The main airport servicing Bali is the Ngurah Rai International Airport also known as Denpasar International Airport which is located in Tuban, between Kuta and Jimbaran about 30 minutes from Denpasar. If you have not booked a private transfer through us you have a few options. Rental cars, taxis, hotel courtesy transfers and a local bus are available at the airport to transport you to your hotel.

Taxi counters can be found outside the terminals and are available 24 hours a day. You must purchase a pre-paid voucher at the official taxi desks in the arrivals hall, fares are on a fixed rate basis, taxis are not metered from the airport. Bali Airport Taxi and Ngurah Rai Airport Taxi are a few of the only taxi services allowed to pick up passengers at the airport. The cost for a taxi from the airport to Ubud costs approximately Rp250,000. Prices, in general, can run anywhere from Rp50,000 - Rp200,000 depending upon your final destination.

Metered taxis can be found outside the airport gates which is a five-minute walk from the terminal, Blue Bird Taxi is safe and reliable and their fares tend to be cheaper than the taxis at the airport. A ride from the airport to Kuta costs approximately Rp20,000 - Rp30,000.

Bemo is another option outside the airport gates, a local minivan company, a trip to Kuta can cost around Rp2,000 - Rp3,000 but will be a hot and crowded journey.

The bus from the airport is run by Trans Sarbagita, buses run from 7:00 am until 7:00 pm daily with fares starting around Rp3,500 per person, the buses are blue and can be found outside the airport by the roundabout to the left. There is a bus counter located inside the terminal. The bus route includes Batu Bulan, Tohpati, Sanur, Kuta Central Park, Jimbaran and Nusa Dua.

Rental cars are available at the airport offered by several international companies. Rental car desks can be found inside the terminals.

Depending upon where your hotel is located, if you take a bus from the airport to one of the bus stops in town there should be an option for a taxi outside the station or a short walk to where you need to be. The main hub for transport in Bali is located in Denpasar with four main bus terminals and bemo stops.

There are plenty of taxis available in southern Bali at and around popular tourist destinations such as Denpasar, Kuta, Sanur, and Ubud. You can hail a cab from the main road or call ahead to book in advance. Taxis should be metered but can be expensive for longer trips. Fares begin around Rp5,000 for the first 1 1/4 miles then Rp5,000 per 0.62 miles after that. Bali Taxi with the logo `Bluebird Group` is one of the most recognized taxi companies on the island, their cars are blue. Tel. 0361 701111.

Bemos are the `traditional` main form of public transport offered in Bali, every town has a bemo or bus station and some of the larger towns offer several stations. A Bemo is a minibus or van with a row of seats down each side, carrying around 12 passengers and traveling a standard route with a set fare of around Rp5,000. Denpasar is the bemo hub. Be careful when traveling on a bemo, as drivers sometimes insist tourist charter the entire vehicle and this will end up costing you more than a metered taxi.

The Kura-Kura bus is a shuttle bus service for tourists that run daily from 8:30 am until 10:00 pm with designated bus stops at local shopping malls, major hotels and resort areas, the main hub is at DFS Bus Bay which is located in Kuta. You can purchase a coin or card for travel on the bus.

There is a government bus run by Trans Sarbagita that operates in Bali, it travels to 9 different areas including Denpasar, Badung, Gianyar, and Tabanan with three different routes with fares around Rp3,500.

Tourist shuttle buses or private bus lines such as Perama Bus operate in Bali, they are more expensive than the public buses, but are faster, more comfortable and convenient. Perama can be found in Kuta, they operate a fixed timetable and route as well as fixed prices. Tel. 0361 751 170 www.permatour.com

A hop on hop off service is offered through Plus Priority, they offer a 5-day pass for around Rp332,500 (USD$25) and travelers can use the service as much as they would like within 5 days. They offer an extensive route traveling all over the island including Uluwatu, Ubud, Kuta, Sanur and Tanah Lot with two stations, one in Kuta (close to Bubba Gump) and another in Ubud (by the Monkey Forest).

Gojek is a motorbike taxi that you can book through an app, like uber but for a motorcycle.

Bali is an island, so boats and ferries are used to reach neighboring islands such as Java and Lombok. A trip from Pandangbai in Bali to Lembar in Lombok costs approximately Rp28,000. Public ferries can be even cheaper with other options run by Perama Tour and Travel featuring speedboats, catamarans and day cruises.

Renting a motorcycle on the island of Bali is a fantastic way to see the scenery, giving you the freedom to go where and when you want. It is a fun, quick and cheap way to get around with plenty of companies available to rent a motorcycles or scooters, the cost is around Rp50,000 per day for a 110-125 cc. Wearing a helmet while riding is compulsory.

There are several options to rent a car in Bali, from the airport or in the local towns and it can be a cheaper option than taking multiple taxi rides. Having your own car gives you the flexibility to explore the entire island and all it has to offer. You will need to have an international drivers license to drive in Bali, driving can be difficult, they drive on the left-hand side of the road, there is lots of traffic and lack of formal traffic rules and parking can be hard to find.

In the beach, resort, villages and tourist areas walking around is a great way to see these parts of town. The main streets in the more rural areas are not in good condition for walking with construction, potholes and lack of sidewalks. Stick to the beach areas such as Sanur that feature a beautiful beachfront pathway filled with restaurants and bars .

Renting a bike and cycling in parts of Bali is a great experience and lets you discover the authentic side of the island. In the beach areas, small towns and resorts riding around on a bike lets you explore the sites and attractions easily. Renting a bicycle is cheap, many resorts offer rentals and places like Kuta, Lovina, Ubud, and Denpasar have several rental options to choose from. Daily rental rates are approximately Rp 8,000 - Rp15,000. The scenery on your bike ride might include Bali`s beautiful beaches, vibrant countryside, and rice field terraces. There is a beachfront pathway in Sanur which is also perfect for a leisurely bike ride.

Bali is packed with so many options for outdoor adventures that appeal to the thrill seekers, including the popular river rafting. The three main rivers are Melangit, Telaga Waja and the Ayung which are most popular for river rafting. Some popular companies that offer rafting are Ubud River Rafting, Bali Water Rafting, and Ayung River Rafting.

Bali is generally a safe destination, but travelers should use common sense and caution. Keep your belongings secure when out and about as female travelers have been the targets of theft in the past with thieves riding by on motorcycles and stealing purses. Be careful of petty crime like pickpockets, who tend to target tourists. Be mindful when walking around and crossing all roads as traffic is probably your greatest danger in some areas on the island. One of the more notable annoyances in Bali is hawkers and peddlers who tend to hang out around the beaches, malls, and temples trying to sell you food and souvenirs.

Monkeys in Bali can be a nuisance, they tend to occupy temples around Uluwatu and Ubud and are known for stealing tourist`s possessions such as sunglasses, cameras and bags and they are especially attracted to your food. Do not feed the monkeys.

Do not approach or feed stray dogs, cats or monkeys on the island. Rabies was present in Bali with infections recorded as recent as 2011.

Watch for the rip currents on the beaches, if you see a red flag in the sand DO NOT SWIM. The rip currents can be very dangerous and deadly even for the strongest of swimmers.

DO NOT DRINK THE TAP WATER. Use only bottled water to drink and brush your teeth.

Bali shopping is legendary! This beautiful island offers a wide range of affordable products including locally produced handicrafts, textiles, and art found in local markets where shoppers can experience the traditional culture of the island and its people. Haggling prices is a normal practice and bargaining makes your shopping experience fun. Shoppers can find designer fashion labels in the malls such as Seminyak Square and Seminyak Village. And check out the thriving fashion scene featuring sportswear and surfer brands offered in places like Legian and Kuta. The streets of Seminyak are a great place to browse a plethora of chic boutiques. Uluwatu is popular for its lace, Ubud for its coffee beans, local herbs, and spices.

Bali lies just 8 degrees south of the equator and boasts a warm, tropical climate year round with consistent temperatures of around 85 degrees. There are two main seasons, the dry season which runs from April through September and the rainy season which is from October through March with heavy downpours, extra high humidity, and frequent storms. The best time to visit Bali is during the months of April, May, June, and September although the central mountain areas with higher elevation do have considerably cooler temperatures between 64 - 75 degrees.

Bali offers a vibrant array of holidays and festivals throughout the year, with March being the peak festival month with Melasti (Hindu purification ceremony) and Nyepi (Hindu New Year) taking place celebrating the start of the lunar year. Many religious events are widely celebrated in Bali including Muslim, Hindu, Buddhist and Christian holidays are very important and they follow the lunar calendar, not the Western calendar.

The Indonesian Rupia (IDR) abbreviated to Rp is the official currency in Bali. The airport, local banks and indoor ATMs at banks are the best places to exchange or withdraw your money. ATMs are risky in some places as they can be notorious for card skimming, places to avoid that have reported these scams are the Mandiri ATMs in Ubud, Canggu and Bintang and the ATM on Jalan Hanoman which is near the Coco supermarket located in Ubud.

For more detailed information, consult our guide to tipping in Indonesia by clicking here Indonesia

Bali is filled with thousands of temples and visitors must be dressed appropriately to enter. Most temples offer rentals of sarongs or sashes to cover up. Both men and woman should have their legs covered below the knee. Tops exposing bare shoulders are considered inappropriate and feet are considered to be dirty, therefore you should never point your feet toward shrines or holy objects. It is also offensive to have your head higher than the head of a priest, so be careful that you do not sit or stand in a position above a manku (priest). A woman who is menstruating or has given birth within 6 weeks may not enter the temples.

Bali is made up of several different cultures with a diverse variety of cuisines. The Balinese cuisine is mainly made up using a variety of spices mixed with meat or fish and fresh vegetables, which mixes both Indonesian cuisines with influences from the Indian and Chinese cuisines. Some of the common Balinese dishes include `lawar`, a traditional meat and vegetable dish served with rice. `Bebek betutu` which is duck stuffed with spices. Babi guling a spit roasted pig stuffed with spices and rice, a staple of every meal consumed in Bali.

Bali features a wide variety of eateries including restaurants, Padang restaurants, cafes, warungs (food stands) and fruit vendors that serve both Indonesian and international foods. The beaches of Seminyak, Legian and Kuta are home to some of the best restaurants in Bali.

Bali is famous for its coffee; some of the most expensive coffee in the world is produced in Bali. The Balinese are renowned for making Robusta and Arabica coffee beans made from the rich volcanic soil and the wet climate making a great recipe for some of the richest coffee around. The Kintamani region features many coffee plantations and is the largest region for coffee farms in Bali.

Bali`s nightlife offers a wide range of experiences for all of its visitors and has turned into a world-class destination for a great night out. Bali boasts some of the most impressive locations to start off your evening, watch the sunset over the Indian Ocean at a rooftop bar perched on top of the Cliffside, enjoy fantastic Balinese cuisine at one of the many restaurants featuring award-winning menus, relax on the sand and enjoy a sunset cocktail at one of the beach clubs, rock out to live international DJs and check out happy hour at the vast array of pubs, bars and nightclubs the island has to offer. The epicenter of Bali`s supreme nightlife can be found in Seminyak, Kuta, and Legian where the club scene begins around midnight and lasts until sunrise.

The official languages spoken in Bali are Indonesian or Balinese. English is a widely spoken language but may be the second language. Most Balinese people are bilingual or trilingual. We recommend you get a good English-Indonesian guidebook and familiarize yourself with common phrases such as hello, goodbye, thank you, excuse me and the numbers 1 -10.

In the case of an emergency call 118 for an ambulance, 112 for the police or fire department 113. And for tourist police tel. 62 361 754599.

Hospitals on the island include:

BIMC Hospital, Kuta Tel. 62 361 761263

Sanglah General Hospital, Denpasar Tel. 62 631 227911