Ubud, A Paradise: What You Need To Know

The town of Ubud is the cultural and spiritual center of the Indonesian island of Bali. Ubud was once called “Ubad”, meaning “Medicine” in Balinese, referring not only to the medicinal plants and herbs that grow in abundance here but also to the healing power of this sacred ground. Ubud has long been known for its powerful curative energy, and for centuries, people have flocked to this oasis for healing.

Ubud is also a showcase of culinary inventiveness. And when it comes to raw, vegan food you find the very best that the world has to offer. The Ministry of Tourism has nominated Ubud as a world “gastronomy destination”, making it the first in the world to receive a designation from the United Nations World Tourism Organization for culinary excellence.

Colorful offerings of flowers and incense adorning each street corner, calming the eyes and mind, and the seductive nature of this town can easily turn a short holiday into a stay of months or even years.

VISA

If you are staying less than 30 days you can get free entry stamp upon arrival at the Airport in Bali. If you are staying longer, you will need to get a visa on arrival, which you can also get at the airport, or a social/tourist visa which you need to apply for from the Indonesian embassy of your country before your trip.

VISA OPTIONS

Below is a summary of Visa options to Indonesia (please check to make sure whether this is applicable to your country of citizenship).

1. Free Entry – For a majority of countries, entry into Indonesia is free of charge, valid for 30 days. This is NOT extendable.
2. Visa on Arrival – You can get a 30-day Visa-on-Arrival at the airport when you arrive. The price is $35 USD and it is valid for 30 days This visa can be extended ONCE for another 30 days).
3. Social or Tourist Visa – This Visa is valid for 60 days and can be extended up to 3 times, for 30 days each. It is issued by the consulate or embassy of Indonesia in your home country and needs to be applied for, and issued in your home country before traveling.

Please note:

• The Free Visa and Visa on Arrival is not valid for one month. It’s 30 days only. The day of arrival counts as one day, and the day of departure also counts as a full day. If you overstay you will be charged a penalty of IDR 1,000,000 per day (subject to change).
• If you apply for a Social or Tourist Visa, make sure you start the application process in good time before your departure so that all necessary documents are ready on time.
• Our Alchemy Academy visa agent can help with the extension of Visa on Arrival and Social or Tourist Visa if you wish to stay longer.
• For exact information about visas, and what applies to your country, please contact the Indonesian Embassy in your home country. Please double-check with the Indonesian embassy of your country what is applicable to your country of citizenship. Or check the immigration website of Indonesia: www.imigrasi.go.id.

PASSPORT

Important: Please check your passport to ensure that it has a minimum of 6 months validity beyond your date of entry, as this is required to enter the country of Indonesia. For a social visa, the passport must be valid for a minimum of 12 months. Immigration officials tend to be strict about these requirements.

AIRPORT PICK-UP

Getting from the Airport to Ubud by car will take around 1.5 hours. The taxi rate is IDR 300,000 (approx. 23 USD). You can pre-book one of our trusted taxi drivers ahead by WhatsApp. Please provide your name, your date and time of arrival, your airline, your flight number, and the location of the last departure. Also, be sure to have the name and address of the hotel you will be staying at.

Made +62 819 9917 8237

Raditya + 62 818 0363 5408

CURRENCY

The currency is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR).
USD 1 = IDR 14,000 (approximately)

ATMs are available in Ubud, usually with withdrawal fees using foreign bank cards. Beware of skimmers and rigged units. There are also many foreign exchange kiosks at the airport and in Ubud. It is recommended to always count the money you receive and double-check with your own calculator that it is the correct exchange rate. Major hotels, restaurants, and shops accept credit cards. A few percent handling charge is often added. The exchange rate at the time of using the card in Bali may be different from when it is billed to you in your country.

You’ll find there is often one price for locals and one price for tourists in Bali, but if you’re savvy you can barter for something in between.

LANGUAGE

There are two native languages in Bali. The official language is Indonesian, while the local language is Balinese. At hotels and major tourist sites, there are staff capable of speaking English.

LOCAL NAMES

There are a lot of Wayans. All Balinese share the same four names – Wayan, Kadek, Nyoman, or Ketut – whether they’re male or female, and are named by order of birth. If a family has a fifth child, they will start again and call him or her Wayan. It can cause quite some confusion, but most Balinese will have a nickname so they can be distinguished.

TRANSPORTATION

Driving in Bali is on the left side, a bit chaotic and unpredictable, with narrow roads, few sidewalks, not many road signs, and plenty of chickens and dogs on the road. You see many people on scooters and mopeds, and If you wish to rent a scooter to get around the price is about IDR 60,000 (less than 5 USD) per day. If you don’t like driving yourself there is moped-taxi (gojek) which is very affordable. If you prefer the safer alternative, it is recommended to go by car. There are plenty of taxi drivers offering their services on call. I recommend negotiating the price beforehand.

It is possible to rent a car without a driver and drive on your own (you need an international driving license), but it’s not much cheaper than hiring a car with a driver.

INSURANCE AND SAFETY

There are a few cases of pickpockets and purse snatching. When you go out, don’t take all valuables with you and when you walk on the sidewalks, don’t carry your bag on the roadside. Don’t leave cards or cash accessible. Keep valuables, including your passport and cash, in the safety deposit box at your hotel.

Just in case there are any unexpected unfortunate events such as illness or having your belongings stolen, we recommend you get overseas accident insurance before departing your country.

It is recommended to make copies of your passport, travel insurance, and other important travel documents. Should you lose your passport, having a photocopy of it will greatly expedite getting a replacement from an embassy in Asia.

WATER

Drink filtered water only, and brush your teeth in it too. Many hotels and resorts provide complimentary filtered water.

CLIMATE

Bali has a tropical monsoon climate. April to September is the dry season and October to March, is the rainy season. However, the rainy season will vary and is not predictable. The most rain comes between December and February.

ELECTRICAL PLUGS
Electricity in Bali is 230 Volts, 50Hz. If the standard voltage in your country is between 220V – 240V you can use your electric appliances in Indonesia. Electrical plugs are two-pronged ‘Europlug’ type. The pins are round, not flat or rectangular. If you come from Australia, Japan, USA, Malaysia, UK, Canada, Singapore, and some countries in Africa you will most likely need a plug adapter otherwise the plugs for your electrical appliances will not fit into the Bali Socket. You can easily find an adapter at all international airports, and also in Bali, they are commonly found in many shops for a few dollars.

MEDICATION

Hopefully, it won’t be needed, but walk-in pharmacies sell nearly everything in terms of first-aid, medicine, and even prescription drugs.

LAUNDRY

You’ll find plenty of places that do laundry for a small fee based on weight.

WHAT TO BRING:

Notebook and pens for taking notes in class

Mosquito repellent
Flip-flops or sandals that can tolerate getting wet
Light clothes in natural, breathable fabrics. Even in the upmarket restaurants, it’s still pretty casual.

Swimsuit

Raincoat or umbrella

Sarong is needed if you want to enter any Hindu temples and sacred sites

Flashlight for unexpected power outages – quite a common occurrence in Bali

Most of these items are sold in Bali, so in case you prefer to travel light, or if you forget something it is easy to purchase these common items after you arrive.