Doing Bali Like A Local - Part 1

Jemima Caren (The Key Bali)
Nov 23
2 min read

Practical tips every expat, nomad, and long-term visitor should know

Moving to Bali — or even spending a long stretch on the island — becomes a LOT easier when you know the small things locals already understand. These aren’t tourist tips. These are the everyday basics that will save you time, money, and stress.

Here are 10 practical Bali tips to help you live like a local from day one:

1. Always carry small cash for parking

Parking attendants (“juru parkir”) are everywhere, and almost every beach, café, or supermarket will charge between 2,000–5,000 IDR. Keep a stack of small notes in your scooter seat — it makes life so much easier.

2. Rent the right scooter (this matters more than you think)

If you're new to scooters: Start with a Honda Scoopy. Lightweight, stable, easy to steer, and much safer for beginners.

Avoid starting with:

NMAX
XMAX

They’re powerful, heavy, wide, and responsible for most first-time rider accidents in Bali’s tight laneways.

3. Scooter rental costs to expect

Daily rental should be under 100,000 IDR. Long-term (monthly) rental should be 700,000–1,000,000 IDR depending on area and demand.

Always negotiate for long-term — everyone does.

4. Expect traffic delays… serious ones

Bali traffic isn’t about distance. It’s about timing.

Approximate travel times (on a normal day):

Canggu → Airport: 45–90 minutes
Canggu → Ubud: 45–75 minutes
Uluwatu → Canggu: 60–90 minutes
Uluwatu → Airport: 35–60 minutes
Ubud → Airport: 60–90 minutes

Add extra time during:

weekends
public holidays
sunset
wet season
any day ending in “day” 😂

5. Sunset = traffic everywhere

From 4:30pm – 6:30pm, every beach area clogs up. If you have somewhere to be, leave before 4pm or after 7pm.

6. Don’t rely on Google Maps for shortcuts

Maps will often send you through dangerously narrow shortcuts, steep rice-field tracks, or unlit village roads. If the lane looks too tight for two scooters to pass — don’t go down it.

7. Learn basic Bahasa Indonesia — it goes a long way

Even a few words help you avoid “tourist pricing”:

Berapa harganya? — How much?
Terima kasih — Thank you
Tidak perlu — No need
Saya sudah bayar — I already paid

You’ll be surprised how far kindness and a smile go. Be nice, everyone is doing their best - especially when it's busy.

8. Always keep your scooter helmet locked

Helmet theft happens constantly. Use the built-in lock or buy a cheap carabiner.

9. Electricity costs more than you expect

If you move into a villa with prepaid “pulsa listrik”, expect to top it up weekly, especially if you use air-con. It’s normal. Don’t panic.

10. Rain in Bali is not “rain” — it’s a wall of water

Always carry:

a poncho
waterproof phone case
plastic bag in your scooter seat

Storms come fast and hard — especially November–March!

Jemima The Key Bali