Bali, Indonesia Complete Travel Guide

If you’re looking for beach life on a budget or lavish living at much lower prices than in the West, then Bali is THE spot in Southeast Asia.

Sure, things aren’t as cheap as they used to be, but you can still live an amazing life on this island for peanuts – Indonesia is one of the cheapest countries for digital nomads, after all!

Bali is a traveler’s dream – both for single men on vacation and digital nomads looking for a base. There are incredible beaches, fun nightlife, amazing Indonesian girls, a great culture, and more.

Today I am sharing my complete travel guide to the island and I’ll cover exactly what you need to know, what to avoid, and how to get the most out of your time here.

Pre-Arrival Things to Know: Visas, Taxes, Info

Before touching down at Ngurah Rai International Airport, you need to handle a little paperwork. As of 2024, Indonesia introduced a mandatory international tourist levy of 150,000 IDR (about $10 USD). You pay this online before you arrive or at the airport.

For visas, most travelers use the Visa on Arrival (VoA), valid for 30 days and extendable once. But if you plan to stay longer and live the nomad life, look into the B211A socio-cultural visa or the newer digital nomad visa options available this year. Not having to do border runs (especially since you’re on an island, so you’d have to fly) is a major bonus!

Population & Weather

Population: Almost 4.5 million.

Weather: This depends entirely on the season. Bali is always hot, humid, and tropical. However, during the months of October through April, you will find wet-season rains very common. Temperatures hover between 80-90 degrees Fahrenheit (26.7°C – 32.2°C) all year long.

Safety

Incredibly safe. Sure, you will have to deal with a few scammers every now and then, especially in heavy tourist zones, but Bali is one of the safer places you can visit.

There are almost no shootings or violent crimes here. Just keep an eye on your phone when walking near busy streets to avoid snatch-and-grab drive-bys on scooters (which are not that common either!)

MUSTS: Neighborhoods & Beach Living

The surf in certain areas of Bali is legendary and the sunsets are some of the best I’ve ever seen. Grab a drink at Potato Head Beach Club early evening and unwind with the stunning views.

Ubud is also a MUST while on the island. Even if you’re living in Kuta, Legian, or Seminyak – you’ll want to head over to Ubud and soak in some culture for at least a weekend. Unwind a bit and make sure to check out the Monkey Forest.

But you also can’t ignore Canggu and Uluwatu. I spend a lot of time in Canggu because it has become the epicenter for digital nomads and expats. Uluwatu offers spectacular cliffside views and world-class surfing if you want something slightly less congested than the Seminyak strip.

Apartment & Villa Prices

Apartment prices vary all over Bali and many travelers actually rent villas and share them with their friends. These places typically come with pools and lavish Balinese designs.

For a studio or one-bedroom in Seminyak or Canggu, you’re looking at $600 to $1,500 a month due to massive demand – prices have increased dramatically over the past several years and finding something truly livable on a $100/month budget is impossible.

Actually, hotels in the area with pools run $30 to $100+ a night!

You can still find affordable locations for as little as $500 per month (or maybe even less if you share a studio) – but these are either low quality or well outside the main hubs.

If you’re looking for something more affordable and still excellent, know that I loved both Surabaya and Bandung, and I can’t recommend them enough.

Getting Around: Apps & Traffic

Uber doesn’t exist in Bali, but you have very similar options: Grab or Gojek. I use Gojek almost exclusively when I need a car or a motorbike taxi, as it is the local version of ride sharing.

If you plan to stay longer, renting a motorbike or scooter is a very popular option and a must if you think you have what it takes to navigate the chaotic traffic in Indonesia.

Police also heavily crack down on foreigners driving without helmets or international licenses, so wear your helmet, drive defensively, and if you aren’t an experienced rider, just order a Gojek!

Nightlife & Social Scene

There’s something for everyone in the Bali nightlife scene. Whether you’re looking for a rowdy night out or a laidback evening by the beach, Bali nightlife has it all!

Your humble author spent most of his nights out around the Seminyak area, but did venture down to Kuta a number of times.

So here are three great places for a big night out in Bali:

La Favela: A personal favorite spot, and I met some great people here. From tourists to expats – like a Swedish girl living in Bali, whom I dated for a bit – you will find a highly diverse crowd. This large bar is perfect for guys based up in Seminyak and remains open every day of the week.

Sky Garden: A Bali classic down in Kuta. It had some closures and management drama over the last few years, but it is still synonymous with massive parties. You will have to deal with very rowdy crowds, but if you want to party hard, this is the spot. Weekends are always better, as weekdays can be a bit dude-heavy.

Mirror: This place is slightly odd with its gothic cathedral design, but I liked it and had a really good time here. It is a fantastic spot to meet girls from Jakarta who are visiting on holiday. The other two choices above are rowdier, so Mirror offers a slightly different, more upscale club vibe right in Seminyak.

Price of a Beer: $2 to $5 depending on if you are at a local warung or a beach club.

Price of a Bottle: $50 to $200+ at standard clubs.

The Social Reality & Meeting People

It is pretty damn easy to meet people and go on dates in Bali, but the online options for locals aren’t quite as vast as Jakarta or Bangkok. There is a high ratio of foreign guys to local girls here, too and be prepared for most ladies to have experience with foreigners.

That being said, almost everyone out at night is open to socializing. If you have decent social skills at bars and clubs, you should have no problem setting up dates over a two-week trip (or shorter). The combination of nightlife, Tinder, Bumble, and other dating apps ensures any man who puts in an effort will meet someone fun.

What about the beauty of the girls in Bali? They are indeed good-looking, but they are a bit different than the stunners from Jakarta on average.

Also, the place is extremely international, so you will meet US & European expats, Australian tourists, and Asian women here.

Living in Seminyak or Canggu, you will definitely have a more glamorous, fashionable crowd around each day than in Kuta.

But overall, I was thrilled with the women I met and dated, but I saw a few guys who struggled, too. It is not an automatic guarantee like some other Southeast Asian cities, so you still have to put yourself out there.

Also read: Batam, Indonesia City Guide

Language Barrier

While Balinese is the native language of the island, the entire economy is built on tourism. As such, the vast majority of people here speak English at least at some level. Many locals involved in hospitality speak English almost fluently, so you will not have any major communication issues.

Bachelor Budget Needed

You need anything between $1,500 to $3,000 a month to enjoy life in Bali – the more, the better options.

Because of the recent price hikes across the island, the ultra-cheap days are gone, though, no matter what others try to tell you. Sure, you can still live a very good life in Bali on $1,500 a month in Seminyak or Canggu once you know the area better and find the local deals, but even that is starting to become a stretch.

If you eat at local warungs and limit the expensive beach clubs, your money goes incredibly far, though.

Bali overall

I loved it! I am a huge fan of this tropical paradise. The beach is stunning, the social scene is packed with friendly people from all over the world, and you can escape to nature in Ubud anytime you want.

If you want a low-cost location to base up and live the good life, Bali remains tough to beat. The combination of price, beaches, nature, nightlife, and dating is a definite contender for my favorite spot in all of Southeast Asia. It will be yours, too, especially if you manage to stay out of the Kuta traffic!