Going To Bali, Indonasia, Need Some Advice And Giudelines.

[Shurup]

I am planning to go to Bali for a week in January so have a few questions. I am Canadian and will be traveling from Thailand with my Thai GF.

1. Do I need to apply for a visa in advance, or do I get one on arrival? Same goes to my GF and it might be different in her case as she is Thai.

2. I know they have harsh laws on drugs, I don't do any, don't even smoke, but I do have some anti-depressant pills with me and I do have a certificate for that medication from a doctor in BKK. Will it cover me or I better leave them in Thailand?

3. Planning to do some diving there so where is a good place to do so?

4. What else to do and to see there? My only knowledge about Bali is that there is a world class diving sites.

[Paradisefound]

H Shurup

I was in Bali again a few weeks ago so can help with some answers.

Check online but I am sure Canadians can get Visa on Arrival. It is $25 Usd for 1 to 30 days. For your Thai GF she is free entry. She has to go off to the section on the right at immigration the the free visa section. She can not go thru same line as you.

The anti depressants are not a drama. They are only interested in over 1 ltr of booze or too many cigarettes.

The best diving is in the north at Menjangan island and on the liberty wreck. The best access for them is right in the middle at Lovina. Also Lovina is the best place to visit the volcano, waterfalls, hotsprings, rice terraces, lakes and do snorkeling, fishing, dolphin tours or the old Bali capital of Singaraja etc.

Skip the south, Kuta, legion, Seminyak etc. Busy, noisy, too many drunk Australians & Balinese tout sharks driving you insane.

My latest trip I stayed at Bali Grand Sunsets Resort in Lovina again.. Great boutique resort right on the beach. It was really comfortable and they helped me book my dives and also had a car pick me up at airport. The best place to stay in the north.

Hope this info helps. You will love Bali. It is a great island and you will love Bali Grand Sunsets.

Cheers

[Shurup]

Thanks a bunch!

[jombom]

Make sure you bring some US dollars, in cash, for the visa etc. They would not accept Thai Baht when I was there.

There were no ATMs on the inlet side to immigration, which was quite a hassle, but as a traveler, one adjusts, adapts, and journeys along.

[Shurup]

Any ideas if they take Canadian dollars? Thx for the heads up, I will buy some before the departure, just in case!

[jombom]

Any ideas if they take Canadian dollars? Thx for the heads up, I will buy some before the departure, just in case!

You could probably change Can$ at an exchange in the country, but in Asia the USD is almost common currency.

I doubt that immigration will accept Can$

[besth]

For the visa on arrival they do accept THB (and Euros, Singapore $ and some other currencies I don't remember). I don't know about Canadian $.

[ExoticMatter]

Make sure your US dollars are new(ish) notes we had lots of old ones and it was a real pain to get rid of them. Don't use street vendors to exchange they ripped us off even though we were careful(the banks are fine). (They will probably accept Canadian dollar btw)

Went on a boat trip to Flores via Komodo from Bali,boat was small and rough dont expect luxary stopped at a lovely volcano island on way, I would recommend Flores(u can fly there, just!)-it is where the hobbit caves were found in the 90's-we drove across the entire island very beautiful (if u got time). The Komodo island and dragons are an impressive sight by themselves.

The coral,fish and visibilty around Komodo was great, I am not a diver but noticed around Bali the coral was seriously damaged and was shocked by the destruction around the Gili isles.

Go to the Gili Islands!-its a shortish boat trip from Bali and a lot more chilled out, there are 3 with Gili Tarawanagan being the party island, Gili Meno is the honeymoon island (our favourite) and Gili air somewhere in between, we had our best times at all 3:).

Btw there are giant Komodo dragon type lizards walking around Gili Air, they are quite a sight (smaller than the famous dragon but still 5 or 6 feet long and broad shouldered, giving you that condescending top predator 'I can eat you if I want' reptilian look but don't let that put you off!)

[fire and ice]

Any ideas if they take Canadian dollars? Thx for the heads up, I will buy some before the departure, just in case!

You could probably change Can$ at an exchange in the country, but in Asia the USD is almost common currency.

I doubt that immigration will accept Can$

In Bali AUD is by far the most commonly exchanged foreign currency, far more than USD. About 50% of tourists to Bali are Aussies, another 25%(?) Japanese, the remaining 25% from the rest of the world.

[seekingfriends]

will you bring the gf on to tls .james

[phuketrichard]

my advice from many trips. Grab a taxi at the airport an head up to Ubud directly and by pass Kuta beach

Lovina has the black sand beaches and there are many nice places to stay now an easy access to the mtns, volcanoes and such, best diving is up on the northern western coast.

Have taken my thai wife a few times and she loved the island. What i always do is rent a car in Ubud and then am not tied to public transport,u can rent the two wheel drive Suzuki's relatively cheap in Ubud ( make sure brakes work) and gas is very cheap and the roads are easily driven on.

Spend the last night at Kuta as its easier to reach the airport.

Have a great tine

[Shurup]

@ seekingfriends

Yes coming with my GF as I mentioned in the OP. Why asking?

@PR

Thanks for the tips, I have booked a hotel on Lovina beach for 4 nights Hotel will pick me up from the Airport for $50 USD I believe. Will go diving for a few days and sightseeing. Other 3 days, I don't have a plan for yet but I am sure I would get bored staying at the same place for a whole week. Will probably venture to the other side of the island or take a trip to one of the smaller islands.

Is there any day trips that can be done to other islands? Or it has to be a few days trip at least?

Might stay in Kuta the last night, don't want to stay far from the airport night before I depart.

Thanks for any input again!