Best VPNs in Indonesia- How to Access Blocked Websites

In this review I will explain you how to bypass Internet censorship (mostly porn) in Indonesia by using a VPN (Virtual Private Network) service. I will also give you tips on how to watch Hulu and Netflix in Indonesia using a unique IP address.

Most porn and torrent websites are blocked in Indonesia. This includes all the most famous ones like XVideos, YouPorn, PornHub, XHamster, KickAss Torrents and The Pirate Bay. It is also not possible to visit some forums like Reddit or InternationalSexGuide.

Some regular websites have also been banned like Vimeo. Tumblr was shut down during 24 hours earlier this year as well.

Another problem internet users are facing in Indonesia is the 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions Act. This vague set of laws can make you the target of a defamation suit for exposing your views online. You are not allowed, for instance, of suggesting that someone might be corrupt.

Because of this law, posting a comment on Facebook, Twitter or Path in Indonesia can land you in jail. This is what happened to Alexander Aan or Florence Sihombing.

Since about a year ago, I decided to use a VPN (Virtual Private Network) in Indonesia. This allows me to visit any websites I want on the internet without anyone knowing about it. It is 100% legal, secure and safe. Actually, according to this 2015 study, Indonesia is the country with the most VPN users in the world: 23% of its Internet users are bypassing censorship by using a VPN.

The cost is cheap (less than 10$ per month) and it works great. If you travel a lot in Asia, it is also very useful in heavily-censored countries like Vietnam or China.

Since VPN companies usually give you a free trial for a few days up to 1 month, I tested several of them to make sure I was choosing the best. There are so many different companies that you could probably get a free VPN for at least a year just by changing provider once in a while. The prices are really reasonable though so once you've found one that works well, it's really more simple to just pay.

Here are my top 3 recommendations for best VPNs in Indonesia (I used the 3 of them and they worked great):

Hide My Ass (HMA) - Best VPN in Indonesia

Hide My Ass is the most expensive of the VPNs listed here because they have 700 servers in the world, including in Indonesia. This means your connection is fast and smooth everywhere. If you can afford the extra dollars to get full speed, HMA is an excellent choice.

Hide My Ass is the VPN recommended by the Wall Street Journal to access blocked websites in China and it was also selected as the best VPN by the Guardian, Bloomberg and Forbes.

You can now try Hide My Ass for FREE! Just open the following link Hide My Ass Free and click on "Free Trial". You need to give your credit card details so don't forget to cancel after one month to avoid being charged.

If you decide to keep the paid version, it is much more interesting to choose a full year:

Pricing:

4,99$ per month with 1 year plan

7,49$ per month with 6-month plan

9,99$ per month without plan

The set up is super easy even if you are not good on computers and they are really fast to answer your questions of you have any.

Golden Frog - Vypr VPN - Fastest VPN Indonesia

Golden Frog's Vypr VPN is considered as one of the fastest VPNs in Indonesia. They also have a server in Jakarta and a strong presence in Asia. The support is excellent (ask any question and they will answer you within a few minutes). You can pay with Alipay or PayPal and you can use up to 5 devices (smartphone, tablet, laptop, TV, etc).

Again, you can do a free trial for 3 days by opening this link: Promo Deal for Ivacy VPN - Indonesia. 

If you choose to keep it after the free period, you will pay the following:

Pricing:

5$ per month with 1 year plan

9,99$ per month without plan

NordVPN - VPN for Watching Netflix

This is often considered the best VPN on the market as they have a great support team that will help you with any of your requests. If you are planning on using US Netflix, this is your an excellent choice too as they have not been banned yet. This means you can use NordVPN to watch Netflix if you position your IP in the US. Only problem for Indonesian web users, they don't have a server in Indonesia at the moment so the speed is slower than the VPNs listed above. It is still good enough for most people (you can still download from torrents, watch movies, etc).

To try their services for free, you can just visit the following link: Nord VPN - 30-Day Money Back Guaranteed.

Since you can cancel and get your money back any time within the first month, I advise you to choose the 1 year plan directly to save on the long term.

Pricing:

4$ per month with 1 year plan

5$ per month with 6-month plan

8$ per month without plan

How Do You Access Porn/Blocked Websites in Indonesia? Do You Use A VPN As Well?

There are a lot of new VPN providers entering the market every month. If you are using a different VPN in Indonesia or if you have another way to visit porn/blocked websites in Indonesia, please leave a comment below to share your experience!

Why You Absolutely Need Travel Insurance in Indonesia (MUST READ)

When I speak with short-time travelers in Indonesia, I am baffled to realize only a few have a proper travel insurance or a medical evacuation insurance. Among long-term residents and expats, there are also many who do not have health insurance, particularly among those without a working permit.

The objective of this article is to convince you that spending a few dollars per day on an insurance is not a waste of money. Even if you are on a tight budget, you can get a cheap one (as low as 3$ per day if you take a yearly subscription - check here) that will at least save your ass in case of a serious illness or accident. If you cannot afford it, then you probably should not travel to Indonesia.

Why you need a travel insurance in Indonesia
While you certainly need insurance everywhere, there are even more reasons to get it when you travel in Bali, Jakarta or the rest of Indonesia:

You are exposed to more risks
There are several risks specifically related to being in Indonesia. Some are unfortunately too common: Dengue fever, malaria, dog bites, food poisoning or motorbike accidents are really not that rare. If you've lived in the country long enough, you probably know a few people who had these problems.

There are generally lower safety standards in everything in Indonesia: Construction, food, transportation, roads, activities, etc. This increases the likelihood of an unfortunate event as well. You can read more tips about this topic here: WorldNomads Travel Safety Tips.

Medical care in Indonesia is very expensive

According to the AAMI, a day in an intensive care unit in Indonesia can cost up to 3,000$. Even in the cheapest hospitals you can expect to pay 800$/day.

Facebook groups like Bali Expats or Jakarta Expats are full of horrible stories of people who had their lives ruined in a few minutes because they did not plan their trips properly. Here are just a few examples (click on the photos for the whole story):

Some of them actually had an insurance, but they didn't read the fine prints. Not having a a motorbike license is often a reason for not being reimbursed for instance. I will give you tips later in this review on what you should be looking for to make sure your risky activities are covered.

More banal problems can be quite costly as well. Among my friends, several ended up in shitty situation for common accidents or diseases:

First one hit his head by diving into a pool: 1000$ in Sanglah Hospital (local one) for a few stitches and X-rays.

Second one got bit by a street dog in Legian: 3,000$ including anti-rabies medication.

Third one got a very bad case of dengue fever combined with malaria. He went into a coma and he had to stay 4 weeks in hospital. Total bill: 25,000 dollars. Luckily, he was covered and everything was paid for. It was after this unfortunate event that I rushed to get an insurance actually.

Private hospitals will never accept you if you cannot pay
In Indonesia, the decent hospitals are run as a strict business and not a charity. If you arrive bleeding to death after an accident, the doctors will not treat you until they make sure you can pay. If you can't, you'll be left outside. It's as simple as that.

An American will probably understand that. For a French, this concept is a bit hard to grasp as we are used to get healthcare for free.

Hospitals will overcharge you
You should know that as a foreigner with or without a working permit, you will be charged more for medical treatment in Indonesia. Expect to pay at least 2 times more than locals, more if you don't have a resident visa.

Many doctors have a poor ethic. If they can find a way to inflate your final bill, they will probably do it. It is a bit like going to a random auto repair shop in Europe: Most likely you will be charged for stuff you don't need.

Serious accidents will need a medical evacuation
Since many hospitals cannot treat the most serious patients, medical evacuation is often needed. To give you an idea of current prices:

Evacuation from Indonesia to Singapore: From 25,000$ to 50,000$
Evacuation from Indonesia to Australia: From 40,000$ to 70,000$
Evacuation to Europe: Up to 100,000$

Don't expect compensatory damages
The concept of third party responsibility is foreign to most Indonesians. If you are hit by an Indonesian drunk driver, don't expect you'll get any money from the person who was responsible. Actually, even if he is at fault, he could possibly still manage to get money out from you if he is a well-connected assh*le. The same thing apply if you have an accident within your hotel or while doing an activity with a company. If you are dealing with a local company, don't even think about getting compensatory damages.

What types of insurance do you need in Indonesia?

The type of insurance you need in Indonesia depends on your activity (working, retired, tourist, etc), your length of stay, your activities and your area of travel.

Travel Medical Insurance:
An insurance that will cover your medical bills for a limited duration (usually less than 90 days) when you are traveling outside of your home country. If you are traveling to Indonesia, it is the minimum you should get. For expats it is not necessary as long as they have an expat insurance.

Travel Insurance:
A generic term for an insurance that will cover several aspects of a trip: Medical problems, but also flight cancellation, theft, lost luggage, etc.

There are several websites where you can get a price estimate for your travel insurance in Indonesia. You can check WorldNomads which is a partner of Lonely Planet and Rough Guides. Among the famous ones you also have SmartTravel from AXA and Travel Guard from AIG.

You can find more options in your home country. The advantage of WorldNomads is that it is very easy to apply online and you do it even if you've already left home.

You can also search through the comparator Insure My Trip.

International Health Insurance or Expat Medical Insurance:

Travel insurance is for travelers and covers emergency situations. If you live permanently in Indonesia, you need coverage for regular health expenses such as dental care, optics, medical check ups, pregnancies, cancer treatment, etc. Those are typically not included in Travel Insurance policies.

Expats working in Indonesia should subscribe to the mandatory BPJS health insurance scheme. It is cheap, but don't expect to much from it. Many will also have their employer's insurance.

For the other expats without a company plan, you can either purchase a normal travel insurance for long term travel (but then you won't be covered for non-emergency situations) or purchase a dedicated Expat Health Insurance from a private company.

The latter is usually more expensive, but you should consider that you'll get more reimbursements as well. Reputed companies include Allianz, April-International, AXA, GMS, etc.

Repatriation/Medical Evacuation Insurance: An insurance that guarantees your medical evacuation will be paid for if needed.  The cost is usually reasonable, as little as 150$ per year, and it can save you tens of thousands of dollars. Remember that for serious injuries, you will not be able to be treated properly in Indonesia. This insurance is particularly needed if you plan on visiting remote areas.

If you purchase an insurance from WorldNomads, it is already included.

Things to check before purchasing a travel insurance

The obvious first step before purchasing a travel insurance is to make sure you don't already have one. You are probably aware that when you buy your plane tickets with a Visa or Mastercard, you are entitled to some kind of (limited) insurance. If you are traveling on a tour group, you may also already have one automatically added (though you can refuse it and buy your own instead).

Once you know for sure that you will need a travel insurance in Indonesia, you should be careful to check the following:

What is the maximum payable amount that I can get?
I think 200,000$ is the minimum amount to get considering how high some hospitals bills can be in Indonesia.

Is the medical evacuation included or not?
If not you will have to pay extra with another company. This is an essential part of your insurance and you need a high ceiling as well (minimum 150,000$).

Can you contact your insurance company 24/7? Can they approve a quotation 24/7?
This is a must in case of a major emergency. If you cannot prove quickly that you can pay for your treatment, the best hospitals may refuse you.

Do you have to advance the money?
Some insurance can give a guarantee to the hospital that your bill will be covered so you don't need to pay upfront.

Are there any exclusions?
There are always a lot of exclusions (things that the insurance does not cover). Read carefully to avoid any surprises. If you are planning to do dangerous sports and outdoor activities in Indonesia, ask for instance if surfing, scuba diving, diving, rafting, hiking, jet-skiing or paragliding are included.

What is the motorbike situation?
Motorbikes are a major cause of accidents for foreigners in Indonesia. Be careful as almost all insurers require a valid international license for the driver (even if you are a passenger). A specific motorbike license is also required for vehicle with more than 150cc. If you were drunk, high or not wearing a helmet at the time of your accident, you can also say good-bye to any potential claims.

What if you hurt someone?
Check if you can get reimbursement for third party damages.

The website of WorldNomads provides a lot of great tips to help you choose the right insurance. You can also make a simulation for your trip so you'll know exactly how much it will cost you and how long you will be protected. Don't forget to read the fine print very carefully to make sure you won't have any unexpected surprise.

How to save money on travel insurance?
The companies I've mentioned before are quite affordable. You'll only pay a few dollars per day for coverage. You can try to make a test on WorldNomads to see how much you will pay depending on your age, your country of origin, and the number of people you want to protect.

Click to get a a travel insurance quote from WorldNomads

If the amount is really to big for you, there are a few ways to lower the price even more:

Buy longer
This need some commitment, but naturally the longer you purchase, the cheaper it get. I made a test on WorldNomads for myself and got the following:

• 7 days travel insurance to Indonesia (for a French): 26.70 euros (3.8 euros per day)
• 4 weeks travel insurance to Indonesia (for a French): 93 euros (3.3 euros per day)
• 365 days travel insurance to Indonesia (for a French): 804.30 euros (2.2 euros per day)

Make your own simulation here: Quote from WorldNomads.

Buy for several people at once
If you travel with your girlfriend or your family, you should choose the same reputed company for everybody.

Don't insure flights and valuables
This is what I do. Considering I travel alone with cheap flight tickets, last minute hotels bookings and few valuables, I don't really care about getting reimbursements on those things. The only thing I care about is not jeopardizing my whole life with an accident I can't afford to have.

Choose high deductibles and excess
Your insurance deductible and your excess are minimum amounts your insurance will charge you on any claims, not matter what. If your deductible for an accident is 1,000$, the insurance will reimburse you any medical expenses above 1,000$.

The philosophy of choosing a high deductible is the same as the previous point: It is for people who only want help if they are in big trouble. Having to pay 1,000$ from your own pocket sucks, but you can always find the money.

Don't buy it from your airline
When you book a flight, your airline or your tour operator will offer you to buy an insurance. Those are usually pretty bad deals and the prices are not interesting.

Compare
You can use Insure My Trip to search for the best deals. Be careful with cheap insurance companies though. If they can give a very cheap price, it probably means they don't reimburse much. You cannot have it all.

Rely on your credit card insurance only

This is possible but you must know the limitations of this strategy. In general, when you pay your trip with a classic Visa or Mastercard, you get 3 months of insurance with maximum reimbursement of less than 15,000$ (please check again with your banker to be sure). This ceiling is really too low in my opinion. You also have a lot of restrictions on what you can claim as well as high deductibles.

What insurance do you use?
This article would be greatly improved with your input. Which insurance did you choose for traveling to Indonesia? Did you succeed in making claims? If you are an expat, do you have a health insurance? Do you recommend it?

Personally, I have an expat insurance company that only insure French nationals. The name is CFE, if you are French and need more information about it you can email me thibaud@jakarta100bars.com. I pay 100 euros per month and I've made 2 claims that went well. The main one was for a gallbladder infection that kept me a week in Kasih Ibu hospital in Denpasar. The total bill was 7,000$ for 8 days and I had 5,000$ reimbursed.

Online Dating Sites & Apps In Indonesia (2016 Update)

I once wrote a review about dating Indonesian girls and where to meet them. You can still read it here: Where to meet Indonesian girls? Most of the information on the review is still valid, but it certainly needs an update on the world of online dating through websites or social apps such as Badoo, Tinder, WeChat, Skoot, Beetalk, etc.

If you are looking for a great girl in Jakarta, online dating is by far your best chance. 90% of the girls there are looking for a stable relationship. Another 9% is looking for money. And maybe less than 1 percent is looking for a one night stand (not the hottest girls usually). The fact that they are looking for a stable relationship does not mean they want to get married straight away. It means they want to feel a long term relationship is possible. For this reason, it may be more difficult for you to find a date if you are not staying in Indonesia and if you do not speak Indonesian.

Depending on which website or which app you use, you can pretty much chat with any type of women you could think of: Students, employees, executives, single mom, etc from any ethnicity or religion. There is such a diversity that it would be hard to generalize. To give you a better understanding, I will describe the specificities of each dating app or website below:

Tinder (Mobile app only)

When Tinder started in Indonesia, most of its users where either foreign or Western educated girls. Its base has now expanded, but it is still the most trendy app to use. For this reason, this is where you will meet the most girls who can speak English and who have well-paid jobs. This is also where the most girls are interested to meet foreigners.

IndonesianCupid.com and AsianDating.com (website)

Both are online dating sites where men must pay to send messages, but women can join for free. They heavily advertise on internet so they have a large user base.

Since it is a website, I find it much easier to write messages or browse profiles compared to dating apps on mobile phone.

Badoo (Mobile app and website)

Badoo used to be the best dating website to use in Indonesia but it has been ruined by online prostitution. A third of the girls on Badoo will now ask for money. They also have a mobile app which is called "Hot or Not". It has a very large number of users, with usually several hundred women online at anytime in Jakarta.

Badoo attracts 99,9% of Indonesian girls, from all background. You can filter girls by age, location, status, body type, etc. Most girls can speak English and many are interested to meet foreigners. Online prostitutes are very active on the site unfortunately.

Skout (Mobile app and dating site)

Skout is similar to Badoo but only works on a mobile phone. The ads are quite annoying so I didn't like using it. It has a fair number of Indonesian girls using it.

WeChat (Mobile app only)

WeChat has a "look around" feature which allows you to add girls located within a few kilometers from you. If they accept your invitation, you can start chatting with them.

Many ladyboys and prostitutes use that feature so it can be quite annoying if this is not what you are looking for. You will also probably receive a lot of invitations from other guys. Girls using this feature do not always speak English very well. It is popular with the Chinese community but your chances of getting a reply is low unless you speak Chinese.

Beetalk (Mobile app only)

Beetalk users are mostly Indonesian and young. It has a "look around" feature as well which is quite invasive as it tells you the exact position of the people around you. If you use it in popular malls like Grand Indonesia or Central Park, it will probably tell you a list of person within a very close range, sometimes a few meters only.

Few girls using Beetalk speak good English so it is more appropriate for those with a basic knowledge of Indonesian. It is a good app but not the most effective for foreigners.

Tagged / Hi5 (Mobile app and website)

Tagged and Hi5 are the same service since they merged in 2011. It used to be one of the most popular social networks in Indonesia but it is struggling now. It is still a relatively interesting website to try as the number of Indonesian users is quite large. I would say that girls on Tagged are usually a bit older: They made their Hi5 account 10 years ago and they haven't closed it yet.

Conclusion

All these dating apps and websites are free but you have to pay if you want to get some VIP features. For instance, becoming a paid member will generally entitle you to send more messages, to see who clicked on your profile or to be seen first by girls.

There are probably some scammers too so you should naturally always make sure the person you are talking to is real. I would recommend asking for the girl's facebook or skype.

There are other services that I haven't tried but they might work well. If you have used one of the following to find a date in Jakarta, it would be nice if you could write a comment about it below:

OK Cupid: Popular dating website but I don't think it is available in Indonesia at this moment.

Zoosk: One of the most popular dating apps in the world but I read some negative reviews about their privacy policy so I did not want to try it.

Ask.fm: Very popular social media in Indonesia, mostly with the younger crowd. It is not a real dating website but it is used as such by many Indonesians to make friends or get a date.

Wavoo is an Indonesian dating app which just started. It does not have a very large database of users at the moment.

Setipe is an Indonesian dating website which could be promising but it is still new and I encountered some problems to register.

Photo Credit: The photo are from Kucluk Oye.

Cheap Travel to Bali: A Complete Guide

Traveling cheap in Bali is not difficult if you are well-prepared and well-informed. The following guide is a must-read for any visitor wanting to get the most out of her/his dollars without sacrificing on quality.

I've lived 3 years in the island, enough time to know the best tricks and tips to save money on what is unnecessary. My goal is to help you make the right decisions regarding your flights, your hotels, your meals, your transportation and the attractions you visit.

If you have any questions about your trip, you can leave a comment below or contact me directly: thibaud@jakarta100bars.com.

Best Time to Visit Bali? Choose Your Season Carefully

Choosing your travel dates is the decision that will affect your budget the most. Tourism in Bali is highly cyclical, alternating between fully-booked peak seasons and budget-friendly low-seasons.

Weather in Bali
The weather in Bali is not an exact science. I observed the following:

• 15th November to 15th March: Rainy season (almost daily rain for several hours, hot weather). During this period, the sea is also rougher and it carries a lot of garbage onto the beach.

• 15th March to 1st June: Shoulder season (occasional rain, very hot weather)

• 1st June to 15th September: Dry season (No rain, hot weather)

• 15th September to 15th November: Shoulder season (occasional rain, very hot weather)

Most Expensive Periods to Visit Bali

The peak seasons in Bali, when the prices are the most expensive, are the following:

- Christmas and New Year: This is the busiest period of the year, when all prices go crazy. Few people realize that it is actually a terrible time to visit as it is raining almost daily. I strongly recommend to avoid traveling to Bali during this time unless you are looking for noise and traffic.

- Lebaran: This is the most important holiday in Indonesia for Muslims. It starts after the end of ramadhan and last for approximately 10 days. Thousands of Jakartans flock to Bali for the occasion, particularly in the South (Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua). The date of the Lebaran is not the same every year: In 2016, it will start on July 6th. In 2017 on June 24th. In 2018 on June 14th.

- 1st of July to 5th of September: This is the holiday season in Europe. The whole island gets busy during that time, especially around August 17th when you also have the Indonesian Independence day.

- Around 20th of September to 10th of October: This is a school holiday in Australia and you still have a fair number of tourists from Europe.

- Chinese New Year: Usually happening in early February, this is a busy period as both local and international tourists (from Singapore, Malaysia and China) come for a few days, usually in the South (Kuta, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran).

- Japanese Golden Week: It is the longest holiday in Japan from April 29th to May 5th. Since Japanese tourists are not as numerous as before, the impact on prices is now limited.

- Chinese Golden Week: Second longest holiday in China, it happens early October.

Best Periods to Visit Bali

Based on the information above, I would advise you to visit Bali from March 15th to the end of June and from the October 10th to the end of November. This is when you will get the best prices, the best weather and the less tourists.

Bali is also a weekend destination for residents of Jakarta, Surabaya, Bandung, Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. It is particularly true when you have long weekends due to a public holiday falling on a Friday/Monday. Naturally, prices go up during those times.

Finding the Cheapest Flights to Bali

Domestic Flights within Indonesia

Onward flight prices are higher from Friday afternoon to Saturday morning and outward prices are higher from Sunday night to Monday morning.

If you are on a budget, you probably won't choose to fly with the national airline Garuda. I've noticed though that if you check directly on their website, you can sometimes get excellent bargains. The advantage of booking with Garuda is that you get a 20 kilograms luggage allowance, a free meal and more flexibility for cancelling your flight.

AirAsia is usually considered as one of the best local low-cost airlines. Their pricing is not always interesting however, particularly if you have extra luggage and if you want to pick your seat.

I usually fly with Lion Air. Not only it is the cheapest, it currently allows passengers to check-in up to 20 kilograms of luggage for free. If you come early enough, they can also give you seats near the emergency exit so you'll get more space for your legs. Citilink, the low-cost carrier from Garuda is an alternative but slightly more expensive.

The easiest way to save money on low-cost flight is to bring a carry-on luggage only with you (usually under 10 kilograms is tolerated). Consider that unless you trek Mount Agung or Mount Batur, you do not need any warm clothes in Bali, nor shoes, nor pants. There are very few things you cannot buy in Bali. Don't hesitate to leave sunscreen or shower gel at home if it allows you to bring one less bag.

Saving Money on International Flights

I use 3 websites when searching for good deals on international flights: Skyscanner.net, Google Flight and Kayak Explore. Those websites are unique because they allow for flexible search, meaning you do not need to input a particular destination or a precise date.

For instance, on Skyscanner you can find the best prices for a whole month or find the cheapest month within a year. If your travel dates are flexible, it is an incredible tool to use and it can save a lot of money.

Skyscanner allows you to find the best prices during a particular month

Another great feature is that you can input a country as a destination and then see how much it costs to fly to each of the airports within that country.

This feature can help you get great deals to go to Bali if you don't mind making a stop-over somewhere else in Indonesia.

For example, international flights to Surabaya and Jakarta are usually cheaper so you can go there first, and then take a local flight to Bali (Surabaya- Denpasar can be as low as 20$ and Jakarta-Denpasar is not more than 50$).

On the example below, I am looking for flights from Singapore to Indonesia in general, not particularly Bali.

As you can see, Singapore- Jakarta costs only 40$ while Singapore-Denpasar is 150$. In this case, if you do a stop-over in Jakarta you can save at least 60$. It is also usually faster to do your visa in Jakarta.

Kayak Explore and Google Flights offer a similar alternative, except that the results are displayed on a map.

Avoid Frequent Flyer Programs
Almost each airline has its own frequent flyer program. In general, you get a certain number of Miles for each purchases you make with that airlines and its partners. With some companies, you can also get more Miles if you own a partner credit card and use it for daily payments.

Once you've collected enough Miles, you can trade them for a free ticket or an upgrade. If you are a frequent flyer, you can get benefits such as the use of the lounge, priority checking or a more flexible reimbursement policy.

Unless your tickets are paid by your company, I would advise against joining these programs. The companies are usually playing with your ego to make you feel like you are a "special" customer with small attentions and small benefits. On your side, this makes you book exclusively with them, ignoring cheaper prices from competitors. In the end, you pay for your "free" ticket or upgrade much more than they are worth.

Finding Smart Hotel Deals

Hotel developments have gone crazy in Bali. Investors start building hotels without having the necessary permits and license. This absence of regulation has led to a serious over-supply of rooms and a price war.

This is particularly true with the newest hotels that are not centrally-located or far from the attractions. If you don't mind behind a few hundred meters away from the action, you can easily save 50% of your hotel bill. Some of the best value hotels in Bali are on Jalan Sunset Road. Read carefully my advices about transportation below to make sure you don't spend the money you've saved in taxis though.

Apart from the typical booking engines like Agoda or Booking.com, I recommend you to try ZenRooms.com.

They have rooms all over Bali with prices starting only $15 per night, including AC, hot water and sometimes a swimming pool.

Best cities in Bali for cheap travel
The most expensive cities in Bali are Jimbaran, Nusa Dua and Seminyak. For intermediate prices, you have Sanur, Kuta and Legian. The cheapest are Denpasar, Ubud, Amed and Lovina.

Beachfront locations in the South are pricey unless you go to Bingin beach or Balangan beach. If your dream is to stay in a beach bungalow and you don't have a lot of money, it's better going to Lombok or even Thailand.

Getting Around in Bali for Cheap

Can You Go Around Bali With Public Transport?
Semi-public transport options in Bali are limited, but they are good enough to take you to the most famous cities like Kuta, Ubud, Sanur, Lovina or Amed.

Bemos and Angkot

Both bemos and angkots used to be everywhere, but it is much harder to find them as almost every Balinese family now owns a motorbike. Bemos and angkots are minivans with a capacity of about 10 people. They usually follow a straight line from one point to another (the route is written on the front of the car). The price depends on how far you go, usually between Rp3,000 and Rp5,000. It's a cheap and authentic way to travel, but it is not convenient at all because there are not enough lines in touristic locations.

Komotra

Komotra are open-air colourful buses that operate between Seminyak and Kuta on Jalan Legian. You can wave at them if they pass buy and hop on for Rp10,000.

Perama
Perama minibuses are interesting for tourists as they connect some major points of the island like Ubud, Kuta, Sanur, Lovina or Candidasa. They can also arrange transfer to Lombok. You can check the lines available, the fares and the schedule on Perama's website. To get the best prices, you can book directly in their offices or you can also book on line with a credit card or PayPal. Otherwise, the tickets can be bought through your hotel or through one of the numerous "travel agents" you will find on the streets, but the prices may be higher.

If you plan on traveling around Bali with Perama, I would recommend choosing a hotel not too far from their offices/stops (you can see them on their website).

Prices with Perama are about a third of what you would pay for a private taxi. It saves you money but it isn't that cheap either.

Sarbagita

Sarbagita is the latest attempt by the provincial government to develop public transportation in Bali. Unfortunately, due to the pressure of taxi lobbies, the buses stop in very inconvenient locations far away from tourist spots. As a consequence, you may spend more money going to bus stops than on the bus ride itself (currently only Rp3,500/ride).

It is also very difficult to find information on the routes. The most interesting line for tourists is the one going from the domestic terminal in the airport (near Solaria restaurant) to Mengwi in the north of Denpasar. Using this route, you can stop on Sunset Road, and from there take a taxi to Kuta/Seminyak/Legian.

Technically, you can go to Sanur, Kuta, Ubud or Uluwatu with Sarbagita but you'll need some patience finding the stops and waiting for the buses. If you have time, it can be worth it though as the price is hard to beat. The only map I could find is this one. Don't hesitate to ask the driver for assistance.

Kura Kura
Kura Kura was developed by the Japanese travel company JTB because their customers were complaining about the difficulties to get around in Bali.

They have several lines in each major tourist cities of South Bali and one in Ubud. You pay a flat rate for each line wherever you decide to go. The price is interesting but only about half of what you would pay with a taxi.

In spite of a huge demand for their services, they had some difficulties as well at the start of their operation because of the complaints from taxi drivers.

More information on their website: Kura-Kura Bali.

Should You Rent A Scooter?
I was using a scooter the whole time I lived in Bali. It is very easy to rent, cheap, and it gives you much more flexibility. You are supposed to possess an international driving license but it's no big deal if you get caught without (a Rp50,000 bill will make the problem disappear).

Balinese pay around Rp30,000 per day to rent a scooter. The tourist price is between Rp50,000/day and Rp100,000/day. If you rent the scooter weekly or monthly, you can get much cheaper.

The downside of driving a scooter is that it is dangerous. Most of the deaths of foreigners in Bali are scooter-related accidents. Traffic in the Kuta area is crazy and few rules apply: Don't expect cars to warn you if they make a turn. Don't be surprised either to see everybody running a red-light when the police is not around.

In spite of the danger, I still think that scooters are the best way to get around in Bali.

Best Transportation Apps to Save Money in Bali
Transportation apps are a great way to travel for cheap in Bali. As elsewhere in the world, they face protests from traditional taxis and the government has called for their ban several times. They are still working until now.

I use the the following apps:

Grab
Grab is the umbrella app for services like GrabCar, GrabTaxi and GrabBike. GrabCar allows you to call a private car, GrabTaxi calls you a taxi, and GrabBike a motorbike. The prices are very reasonable (30-50% lower at least for GrabCar compared to regular taxis) and you don't have to negotiate anything.

Uber
Similar to Grab, but a bit cheaper. You need a credit card to order a car. They have two services in Bali: UberX and Uber Black (nicer cars, professional drivers).

Go-Jek
Similar to GrabBike, this popular local app allows you to book a motorbike (and a driver) for a cheap price. They have other services as well like Go-Eat to order delivery food.

Airport Transport

The airport is one of the most difficult places in Bali to find cheap transportation. Still, unless your hotel provides a free pick-up, it is better to do everything on your own.

There is not a lot of room for negotiation within the airport: Prices are fixed at about twice the normal rate. If you really want to save money, you have only a few options:

- Exiting the airport by foot and getting a taxi outside: If you have a small luggage, it is very easy to do and it takes just 5 minutes to get out.

- Take public transports: As I wrote above, you can now take a public bus from Bali airport. The lines goes to Sunset Road in particular, from where you can take a taxi.

- You can try your luck with Uber or GrabCar, but in that case, make sure your driver is waiting on the parking lot, discreetly. Taxis may get angry at your driver if they see he is picking you up.

Changing money and ATMs

Best Money Changers in Bali
Money changers are one of the most famous scams in Bali. Small ones on the famous tourist streets will advertise very interesting rates, then try to short-change you.

I actually used that trick several time to my own benefit by changing small amounts at a time and monitoring strictly the number of bills I was handled. This allowed me to benefit from quite higher rates. The owner of the shop may change his mind and ask for the money back though...

If you prefer safety, the most recommended money changers in Bali are BMC and Central Kuta Money Exchange. Both have several branches in key locations on the island.

They may refuse dollar bills that look a bit old or folded. Make sure you travel with new ones. You'll get more money out of them too.

If you are not changing dollars or euros, the rate might not be so interesting. For this reason, if you have rare currencies, you may want to change them first in dollars in your home country.

ATM
There are ATMs almost everywhere in Bali. The withdrawal limit is usually just over $100 (Rp1,500,000), but it can be as low as Rp500,000. Some foreign banks like CitiBank or HSBC allow up to Rp3,000,000.

The withdrawal limit is important as you normally have to pay a flat fee each time you take money. Ask your bank how you can waive such fees while you are on holiday.

Shit happens even in Bali, and in particular having your card blocked in an ATM. I would advise you to bring two cards or to keep enough cash to get by for a few days just in case.

Using the proper visa and proper agent

If you are in Bali or Indonesia for less than a month, most likely you won't need a visa. Just check the list of countries eligible for a visa waiver on the website of any Indonesian embassies).

Written on March 5th 2016: This information may not be valid in a few months. Please leave a comment below if you have any question about the current regulation.

If you stay more than a month, you have several strategies:

Visa runs (if your country is eligible for free 30-day pass)
You get a free 30-day pass upon arrival, book a return flight to KL or Singapore, and get a new 30-day pass. If you are lucky, you can get a return flight for less than $100. It's the most expensive and least convenient way to stay longer in Indonesia, but it saves you from the hassle of actually getting a visa.

Note that the free 30-day pass cannot be extended in Indonesia.

30-day paid visa + 30-day extension
Even if you can benefit from a free 30-day pass, you still have the option of paying for a 30-day visa in the airport (currently $35). A 30-day extension is allowed with this visa, for a price varying from $25 to $40. For agents recommendation see below.

60-day visa
The 60-day visa can be made in any Indonesian consulate abroad. At the time of writing, it costs $50 and it takes 3 days to proceed. You do not need an agent. Some embassies allow the process to be done by mail/courier. This solution is good if you stay less than 2 months and if you live in a city near a consulate. If not, even though it is sometimes possible to do it by courier, it becomes more complex and costly.

Socio-cultural visa (SOSBUD - sosial budaya in Indonesian)
This visa can also be obtained from any Indonesian consulate. You need a letter of invitation/sponsorship that can be written by an Indonesian friend, an agent, an organization or a company. The visa allows you to stay in Indonesia for 2 months and it can be extended 4 times for a month each.

In general, agents charge between $100 and $200 for a SOSBUD + $25-$50 per extension.

You can normally do all this by yourself, but it is not recommended. The staff in the consulates and the immigration offices want you to use an agent because they can get money from it. If you don't use an agent, they will make the process slower and more complicated.

Recommended Visa Agents in Bali
Prices can normally be negotiated. Don't hesitate to call several ones to get the cheapest prices.

Bayu Santero Visa Services: http://indonesiaimmigrationvisa.com/
Channel 1 Visa Bali: http://www.channel1.biz/
CCI (expat-owned): http://www.cciindonesia.com/
Okusi Associates: https://okusiassociates.com/balioffice
Lamansa Indonesian Visa: http://www.lamansalink.com/
Visa For Bali: http://visaforbali.com/
Expatrust Bali: http://expatrustbali.com/

6 More Useful Tips For Cheap Travel in Bali

Eating out
If you are alone, it is often cheaper to eat local food on the street rather than cooking by yourself. Indonesia restricts imports to protect its farmers, but it does not provide significant help for them either. In the end, you have few products, with lower quality and for a higher price than in other Asian countries like Thailand or Vietnam.

In spite of that, Indonesian cuisine is varied and delicious. Don't limit yourself to nasi goreng!

You can eat Indonesian street food for approximately $1 for a simple meal without meat, and $2 with meat. In casual restaurants, you can expect prices to be slightly lower than in Western country: About $5 for Indonesian food and between $5 and $12$ for Western food. Most restaurants add a tax and service charge to the final bill.

In the most touristic areas, cheap food stalls may be hidden in smaller streets. Ask Indonesians around for advice. Another possibility is to download the application GoJek: It has a food delivery option for just Rp15,000 that includes some cheap restaurants.

You can also read my guide for affordable restaurants: Cheap Eats Bali.

You have thousands of convenience stores in Bali. On some busy streets, you can find one every 100 meters. Unfortunately, they do not have a lot of choice apart from snacks, candies, sugar drinks and chips. If you need to do some serious grocery shopping, you can visit local supermarkets such as Nirmala (in the Bukit Peninsula) or Hardy's for the best prices.

If you need imported products, you can go to Carrefour, Lotte Mart or Bintang instead.

Finally, for expensive and gourmet shopping, try Papaya (Japanese food) or Bali Deli.

Alcohol and Party
What may cost you more money than food is alcohol and wine. The cheapest bottles of alcohol in Indonesia cost almost $25 in supermarkets, and even more in restaurants. If you plan on drinking wine, a good idea is to buy a bottle in the airport of your home country, and then bring it to the restaurant you want to go to (if they allow corkage).

For heavy drinkers and party-goers, the most affordable bars and clubs are located in Kuta. SkyGarden in particular offers interesting promotion before midnight. Start your night on their rooftop: They have an all-you-can-eat BBQ every night that costs only $5!

For a detailed review of the best places to party in Bali: Bali Nightlife and Best Nightclubs in Bali.

Buying souvenirs and bargaining
In all major tourist streets, it has become harder to bargain when buying souvenirs. Shop owners are agreeing on minimum prices that are often way above the real value of the objects.

If you plan on buying cheap souvenirs, I advise you to visit huge stores like Krisna or Hawaii Bali, both of which have branches near the airport. Most of their customers are Indonesians on bus tours looking for "oleh-oleh", cheap souvenirs, before heading back to their respective islands. You can find anything there including clothes, snacks, painting, bags and accessories. All prices are fixed.

If you buy more expensive products, I advise you to find out who the supplier is. Chic shops in Seminyak can charge you 10 times the price you could get directly from the reseller (some of which are located just 5 minutes away on Jalan Tangkuban Perahu in Kerobokan!).

Resellers do not have fixed prices so it may be difficult to know if you are being ripped-off or not. My method is to evaluate the cost of manufacturing and then add a 30% margin. For that you need to ask questions about the materials used and the number of working hours spent.

The cost of materials can be checked on www.alibaba.com. For the salaries, you can consider that a skilled worker is paid about Rp100,000 per day.

Smiling and being friendly is very important when negotiating a price. Being charming works much better than being threatening.

Laundry

Most hotels provide laundry services, but you can save money easily by taking your laundry outside. Typically, the price is Rp10,000 to Rp15,000 for 1 kilo, including ironing and folding.

You can find such laundries everywhere. Just ask around for the nearest locations.

Staying healthy and safe
It is not compulsory to be insured when visiting Indonesia but it should be. You should understand that the decent hospitals in Bali are all privately-run and they will not treat you if you cannot pay.

Prices are often outrageous and it's not rare to see bills over $10,000 for a broken leg.

A holiday in Bali means you will be taking more risks than you would back home: Thing about road accidents, tropical diseases, sports-related injuries, animal bites, food poisoning, etc. Do not visit the island if you cannot afford a travel insurance. You can read Choosing A Travel Insurance in Indonesia for a complete review of your available options.

Avoid scams, taxi "mafias", tour guides and ... the police

Compared to other destinations in Asia, Bali is relatively preserved from aggressive scammers. For sure they exist, but in general the only problem you will face is being over-charged by taxis, sellers, tour guides and hotel employees.

A little-known fact is that the whole tourism economy in Bali is driven by commissions. Most spas, restaurants, tourist spots, transportation companies and shops give commissions to anyone who sends them a client. The amount can be fixed, or it can be a percentage of the sales. In some extreme cases, the amount of commission can represent up to 50% of the total price. This is the case for some seafood restaurants in Jimbaran, for some fastboat companies between Bali and Lombok, and for most watersport activities in Tanjung Benoa.

For this reason, take recommendations from taxis drivers or hotel staff with precaution. Always double check on internet for reviews from real tourists. If you can, book directly.

Taxis in Bali are sometimes considered a mafia. Some companies will get the exclusive rights (sometimes through intimidation) to pick up passengers in a specific location (for instance in Bali Collection in Nusa Dua). They will then refuse to use the meter and charge you several times the normal rate.

If this happen to you, no need to try to bargain or get angry: Just walk outside of the area for a few minutes, and when there are no more taxis, order a Blue Bird (by phone or through their app), a Uber or a Grabcar.

Finally, the Police in Bali is not as bad as you would think. First, they will not stop you or arrest you for no reasons. If you are driving a scooter and all your papers are in order, they will let you go.

They may try to make problems if you don't have your passport with you. You can carry a copy of it to avoid this issue.

If you get caught for a minor offense, it is your call whether you prefer giving a small amount of money or not. Rp100,000 is more than enough. If you don't pay but act lost, there is a big chance the policemen will let you go after a few minutes.

These are my tips for traveling cheap in Bali. Did I forget something? Please leave a comment below if you think so!