Be sure to check your passport before leaving for Indonesia. You must have at least one empty page to be stamped upon arrival and the passport must be valid for at least six months after the date of arrival.
Since the 1st February 2004, a tourist visa is required except for the citizen from Brunei, Chile, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Macao, Morocco, Peru, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand and Turkey. Meanwhile, for Australian, Canada, USA and most of the European country such as France, UK, Germany, Netherlands, Italy, Spain… it is possible to obtain a tourist visa upon arrival it costs 25 USD (up to 30 days) and 10 USD (up to 3 days).
With this new regulation, to get a visa on arrival at the airport it takes a little bite longer so it is preferable to ask in your own country the visa from an Indonesian consulate before having your trip in Bali.
Upon arrival you will be given a white embarkation/disembarkation card to fill out. Keep this card with your passport, as you must present it when leaving the country.

Narcotics, firearms and ammunition are strictly prohibited. The standard duty-free allowance is: 2 liters of alcoholic beverages, 200 cigarettes, 50 cigars or 100 grams of tobacco. There is no restriction on import and export of foreign currencies in cash or travelers checks, but there is an export limit of 50,000 Indonesian rupiah. All narcotics are illegal in Indonesia. The use, sale or purchase of narcotics results in long prison terms, huge fines and death, in some cases. Once caught, you are immediately placed in detention until trial, and the sentences are stiff, as demonstrated by Westerners currently serving sentences as long as 30 years for possession of marijuana.

Mail
Indonesia's postal service is reliable, if not terribly fast. Kilat (express) service is only slightly more expensive and much faster. Kilat khusus (domestic special delivery) will get there overnight. International express mail gets postcards and letters to North America or Europe in about 7 days from most cities.

Kantor pos (post offices) are found in every little village in Bali, open 8 am-2 pm every day except Sunday. The main post office in Denpasar (JI. Raya Puputan, Renon) or in Legian remains open until 8 pm. Most close from noon to 1 pm for lunch.
Poste Restante service is usually reliable, but it is advisable to choose more important towns such as Kuta or Ubud. Some post offices ask for ID and may also charge a fee before handing over your letters.

Telephone, Fax and internet

Long distance phone calls, both within Indonesia and international, are handled by satellite. Domestic long distance calls can be dialed from most phones. To dial your own international calls, find an IDD (International Direct Dial) phone and dial "001" or "008” otherwise you must go via the operator, which is far more expensive.

A magnetic debit (kartu telpon) phone card can be purchased at hotels, post offices and many other outlets. This is used on card phones, which are increasing in popularity, eliminating the need for small change.
International calls via MCI, Sprint, ATF, and the like can be made from IDD phones using the access code for your calling card company. Recently, special telephones have been installed in some airports with pre-programmed buttons to connect you via these companies to various countries.

Faxes can be sent and received at wartel offices and most main post offices.
E-mail and internet services are available at many wartel, the main post office and cyber cafes. Most tourist areas are dotted with internet cafes and services. Some are open 24 hours a day, but most open from 10 am until 10 pm. Usage rates vary and are independent on type and length of computer use, but they rarely unreasonable.

There are various ways you can explore the island:

Walk- Yes, the old, reliable feet. Recommended for, among other places, along the beaches, along the gardens of Nusa Dua, or along the shops of Legian, Kuta.

• Bicycles- There is a lot of places where you can rent bicycles.
  
• Motorcycles- Some hard-to-reach beach corners, hidden surfing sites, may not be reachable by car - motorcycles may be your best bet. Don't forget your international driver's license.
  
• Car Rentals/Hires- You can cover all of Bali comfortably with complete privacy and you set your own schedules. Rates start from around US$ 25 a day. Toyota Rent-A-Car can provide anything from a subcompact car to a luxurious Japanese sedan, with or without a driver. Don't forget your international driver's license if you want to drive.
  
• Taxis - are not expensive and you can hire by phone or find one almost everywhere.

Shopping in Bali is not simply walking into a shop, picking something from a shelf and paying for it. Shopping is an art. In every traditional market and art shop around Bali bargaining is a must. This traditional way makes shopping in Bali a fun time, where you can feel the warmth of human value in every transaction. Before you begin your shopping tour on this island, please obtain cash because most places do not accept credit cards.

Few places for shopping:

One key thing to remember about Bali is that it is located just 80 south of the equator and consequently the air temperature is hot and quite humid. Visitors will face tropical weather and should careful in their tanning habits in order not to get burnt, especially right after arrival. Furthermore it is recommended to make an effort to drink more fluids than normal in order to avoid dehydration.
One of the most important facts about Bali is that unlike many other areas in the region, it is non-malarial. Therefore any malaria prophylactics are unnecessary, unless you plan to travel onto a malarial region. Bali supports a number of Western-trained health professionals along with several expatriate doctors who work in some of the local clinics and hospitals. This infrastructure suffices for the majority of any health problems. In the unfortunate cases where something more is needed, Singapore’s world-class physicians and institutions are just two hours away by plane.
If you plan to bring any prescription medications with you, bring a copy of your doctor’s prescription to avoid unnecessary trouble from Indonesian customs. Traveler’s health insurance is recommended.

Bali, as an island, is surrounded by sea. All year-long, sunshine gives you a chance to enjoy many offshore attractions.
Diving and snorkeling are among major attractions in Bali. Divers can view various marine creatures, such as colorful tropical fish and coral reefs. The best time for diving here is in the dry season that lasts from April to October, when warmer temperatures invite more fish and the objects can be clearly viewed.
Bali offers a lot of sites for beginners and professional divers, with some of them adjacent to the shore with abundant colorful hard and soft corals. Once you start diving, a wide variety of marine life, such as dolphins, rays, turtle, sea snakes and moray eels will greet you.
The locations for diving and snorkeling in Bali spread out along Bali's sea. The popular sites are located on the southern part: Sanur and Nusa Island (Lembongan and Nusa Penida); in the western part are Labuan Lalang, Menjangan Island, an uninhabited island with some of the best diving in Bali; in the north of the island is Lovina that will undoubtedly satisfy your diving needs. On the east coast are Amed where virgin nature can be enjoyed, Tulamben, Candidasa and Padang Bay also.

Surfing can be done everyday in Bali. Bali's magnificent surfing was introduced by Australian surfers at the end of 60's, and since then, Bali has become a paradise for surfers. Not just because of various choices for beaches and breaks, but surfing in Bali can be done everyday! Perfect wave to ride on are always available somewhere on this island. Kuta and Ulawatu are recognized for their magnificent surfing waves.

Out-standing reef breaks are found in Kuta and Sanur. Sanur reef is a real pleasure because, here you will find a tube-forming wave that will carry you back to the seashore and in this way, it is unnecessary for you to paddle like a madman.

Water sport is not only the attraction that you will find in Bali. Horse ridding, bike, fitness, tennis, football, trekking and many others … You can also find Spa almost every where to relax after your effort.

A lost, Bali proposes three magnificent 18 holes golf courses situated in different areas including one of the most famous golf course in Asia the Nirwana Golf course designed by Greg Norman surrounded by the Ocean terraces, temple and rice fields.

Bali is on Greenwich Mean Time plus eight hours. It is the same time as Singapore, Hong Kong, Western Australia

Check your health insurance before coming to make sure you are covered. Travel insurance should include coverage of a medical evacuation to Singapore and a 24 hour worldwide phone number as well as some extras like luggage loss and trip cancellation.
Insurance are not compulsory in Indonesia, therefore make sure that the insurance is including and in force when you rent a motor vehicle, practice sports…

The Indonesian monetary unit is called the rupiah, issued in notes of Rp 100, Rp 500, Rp 1000, Rp 5000, Rp 10,000 Rp 20,000, Rp 50,000, and the new Rp 100,000 hologram note. The rate at the end of 2004 is 9300 Rp per 1 USD. Bills are all roughly the same size but different colors, so put larger denomination bills in a different section of your wallet or purse or else you may confuse them with smaller bills. Carry enough small change and bills to pay bemo or taxi drivers and market sellers.
Major credit cards are accepted in a wide variety of shops and restaurant. Visa and MasterCard are the most frequently accepted.