- Use one of the facebook groups (Canggu community, Ubud community, etc.) to book a taxi BEFORE you arrive so you get the best price: 150-200k to Canggu and 200-250k to Ubud (this is based on a single person requesting a taxi service with only 1 suitcase; if you’re a big group obviously pricing should change).
2. Go on one of the facebook groups to rent a scooter from a local before you land in Bali. Simply create a post saying you want to rent a scooter and be sure to include the price you want to pay, the type of scooter you want, and the dates you want it. Trust me, you’ll get TONS of messages. *You can rent a brand new scoopy for $52 for a month. This is MUCH better than renting it from one of the “official” scooter rental places in the tourist areas because their scooters tend to be very poorly taken care of (difficult steering, bad breaks, etc.) whereas the locals take very good care of their scooters. Also, if you rent a scooter from one of the “official” shops, you can expect to pay $5-$9/day.
3. If you’re a budget traveler, check Airbnb before booking a hostel because you might be able to get a much nicer room at a guesthouse (private room + bathroom) for cheaper than a hostel. This is ESPECIALLY true if you’re booking for a month-long stay, because many places offer up to 70% discounts for booking an entire month at a time.
4. If you’re a mid-range/luxury traveler check facebook groups (specifically canggu community housing or ubud community housing) before booking a hotel. You can often find GORGEOUS villas being rented out for just as much or cheaper than a hotel (and many come with staff so you aren’t giving up on amenities) depending on when you book and for how long. I 100% recommend staying in a villa rather than a hotel if you can because it’s just a much nicer experience.
5. It is SERIOUSLY unlikely that you’re going to need to worry about getting a visa before coming to Bali. That’s because the Indonesian government allows citizens from 160 countries to travel to Indonesia visa-free for visits of less than 30 days. If, however you want to stay more than 30 days, citizens of these countries can get a visa on arrival (VoA) for 500,000 IDR ($35 USD). Just make your way over to the VoA counter right before immigration once you land at the airport.
6. Bali is cheap, but it’s really easy to end up paying just as much as you would back home (or more!) if you don’t know where to go! Seminyak and Kuta are very much full of shops and restaurants where you’ll be paying Western prices. At some of the boutique shops in Seminyak and Kuta you may even end up paying MORE than you would back home. I would steer clear of both these areas when it comes to shopping. Instead, I recommend doing most of your souvenir shopping in Ubud, where you’ll find the cheapest prices at the local market (you can also find cheaper prices in Canggu if you’re not planning on going to Ubud).
7. Download the GoJek app. GoJek is Indonesia’s version of Uber, but like 100 times more useful. Not only can you order a taxi or a motorcycle taxi (except if you’re in Canggu/Ubud city center) but you can also have food, medicine, groceries, a massage and even an IV delivered right to your door. Trust me, except google maps and a currency converter, this is going to be pretty much the only app you’ll need in Bali.
*Side recommendation: get an international driver’s license before you come if you’re planning on renting a scooter. The cops here are notorious for looking for opportunities to bribe tourists, and even if you’re driving safely, slowly and with a helmet, if they pull you over and you don’t have an international driver’s license they can use it to extort money from you. So, it’s better to just get it and give them no reason to be able to use you as their own personal ATM.
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