Bali 101 & FAQs

FAQs

If you have any specific questions, send us a message and we'll answer! If it's useful to everyone, we'll include it here too!

How is the weather?

It’s around 28-31°C year-round! But mid-November to mid-March is ‘rainy season’ and mid-March to mid-November is ‘dry season’.

That said, rainy season isn’t that rainy! It’s just a lot more humid so it feels hotter, and it rains every now and then, not every day, not for very long, and it’s actually quite pleasant because it’s hot! As brits we tend to prefer the dry season because it’s much windier and less humid, so it feels like a UK/European summer!

What is the currency and rate?

The currency in Bali in Indonesian Rupiah (IDR), and it of course fluctuates but is roughly always around: £1 GBP = RP 20,000 / $1 USD = RP 15,000 and if you're Australian or Canadian you're lucky because it's about $1 AUS/CAD = RP 10,000 so the mental maths is easy!

Sounds complicated but everywhere here they just omit the thousand and say 'k', so if you're British 100k is a fiver!

Here's a really useful app we use though when we need a more accurate calculation!

Should I get money out before I come?

It's getting easier and easier to pay by card in Bali, but cash is still widely used, especially in small local businesses and more remote areas, so you do need to get some out, but you can do that once you get here because there's ATMs and money changers everywhere and you'll get a better rate here anyway!

When you arrive, you can either exchange/withdraw money at the airport, or you can book a Grab/Gojek (the local equivalent of Uber - see apps section in other tips) to your accomodation and link your card to the app, so you wouldn't need cash for that, and then you can just get cash from around where you're staying where the rate might be better than the airport.

If you want to save money on exchange fees though, we recommend getting a Revolut card, or Monzo/Wise (see apps section) - this actually saved us a lot!

How are the locals?

Some of the friendliest locals in the whole world! Honestly, they are very very welcoming and their smiles really brighten your day! They are much more laid back with timings and specifics so while you’re here just accept that and you’ll be happier! 😅 “slowly slowly bro” 😎