Digital Nomad Trip Report: 3 months in Bali, Indonesia

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About Me

I’m a marketing coach and brand strategist for women who run small businesses. I travel in a mid-range price bracket with a few nights of luxury sprinkled in. I’m from the UK!

What was your overall impression of this destination? Would you recommend this location to other nomads?

Yes absolutely, Bali is the ideal set-up for digital nomads due to their co-working cafes and hotels and the sheer volume of solo travelers to connect with

What was the cost of living? How much did you spend on accommodation, food, transport, and entertainment?

I spent around £1700 per month on accommodation, all transport, eating out three meals per day and activities and entertainment. Some months were a lot less, my birthday month was more.

What can you share about the culture here? Are there any cultural norms visitors should be aware of?

Be respectful of the local culture and offerings. Balinese are very spiritual and superstitious

What languages are primarily spoken?

Hindu and Balinese

What was your experience finding, booking, and staying in accommodation?

I used booking.com and Instagram

Booking.com

What working spaces are available to digital nomads? Are there co-working spaces or cafes where it is feasible to work?

There are great places to work around Bali.

• Ingka Cafe
• Valle Paddy Club – Boheme (Shore Amore)
• Cafe Coach
• Mana Uluwatu
• Lighthouse studios
• Bali Bustle

Quick Note: “Laptop lifestyle” -Not everywhere accepts laptops. I would always have a quick look around for others on laptops or signage that requests laptops not be used. Every place that I took my laptop I would eat **at least** one meal there during my day and I would always ensure that I ordered drinks throughout the duration of my visit. – If a cafe is starting to get busy with regular customers, I recommend leaving or finding a ‘less social’ seat. It’s unfair to take up a whole table for hours when other people want to use the cafe socially. Be mindful of this, especially if it’s NOT a dedicated working cafe.

What was the food like?

There are great restaurants everywhere in Bali.

What visas or permits are required to enter the country, how long can you stay, and what other legal issues might be relevant to nomads here?

You’re allowed up to 6 months, which must be renewed every 2 months at the embassy, or you can have a tourist VOA for 30 days

What’s the connectivity like? Is Wifi access readily available in accommodations and public places? What kind of internet speed did you get? Was mobile internet readily available? What was the cost of a SIM card and the process to get one?

Great in the places I recommended

What is there to do for fun here?

Quad biking Ubud, Bali swing, Holy water temple, Lenghahan Sweet, The Cave Restaurant

What is the social scene like? Is it easy to meet and connect with locals or ex-pats?

Arriving in Bali for a solo trip can be pretty daunting, the last thing you want is to feel lonely or that you don’t know where to start when it comes to making new friends – but, trust me there are so many places to meet people – use Facebook groups, I made so many friends this way

What’s the weather like?

It was rainy season so it rained a lot, but usually not all day. Most days were sunny and in the ’30s (Celsius)

What else should people know about the destination? Can you share any interesting stories or fun facts?

Getting a driver is hands down the BEST way to get around if you want to squeeze a bunch of fun into your days with zero hassle. You’ll pay a set rate for the day, and your driver will take you wherever you want to go. Not only that, but they often double as tour guides and will you get tickets, entrance fees, and additional recommendations and stop-offs during your day.

The best way to get around for short trips or a long day in one spot would be to use Grab or Gojek (both apps available on your phone). They’re like Uber, but rather than just getting picked up via an app in a car, you can choose whether you’d like a car or a scooter. Scooters cost significantly less than cars and the journeys are much quicker (which you’ll appreciate with the roads being so busy!) as they can weave in and out of traffic and drive on pavements if needed.

Always always wear a helmet – even if it’s a short trip. If my driver didn’t have a spare helmet with them I’d either ask to use theirs or cancel the scooter and order another one.

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