Travel Preparation for Bali

What if I told you that you could travel to the other side of the world for $550 round trip? Yeah, you can. With the help of my favorite travel app, hopper, we were able to find flights for that exact amount to Bali where we plan to stay for a little over two weeks. The second I got the notification flights had dropped that low, I pulled out my credit card and was entering the digits like a mad person trying to get a Coachella ticket before you’re timed out.Once the tickets were booked, I got to planning. I love to be spontaneous but knew I wanted to have a home base in a few different places. So like any psychopath, I created this notebook that I like to call “The Bali Bible”. In this notebook is anything you could possibly imagine, where we are staying, tips, what to do, common phrases, emergency numbers, Airbnb confirmations, ever lasting gobstoppers, you get it. Yes, I will bless you all with this notebook by creating it into a blog post upon my return.

Anytime you travel to a different country there are always a few things you have to sort out. In Bali, your main mode of transportation is to rent a scooter for about $5 a day. The cops there will pull you over and fine you but are easily bribed. To avoid forking out money each time, get your international drivers permit from AAA. The whole process takes about 30 minutes for the small cost of $27, no test is required you simply pay the fine and you receive your permit that same day!

Another issue to sort out is the currency, Indonesiand Rupeih (IDR). Bali is one of the most inexpensive places to travel, making it perfect for people on a budget i.e millennials. If you are a member of Wells Fargo they will exchange your money for free, if not, they will charge about $7. Make sure you call ahead, the money will be ready in about 3-5 days from the time of order. We ordered $500 USD for the 2 weeks that we will be there, all of our accommodations had already been pre-paid. DO NOT USE TRAVEL EX, it is a scam and they over charge you.

The rest are little things. The plugs over there are the same as Europe, I got a travel adapter that has 2 USB cords to avoid the whole “what percentage are you at let me have the charger” battle. Another important item is to start taking probiotics 2 weeks prior to your trip and continue to do so once you are there. You are not required to get shots, thank god, but “Bali belly” is really common there. Probiotics help build up your immune system and stomach lining so you don’t get sick on your trip! These are also great to take on a daily basis regardless of if you are traveling. For facewash, coconut oil, and shampoo/conditioner I purchased leak proof travel bottles which abide by the TSA requirements.

Final items are lightweight clothing (it is very humid there), a good camera, trustworthy sandals and a solid 40L backpacking backpack! No need to bring anything more than a carry on item and a smaller bag for all your adventuring. I board tonight so I’ll be MIA again for anyone that keeps up with this. Wish me luck!