10-Day Bali Checklist (Don't Forget This) — Guide

The four most commonly forgotten items: (1) Paying the Bali Tourist Levy online at lovebali.baliprov.go.id before flying — IDR 150,000 per person. (2) Completing the electronic customs declaration at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id within 3 days before arrival. (3) Installing an eSIM before flying — airport SIM counters queue 20–45 minutes. (4) Downloading offline Google Maps for Bali and Nusa Penida separately — essential for remote areas with patchy signal.

Essential documents: valid passport (6+ months remaining from arrival date); return or onward ticket; travel insurance confirmation; visa or e-VOA QR code if required by your nationality (check at molina.imigrasi.go.id); Bali Tourist Levy payment QR from lovebali.baliprov.go.id; electronic customs declaration QR from allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id. Screenshot all of these and save to your Camera Roll before flying.

Not strictly required — but strongly recommended. Without mobile data, you can't use WhatsApp (how all Bali accommodation and drivers communicate), Grab (primary transport app), or Google Maps live navigation. Hotel Wi-Fi works once you're checked in, but doesn't help during the journey from the airport. A Telkomsel eSIM installed before flying activates automatically at Ngurah Rai — all apps work before immigration. It's the most efficient solution for any Bali trip of 3+ days. See: How to Get Internet in Bali.

Yes — always install at home, not at the airport. Airport SIM counters at Ngurah Rai require queuing (20–45 minutes at peak times), passport processing, and setup on slow airport Wi-Fi — all after a long-haul flight. A BaliSIM eSIM installs in 2 minutes at home via QR code, activates automatically on landing, and means you're connected before you reach immigration. No queue, no waiting, no setup under airport conditions.

Yes — Grab operates across Bali and is the most reliable transport option from the airport. It uses fixed prices, GPS tracking, and no negotiation. Set up your account and add a payment card before flying — it works immediately when your eSIM connects at Ngurah Rai. The official Grab pickup zone at the airport is separate from the metered taxi rank — Maps shows you where it is. Guide: Gojek & Grab Setup.

Most travelers do well with a mixed approach: Visa or Mastercard as the primary payment method for hotels, restaurants, and beach clubs; IDR cash for local warungs, markets, parking, and small purchases. Withdraw IDR 500,000–1,000,000 from a BCA or Mandiri ATM on arrival for the first day or two, then top up as needed. Don't exchange everything at the airport — rates are worse there. Avoid unfamiliar standalone ATMs; use BCA or Mandiri ATMs inside bank branches.

Yes, if you're from North America, UK, Australia, or Japan. Indonesia uses Type C and Type F sockets (European two-pin, 220V). UK travelers need a UK-to-EU adapter. Australian and North American travelers need a Type C universal adapter. Most modern electronics (phone chargers, laptops) handle 220V automatically — check the label, which usually reads "100–240V". If it does, you need only an adapter, not a voltage converter.

Pack lightweight and minimal: 5–7 breathable t-shirts, 3–4 shorts or light trousers, 2–3 swimsuits, one light jacket for evenings or air conditioning, sandals for daily use, and one pair of closed-toe shoes for waterfalls and Nusa Penida's rough roads. Include a sarong for temple visits (or buy one at the first temple for IDR 20,000–50,000). Bali is a laundry-friendly destination — most accommodations offer washing at IDR 15,000–25,000/kg. For a 10-day trip, 7 days of clothes is enough.

Yes — strongly recommended. Bali has good private hospitals, particularly in south Bali and Ubud, but they require payment upfront before treatment — costs can reach thousands of dollars for serious incidents. Travel insurance covering overseas medical treatment, emergency evacuation, scooter accidents (check the policy specifically — some policies exclude motorbike accidents), and luggage loss is standard for Bali. Confirm the policy covers Indonesia and scooter riding if you plan to rent one.

It depends on the length. Very short shorts (above mid-thigh) are not appropriate at temple sites. Most temples require legs to be covered — a sarong wrapped around the waist covers shorts or short skirts. Shoulders should also be covered. Sarongs are available for loan or purchase at almost every temple entrance. The requirement is respected and enforced at popular sites including Tanah Lot, Tirta Empul, Uluwatu, and Besakih.