Things you must know before going to Bali

Some General Information that you MUST-KNOW (adapted from Bali Fun Guide)

Restrictions on carrying liquids on board
On international flights, the carrying of liquids (including gels and aerosol products) on board is restricted. If you must carry liquids on board, please refer to conditions beforehand from appropriate sources.

If you lose your passport
You must be responsible for your passport during your trip. In case you lose it, you must have a new travel document issued. We recommend you to carry a copy of your passport with you just in case.



Purchasing overseas accident insurance is recommended
You might be tired or sick during a trip due to the difference in climate, or unexpected events may happen such as having your belongings stolen. To be prepared for such trouble, we recommend you to purchase overseas accident insurance before departing your country.

Religion
Through 90 percent of the Indonesian population is Muslim, in Bali, 90 percent follow Hinduism. The left hand is considered unclean and therefore, when you hand something over or shake hands, make sure to do so with your right hand. Also, don't touch someone's head, and when you visit a temple, avoid wearing revealing clothes, (Menstruating women are not allowed to enter a temple.) Sometimes you are required to wear a sarong or sash before entering a temple (some places rent these out for a charge).



Language
The official language is Indonesian. Balinese speak together using Balinese. At hotels and many restaurants and major tourist sites, there are staff capable of speaking English and major foreign languages.

Time difference
As Indonesia is long from east to west, there are three time zones. Bali belongs to the central time zone, while Jakarta and Yogyakarta, the west time zone, so there is a difference of one hour between Bali and those areas. When you are going to Yogyakarta, don't forget this one hour time difference.

Climate and clothes
Bali has a tropical monsoon climate, in which April to September is the dry season and October to March, the rainy season. Bali is hot throughout the year but during the dry season it may get chilly at night and early morning. A jacket will help.

Currency & exchange
The basic currency is the rupiah (Rp.). The bills are: Rp.100, 500, 1000, 5000, 10000, 20000, 50000 and 100000. The coins are 25, 50, 100, 200, 500, and 1000. Money below Rp.100 is rarely in circulation. You might get candies instead of small change.

Tipping
Tipping is not usually necessary in major hotels and restaurants as a service charge is added to your bill. But if you ask someone to do a special service, it is OK to give a tip. Currently, tipping for room service is somewhere from Rp.10000 to 50000.

Voltage
The voltage and frequency in Indonesia are 200 volts and 50 hertz respectively. The plug is a C type: two round pins as shown above. When using an electrical appliance from another country, you might need a transformer and plug adapter.



Water
Though water in most parts of Indonesia is soft water, the tap water in Bali is hard. Never drink from the tap and always be sure to use bottled water. Be careful with ice as it is often made from water that is not purified.



Telephone
When making domestic calls in the same area, dial the number directly. When calling outside the area, dial the area code beginning with 0 and then the number. There are public phones but it is likely that they will be out of order. Use WARTEL - a privately owned telephone service company - or call from the hotel.

Credit cards
Major hotels, restaurants for tourists and duty free shops accept credit cards. But there are cases when a handling charge of a few percent is added. The exchange rate at the time of using the card in Bali will be different from when it is billed to you in your country.

Protecting valuables
There are cases of pickpockets, luggage stealing and purse-snatching. When you go out, don't take valuables with you and when you walk on the sidewalks, dont' carry your bag on the road side. Keep valuables, including your passport and cash, in the safe deposit box at your hotel.



Narcotics (Illegal drugs)
There are many foreigner tourists arrested because of involvement with narcotics. Just by possessing narcotics results in severe punishment in Indonesia. So never get involved in narcotics.

On street survey
You might encounter someone who says he/she is taking a survey on the street or beach. When you fill in the sheet, he/she tells you have just won a prize or hotel voucher and asks you to come to a place where you are told to buy an expensive membership or product. To avoid becoming involved in trouble, don't disclose casually to a stranger either your name, the name of your hotel, or your room number.

Hot water supply at your hotel
Hotels use a hot water supply tank. There are times when hot water does not run very well, when many people are using hot water or when you use the bathtub or shower one after the other.



Card gambling (blackjack)
These people come to you with a smile and invite you to take part in gambling, such as cards (blackjack), and then steal your money. They may be Indonesians or non-Indonesians. If you go to their house, they won't let you go easily and there have been times when victims have been forced to pay a large amount of cash, hand over valuables or use a credit card. As gambling is not allowed in Indonesia, you won't be able to resort to legal procedures. Be careful when a stranger invites you to go somewhere with them.

Peddlers
You might be approached by a peddler in a busy shopping district, beach or sightseeing spot. Some can be very persistent. Don't make them think you are buying something if you are not interested.



Room key
When going out of your hotel, there may be times when we need to contact you to make sure that you are happy with your holiday arrangements.. When you go out of your hotel, please leave the room key at the reception (but not a card key).

Health management
The amount of ultraviolet rays during the day can be extremely strong. When you go out, take a hat and sunglasses with you. When travelling, you are exhausting yourself without knowing it. In hotel rooms or cars where it can be much cooler than outside, protect yourself from becoming ill by wearing a jacket or adjusting the air conditioner. Also, avoid sunstroke or heatstroke by not sunbathing excessively.

National holidays
National holidays in Indonesia originate from religions, including Hinduism, Islam, Christianity and Buddhism. Please be reminded that during national holidays or when there is a religious event, roads may get congested or some facilities at sightseeing spots may be closed.