with lots of cheap food/activities, but some Bali travel tips can help you stay within a tight budget without sacrificing too much of the fun. I traveled Bali alone for 14 days on a pretty low budget, thanks to these tips from my friends:
Bali Travel Tip #1 Blue Birds are your best friend
While Bali is a small island, you still need to dedicate a good chunk of your budget to transportation. I would never recommend renting a car in Bali. The shaky infrastructure, general lack of traffic law enforcement, and difference in driver’s seat (applicable to Americans and Europeans) will almost surely burn your vacation to hell.
There are a couple of other alternatives to move around the mainland:
Blue Bird taxi, Uber, hiring a driver, renting a motorcycle(don’t do it if you aren’t confident in your biking skills), and taking a bus(very limited)
*The real Blue bird(left) and the fake(right)
For short distances(less than hour drive), the best option is the Blue Bird taxi. Blue Bird taxi is the name of the company and provides reliable meter systems so the customers don’t need to worry about being scammed by the local drivers. Beware of the fake Blue Birds! A darker blue breed of taxi always will honk at you to grab you attention, but those are not the real Blue birds and may require battering with the driver. Uber is equally reliable and cheap, but less prevalent in Bali.
For long distance trips, I recommend hiring a driver. The cost depends on the duration of the trip, but would generally cost you around RP 300.000 ~ 400.000/day. If you want to visit certain areas outside of south Bali, form a group and book a reliable driver in advance.
[Tripadvisor list of Private drivers]
You can probably rent a motorcycle from your hotel/villa for RP 50.000 / day. Again, Bali traffic is quite hectic, and if you are not adept in biking I would not recommend risking yourself in vacation.
* The motorcycle city
Most long distance activities provide pick up services for free. Try to always book activities with other people in your hotel/hostel, as they may charge you extra if you are alone.
Last little tip: if you want to save some money in the airport. DO NOT GET A CAB FROM THE AIRPORT TAXI SERVICES IF YOU NEED TO SAVE MONEY. They charge a hefty markup. Instead, go up to the departure floor and you will find a bunch of Blue Bird taxis dropping off departing travelers 🙂
Bali Travel Tip #2 Wait until you arrive in central Bali to make it rain $$$
This depends on where you are traveling from, but if your country’s currency is not one of the major currencies. American dollars should yield you the best exchange rate. $100 bills, in particular, have the highest yield so bring all your money in $100 bills.
*generally trusted exchange brands
The exchange rate in the airport is bad compared to the banks and money exchange centers in other areas. So exchange just enough to pay for your cab to the hotel in the airport. Every money exchange center has different rates but based on my comparison:
1) the more central and touristy the worse
2) Banks don’t often advertise the rates in the windows, but they almost always give you better rates.
DO NOT USE SHADY EXCHANGE CENTERS EVEN IF THEY CLAIM TO PROVIDE BETTER RATES, as they may scam you. Lastly, it is always a wise idea to only exchange small amounts at a time.
Another little tip: refrain from using credit cards, as the law requires to pay an additional fee for all credit card transactions(this is the norm in many countries, but it’s still unnecessary cost)
Bali Travel Tip #3 Think of a cheap price, and ask for a cheaper one
You already know shopping in traditional markets require a lot of bargaining. But what is a reasonable price? Talking to the locals and tour guides, I learned that generally you start from 60~70% lower of the initial price and shoot for 50%. Of course, keep your smile and don’t try to go overboard with your efforts to lower the price. Pretending to walk away will mostly work as your trump card. If you walk away and the store owner doesn’t stop you, it’s a sign the price is non-negotiable.
*Sukuwatu Market and the Polo outlet
Many goods in Bali are cheaper than in other countries but here is a list of popular gifts to take home (in no particular order):
Beach goods – sarongs, rash guards, sun glasses etc
Polo clothes (many outlets in the tourist area as the brand’s factory is located in Indonesia)
Balinese coffee
Small wooden/metal/stone handicrafts (Due to its geological location and tourist presence, Bali has been home to many famous craftsmen who still operate with their name) *personal recommendation