Bali and beyond: money, scooters and drivers, temple etiquette, dry season timing, curated traveler tips, and mobile data via eSIM.
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Indonesia is 17,000 islands, though most trips start with one: Bali, with its rice terraces, temple ceremonies, surf breaks and cafe culture. Beyond it wait Java's volcanoes and Borobudur, Komodo's dragons and diving, Lombok's beaches and the untouched east.
The country runs on warmth and improvisation. Ceremonies close roads without notice, scooters carry families of four, and the standard answer to most problems is a smile and a workaround - pack patience along with the sunscreen.
Bali is a mood board that became a country-within-a-country: temples, rice terraces, surf, smoothie bowls and traffic. It is still worth it if you leave the Canggu–Seminyak strip and go to Ubud, the north coast, or another island entirely. Java, Lombok and the Komodo region are where the 'Indonesia' people rave about usually lives.
Smile, take your shoes off, and do not rush ceremonies that close a road. The island runs on offerings, engines and a sense of humor. Bring patience. It is cheaper than another scooter dent.
Essentials
Traveler tips
Real advice from people who have been to Indonesia, curated by our team with links to the original sources.
A private driver for a full day costs surprisingly little split between two or more, and beats scooter accidents, parking chaos and navigation stress. Agree the itinerary and price up front; most drivers are excellent informal guides.
A sarong and sash are required in Balinese temples and usually lent or rented at the entrance. Cover shoulders, never climb on shrines for photos, and step around - not over - the small canang sari offerings on sidewalks.
Drink only bottled or refilled purified water, skip ice at places that look sketchy about it, and ease into street food. Bring oral rehydration salts; most stomach trouble passes in a day or two.
Many nationalities can do visa-on-arrival or e-VOA. Do the e-VOA before you fly if you can — the airport desks at Denpasar are a special kind of long. Screenshot the approval. Immigration still wants to see it.
Amed, Sidemen, Munduk and the west coast still have room to breathe. One quiet town and a few temple days will recalibrate a trip that started in a traffic jam of scooters and smoothie menus.
TripAdvisor Forums
Grab and Gojek are fine for Seminyak or Nusa Dua hops. Drivers cancel long fares to Ubud or the north, so those transfers want a booked car.
View sourceTripAdvisor Forums
Bali's Day of Silence is not a quiet suggestion. Streets empty and you stay inside the hotel unless it is an emergency, so check the date before you lock flights around late March.
View sourceTripAdvisor Forums
Indonesian police want your national licence and an International Driving Permit with a motorcycle stamp — plus the rental’s STNK papers. Checkpoints cluster on the Canggu–Seminyak–Ubud roads. The on-the-spot “fine” is a negotiation people describe on the Bali forum; the official path is a police station. Insurance often ignores a scooter crash if you lacked the IDP. Hire a driver for temple days if you do not have the paperwork.
View sourceBali travel notes
App cars are legal, but local taxi groups unofficially block pickups at Ubud Palace, the Monkey Forest, and some Canggu beach clubs. Walk five minutes to a side street and request there. The same apps thin out near Uluwatu temples. A pre-agreed day driver still wins for a waterfall circuit. Airport uncles are a different, more expensive script.
View sourceFAQ
Indonesian SIM registration requires your passport, and phones using local SIMs are subject to IMEI registration rules that can cut off unregistered devices on longer stays. A travel eSIM avoids the registration system entirely and works from the moment you land at Denpasar.
No. Traffic, gravel and clinic bills make a day driver the cheaper thrill. Agree the price in the morning. Unlocked iPhone XS, Pixel 3 or Galaxy S20+ can run Gojek on an eSIM and skip Indonesian SIM registration.
Gojek rides, maps, surf forecasts and heavy photo traffic average 1-2 GB per day, so 15-20 GB covers two weeks. If you are working remotely from cafes, get an unlimited plan and treat cafe Wi-Fi as backup.
Southern Bali, Ubud and the coastal towns have solid 4G. Coverage weakens in the central mountains, on the west coast and on smaller islands like Nusa Penida's remote corners - plan navigation ahead for day trips there.
Yes - Gojek and Grab both accept foreign numbers for account verification and then run entirely on mobile data. With a data eSIM you can order rides and food from arrival without any local number.
eSIM plans
Between Gojek rides, warung recommendations and surf forecasts, Bali life runs through your phone. An Indonesia eSIM connects you at Denpasar arrivals instantly - no counter queues, no registration paperwork, no roaming shock.
Gojek, warung maps and a surf check at 6am all want a signal. Indonesian SIM registration is a faff for a two-week visit. An eSIM is the clean way to land at DPS and ride straight into the island.