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Money
:
The rupiah is the standard unit of currency. No restriction
exist on the exchange, import and export of foreign currencies
whether cash, checks or travelers checks.
All major credit cards are accepted in Bali. There are numerous
ATM locations. Travelers checks are easily exchanged and they
are a good idea instead of large sums of cash.
In the Indonesian rupiah, there are coins of 25, 50,100, 500,1,000,
100,000 and 150,000 (purchase available only from the bank)
and paper notes of : 100, 500, 1,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000,
50,000 and 100,000.
Foreign
Exchange :
Money changers can be found throughout the island, in the
hotels and along the streets. The best rates are on the street
though there are some disreputable businesses. Some money
changers charge a comission though you can easily avoid these
if you hunt around while shopping. The best bet is exchanging
currency at a bank.
Tipping
:
This is not a general practice in Bali. In larger hotels a
service charge already is included. However, if the service
has been good, a token sum would be appreciated (Rp 1,000,-
- Rp 5,000,-) Porters at the airport expect Rp 1,000 - Rp 1,500
per bag.
Clothing
:
As the weather and humidity of the island are hot, light comfortable
clothing and shoes or sandals are required as most visitors
do a lot of walking. If you do not have these sun clothing,
there's plenty to buy in Bali. Don't forget your swimwear.
Shorts and T-shirts will always come in handy.
Time
:
Bali is Central Indonesian Time, the same as Singapore, eight
hours ahead of GMT and four hours behind Australian Eastern
Standard Time. This means when it is noon in London, 10 PM
in Sydney, 7 AM in New York and 4 AM in Los Angeles, it is
8 PM in Bali.
Tax
and Service Charge :
Tax and service charges amount to 21% on top of most hotel
accommodation and food and beverage bills, which consist of
10% service charge and 11% Government Tax.
Customs
& Immigration :
There are three important factors when travelling to Bali
:
· You must have a minimum of six months validity in
your passport upon entry into Indonesia.
· You need to pay a Rp 100.000 rupiah per person departure
tax upon departing the international airport.
· You must retain the white immigration card (ontained
upon entry) for surrender upon departure.
The immigration hall at Ngurah Rai International Airport is
quite crowded, so be patient and ensure all your documents
are in order and your white Indonesian Immigration card is
ready for collection.
Transportation
:
Metered taxis are available throughout all tourist areas in
Bali. When you commence your journey, make sure the meter
is turned on. Should you wish to hire a driver and car for
a few hours or the whole day, negotiate a price before you
begin your trip.
The cheapest and most efficient forms of transport on Bali
are the ubiquitous bemo and inter-island buses (usually taking
you to the other islands in Indonesia). Bemo are available
anywhere on the island and can be chartered for a couple of
hours or a whole day.
Water
:
Do not drink water from the taps. Drinking water is cheap
and easily available in sealed bottles. When buying water
insure that the seal on your bottle is intact.
Bargaining
:
The first price is not the last price in Bali. Learn the art
of bargaining unless you are purchasing in a hotel shop or
department store. Always ask for the best price and remember
that your initial offer to counter the vendors rate should
be lower than the price you want to pay.
There is no such thing as a "right price".
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