Preparing for Bali: The Practical Things Worth Doing First

Bali rewards a little preparation more than most destinations, not because it is difficult but because a handful of small administrative things have changed repeatedly in recent years and catch people out at exactly the wrong moment. None of what follows is onerous; all of it is easier done at your kitchen table than in an arrivals queue.

Check the visa position close to travel, not months ahead. Indonesia's entry requirements for visitors have been revised several times, including the visa-on-arrival arrangements and the online declarations expected before landing. What was correct last year may not be correct now, so check the current rules on your own government's travel advice pages in the fortnight before you fly rather than relying on a forum post or an old blog.

Make sure your passport has the validity Indonesia asks for, and that it is in good physical condition. Six months' validity beyond your entry date is the standard requirement and it is enforced at check-in as much as at immigration. A passport with a damaged or water-marked photo page can and occasionally does get refused, which is a miserable way to start.

Take insurance seriously here, more than in Europe. Medical care in the south is good and private, which also means it is billed privately and can be expensive. Check that your policy covers the things people actually do in Bali - scooters in particular, which many standard policies exclude unless you hold the correct licence - and note the emergency number somewhere that is not only on your phone.

Sort money before you go rather than at the airport. Cards are widely accepted in the south and increasingly elsewhere, but cash is still king at warungs, markets and small drivers. Use ATMs attached to proper banks rather than freestanding ones, tell your bank you are travelling, and treat any street-side money changer offering a notably better rate than everyone else with deep suspicion.

Pack lighter than you think and buy the rest there. Bali is hot, humid and casual; you need far fewer clothes than instinct suggests, and laundry is cheap and everywhere. What is genuinely worth bringing from home is a good insect repellent, a high-factor sun cream you trust, any prescription medication with its documentation, and a refillable water bottle.

Arrange the first transfer in advance and nothing else. The airport at night after a long flight is not the moment to negotiate, and a pre-booked car through your accommodation removes the only genuinely stressful part of arriving. After that, sort transport as you go; apps and local drivers are plentiful and much cheaper than pre-booking a fortnight of them.

Then stop preparing. Bali is a forgiving place to travel, everything you have forgotten can be bought within a mile of wherever you are staying, and the trips that go best are the ones with the least locked in. Get the visa, passport, insurance and first transfer right, and the rest genuinely does look after itself.