Heading to Bali? It is a great vacation spot. Bali is a beautiful and diverse island with lots of things to do.
Pura Ulun Danu, Temple on the lake
Getting There
If you are flying into Bali then you will surely be landing at Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) located on the southern part of the island. Airlines from around the world fly into DPS year round. You will have lots of options of connecting cities and flight times to get you there.
The Money
Bali is part of Indonesia, the local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) and is accepted anywhere on the island. At the time of writing this article you will get about 15,000 IDR for every $1 USD. You can get IDR at one of many money exchanges on the island, or use ATMs, they are all over the place, and will give you the best exchange rate. The largest denomination bill I saw in Bali was the 100k IDR (about $7 USD) so you will likely have a bunch of paper money on you while you're traveling. You will want to carry cash with you at all times as many merchants do not accept credit cards. I always tried to have about 1 million on me at all times.
So, how much do things cost in Bali? It really depends on what you want to do. You can do Bali on a low budget, staying in hostels, taking buses, lots of walking and finding deals on food. An expensive luxury vacation in Bali is also possible. There is no shortage of Five Star Hotels, high end restaurants, and exclusive activities. For me, and most people heading to Bali, I'm looking for something in the middle of low budget and ultra-luxe.
The Pool at The Patra Resort, Kuta
When I look for a hotel I like to stay at 4 star hotels as long as the price is reasonable and the location is good. I like to try lots of food and drink. I will typically dine at moderately priced restaurants and bars, look for a few dives, and splurge on a meal or two in a one week vacation. When it comes to activities, I make sure that I don't miss out on any experiences that I really want to try, especially if they are unique to my vacation spot. Depending on where I go I could spend lots of money on activities and tours, or very little in some circumstances. Bali offers a wide range of activities from free hikes up to very expensive tours and everything in between. You will probably want to do a mix of all of them to have a great trip.
Here is a list of the prices that I paid for my trip to Bali. If you think that my travel style is similar to yours, check it out! I have listed prices that I experienced on a recent trip. I also included a rough estimate of USD equivalent. Nothing is exact, just what i recall, use this info as a general guide
Nighttime at a Temple, Ubud
Transportation
Bali has lots of transport options. The best way to get around is by hiring a driver, either for one way jaunts or for whole day excursions. Walking is also a good option if you are in a walker friendly place like Ubud, or staying along the beach in Kuta. Obviously, walking is free. I would avoid renting a scooter or car due to the wildly erratic traffic in Bali. There are public transport options, but I never used them. The public bus system is complicated, there is no mass transit subway or light-rail. If you don't have experience on the streets of Bali it is best to leave the driving to an expert. I found the prices for hired transportation to be very low compared to US or European standards.
Driver Prices-
Full day approximately 1 million IDR plus tip ($70-$80 USD)
Half day approximately 600,000 IDR plus tip ($40-$50 USD)
If you hire a driver then he/she will take you and your party anywhere. Just let them know what you want to do! This is a fantastic way to get around. If you leave the car for awhile the driver will wait for you to get back.
Taxi Fare- Varies on Distance.
Short rides around town 30-80k IDR ($2-$6 USD)
DPS to Ubud, approximately 350k-500k IDR depending on agreed price (~$25-$34 USD)
Hotel Room, Sri Ratih Cottages, Ubud
Interested in Ubud? Check this Out. https://steemit.com/bali/@quantumtravels/ubud-bali-the-amazing-vacation-destination
Hotels
You will have a wide variety of accommodations to choose from in Bali. Prices listed here are for 3-4 star hotels. I like to do a little research on my hotels before I book. I take into consideration recent reviews of the rooms, offered amenities, location, and price. I am not necessarily looking for the lowest priced hotel. I am willing to pay a little extra for a room that is well reviewed, and offers a good location close to the things that I want to see and do.
With all of that being said, I found the hotel prices in Bali to be comparably lower than hotels that I have stayed at around the world. During my trip I stayed in three different hotels, all of them were great. Most hotels in Bali offer complimentary daily breakfast which is a nice touch!
Nightly rates for the hotels that I stayed at was between 900k and 1.35 million IDR. ($60 - $90 USD) The rates were variant between hotels and the weekend night rates were a little higher as is expected of any hotel.
Bathroom at Sri Ratih
My Favorite Hotel?
Sri Ratih Cottages in Ubud. I spent eight nights in this wonderful hotel right at the top of the hill, near Bridges restaurant. Average nightly price for the stay was 1.2 million IDR including daily hot breakfast which was always good. The hotel has a great pool, two bars, 24 hour a day dining, and a marvelous spa with all of the treatments you could hope for. Rooms are large with comfy beds, ice cold air conditioning, and impressive bathrooms with a tub and shower. The service at Sri Ratih was very good, all of our needs were met and the staff was able to help us book any excursions we wanted to go on. The hotel is situated just outside of the Ubud town center, away from the loud main streets, but a short walk and you're right in the middle of the action. Sri Ratih was a perfect base for a getaway in Ubud!
Pool at Sri Ratih
Food and Drink
Bali has a lot of different cuisines and beverage options. I found the food in Bali to be fantastic and reasonably priced. You can find anything from cheap eats to fine dining depending on your taste.
Seafood on the Beach, Bayang Cafe, Djimbaran Beach
A typical meal for 2 at a local Warung cost between 200k - 500k IDR. ($13-$40 USD)
Fine dining options for two will cost around 1.2 million IDR and up depending on drink options. ($80 USD and up)
Barbecue at Warung Mufu, Near DPS airport
Bottled Water is a must in Bali, expect to pay 10k IDR to 30k IDR per bottle at most local shops depending on brand and size.
Beer is plentiful in Bali. Bintang is the local brand of choice. You should see Bintang for 20k - 60k IDR ($1.75-$4 USD) at most bars. Mixed drinks will cost between 40k and 100k IDR ($2.75-$6.50 USD) in bars. Look out for happy hour specials at bars where you can find drink specials and 2 for 1 deals!
What to drink in Bali? Click Here.
https://steemit.com/travel/@quantumtravels/cocktails-and-beverages-in-bali
Bintang by the Pool
My Favorite Restaurant
Melting Wok in Ubud is a fantastic small restaurant serving spicy curry and noodle dishes. You can grab a great meal at Melting Wok with drinks for less than 500k IDR. Make sure to save room for creme caramel with coconut milk! Spectacular and refreshing dessert.
Noodles and Creme Caramel at Melting Wok, Ubud
Check out the food in Bali here.
https://steemit.com/bali/@quantumtravels/the-amazing-cuisine-of-bali
Best Bar
Check out the bar at Bridges Restaurant in Ubud. The bar offers daily happy hour specials for bar food and drinks in a spectacular location with scenic jungle views. Bridges is a higher end location, so expect to spend more than typical Bali bars and restaurants. The experience, service and quality food and drinks are well worth the extra cost. Appetizers and 3 drinks per person at Bridges Bar costs about 1 million IDR ($67 USD)
Cocktails at Bridges Bar, Looking down at Bridges Restaurant at Night
Activities
The activity options in Bali are widely varied from relaxing tours to adventurous excursions. Here are a few of the things that I enjoyed while in Bali, and their cost.
Cooking Class
Enjoy a half day at a family kitchen learning how to cook traditional Balinese food. You will get to know the local ingredients and some of the history behind the traditional food that are prepared all over Bali. You'll love the process as you are an integral part of the meal coming together. The best part of the day is eating everything you have made! Bon Apetit.
Ingredients at Periuk Cooking class and the Final Product for Lunch
Cooking classes are available all over Bali for prices ranging from 300k IDR to 1.5 million IDR ($20-$90 USD) The wide variance in price is strongly dependent on location and is not necessarily an indication of of quality of class. Check out Periuk Bali Cooking Class for 350k IDR ($23 USD) Periuk is located near Ubud and was a great half day experience with wonderful food.
Temple Tours
Bali is full of old Hindu temples. They can be found in all parts of the Island. Entry fees to most temples ranges from 30k IDR to over 100k IDR ($2-$8 USD) You need to see some of these amazing works of architecture. You will also see some great scenery surrounding some of the temples.
*Many temples will require that you wear a sarong while in the temple. You can either bring your own or rent one at the entrance for a small donation. (1k-10k IDR)
Temple Pictures
Hit the Beach
There are lots of great beaches around the island. If you can get to the beach then you can hang out for free! Beaches can be a great cheap and relaxing way to spend the day.
Peaceful Sunset on the Beach, Kuta
Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud
For 50k IDR ($3.35 USD) you can spend some time in the jungle with some pretty cool monkeys. Just watch out for your personal belongings, the monkeys may jump on your shoulder looking for food, and may go searching through your backpack if you have one!
Sacred Monkey Forest, Ubud
Tegallalang Rice Terraces
You can easily see the rice terraces at Tegallalang if you have hired a driver for the day. The world famous location is near Ubud and you should not miss it when you are in Bali. The terrain is spectacular and you can spend several hours walking around the working rice terraces. If you're looking for a giant swing there are several at Tegallalang. Really don't miss this spectacular attraction, you will not be disappointed.
View from Tegallalang Rice Terraces
Best Free Activity
Campuhan Ridge Walk in Ubud is a scenic walk along a ridge above the jungle. You can do the walk for free and it is well worth your time. The scenery is fantastic! Stop into Karsa Spa at the end of the walk to grab a cold drink and overlook beautiful rice fields on in their rooftop patio.
Campuhan Ridge Walk
Overlooking rice paddy at Karsa Spa
Best Expensive Excursion
If you are looking for a little adventure then take a day to do some canyoning in North Bali. This excursion will take you into a beautiful jungle ravine and canyon while you slide, jump and rappel your way to the bottom. The whole adventure is guided by canyoning professionals and all of your gear is provided by the excursion company. No experience is required, just show up and get ready for an amazing day in an incredible location. I would not miss this!
The Canyoning Crew
Check out my review of Canyoning here.
https://steemit.com/travel/@quantumtravels/canyoning-in-bali-a-unique-adventure
Prices for canyoning ranges from $150-$200 USD, so it is not cheap, but definitely worth your hard earned money for a unique adventure. Breakfast, Lunch, and Hotel transfer included in the excursion price.
Waterfall Rappel
Spa Treatments
There are spas on almost every corner in Bali and you should definitely treat yourself to a massage or two while on vacation. Like may other things, location is a major driving factor in the cost of spa services. You can expect to pay top dollar for a massage in a high end resort spa, and I found one hour massages in smaller street-side spas for as little as 100k IDR. ($6.70 USD)
Spa treatments are dependent on your personal preference of services. In most cases I found that the treatments offered were high quality and were very reasonably priced. The staff at all spas was professional and offered a comfortable setting for all services. When I compare spa services in Bali and here in the States the overall prices in Bali were much cheaper than what I find at home.
If your hotel has a spa then you should inquire about guest discounts. Most hotels will slash their spa prices for you if you are staying at the hotel, and may even offer a free service or two just for being a guest!
Bali Countryside
Overall I found Bali to be a great place to travel for those of us who are value conscious. I found Bali to be incredibly affordable for almost everything that I wanted to do. My typical base budget for a trip is $200 USD per person per day of travel. That total includes entertainment, food, transportation and lodging. If i can spend less than that then it means that I can travel more and for longer. I was able to stay well under my $200 daily budget while in Bali, averaging about $120 spent per day and I feel like I got to see everything I wanted to see and more.
If there is anything else about Bali that you are curious about please let me know in the replies, I would love to share my experiences about traveling to Bali with you. I would also love to hear about your travels in Bali if you have spent time there. I know I haven't seen everything on the island and I can't wait to go back and see more!