The practical things worth knowing before you fly, from someone who lives here.
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You fly into Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS) in Denpasar. Seminyak is roughly 30 to 45 minutes away depending on traffic, and traffic is the variable that matters — the same trip can take twenty minutes at 6am and an hour at 6pm.
Arrange your transfer before you land. Coming out of arrivals into the taxi scrum after a six-hour flight with tired children is the worst possible time to negotiate a fare. We can book a driver to meet you with a name board.
Entry requirements for Indonesia change from time to time, and they differ by passport. Rather than quote rules that may have moved by the time you travel, check the current requirements with the Indonesian immigration authorities or your own government's travel advisory before you book flights.
Two things that rarely change and catch people out: your passport generally needs at least six months validity from your date of arrival, and you may be asked to show onward or return travel.
Bali has two seasons rather than four.
A wet-season villa holiday is underrated. You are in a private house with a pool and a covered living area; an hour of dramatic rain in the afternoon is atmosphere, not a ruined day.
Seminyak is walkable within an area and not between them. Footpaths are uneven and often interrupted, so do not plan long walks after dark or with a pram.
For everything else, hire a driver by the day. It costs less than you expect, removes all parking and navigation problems, and means nobody has to decide who is not drinking. Ride-hailing apps work too, though some areas restrict pickups.
Scooters are everywhere and are how most of Bali moves. If you are not an experienced rider, this is not the place to learn.
The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR). Cards are widely accepted in restaurants and larger shops; cash still rules at markets, warungs and for drivers.
Use ATMs attached to bank branches or inside hotels and malls rather than standalone machines on the street. Tell your bank you are travelling before you go.
Drink bottled or filtered water, including for brushing teeth. Your villa will have it.
The sun is stronger than it feels through cloud and sea breeze — the first day is when people get burnt. Bring more sunscreen than you think and reapply after swimming.
Travel insurance that covers medical evacuation is not optional. Bali has good private hospitals, and they expect payment or an insurer's guarantee up front.
Bali is a Hindu island and offerings (canang sari) are placed on the ground outside shops and homes each morning. Step around them, not over them.
Cover shoulders and knees at temples; a sarong is usually provided or available to hire.
Nyepi, the Balinese Day of Silence, shuts the entire island for 24 hours including the airport. If your dates fall near it, we will tell you what it means for your stay.
If you are weighing up dates, areas or whether a particular villa suits your group, ask us. We answer these questions every day and we would rather you booked the right villa than the first one.
Tell us your dates and group size and one of our Bali-based villa specialists will come back to you with the right options.
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