Planning a trip to Bali is usually pretty easy. There are beaches, villas, restaurants, cafes, beach clubs, temples, wellness spots and plenty of things to do once you arrive. But some parts of your trip are worth arranging before you get on the plane.
From your Bali flight and villa to airport transfers, activities and special experiences, booking a few key things in advance can make your holiday feel much more relaxed. You can leave plenty of room for spontaneous plans while knowing the important parts of your trip are already taken care of.
Here are some of the things to book before your Bali trip:
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Your Travel Documents
Before anything else, make sure your travel documents are in order. Visa requirements and entry fees are some of the most common questions people have when planning a Bali trip, so it is worth sorting these out before you fly.
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e-VOA (Electronic Visa on Arrival): Most eligible nationalities need a visa to enter Indonesia. The e-VOA costs around IDR 500,000 (approximately USD 30) and is valid for 30 days from arrival. It can generally be extended once for another 30 days, allowing a maximum stay of 60 days. Apply online in advance or arrange it on arrival through the official immigration channels.
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Bali Tourist Levy: International visitors are required to pay a one-time tourist levy of IDR 150,000 (approximately USD 10) per person. You can pay through the official government website before your trip or at designated payment points at the airport or harbour. Be careful with unofficial websites, as they may charge additional fees.
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Travel Insurance: Travel insurance is not generally a legal entry requirement, but it is worth arranging before your trip. If you plan to go diving, surfing, or take part in other adventure activities, check that your policy specifically covers them.
For a detailed step-by-step explanation, see our Bali visa guide.
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Your Flight to Bali
It sounds obvious, but your flight is the first thing to sort out. If you're travelling to Bali during a peak period, such as Christmas and New Year, school holidays or other popular travel dates, it's worth booking your flight early. Prices and availability can change quickly, especially for direct flights. When looking at flights to Bali, consider more than just the ticket price. Arrival time can make a difference to your first day, particularly if you're staying somewhere that is a long drive from the airport.
A late-night arrival, for example, may mean spending your first evening travelling to your villa. An earlier arrival gives you more time to settle in and start enjoying Bali. It's also worth checking baggage allowance, especially if you plan to bring sports equipment, extra luggage or shopping home with you.
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Your Bali Villa
Once your flights are sorted, where to stay in Bali is one of the most important decisions. Bali has a huge range of accommodation, from boutique hotels and apartments to private villas with pools and larger homes for groups. The best area depends on the kind of trip you're planning.
If you want restaurants, cafes and beach clubs nearby, Canggu and Seminyak offer plenty of options within easy reach. For a more relaxed coastal stay, Pererenan and Seseh are surrounded by a quieter side of Bali, while Uluwatu and the south are a great choice for beach days and sunset views. For families and groups, a private Bali villa gives everyone more room to settle in, with shared living spaces, private bedrooms, gardens and a pool to enjoy throughout the stay.
If you're booking a villa with Betterplace, you can keep things simple. Our villas include housekeeping, and additional services can also be arranged through our concierge, from airport transfers and restaurant reservations to activities and special experiences.
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Airport Transfer
After a long flight, the last thing you want is to arrive in Bali and start figuring out how to get to your accommodation. An airport transfer in Bali is one of those small things that can make your arrival much easier. Instead of arranging transport after landing, you can have your driver ready to pick you up and take you directly to your villa or hotel.
This can be particularly useful if you're travelling with children, carrying several suitcases or arriving late at night. It's also helpful when travelling with a group. Having one vehicle arranged in advance means everyone can travel together rather than splitting up between different cars.
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Your First-Day Plans
You don't need to plan every minute of your Bali holiday. In fact, leaving some days open is part of the fun. But it can be useful to decide what you want to do on your first day, especially if you're only visiting Bali for a short trip. You might want to have lunch somewhere near your villa, spend the afternoon by the pool or head to the beach for sunset.
If you arrive early and your villa isn't ready for check-in yet, you could also arrange a spa treatment, breakfast, lunch or another activity while you wait. Having one or two ideas ready means you can ease into your holiday without needing to make decisions as soon as you arrive.
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Bali Activities
Some Bali activities and experiences are worth booking before your trip, particularly if they're popular or have limited availability. Depending on your plans, this could include:
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Surf lessons
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Private tours
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Spa treatments
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Yoga sessions
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Snorkelling trips
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Diving
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Boat trips
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Cycling
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Water activities
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Cultural experiences
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Day trips
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Special dining experiences
You don't have to book everything in advance. A good approach is to reserve the experiences that are important to you and leave the rest flexible. For example, if you've always wanted to try surfing in Bali, book a lesson before you arrive. If you're interested in a private day trip, arrange the car and itinerary ahead of time. Then leave a few afternoons completely open for whatever catches your attention once you're here.
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Restaurant Reservations
Bali has no shortage of places to eat, but some popular restaurants can get busy, particularly around dinner time. If there's somewhere you've been wanting to visit, make a reservation before your trip. This is especially useful for special occasions such as birthdays, anniversaries or honeymoon dinners.
You can also plan a little around your location. If you're staying in Pererenan, for example, you may want to explore restaurants nearby rather than spending your evening sitting in traffic travelling across the island. You don't need a restaurant reservation for every meal. Keep some meals spontaneous and book only the places you really don't want to miss.
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Special Experiences
Bali is a popular destination for celebrating something special, and some experiences require a little preparation. You could arrange a floating breakfast at your villa, a private BBQ, a romantic dinner, a massage, a yoga session or even a private helicopter tour. These experiences can also be arranged as surprises.
If you're travelling for a birthday, honeymoon, anniversary or simply want to make your trip a little more memorable, it's worth mentioning this when making your arrangements. The more notice you give, the easier it is to organise the details.
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Transportation for Day Trips
Bali is bigger than it looks on a map. If you're planning to visit several parts of the island, having transportation arranged can make the day much easier. A private car with a driver is particularly useful for day trips because you can create an itinerary around the places you actually want to visit.
You could spend the morning exploring a beach, stop for lunch, visit a cultural site and finish the day somewhere with a great sunset. Rather than worrying about how to get from one place to another, you can simply enjoy the day.
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Activities Through a Bali Concierge
If you don't want to spend hours researching what to book, Betterplace Concierge Service can help organise the details for you. A concierge can help arrange things such as restaurant reservations, airport transfers, tours, surf lessons, BBQs, events, bikes, spa treatments, yoga, massages and other experiences.
At Betterplace, our concierge service can also help organise experiences around your villa stay. The idea is simple; instead of having to search for different providers, compare options and coordinate timings yourself, you can have the arrangements handled for you. This can be particularly useful when travelling as a group or planning a special occasion.
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The Things You Don't Need to Book
Just as important as knowing what to book before your Bali trip is knowing what you can leave until later. You don't need to create a minute-by-minute itinerary. Leave some space for slow mornings, spontaneous beach trips, discovering a cafe you didn't plan for or simply spending an afternoon at your villa.
Bali is a destination where plans can change easily. You might wake up intending to spend the day sightseeing and decide that a pool day sounds much better. That's part of the experience.
Your Bali Booking Checklist
Before you fly, make sure you've considered:
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Travel documents (e-VOA, tourist levy, insurance)
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Flight to Bali
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Villa, hotel or apartment
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Airport transfer
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Important activities
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Restaurant reservations
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Day-trip transportation
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Special experiences
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Spa or wellness appointments
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Tours or private guides
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Any birthday, honeymoon or special-event arrangements
You don't need to book everything at once. Start with the essentials, reserve anything that has limited availability, and leave the rest open.
Make Your Bali Trip Easier
A little planning before your flight can make a big difference once you arrive in Bali.
Book the important things early, choose a Bali villa that suits the way you want to travel, arrange transportation where it makes sense, and reserve the experiences you don't want to miss. For everything else, leave yourself some room to explore.
And if you'd rather have someone help organise the details, Betterplace Concierge can assist with Bali airport transfers, restaurants, tours, activities, wellness treatments, private experiences and more. That way, you can spend less time planning your Bali itinerary and more time enjoying the island.
Book your villa and activities through Betterplace now!
FAQ
How far in advance should I book my Bali villa?
During peak periods such as Christmas, New Year, and school holidays, book as early as possible, as the best villas can fill up quickly. Outside these periods, a few weeks’ notice is usually enough.
Do I really need an airport transfer, or can I arrange transport after I land?
You can arrange transport after arriving in Bali, but booking an airport transfer in advance means your driver will already be waiting for you. This can be especially convenient for late-night arrivals, families with children, or travelers with extra luggage.
Which Bali activities should I book before I arrive?
Book popular activities with limited availability in advance, such as surf lessons, cooking classes, private tours, and diving trips. Other activities can usually be booked once you are in Bali.
Do I need to book restaurants in advance in Bali?
Not always. Reservations are mainly recommended for restaurants you really want to visit or for special occasions such as birthdays and honeymoons. Bali has plenty of casual dining options where you can usually find a table without booking ahead.
Can Betterplace help plan my whole trip?
Yes. Betterplace Concierge can help arrange airport transfers, restaurant reservations, activities, and special experiences, so you don’t have to coordinate everything yourself.
What if I don’t plan anything before I arrive?
That’s completely fine, Bali offers plenty of opportunities for spontaneous plans. However, keep in mind that popular villas, restaurants, and activities can sell out during peak periods, so booking ahead is recommended for anything you don’t want to miss.
