
Bali for beginners: tips for (female) solo travel in Bali
Welcome to this article with Bali tips for first time travellers and solo travel female in Bali. Although I have traveled almost the entire planet, I found my first trip to Bali quite exciting. No idea why, because you can read everywhere that it’s an easy destination, especially for a first time in Asia. Despite this not being my first time in Asia, it was my first time alone in Asia. In this post, I’ll tell you all about solo travel in Bali and Bali for first timers.
This article was first published in 2018 and fully updated in 2022
Table of Contents | Inhoudsopgave
Bali travel tips for solo female travelers
Looking back at it, it appears that I should not have worried about traveling in Bali alone. Not as a woman either. That is why I wrote this post for Bali for beginners, just to put you at ease if you are traveling alone or as a woman. Or as a couple, as these Bali tips are actually useful for everyone who’s a Bali first-timer! Enjoy!
Bali for beginners: arrival at Denpasar Airport
Since taxi services like Über and Grab (more about that later) are not allowed at Denpasar airport and I didn’t feel like bargaining for hours for a transfer on the spot after a long flight, I had arranged a transfer in advance with Ketut whom I got in touch with through a fellow blogger. I sent him a WhatsApp message and we agreed that he would come to pick me up and drive me to Ubud. I also agreed the price with him in advance (300,000 IDR) so that I didn’t have to bargain about it on the spot. Along the way we stopped at a store, an ATM and he explained some things that were good time to know for my first time in Bali. In short: arrange a transfer in advance, which saves you a lot of stress on arrival. Do you want to have Ketut’s number? Send me an email!
Do you have a late arrival and don’t want to have to drive far? Then book a hotel near Denpasar airport and continue your journey the next morning.
Finding yourself a place to stay in Bali
Since I find myself too old to spend the night in hostels in dorm rooms, I usually sleep in midrange or luxury hotels in Bali. Bali is not very expensive and for a for about 20 EUR/22 USD I already had an overnight stay in a great hotel with swimming pool, sometimes even with an infinity pool. What you should pay attention to when booking accommodation in Bali is of course very personal.
I myself always find it pleasant if a hotel isn’t very remote in case you need to walk back in the dark from the village to your accommodation in the evening. In addition, I always check whether there is airco in the room and whether breakfast is included. Oh and wifi in the room, because that is not a standard everywhere. I usually make a reservation through Booking.com, they have the best deals and sometimes the option to cancel for free, should there be a last minute change in my plans.
Looking for a good hotel in Ubud? Then check this article with my tips incl. a great and cheap hotel with infinity pool in Ubud!
Owww and do yourself a favor … book an amazing hotel with infinity pool for yourself and enjoy it! I treated myself last year to a stay at The Hamsa near Lovina. The best thing I could have done for myself and it was just some 20 EUR / 22 USD per night!
About money and so
You can find ATM’s everywhere on Bali. You usually receive 100,000 IDR banknotes and sometimes 50,000 IDR. As you have to pay an X amount to your bank every time you grab cash from an ATM, I usually take out the maximum. One time this was 1,500,000 IDR and sometimes it was even 3,000,000 IDR. Small notes are highly looked for (eg those of 10,000 and 20,000) and I always keep them for taxi rides for example, since taxi drivers often pretend that they have no change. Debit card payments in shops and / or hotels are not particularly common, you can often pay with a credit card. However, keep in mind that an additional 3% surcharge applies in most places. In addition, it is often the case that prices on a menu are exclusive of tax and service. This can be as high as 15%. So check the bill before you pay because a tip is no longer necessary (but is appreciated).
Booking tours in Bali
If you do not want to go out with a scooterbike yourself, you can choose to go on a tour and discover the best pieces of Bali. I did this, for example, while cycling on Bali and while climbing Mount Batur.
Tours are offered everywhere on the street by small agencies, but the quality of the trips can vary enormously. Check whether there is a minimum number of participants and, if so, whether this has already been reached so that the tour of your choice will happen and not be canceled at the last minute. Sometimes you have to pay for a tour immediately, do not forget to request a voucher and / or proof of payment. Occasionally I only paid when I was picked up at the hotel. In terms of price, never pay the initial price they ask, about half of it or somewhere in between is better. You can also pre-arrange tours via Get Your Guide so you don’t need to spend time on that on the spot!
Bali for beginners: transportation on Bali
The taxi world in Bali is a special one. Services like Uber and Grab are unprecedentedly popular but not permitted in many places. This makes it sometimes difficult to arrange a taxi the cheap way. For longer transfers I usually contacted Ketut who then brought me somewhere for an agreed amount, but I also regularly took a taxi. If it is a taxi without a meter, it is advisable to agree on a price in advance (also: go for half of what they ask for) and with a meter of taxi you have to be careful they won’t use a fake meter. It’s also a possibility that non-metered taxis are more expensive in the evening because it’s busier on the road and more people need a ride. In many places you are offered unsolicited transport, I used this regularly but always on the basis of intuition. If it didn’t feel right, I didn’t.
Taking a motorbike as a solo female traveler in Bali
I also took place on a motorbike a few times but especially around Ubud and the coast the traffic is chaos, so I wouldn’t drive myself there. Renting a car is not an option, renting a motorbike is. Remember that there are no real traffic rules in Bali and that you are not the first tourist to experience a motorbike accident, so be especially careful, especially if you have no experience with riding a motorbike.
In addition, it applies to many countries that you must be in the possession of a motorcycle driving license (in the Netherlands, you need to get this next to your regular license) in order to be able to drive in accordance with the conditions of your travel insurance. So always double check check if your motorbike is insured with your travel insurance because in many cases, it may not be.
Also, remember that the distances on Bali may seem small, but that a journey of around 50 kilometers can take hours. And I mean literally hours. Google Maps is your biggest enemy in Bali, because there’s always a traffic jam somewhere, along with a festival or something else that makes traffic super slow. Just something to keep in mind during your trip to Bali!
If you’re a solo traveller, you may enjoy an Indonesian Island Cruise which is one of the finest experiences you can have as a solo traveler. It will also connect you with other travelers within no-time.
Food & drinks in Bali for beginners
You don’t have to be hungry in Bali at all, as there are countless restaurants and cafés, especially around Ubud and the coastal regions. What to eat varies from typical Balinese / Indonesian to Western cuisine. If you want traditional food, choose a warung, a local eatery. Western food is generally easy to find, especially in the known places, but is often more expensive. Since after three weeks I was a bit fed up with rice and noodles, I often opted for a restaurant where I could eat a sandwich or salad. Breakfast is normally included in your hotel and can vary from a simple banana pancake to an extensive breakfast buffet.
Tap water is not safe to drink, but you can buy bottled water everywhere or have your water bottle filled in many places. The coffee is usually very strong and dark stuff. In many places you get Bali coffee but sometimes they also have Nescafé. Nowadays they also have fancy espresso machines in more and more places, which I really got to enjoy!
Bali for beginners: where to go to?
Where you should to go is entirely up to your own interests. If you want a beach, I advise you to choose Canggu and skip busy tourist spots like Kuta and Seminyak. Canggu is a laid back village with beautiful beaches where surfers brave the waves until late at night. Both times I have been to Bali in Canggu, I can always enjoy the vibe that hangs here.
Are you looking for a nice place to spend the night in Canggu? There are few large hotels and resorts, you will find small homestays and local accommodation in particular. I had a super nice homestay in Canggu right on the rice fields: Pondok Homestay.
Also read: my fave restaurants in Canggu for breakfast, lunch and dinner
Do you want a beautiful white sand beach and bright blue water? You don’t really have this on Bali, but you can find it on the Gili Islands. I stayed on Gili Air and I loved it. Here you can read more about my visit to Gili Air. Ubud is a place not to be missed but not loved by everyone because of the crowds. Yet it is a nice base for various trips to the Batur volcano and the various waterfalls, as well as the beautiful rice fields of Jatiluwih. If you want to see more rice fields, I advise you to go to Sidemen, this is also called the Ubud from 15 years ago. It is super quiet and it is beautifully situated. If you want to party and go to the beach, I’dd skip Sidemen!
Bali as a solo female – my experience
I personally like to go to Bali and I have seldom felt uncomfortable there. That said, I always try to take into account the fact that I don’t walk alone on the street late at night, I keep my valuables in my locker and I carry no more cash in my pocket than necessary. I am also not waving my phone around and I am aware of my surroundings. They are all logical things, but I still wanted to mention them.
Of course you’ll have to deal with men in Bali who call after you and want something from you. However, I found this a lot less intimidating here than in other places in Asia. It is often the case in Bali that once you say “no thank you”, they accept this and do not keep running after you.
In addition, of course you just have to follow the rules on Bali regarding visits to temples, clothing and things like that. Short pants and bare shoulders are not done in many sacred places and, for example, at the hot springs of Banjar (Lovina) that I visited, you are often only allowed in when you wear clothing. If you obey these rules and respect the laws, you will experience Bali at its best.
If you feel that solo travel in Bali will not be your thing, you can also decide to go on a women only tour.
Earthquakes in Bali: information and where to find out more
I also wanted to mention this it’s not uncommon for earthquakes to happen while in Bali. It actually happened to me both times I was there. The first time during my stay in Sidemen in 2017 and more recently in 2019 when I was in Ubud. Unfortunately, earthquakes are a natural phenomenon that occur regularly. You may assume that if the locals don’t panic, there’s nothing to worry about. For example, during my last trip I was shaking in my bed and I felt a slight panic. As it was at night, everything else remained silent so it probably wasn’t a huge earthquake. In the end it turned out not to be super heavy but it just felt like that. I then found all the information about the quake and its power on Twitter, so that is also your best source of information when you experience a quake (#earthquake brings you to various sites where all quakes are registered).
And finally: do NOT overstay your visa in Bali (visa overstay Bali)
Because … that’s not very clever! Unfortunately, I ended up in this situation in 2017. I’m not going to write here what the exact rules for Bali visa are as they are constantly changing and I do not want to take responsibility for it. However, I can tell you about my experience just to make you more aware. I had a tourist visa for 30 days and my plane ticket turned out to be 33 days. It was possible to extend it on the spot, but then I had to give away my passport for a week and had to go back and forth to Denpasar, which didn’t work as I also wanted to go to Lombok to climb Mount Rinjani. So I took a bet, adviced by of other travelers, to attempt an overstay in Bali, or an illegal stay of 3 days. In the best case you get a fine, in the worst case … well I don’t want to talk about that.
Looking back at it, it was of course super stupid since I had quite a stress about it, both during the trip and after coming home. In general, the sanctions for the Dutch seem to be better than for some other countries, but there are stories of people who have to go to jail because they overstayed their visa in Bali. On departure I received a fine and a warning that I should have had my papers fixed earlier. When I recently arrived in Bali again, I felt really uncomfortable and I was even a bit scared that I would not be admitted because of my overstay in Bali that year before. In short: my three day overstay in Bali caused a lot of stress for something that could easily have been prevented by arranging my visa in advance. Not worth it at all.
Conclusion and disclaimer
These were my tips for your first time in Bali and Bali for beginners, whether on your own and / or as a woman. I hope you found this Bali travel blog useful. If you have any questions, feel free to ask. This article contains affiliate links. If you make a reservation through one of these links, I will receive a small commission for you at no extra cost!


66 Comments
Vonnie Green
How can I email you to get the contact information for Ketut?
I am travelling to Bali as solo female and
arrive late at night. Need transportation to
my hotel near the airport.
Thank You
Vonnie Green
anto
I’ve emailed it to you! Best of luck with it!
Devon
Hi!
Could I get the contact information for Ketut please? I’m travelling to Bali later this year and arrive in at Denpasar at midnight.
Thanks!
anto
I just emailed you. Have a good trip!
Cynthia
Hey Antonette!
My sister is going to Bali in a couple weeks, hoping we can get Ketut’s WhatsApp to get in touch to organise a taxi transfer?
Thanks!!!
anto
Hi, I’ll email you!
jade
hi, may i have the info for Ketut? planning a trip to Bali in the next 3 weeks
Mindy
Can I hv Ketut number pls?
Rachel Baker
Just curious about places you loved. I am very interested in the waterfalls. Can you please send me some details regarding that?
I am heading to Nusa dua. And then ubud. I am really into yoga and also love the beach. All suggestions are appreciated!
Kindly
Rachel
anto
Hi, I’ve sent you an email with some suggestions!
Suzanne
Hi!
Could you also email me Ketut’s contact info? I arrive in Denpasar around 10 pm in december and need to get to Ubud.
anto
Hi, I emailed you his number. Best, Antonette
Sarah Goldstein
Could you send me Ketuts information?
Thank you!
Sarah
anto
Hi, I just emailed you his number!
Hannah Reimer
Hi there! Thank you so much for this post! So helpful! I’ll be traveling to Bali alone at the beginning of August. First time out of the country and I’m a little nervous! My flight will land late, around 12:30AM, and I’m having trouble securing a ride from the airport to my nearby hotel. Do you still have contact info for Ketut?
Thanks again for your help!
-Hannah
anto
Hi, yes I do, I will send you his details via email. Have a great trip!
Oxana
Hi there! Thanks a lot. It is really helpful . Could you email me the driver’s contacts please.
anto
Done! Enjoy your trip 🙂
Govind Singh Rana
I really appreciate you to share this Bali guide. It is very helpful to plan a journey to Bali Indonesia.
anto
Thank you!
Lauryn
Hello, planning to go here in January solo, just wondered how easy it is to communicate with people there like the taxi drivers, do they speak english at all? Could I also please have Ketut’s Number!!
Thanks
anto
Hi Lauren,
Yes you can, Bali is quite easy to travel and many people who work in tourism can speak basic English. Don’t expect full conversations with them though 🙂 I’ve sent you Ketut’s number by email.
Have a great trip!
Ryanne
Hello!
Love the article so helpful! Can you please send me Ketut’s contact information.
Thanks.
Shannon
Hi! Just discovered your blog and SUPER helpful. Would it be possible for you to send me Ketut’s contact information please? I will let him know you referred me. Thank you!
anto
Hi Shannon, I’ll email you his details. Enjoy your trip and happy to hear you found my blog useful!
Aishath
HI,
Could you please send me Ketuts information?
Aishath
Mike
I wonder if you can give any information overstayed by 47 days have flight to return no means to pay fine will the person be detained or allowed to travel thank you for any information you can give
anto
Nope sorry won’t be able to help you with that as I am not an official.
Anna
Hi,
I am looking for transportation from airport to Sanur and maybe some other places
Is Ketut a nice one?
I am travelling by my self so maybe I feel a bit unsecure in generel
Best regards
Anna
anto
He totally is! He transports me all the time when there. Do you want to receive his details? Let me know!
Shelly
Hi
i will be in Bail solo in March 2020, can i have Ketut’s number please.
Many thanks
anto
I’ll email you his number! Have a great triP!
JackieWong
Hi Antonette,
Love your blog and all the info regards about Bali, I’m Planning to travel to Bali this September. Could I get Ketut no please. Thank you.
anto
hi, yes I will send you his number by email! Have fun in Bali!
Ebtisam Mohammedsalih
Hi Antonette,
What a neat and concise blog to read. It has all the information a female solo-travelled could possibly ever need. Thank you so much for that!
I’m also considering going to Bali for a couple of weeks and work remotely. Would it be possible to get Ketut’s phone number?
(Side note: when I read the name Ketut, I thought of the character name from Eat, Pray, Love. That’s how I’m picturing Ketut for now )
anto
Yesss many are called Ketut in Bali. I will send you the details via email. Have a fun trip!
Jackie Wong
Hi Anto,
I hope you still remember me? I’ve email to you in the 4th July 2022 regards Mr Tattoo h/p no.
Thank you so much with the recommendation. He is truly helpful and very helpful, im so happy with my trip. It’s truly amazing.
Bali is truly beautiful .
Mr Tattoo is sending his regards to you Anto.
Thank you
Cheers!
Aastha
Super helpful blog. Could I get the contact information for Ketut please? I’m travelling to Bali in Oct first week and I would like to book transfers in advance.
Dorottya Gál
Hello Antoinette,
Thank you for all the info 😉 I will be travelling to Bali within a week. Can I please have the number of Ketut?
Groetjes Dori 😉
anto
Hey, yes I will email it to you!
Ellie
Hi!
I’m travelling to Bali in a couple weeks 🙂
I’m going to Ubud and Canggu.
Could I have Ketuts contact number?
Your blog is really useful thankyou!!
anto
Hi, yes I will email you!
Belinda
Hi Anto,
Could I please have your Ketut’s details? Thank you 🙂
anto
yes I will email it to you! Have a great trip!
gypsy
Hi, I’m going to Bali in a couple of weeks. Can you please give me Ketut’s number please?
Melissa
Hi there, this is so helpful thank you. Can you pass Ketut’s details? Thanks 🙂
Jeni
Hello 🙂
Thanks so much for writing such a helpful blog.
I’m going to Bali for the first time in May; would you please send me Ketut’s details?
Thank you!
anto
Hi, yes I wil email you his details!
Rama
Hi there
I was looking for tips first time in Bali although I have been solo many time to Asia and Europe
But I kinda worried that I might not feel safe in Bali, but thanks for your tips that’s will help me a lot to arrange for my trip. Planning to do at May
And if won’t bother you, will you share Katute mobile number, my flight will be around 12:00 am will be late at night.
sazana
Hi Anto,
Can you share Ketut’s number?
Thanks
Ana
Konstantina
Hi Anto!
Very helpfull article! I am planning to travel solo (for the first time in my life) to Bali and I would be thankful if I could take the number of the Ketut to arrange a taxi to Ubud.
Denise
Hi Antonette, I love your blog. I have been to Bali twice and I really appreciate your detailed information. Greetings, Denise
Anne Sophie
Hi Anto,
Would you please mind sending me Ketut’s phone number?
Thank you!
Emily Bell
Hi Anto,
Thank you for this article will be very helpful for me as I’m travelling solo to bali in September-
Could you please send me Ketut’s number, much appreciated!
Thanks,
Emily x
Kate
Hi Anto,
I just reqd your post and thank you for all helpful tips for a solo female traveler to Bali.
i am going to Bali solo end of this year.
Can I ask you to senf me a contqt number to Ketut?
Thank you in advance. 🙂
Allyn Trinidad
Hello Anto,
Thank you for sharing all the details about your trip and recommendations to Bali. Can you please share to me, Ketut’s information? I appreciate it.
anto
Yes, I will email it to you!
Emma Hubert
Hi Antonette! Could you please email me Ketut’s contact info, if he’s still in business?
I’ll be in Bali next week for the first time and for my first big solo trip. This guide was super informational, thank you!!
Emma
anto
Hi,
I sent it via email. Enjoy Bali!
Antonette
Amy
Great information, thank you Antonette! I would appreciate Ketut’s contact information too.
anto
I will email you!
Christen
Hi Antonette!
Could you please email me Ketut’s contact info, if he’s still in business? Or if you have another driver you can rec. I’ll be in Bali the first two weeks of September. I’m thinking Amed –> Ubud –> Candidasa (or) Sanur (or) Canggu. I land at 3:45pm on Day 1, and leave at 4:55pm on Day 11. Which is why I figured that I would end at a location closer to the airport. Also it seems everyone that travels to Bali has their go to driver(s). Are there pros & cons to setting up a driver rather than setting up airport transfer with your accomodations?
Thanks for all of these helpful tips. I defintely am going to stay in 1 of the 4 places that you recommeded for Ubud.
Christen
Hi Antonette!
All of this info is very helpful. I’m looking at the places that you recommeded for Ubud. Can you please share Ketut’s information, if he’s still driving. I’ll be traveling the first two weeks of September solo. Also do you have any phone or SIM card recommendations for how you communicate when there
Thanks!
anto
Hi,
I just use public wifi, never buy a local simcard as there is wifi all over. Have a good trip!
Christen
Hi Antonette! Thanks so much for all of this info! I’ll be going to Bali in September. I’m looking at the four stays you recommended in Ubud. Can I please have Ketut’s contact info?
anto
Hi, I’ve send you an email! Enjoy your trip to Bali!