The Essential Bali Travel Checklist

There’s no right or wrong way to travel but having a travel checklist for your trip to Bali can make your life a lot easier. Whats even better is, Iv’e already made one for you. Don’t worry, this stuff will become second nature after one trip. In fact, over time traveling will not only teach you things about yourself, it will also teach you important tools in life. For example, how to live minimally, how to organize, how to overcome barriers, how to plan, and even adapt to any situation or scenario life throws at you. I hope that traveling will be your probiotic and teacher just as it’s been for me.

1. Check the travel advisories
2. Decide Where You Want To Go
3. Decide the Length of Your Trip
4. Get your passport
5. Get your visa
6. Research Your Costs
7. Stay Focused and Excited
8. Check for Last-Minute Deals
9. Book Your Flight
10. Book Your Accommodation
11. Plan Your Activities
12. Automate Your Bills
13. Tell Your Card Companies You’re Traveling
14. Pack
15. Buy Travel Insurance
16. Buy International Driver’s License
17. Get a Travels Rewards Credit Card
18. Sign Up for your airline’s reward program
19. Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards
20. Say goodbye to your friends and family
21. Canceling services and bills

Step 1: Travel Advisories

As a first step in planning any trip abroad, check the Travel Advisories for your intended destination. You can see the world at a glance on Travel.State.Gov for their color-coded map.
Note that conditions can change rapidly in a country at any time. To receive updated Travel Advisories and Alerts, choose the method that works best for you at travel.state.gov/stayingconnected  

For more details and FAQs about our safety and security information, please see travel.state.gov/travelsafely.

Step 2: Decide Where You Want To Go

Deciding where you are going is the starting point. Take a picture of the place you want to go and pin it to your wall at home, the office, or even save it as a background image on your phone or desktop. The more you talk about it, the quicker it becomes reality.  Before you pick a place just make sure you do your research. Read blogs, watch VLOGS on YouTube, and read the local news in the country you select just to make sure there aren’t travel restrictions. You can check with the U.S. Embassy.

U.S Embassy

Step 3: Decide the length of you trip

Deciding the length of your trip will important for a few reasons.

• 1. To determine what type of passport to get.
• 2.To plan the rest of your trip
• 3.To figure out your budget
  what type of visa to get

Step 4: Get your passport

Where you apply depends on when you need your U.S. passport, but to obtain your passport you can learn more here:

Get Passport

Step 5: Get your visa

International Arrival Procedures

Once inside the terminal building passengers should proceed to the immigration counters as quickly as possible (as lines can be long during peak periods). International visitors enter queues designated ‘foreigners only’ and form a line to present their passport, and secure a visa from Immigration Officials. There are two immigration sections; Visa-on-Arrival (VoA) and Non-VoA. All passports must be valid for a minimum of 6 months from the date of entry into Indonesia and have at least 2 blank pages available for stamps.

There are typically two ways to enter Indonesia as a Tourist:

• Visa on Arrival (VOA). Nationals of certain countries (currently 62 Nations in 2017) can apply for Visa on Arrival at a number of designated Airports/Seaports in Indonesia for a maximum visit of 30 days, which can be extended for another 30 days at the Immigration Office. Most foreign visitors can apply for a Visa on Arrival (VoA) for a maximum visit of 30 days. This can be extended for an additional 30 days by visiting the Immigration Office. Onward return tickets are compulsory. No vaccinations are required*’ Foreign Nationals who wish to apply for a multiple entry visa or to have their visa extended, or those who are ineligible for Visa-Free Short Visit entry or Visa on Arrival (VoA) will need to apply for a visa at an Indonesian embassy or consulate in their home country. Nationals from the following countries will require approval from Immigration Office in Indonesia prior to traveling for Business, Tourist, and Social Visits purposes (this policy is referred to as the “Indonesian Calling Visa”.)

• Afghanistan
• Cameroon
• Guinea
• Israel
• Liberia
• Niger
• Nigeria
• North Korea
• Somalia
• Visa-Free Short Visit For Tourists’. Since 2016 visitors to Indonesia who hold passports from 169 countries are able to visit Indonesia without a visa (no payment required) for a period of up to 30 days. The exemption is limited to those entering Indonesia to undertake activities including tourism. Visitors utilizing the visa-free facility are not allowed to extend their stay or convert it into any other type of visa. This visa is only valid for the following types of activity.’

• Leisure.
• Tourism.
• Family.
• Social.
• Art and Cultural.
• Government Visit
• Giving a Lecture or Attending a Seminar.
• Attend a meeting held by Head Office or Representative Office in Indonesia.
• Continue journey to another Country.

“Requirements for Visa-Free Short Visits”. Passport must be valid for a minimum of 6 (six) months as from the date of entry into Indonesia. Onward or return tickets are compulsory. Important: If you enter on a visa-free entry you cannot extend your visit and must exit the country. If you purchase the USD $35 visa that is extendable.

Visitors on Visa-Free Short Visits must enter and exit from certain airports and seaports in Indonesia. Refer to the current list of immigration checkpoints provided by the Indonesian Immigration Department. Visa waiver (for eligible nationalities) and a separate channel for Indonesian passport holders are displayed on signage above Immigration Processing counters.

Once passengers have cleared Immigration and checked luggage has been collected from the carousel, passengers proceed to the customs clearance area. Passengers with goods to declare including items above the allowable limits and/or prohibited items (according to the completed Customs Declaration Card) should proceed through the Red Channel. Passengers with nothing to declare or those carrying goods within the permitted customs limits (and not carrying prohibited items) proceed through the green channel. Duty Free limits do apply for passengers entering Indonesia, including Bali.

Entry by passengers into either the Red or Green Customs channel constitutes a legal declaration. Consequently if a passenger enters the green channel and is found to be carrying goods above the customs limits or prohibited items, he or she may be prosecuted for making a false declaration by virtue of having gone through the green channel. Each channel is a point of no return, meaning once a passenger has entered a particular channel they cannot go back.

Once passengers have cleared immigration and Customs the arrival hall and meeting point pick-up zone awaits those who have arranged vehicle transfers onward to their accommodation or to meet up with family and friends.

If you plan to stay in a private Balinese residence rather than a hotel, you must register with the local Rukun Tetangga (RT) Office and police, upon arrival. If you will be in Bali or Indonesia for greater than 90 days, registration with the local immigration office is required. The correct visa must also be held for a stay of this length.

Click for visa guide

Step 6: Research Your Costs

How much money will you need for your trip to Bali? You should plan to spend around Rp922,211 ($67) per day on your vacation in Bali, which is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors. Past travelers have spent, on average, Rp258,405 ($19) on meals for one day and Rp116,446 ($8.46) on local transportation. Also, the average hotel price in Bali for a couple is Rp1,045,234 ($76). So, a trip to Bali for two people for one week costs on average Rp12,910,957 ($937). All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.

A vacation to Bali for one week usually costs around Rp2,289,344 for one person. So, a trip to Bali for two people costs around Rp4,578,687 for one week. A trip for two weeks for two people costs Rp9,157,375 in Bali. If you’re traveling as a family of three or four people, the price person often goes down because kid’s tickets are cheaper and hotel rooms can be shared. If you travel slower over a longer period of time then your daily budget will also go down. Two people traveling together for one month in Bali can often have a lower daily budget per person than one person traveling alone for one week.

How much does a trip to Bali cost? Is Bali expensive? The average Bali trip cost is broken down by category here. All of these Bali prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.

While meal prices in Bali can vary, the average cost of food in Bali is Rp102,400 per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Bali should cost around Rp40,960 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Bali is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.

The cost of a taxi ride in Bali is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent Rp37,223 per person, per day, on local transportation in Bali.

Categories that are included in the total daily averages are:

• Accommodation
• Intercity Transportation (for countries only)
• Local Transportation
• Food
• Water
• Entertainment
• Communication
• Scams, Robberies, and Mishaps
• Tips and Handouts
• All-Inclusive Tours

Categories excluded from the total daily average are:

• Souvenirs
• Living Expenses
• Visas
• Alcohol
• International Transportation (transportation from one country to another)
• Charitable Donations

Step 7: Stay Focused and Excited

1. Don’t Assume Money Will Motivate You
2. Make Sure They’re Your Goals
3. Visualize The Results
4. Break The Goal Down Into Smaller Pieces
5. Tap Into Other People’s Energy
6. Get Organized
7. Keep The Big Picture In Mind
8. Don’t Worry About What You Can’t Control
9. Seek Out Positive Information
10. Remind Yourself Why You Set The Goal
11. Be Consistent

Step 8: Check for Last-Minute Deals

One of the best ways to save money on a flight is to plan ahead. But sometimes, you don’t have the luxury of advance notice. Here’s a few quick tools to help you find cheap last-minute flights, whether you’re traveling for a family emergency, a business trip on short notice, or a spontaneous escape.

Use a flight map

Google Flights and Skyscanner have handy map tools that can help you find the cheapest flight.

Fly during undesirable hours
“Go on a red-eye or crack-of-dawn flight,”

Follow your favorite airlines
Several airlines post last-minute deals to their Twitter accounts.

Tap your rewards
If you can’t find an affordable fare or skip the trip, consider redeeming credit card rewards or airline miles to subsidize your flight. more on cheap flights here

Step 9: Book Your Flight

Once you decide on the right flight for your upcoming travel, it’s time to buy your ticket.

• Follow websites prompts. Every site will ask you to fill in information on items such as your name, number of travels, frequent flyer number, seat and meal preferences, and credit card information in order to book.
• You can usually pay baggage fees and select seats during your booking sessions. It’s a good idea to do this in advance to minimize your time checking in at the airport.
• If you’re traveling internationally, you will need a passport to confirm the reservation.
• Decide if you want to pay for extras such as upgrades in seat class or travel insurance.
• Many travel and airline sites will offer further special deals for add-ons such as rental car or hotel room.

Step 10: Book Your Accommodation

Deciding where you are going is the starting point. Take a picture of the place you want to go and pin it to your wall at home, the office, or even save it as a background image on your phone or desktop. This plan will be implanted within you quickly the more you talk about it with anyone including your barber.  Before you pick a place just make sure you do your research. Read blogs, watch vlogs on YouTube, and read the local news in the country you select just to make sure tourists aren’t on some high alert. You can check with the U.S. Embassy at

Step 11: Plan Your Activities

Deciding where you are going is the starting point. Take a picture of the place you want to go and pin it to your wall at home, the office, or even save it as a background image on your phone or desktop. This plan will be implanted within you quickly the more you talk about it with anyone including your barber.  Before you pick a place just make sure you do your research. Read blogs, watch vlogs on YouTube, and read the local news in the country you select just to make sure tourists aren’t on some high alert. You can check with the U.S. Embassy at

Step 12: Automate Your Bills

While there are certainly some downfalls to all the technology available to us today, it sure does help the long-term traveler, especially when it comes to staying on top of finances at home while off gallivanting the globe.

#1. Sign up for an online money management software, like Mint.com
#2. Automation: Handling Income
Do you have any income that you’ll still be receiving while traveling? First, make sure your current employer is set up as an automatic deposit now so that if you still have a paycheck that will arrive post-departure, it will automatically show up in your checking account after you hit the road.
#3. Automation: Handling Expenses
any current expenses that you can automate (utilities, credit card, student loans, etc.) should be set up to automatically withdraw from your main checking account so that you don’t have to worry about paying any bills while on the road.
#4. Consolidate!
The last step of automating things is to actually stop and shut some things down! For example,If you have a set amount of money transferring to a savings account after each paycheck, you’ll want to remember to pause this monthly transfer if you won’t be receiving income during your trip Same goes for IRAs/investments.If you plan to delay your investments for one year while traveling, make sure anything you’ve already set up to ‘autopilot’ is still in line with your savings goals for while you’re RTW.

Step 13: Tell Your Card Companies You’re Traveling

The easiest method of placing a travel alert is to call the number on the back of your credit card Some banks require a bit more legwork to set up than other banks, but it may still be worth it if you want to avoid the trouble or embarrassment of being unable to use your card while traveling.

American Express: Unnecessary
Bank of America: Online banking or app

1. Log in and hover over the “Help & Support” menu tab.
2. Click on “Set Travel Notice” in the drop-down menu.
3. Enter your destination(s), travel dates, contact number and card(s) you’re taking with you. Share any other travel details you think are relevant.

Barclays

You can easily set up a Barclays travel alert through the mobile app or online:

1. Log in to your account and go to Tools/My Travel.
2. Share where you’re traveling to and the dates you’ll be gone.

Capital One:Unnecessary

Chase

To set a Chase travel notification, start by logging into your online account:

1. Click on the icon with three horizontal bars at the top left of your screen.
2. Click on “Profile & Settings.”
3. Scroll down to the bottom under “More Settings” and click on “Travel.”
4. Click on “Update” at the far-right side of the credit card section.
5. List your departure and return dates and your destination.

Common Question

What if I’m traveling to several places?
Depending on the issuer, you may be able to choose multiple destinations, so you don’t have to set a different travel alert every time you move to a different location.

Citi

Rather than searching through your online account, Citi allows you to create travel notifications through its dedicated travel notice page.

1. Click on “Set Up/Manage.”
2. Log in using your user ID and password.
3. Select the card you plan to take with you and click on “Add a Travel Notification.”
4. Select which user(s) will have the card, your travel dates and destination.

You can also create a travel notification through Citi’s mobile app:

1. Click on “Card Management.”
2. Click on “Travel Notices.”
3. This will take you to Citi’s Travel Notices page. Once there, click on “Add A Trip.”
4. Select the card you plan to take with you.
5. Enter your trip’s start and end date.

Discover

To set up a travel notification with Discover, start by logging into your account online.

1. Select the card you’re planning to take with you.
2. Click on the “Manage” menu tab at the top of your screen.
3. Click on “Register Travel” under the “Manage Cards” section.
4. Enter your destination(s) and trip dates.

U.S. Bank

Unlike most of the other top banks, U.S. Bank doesn’t allow you to create a travel notification through your online account. Instead, it recommends that you contact its customer service team directly.

Wells Fargo

If you want to take your Wells Fargo credit card with you, set up a Wells Fargo travel plans notice. You can do so through the bank’s mobile app or through your online account.

1. Start by logging into your account.

2. Hover over the “Accounts” drop-down menu at the top of the screen.

3. Click on “Manage Travel Plans,” which is under the “Manage Cards” section.

4. Enter your travel dates and destination(s).

Bottom line

Setting up credit card travel notices is a good idea if you want to avoid the hassle of contacting your credit card issuer while traveling. And while you’re at it, make sure you have the right card for your trip. For example, some of the best travel credit cards charge no foreign transaction fees, making them a great travel companion for overseas trips.

Some of them also offer special travel protections, such as travel accident insurance or trip cancellation and interruption insurance, which can reimburse you for some costs if your trip is canceled or cut short for a covered reason.

Shop around and compare several cards with your current one to make sure you’re getting as much value as possible.

Step14: Pack

Think Tetris: The best way to fit everything into one bag: Fill every inch of space. For example, footwear should be stuffed with socks. Then lay your shoes together heel to toe at the bottom of your suitcase in a plastic shopping bag to protect clothes from dirt.How exactly you arrange everything in your suitcase is a matter of personal preference.Here are some popular strategies:

• Roll your clothes. This helps to maximize space and minimize wrinkles.
• Use packing cubes. These smaller bags help you keep your clothes compact and your outfits ordered. 
• Try stacking and wrapping each item of clothing into a ball with underwear and T-shirts at the center, and large tailored items like hoodies and rain gear on the outer layer.

Keep liquids in easy reach: “Toiletries should always be placed on top of your suitcase in a clear bag since you never know when T.S.A. might be interested in looking.I recommend keeping a separate toiletry kit for traveling. (not toiletries you use at home) To prevent leakage, double up that plastic bag.

Keep gadgets in easy reach:
Camera, GoPro, laptop, headphones, iPad, iPhone. I keep all this in one bag along with any important documents.

For clothing, I usually pack the following:

• 6 or 7 shirts or t-shirts, ones that I know I’ll be happy to wear regularly
• 7 pairs of underwear. Some advocate bringing as few as 3 (one to wear, one to wash, and one to dry), but I prefer having fresh underwear every day and washing only once a week.
• 2 pairs of jeans; good to have even in tropical.
• 7 pairs of socks (3 long/ 4 short for tropical climates even though you’ll probably wear sandals.
• One hoodie; I forgot my hoodie, luckily I found one here in Bali that fit right. If you are long sometimes finding clothes here is difficult.
• 5 board shorts; I wear these everywhere, they’re lightweight and easy to pack.
• 2 Cargo short–pockets come in handy for carrying gear

3 Rules For The Minimalist Traveler

1. Pack the must-haves, not the nice-to-haves
   Layout all your gear. Think long and hard about every item, then eliminate anything you don’t absolutely need. If it’s your first big trip, you might end up packing more things just because ‘more stuff’ feels somehow comforting and safe. But resist this urge to be over prepared. Many first-time travelers wish they’d packed half as much.
2. Don’t pack more than 1 week’s worth of clothing
   It’s simply much easier to do laundry than to carry weeks worth of clothing. Pick some versatile favorites with a simple color palette so that you can easily mix-and-match every item.
3. Bring versatile instead of special-case items
   Focus on items that will be useful to you all the time (or have multiple uses), and think twice about anything you’ll use only on unique occasions. Keep in mind you can often rent gear locally, or find a cheap temporary fix instead of carrying something for one-time use.

Bali’s Wet & Dry Season

Bali’s rainy season runs from October to April, with the wettest months being December and January. No matter what the season you can expect a tropical, warm and humid climate all year round. Temperatures will remain around 28°C (82°F) even during the wettest months. Bring a good lightweight portable raincoat.

Step 15: Buy Travel Insurance

Some travel companies, such as tour operators and cruise lines, also offer “protection” that isn’t insurance. Coverage is limited (for example, they only offer credit if you have to cancel, not a refund). And the restrictions are significant. Since the company itself underwrites the “protection,” the company’s bankruptcy would render it useless.Some travel protection products are totally legit insurance products and worth considering.

Allianz Global Assistance
Amex Assurance
Generali Global Assistance
Seven Corners
Travelex
Travel Guard

Other Helpful Links:
MedjetAssist
International SOS

more Insurance

You have to read the fine print very carefully to avoid getting stuck with a useless policy.

“In today’s crazy travel world and climate it is very important –almost a must – to have trip insurance.”

Step 16: Buy International Driver’s License

If you want to drive a motor vehicle while you’re traveling abroad, you should get an international driver’s license (the correct term is “international driving permit“, or IDP). When accompanied by your valid US driver’s license, your international driving permit will allow you to drive legally in over 150 countries that recognize it. It may also be required or recommended by many rental car agencies. Here’s everything you need to know about this helpful document that will allow you to get behind the wheel on your perfect business trip or vacation.

Where to Get an International Driver’s license in the United States?

There are only two organizations issue international driver’s licenses (permits): the American Automobile Association (AAA) and the American Automobile Touring Alliance (AATA). The US State Department advises drivers to get them from AAA or AATA. The US Federal Trade Commission has warned that any other organization is likely running a scam.

Step 17: Get a Travel Reward Credit Card

Step 18: Sign Up for your airlines reward program

Below are Airlines that come in and out of Bali. Feel free to visit their websites and sign up for their reward programs . After finding a flight I usually will sign up for their rewards membership.

Domestic

• Citilink LCC  from Jakarta
• Garuda Indonesia from Jakarta, Mataram, Surabaya, Semarang, Ujung Pandang (Makassar), Yogyakarta
• Indonesia Air Asia LCC from Bandung, Jakarta, Yogyakarta
• IAT (Indonesia Air Transport) from Mataram, Labuan Bajo
• Lion Air LCC from Jakarta, Jogyakarta (Yogyakarta), Menado, Ujung Pandang (Makassar), Surabaya
• Tiger Air LCC  from Jakarta

• Pelita Air Service Charter 
• Sky Aviation REG  from Banywangi, Labuan Bajo, Mataram
• Sriwijaya Air LCC from Jakarta
• Travira Air Charter rom Benete/Sumbawa
• Trigana REG from Mataram
• Trans Nusa REG rom Bima, Ende, Kupang, Labuanbajo, Mataram, Ruteng, Sumbawa, Tambolaka
• Wings Air REG LCC (code share Lion AIr) Bima, Kupang, Labuhanbajo, Mataram, Maumere, Semarang, Surabaya, Malang, Tambolaka

International

A number of International airlines serve this airport including several LCC – low cost or budget carriers

• AirAsia LCC from Kuala Lumpur (operated by (AK) AirAsia Malaysia and (QZ) Indonesia AIrAsia), Singapore, Perth, Darwin (operated by (QZ) Indonesia AIrAsia), Bangkok (operated by (FD) Thai AIrAsia)
• Cathay Pacific from Hong Kong
• Cebu Pacific Air LCC from Manila
• China Airlines (code share Garuda Airlines) from Taipei

International Continued

• Eva Air from Taipei-Taoyuan
• Emirates from Dubai – United Arab Emirates
• Garuda Indonesia
  ,The major national carrier serving Indonesia from Beijing, Guangzhou, Hong Kong, Melbourne, Osaka, Perth, Seoul, Shanghai, Singapore, Sydney and Tokyo
• Hong Kong Airlines from Hong Kong

• Jetstar LCC from Australia – Brisbane, Darwin, Melbourne, Perth, Sydney
• Jetstar Asia LCC (code share Qantas Airlines, operated by Valuair) from Singapore
• KLM from Amsterdam via Singapore
• Korean Airlines (code share Garuda Airlines) from Seoul (Incheon)
• Malaysia Airlines (code share Garuda Airlines, KLM) from Kuala Lumpur
• Philippine Airlines from Manila
• Qantas Airlines from Sydney
• Qatar Airways from Doha
• Scoot from Singapore
• Shanghai Airlines from Shanghai
• Singapore Airlines from Singapore
• Thai AirAsia from Bangkok – Don Mueang International Airport
• Thai Airways International from Bangkok-Suvarnabhumi
• Virgin Australia from Australia – Brisbane, Port Hedland, Sydney
• Air New Zealand from Auckland, Wellington, Christchurch and Queenstown

Step 19: Switch to No-Fee ATM Cards

Potential debit card fees when traveling outside the U.S.

Generally, you won’t have trouble using an ATM in a foreign country as long as you let your bank know where and when you’re traveling. You can do this online or by calling your bank.

However, depending on your account and the ATM’s operator, you may have to pay additional fees.

• Non-bank usage fee. Your bank could charge you a fee each time you use an ATM that isn’t operated by that bank to check a balance or make a withdrawal or transfer. This can apply within the U.S., too.
• Non-ATM withdrawals. If you withdraw money from a teller at a different bank, you might have to pay a flat fee or a percentage of the amount you withdraw.
• Foreign transaction fees. Similar to the fee on some credit cards, your bank could charge a foreign transaction or foreign exchange fee equal to a percentage of the amount you withdraw or spend if you’re using your debit card for purchases.
• ATM-operator fees. As it is within the U.S., ATM operators in foreign countries might charge you a fee to withdraw cash.
• ATM-conversion fees. Instead of paying your bank to convert the currency, you might pay a conversion fee to the ATM’s operator.

The 3 best checking accounts and debit cards for international travel

1. Schwab Bank High Yield Investor Checking® Account
2. Fidelity® Cash Management Account with Fidelity®Visa®Gold Check Card
3. Capital One® 360 Checking® Account

What’s a foreign transaction fee?

A foreign transaction fee is a fee that your card provider charges if you use your credit card in a foreign country or if you use it to make purchases in a foreign currency. A typical foreign transaction fee amount is 3% of each purchase you make.

Step 20: Canceling Services and Bills

When you have a departure date, it’s time to start canceling services that you won’t be using while on the road (gym membership, utilities, Netflix, etc). Set reminders as needed to verify that they did indeed get canceled and you’ve received and paid your final bills. As soon as you can get this done, it feels quite liberating.

Step 21: Say goodbye to your friends and family

This is a difficult one for me especially when it comes to family. I didn’t tell anyone I was leaving except for one person. My dad. It was easier that way. Some people think throwing go-away party is a good way to say goodbye. It’s all preference and your lifestyle. Overtime you will realize people will come and go, if you have social media they will see your pictures and they will ask questions if they care. You will find out over time who your real friends are.

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