Travel to Bali

There are two things every traveler needs to do before flying to Bali:

1. e-Visa (Visa on Arrival) — apply online before you fly
2. Electronic Arrival Card — separate form, must be submitted within 3 days before arrival in Bali. You'll scan its QR after you clear visa immigration.

1. e-Visa (Visa on Arrival)

Apply online at evisa.imigrasi.go.id — the official Indonesian immigration site. Validity: 30 days, extendable once while in Bali.

Have these ready before you start:

• Sofitel address(for the "Address in Indonesia" field):
  ITDC Tourism Complex, Jl. Nusa Dua Lot N5, Benoa, South Kuta, Badung Regency, Bali 80363, Indonesia
  When you enter the postal code, village name and the rest of the address auto-fill.
• Photo of your passport bio data page — JPG is fine. Make sure the numbers at the bottom are visible, no shadows, no fingers in frame. The site auto-scans and fills in your details from this image.
• A selfie of yourself — phone selfie is fine.
• Return / onward ticket — must be uploaded as a PDF. JPG won't work. Most airline apps export confirmations as PDF.

Form choices to pick:

• Main purpose: General, Family, or Social
• Sub-purpose: Tourism, Family Visit, and Transit
• Visa type: B1 — Tourist (Visa On Arrival)
• Duration: 30 days

After you submit:

1. Verify the application from your email
2. Open the "View Batch" link in the email
3. Click the blue hyperlinked tracking number to start the payment
4. You'll be redirected to live.finpay.id — enter your credit card. Charge is roughly $30.14 USD and shows up on your statement as PT FINNETT INDONESIA.
5. Your eVOA is issued immediately. The QR code appears next to "B1" on the confirmation page (and email).

2. Electronic Arrival Card

Separate from the visa. Submit within 3 days before you land at allindonesia.imigrasi.go.id. You'll get a QR code that you scan after clearing visa immigration. Free, ~5 minutes.

The airport is small, modern, and about 20 minutes from Sofitel Nusa Dua by car (longer in traffic). Here's the flow:

1. Disembark and walk to immigration. If you have e-VOA, use the "Visa on Arrival" lane.
2. Show passport, e-VOA QR, and Arrival Card QR.
3. Collect bags from baggage claim.
4. Walk through customs (red/green lanes).
5. Exit to the arrivals hall and head to the Sofitel — easiest is to grab a Grab right at the airport.

Our home for the wedding. A 5-star beachfront resort on the southeastern tip of Bali, in the quiet ITDC enclave of Nusa Dua.

At Sofitel: Tap water is filtered and safe for brushing teeth. Bottled water is provided in rooms and at all events.

Outside the resort: Always drink bottled or sealed water — never tap. This includes ice in drinks at street stalls and small warungs (local eateries). Reputable restaurants and hotels filter their ice and water.

• Bottled water is cheap (~5,000-10,000 IDR / $0.50 USD per bottle)
• Brush your teeth with bottled water at non-Sofitel hotels
• Skip raw salads and pre-cut fruit at street vendors
• If you're prone to stomach issues, bring Imodium and electrolyte packets

Coming early or staying late? Bali rewards exploration. Here are favorites by region:

The local currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). Roughly:

• $1 USD ≈ 16,000 IDR (rates fluctuate)
• $10 USD ≈ 160,000 IDR
• $100 USD ≈ 1.6 million IDR (you'll feel rich)

Cards vs cash: Sofitel and most hotels, malls, and nice restaurants take credit cards (Visa/Mastercard widely; Amex less so). For markets, taxis, warungs, and small shops — bring cash.

ATMs: Easy to find. Use bank-attached ATMs (BCA, Mandiri, BNI) — avoid standalone machines. Many ATMs cap withdrawals at 1.25-3 million IDR per transaction.

Bringing dollars? Crisp, undamaged USD bills are easy to exchange at authorized money changers (look for PT or BMC certification). Avoid changers offering rates that seem too good — they short-count.

Bali in late May is the start of the dry season — warm and sunny days, balmy evenings. Average highs ~85°F (30°C), lows ~75°F (24°C). Some humidity.

Get to DPS airport at least 3 hours before international departure. Saturday and Sunday evenings are the busiest.

• Sofitel can arrange airport transfers — book via concierge a day ahead
• Or Grab from the resort (~150,000-250,000 IDR)
• No exit tax to pay on departure (it's built into your ticket)
• Customs limits: 1 liter of alcohol per adult, 200 cigarettes
• Don't pack carved wooden masks/figurines from religious sites — restricted

• Bali is generally very safe. Standard travel awareness applies — watch for pickpockets in tourist crowds.
• Scooters look fun, but be careful. Local traffic is chaotic and most travel insurance won't cover scooter accidents without a valid international + Indonesian motorcycle license.
• Use Grab for airport-quality fares. Other taxis often refuse to use the meter.
• Respect temple etiquette: Sarongs are required (provided at temple entrances). Cover shoulders. Women on their period are traditionally asked not to enter sacred areas.
• Bargaining is expected at markets — start at ~40-50% of asking price, settle around 60-70%. Smile and stay friendly.
• Mosquitoes: Dengue exists in Bali. Use repellent, especially at dusk.
• Emergency: 112 (general), or just call Sofitel front desk — they'll handle it.