Final Checklist

Your bags are nearly packed, the excitement has hit fever pitch! Not long now until you'll have parked yourself in a scenic location with an impressive looking cocktail.
Before we all head off, here's a list of the most common questions we've received before departure;

1. Money - We take cash as it's easy, gets a great exchange rate and you don't get charged commission. If you're comfortable with this, take good condition $50 notes. It may be a good idea to change up to $50 here so you have some local currency in case of emergency but you'll get a better rate exchanging the bulk of your cash in Bali. Use the safety deposit boxes to store cash and change a few hundred at a time.
2. Visa money. $25US per person to purchase your visa on arrival. This is non-negotiable and must be paid by every person including babies and children. You cannot purchase your visa prior to arriving in Bali. 
3. If you've pre-organised a VIP Visa then it's a good idea to have exact money to cover this, $30 Aus per person if you've contacting Murti.
4. Beach towels aren't really required. You can collect them fresh anytime from the pool at your resort. Or if you find you need one they're less than $2 to purchase, save the room in your suitcase!
5. Wedding attire is smart summer casual so be comfortable! You may find something in the shops over there but bring a back up in case you don't make it past the pool!
6. Cheapest way to handle mobiles is to bring an unlocked, old phone and purchase a local SIM card. The rates are good for texting others on the island and you won't be charged the roaming load that local carriers here will.

We head off Anzac Day morning but will be checking Facebook in case you have last minute questions in the days leading up to your departure. Have a great flight and we'll see you on the beach!

Spa Days - Guest Blogger

Hi all, we have another guest blogger this week. Please welcome Bernie (AKA Mother of the Bride) with her helpful spa review - enjoy!!

We thought it was about time to get down to the serious side of the wedding trip, discussing Spa visits!

Bali is a fantastic spa destination with not only your upmarket salons but also small salons on every corner. There are gorgeous  Indonesian girls asking if you want Massage, Pedicure or Manicure as you stroll on by. These smaller salons are pretty basic but do a fair job for a very reasonable price. Obviously you get what you pay for but after a few hours shopping in the heat - a pedicure and leg massage can be just what the doctor ordered!

We have a few favourite Salons from past trips and we will endeavour to give you just a sample of what sort of services they have on offer.  The salons listed below are all within a short distance of the hotels where you will be staying.

COOL SALON AND SPA

This is probably our favourite salon for massages at a very reasonable price – a 1hr aromatherapy massage (with your choice of oil) for only about $15.00.  Prior to your massage you are given a foot wash and scrub then taken to a very quiet, dark, peaceful room for your massage.  Cool also offers lots of other services including facials, body scrubs, manicures, pedicures etc. 

Example of prices;

90min Body & Foot Massage - 185,000 (or $20)

105min Body massage with Facial - 200,000 (or $22) 

2hr 45min Body scrub and massage + facial 400,00 (or $44)

BODYWORKS

One of the original spas to have started in the Seminyak area.  This salon is a little more upmarket compared to Cool and some of the prices reflect this.  We have had many treatments at this spa, probably the most enjoyable was an exfoliation massage (Mandi Lulur) or as we affectionately call it “Curry in a Hurry”!  “The treatment begins with a 75 minute Balinese massage, and then the entire body is painted in a brown, granular paste containing turmeric, sandalwood, cinnamon, ground nuts and rice.  The paste is then gently rubbed to exfoliate the skin.  After a quick shower the body is covered in fresh yoghurt.  The enzymes stimulate cell activity and restore the pH balance of the skin, which feels soft as silk after the yoghurt is washed away.  The final step involves luxuriating in a warm, fragrant, flower filled bath”.  Absolute Heaven! 

Another firm favourite is having a manicure, pedicure and hair cream bath (this involves having your hair washed and a conditioning cream massaged into your hair).  While the cream is nourishing your hair, you are given a 1/2hr shoulder, neck and arm massage, all the while having your pedicure and manicure at the same time.  It doesn’t get much better than that!!

Example of prices;

90min Full Body Massage with warm bath to finish - 282,000 (or $31)

2 hrs Exfoliation Massage (Mandi Lulur) - 378,000 (or $42) 

60min Facial 175,000 (or $19)

AMO BEAUTY SPA

This is a relatively new spa salon in the increasingly popular Pettinget area but still not too far from our Hotels.  They do all the usual manicures, pedicures and massages but they also perform fantastic facials as well.  Other services include waxing, hairdressing,  etc.

Example of prices;

90min Relax or Rejuventate Massage - 260,000 (or $28)

30min Oxygen Facial 250,000 (or $27)
3 hours Spa'licious - Body scrub, massage, hair wash and blw dry 550,000 ($61)

Enjoy!

"Taxi!"

There are several ways to get around in Bali. One of the easiest and most comfortable to new travellers are taxis (or Taksi!). Plenty of Taxi companies exist however there's only 1 reputable one - Blue Bird.

Blue bird taxis are distinguishable by their light blue colour car and the large blue bird symbol on top of the cab.



 Blue Bird taxis always put their metres on unlike some of the others and have a much better reputation. You can try your luck with some of the other random taxis that get around however you may be ripped off on arrival because 'the metre is broken' or 'I forgot' etc etc. Unless you know how much a trip should cost always insist on the driver using the metre.

You can also pay drivers in regular cars and vans to take you where you'd like to go. One depot is located on the road that connects the Pelangi and Breezes. It is customary to let the driver know where you're headed and then negotiate a price. Speak to some of the Bali regulars to get an idea on how much it should cost to get to your destination. If you have more than 4 people or you can't locate a Blue Bird, private transport is a good option at times.

Some people will also rent scooters while in Bali, these are available for rent quite cheaply and petrol costs next to nothing. You should have an international motorbike license to ride these however many tourists take the risk.

Travel laws in Bali are fairly simple - keep moving! Stay left an go slow and you can't get in too much trouble. If you're wise you'll avoid JL Legian after 11am...

Happy travels!

Negotiating the Airport

Now that the wedding/holiday/damn-good-reason-to-travel is 'this year', we thought it may be a good chance to give you some information on hanging out in Bali. Part one of this is actually getting through the airport!!
In days gone by it wouldn't have been unheard of to stand in line for up to 3 hours waiting to purchase your visa and then be processed by immigration. Thankfully this has been a lot quicker in recent times, although you may still get 4 planes all landing at once!!

Most planes now land out in the airport and require you to jump on a bus to the terminal. Once your bus pulls up at the terminal, the seasoned Bali travellers will be pushing past you to sprint to the Visa Counter. This counter is now on your left as you enter the arrivals hall. You will need to line up aong with everyone else and pay $25USD per person to enter the country. They do accept Aus or Rupiah however I'll leave the calculations to you!

A Balinese Visa

Once you've received your visa, you'll need to take it, your passport and your customs declaration form (which you'll receive and fill in on the flight) to one of the open immigration queues. The queues are fairly straight forward and once through you'll need to find your bags.

Beware! From here on out, assume that anyone offering to assist you will want to be paid! There are porters in the baggage area that will pull your bags off the conveyor belt. This is fine and no payment is required. There are also additional porters who will try and start wheeling or carrying your bag to 'assist' you. Politely but strongly say 'No thanks' several tmes if they're persistent or just grab your bag and keep walking!

The final hurdle is getting through customs. Standard rules apply here so declare if you have something (food etc) or hit the other line if you have nothing. All bags are scanned though so be prepared. Once through here it's a hairpin turn to the left and you'll come out into the loudest, most crowded arrival area you've possibly ever seen! Head to the right, there's a gate to get out and a reputable taxi queue. It's a set fare to each of the suburbs so you'll just need to tell the guy at the window which suburb and your hotel and you'll be billeted out to a driver to get you on your way!

Finally, if all of this sounds too difficult there is such a thing as a VIP Visa. A nice man will meet you in the arrivals hall where you'll hand over your passport and US dollars. They then bypass the line and get your visa, escort you through immigration skipping those queues and getting you to the baggage carousel before the bags have even come out! They'll then assist you through customs and deposit you safely and quickly outside the arrival area! While handing over your passport to a complete stranger in a foreign land is not normally recommended, we and many other have used this service several times and it can be very worthwhile. We make it out in around 15 minutes. Cost is around $30Aus and we can coordinate this for anyone who would like it. This company can also have a car ready and waiting to drive you for a pre-arranged fee, it usually costs less than $15 to get to your hotel.

First Timer Tips - Water

For those who haven't been to Bali before be warned: you cannot drink the tap water there.

This means you can't brush your teeth in it, rinse your mouth out or use it for making ice...unless you'd like a few days on the toilet or in bed.

All hotels provide, free of charge, several small bottles of water a day, these are mainly used for brushing your teeth. As for drinking water, it's very cheap from local mini marts. 1.5 Litre bottles can be bought for around 4,500 rupiah, about $0.50.

The water is absolutely fine for bathing in and the hotels we've recommended do an excellent job of keeping the pools clean. The ice used in drinks from bars and restaurants is fine - it used to be a big problem in Bali until the government stepped in an regulated this.

Again, keep your hygiene in mind and you'll survive this trip just fine. Wash your hands often, use a hand sanitiser and only drink bottled water!

First Timer Tips - Safety

Bali is a beautiful place with many amazing people, however as with anytime you travel overseas, it's important to be aware of safety.

• Beach - Kuta to Seminyak Beach can be quite brutal. The beaches can often be closed for periods of time when rips and currents pop up. The waves are quite strong here so swim between the flags where possible.                                                                                      
• Hotel - Every hotel will give you a safety deposit box - whether in your room or at reception. The boxes at reception can only be accessed with your key and the key from the manager. We usually leave our passport and additional cash in here for the duration of the stay and haven't heard of anything going wrong when using these in reputable hotels.




Dodgy Money Changer sign, doesn't say No Commission


• Money - When exchanging money make sure you go into a shop with a 'No Commission' sign only. There have been instances where tourists have walked down small back lanes to exchange their money and it usually ends with them leaving with no money at all. You should NEVER have to pay commission to exchange money and you should NEVER have to walk down dodgy back lanes. The golden rule here - if the exchange rate looks to good to be true it usually is.
• Nightlife - Usual rules apply here same as anywhere when out and about at night. Secure your cash and phone. Always make sure someone knows where you're going. And remember the name of your hotel so the taxi driver knows where to deliver you at the end of a long night, not looking at anyone here...




Where the sign points, see the little
white square at the end of the alley? Mmmm....



In terms of overall security, check Smart Traveller, an Australian Government website for all current warnings and advice. This also has recommendations on health and where to get help should you need it when away. We strongly advise all guests take out travel insurance, this covers you from when you pay the insurance just in case you can't travel for some reason. And lastly, it is recommended to register with the Australian Government when travelling outside the country. This is a 5 minute task but means that you can be contacted should you need to be while you're away.

Beach bums

The beach is a great place to hang out in Bali and comes with many more options than at home. As you take a leisurely stroll from Seminyak down to Kuta and back, you will be kindly invited to take a seat from the many vendors lining the beach! You may also be asked if you'd like to take home some quality Bali merchandise such as sarongs, paintings, jewellery or carvings. (My favourite is the 'jiggy jig pig') If they don't have anything that interests you simply say 'Tidak' or no thanks. Try to avoid eye contact and don't feel the need to explain yourself. Relax and keep walking - if you look like you've been to Bali 20 times before, they're less likely to bother you.

If you'd like to hang out on a nice sun lounge under an umbrella for the day then expect to pay! Although, as with pretty much everything in Bali, you can barter! Sun lounges are around 15,000 rupiah or about $2. There are also plenty of surf or boogie boards available for hire. If you think you'd like to have one, negotiate a weekly rate, rather than a daily rate.

And of course, there are plenty of kindly balinese guys that will fetch you a cold Bintang (or soft drink) on request!

First timer tips - Money

The best way to deal with money in Bali?

Cash. Plain and simple.

Travellers cheques are not as widely accepted as they once were and will get a lower exchange rate. There have been issues with credit card fraud in recent years. (Although it's still safe to use cards in good shops and restaurants.) It is easy to access money via ATMs however the exchange rate is lower and you get stung with international fees from most banks. So cash is king in Bali!

Regulars to Bali will bring their money in good condition $50 notes; the Balinese don't accept ripped or torn notes.
In Seminyak there are several reputable places that will exchange your money. The only way to do this successfully on the streets is to find 'No Commission' exchange places, usually these will be found in kodak shops or bank style shops. There is one on 'eat street' or Laksmana next to Joy Jewellery. (This will make more sense when you're there!) There's also another great shop on Jalan Legian across from the Bintang supermarket.

Best tip for first timers is to go with a Bali regular for your first few trips and learn how it works. The person exchanging your money should always show you the amount of rupiah you will receive on a calculator. They will also count it out for you so that you are satisfied with what you've been given. 

Number one rule when exchanging money?
NEVER give over your cash until you are completely satisfied with the transaction.

Bali Belly - The Truth

Is it possible to get Bali Belly? Absolutely. You are travelling to a third world country in many respects and as such hygiene habits aren't always followed to the letter. The best ways to avoid this include drinking only bottled water, not eating from the carts on the street and eating in nicer restaurants. A small bottle of hand sanitiser in the hand bag is also a must. The local warungs are usually quite safe but each to their own!

Although not Bali Belly, it is possible to end up a little squeamish on some days and this is usually due to the following;

• You've gone too hard on Arak - the local rice wine that could strip paint and fuel your car for a week. Stick to cocktails that use normal stuff like vodka.
• You've gone mental on fruit juices and fruity cocktails - yeah, 4 litres of fruit juice in a day will do that to you...
• You've tried everything, every day, from the breakfast buffet; fruits, breads, mie goreng, potatoes, eggs, omelettes etc. If this happens to you, try some plainer foods for a day or so and you'll be fine.

Bali - the only place on earth where it's acceptable to discuss your bathroom habits.

Have fun!