Bali is one of the busiest and most visited islands in Indonesia, and it shows. During my first weeks on the island, I heard many travelers and tourists alike exclaim “it was never this expensive before!”. That said, Bali has a lot to offer to make your little cash go a long way.
Accommodation
When we first got to Kuta, (a tourist and backpacker hot-spot on the southern tip of the island,) we were in pure vacation mode. This meant not sticking to our budget at all and ultimately spending way more than we should have on accommodations. We spent the first two weeks in Western-style hotels with free breakfast, hot showers, A/C, and free toiletries.
Soon after, we realized that getting a fan room for $15/night is much better suited for a long term stay on the island. Looking online, you’ll find a plethora of guesthouses and homestays for that price. However, services like Agoda and Booking.com might not be your best friend. Between service fees and sometimes unreliable confirmations getting to the desk, (which happened a few times to us,) your reservation can quickly go from $15/night to over $25/night.
Tip: get dropped off in the area that you’d like to stay in, and walk around for a bit. You’re more likely to find a spot or two that hits your nightly budget, you get a feel for the neighbourhood, and you’re sometimes even able to negotiate a better price. It sounds like a bag drive if you’re carrying 25 kilos of stuff on your back, but finding those digs with a pool and free breakfast for below your nightly maximum will be worth it. Trust me.
Food
Meals of all ethnicities and levels of luxury are in the tourist areas of the island. Eating these all the time adds up quickly. Step out of your culinary comfort zone and head to one of the many local restaurants, called Warungs, and indulge in some cheap, delicious Indonesian eats. Most guesthouses will include some form of free breakfast, even as simple as a pancake and tea, which will add some more room in your budget for snacks and bottled water on the trip. For lunch or dinner, a typical meal of spicy noodles, chicken, and veggies, (Nasi Goreng Ayam,) is easily found for $1.80-$3 a dish.
If you feel like splurging, your western favourites will cost you. This was found out the hard way, after what seemed like a quick trip to an A&W for lunch ended up costing more than a steak dinner. You’re also able to find lots of dinner buffets that are worth the money if you can eat more than two plates of food. Some even have free drinks! More on that later.
Booze
It took me a while to stop comparing a 750mL Bintang at $3 to an $8 pint back home. But I’ll be the first to admit that drinking killed my budget. In fact, you end up spending almost the same on one beer as you would on your entire meal. Keeping the partying to a minimum is one of the easiest ways to stick to a small budget.
Fortunately, even here great deals on drinks are found. In the tourist hot-spot of Kuta, there is a complex called Sky Garden, which offers a $10 all you can eat and drink special from 5-9pm. No joke. It’s a steal of a deal. The buffet menu changes daily so you’re not eating the same thing should you choose to go multiple days in a row. (Which a lot of people do.)
Transport
Taxis start at $0.70, and a trip from one end of the beach to the other will cost about $3. Always make sure you use a driver that will use the price listed on the meter. From experience, most drivers who offer a flat rate are looking to make some extra off the top.
Renting scooters and bikes are also very inexpensive. $5-$7 a day for a scooter, (less gas,) is a great deal. Scooters shops are everywhere, and you will likely be asked a dozen times on a short walk if you’d like to rent some mode of transport. Make sure you have an International Driving Licence, and you wear the helmet, though. Traffic laws here don’t seem to exist.
Sightseeing and activities
Learn to bodyboard or surf
Beaches are lined with board rental services, starting from $2/hour, and lessons starting at $4/hour. Depending on how long you can take a thrashing from the ocean, you will be able to get a few decent rides in before getting a sunburn or weak arms from all that paddling. I lasted about 30 minutes my first time, and escaped burned, but not to a crisp.
Balinese Culture
You’ll most likely encounter a Balinese Hindu procession of some sort on during your visit. Whether it’s a lunar ritual, a funeral, or a village temple ritual, you’ll get to see a bit of culture on your travels. These sometimes involve scaring away demons, masses of people displaying and praying to elaborate heirlooms, lots of fire, or dancing in the streets.
Craftsmen at work
Taking a ride from the airport area to mid-island, you’ll be driving through the artist districts where craftsmen and women create all the wood, stone, silver, and painted artworks. Most drivers will have no problem swinging by any one of the many compounds on the way into the lush forests and serene rice paddies in Ubud. You’re able to purchase a token of your time in that spot, but, depending on your budget, that small token might run you $45-$50. (A small price to pay for handmade silver moonstone earrings, in my opinion.)
Sacred Monkey Forest Ubud Sanctuary
The admission fee of $4, you can spend around 2-3 hours wandering through the grounds of the forest, watching the monkeys interact with the tourists. You can buy bunches of bananas from the vendors at the entrances of the forest, just past the list of warnings you must heed when you enter the sacred park. There are three Hindu temples in the park which are accessible along the well-marked path of the grounds, as monkeys jump, play, and steal bananas and water bottles from the visitors.
Sunrises and Sunsets
Free of charge, and oh-so-beautiful, the Balinese sun rises and sets in gorgeous pinks and oranges that make each one fit for a postcard. Head down to a beach or to hike to a temple for an unforgettable view and some great photo-ops. Be sure to get there early to ensure an unobstructed view, as the majority of tourists and travelers alike will also have this on their agenda.
In Summary
Bali can be expensive if you’re not careful. But all in all, a great place to spend some time on the cheap. Spending a few weeks on a $25/day budget would be absolutely no problem if you’re OK with saying “no” to the tourist traps, timeshare scams, and kissing western food goodbye for a little while.
Driven by a passion for travel and all things marketing. Fuelled by tea and sarcasm, she’s a gypsy at heart with a knack for telling stories.