Solo Travel 2017: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Bali, Indonesia (Part III)

Posted on March 7, 2017May 20, 2025 by Hani by Hani

In case you haven’t read Part I & Part II yet, you can check them out here:

Solo Travel 2017: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Bali, Indonesia (Part I)

Solo Travel 2017: The Ultimate Beginner’s Guide to Bali, Indonesia (Part II)

✨People In Bali

Balinese people are some of the kindest and friendliest people I’ve ever met. They’re helpful, gentle, and incredibly polite—something I honestly didn’t expect. When I mentioned this to my driver, he said, “Really?” and suggested maybe it’s because I treat people well, so people treat me well in return, even when I’m alone in a foreign country. *Blushing

Regarding religion, Bali’s official religion is Hinduism, and most Balinese people are Hindus. According to my driver, other religions make up about 20% of the population. So don’t be confused if you see people with Malay or Javanese features who are not Muslim. Also, most Balinese can speak English, probably because Bali is a popular tourist destination. Some locals might look rough around the edges, but can still speak good English.

My Memorable Experiences with Balinese People:

✅ I forgot to bring a USB cable for my phone. After checking into my hotel, I went looking for one. At a small shop, I bought a cable and chatted with the owner about my trip. That night, my charger didn’t work with the cable, and the shop was already closed. The hotel receptionist kindly offered to charge my phone. The next day, I went back to the shop, and the owner gave me a phone charger for free to use during my stay.

✅ One evening at a mini-mart, I grabbed some bread and two apples for dinner. At the counter, the two cashiers asked where I was from. When I told them I was from Malaysia and traveling solo, they lit up with excitement. One of them offered to swap my plain bread for a hot dog they could prepare fresh, and the other handed me a bag of chips—on the house. It was such a simple gesture, but it genuinely warmed my heart.

✅ While walking around Kuta and the nearby beaches, locals often stopped to ask where I was from and how my trip was going. I never felt lonely, especially at the beach—the people were genuinely friendly.

✅ One time, I bought 2 bottles of mineral water that cost 10,000 IDR. I only had a 5,000 IDR note and a few smaller bills, but not the exact amount. The cashier didn’t have enough change, so I was about to give up one of the bottles. But to my surprise, she smiled and told me to just pay the 7,000 IDR I had—and she covered the rest. It was such a kind and unexpected gesture.

✅ Many tourist attractions and beaches in Bali charge entrance fees, but whenever I said I was traveling alone, I often got half price, discounts, or even free entry. It’s the same treatment at the restaurant I went to. Sellers and staff treated me very specially!

✅ After scanning my 2D barcode for the boarding pass, I had to verify it at the AirAsia counter. While I was queuing, an Indian couple behind me suddenly walked straight to the counter even though it was clearly my turn. I gave the staff a little eye-roll to show my disapproval (haha). What the staff did next was hilarious—he asked the couple to go back and wait their turn, then called me over instead. I smiled, thanked him, and handed over my boarding pass for verification. But instead of just verifying it, he printed me a new boarding pass with a different seat. I didn’t realize it was a hot seat (the ones you usually have to pay extra for) until boarding time, when they called for hot seat passengers to board first. I was genuinely surprised—and grateful. To that AirAsia staff, I don’t know who you are or what your name is, but thank you so much. You absolutely made my day.

🛎Place I stayed

Tanaya Bed & Breakfast

Located in Legian, it’s in a great area to stay. I originally booked a Superior Twin Room, but later discovered the bathroom was shared. I considered upgrading to a room with a private bathroom for an extra 100,000 IDR per night. Thankfully, the staff suggested I check the room first—and I’m glad I did. It wasn’t as bad as I imagined! The shared bathroom was just outside my room, and I still had privacy since I had my own key to lock it.

Overall, it’s a clean, budget-friendly hotel. They provide free Wi-Fi (just make sure to request a room near the lobby for a stronger connection), as well as towels, shampoo, body wash, and bottled water.

Vilarisi Hotel

I honestly regret booking this hotel. While it’s located in Legian and close to the beach, the standard room was very run-down. The first room they gave me was tucked away at the far end of the hotel, with no neighboring rooms—just a dark staircase below that felt pretty eerie! The Wi-Fi didn’t work at all, and the door was difficult to lock, which made me feel uneasy.

Thankfully, the staff were kind and moved me to a room closer to the lobby. That helped a bit, but overall, I wouldn’t recommend staying here—at least not in the standard room.

Serela Legian Hotel

Hands down, the best hotel I stayed at during my trip to Bali. The location is fantastic—just a short 5 to 10-minute walk to the beach, which made it super convenient for morning strolls or catching the sunset. The room was clean, comfortable, and well-equipped, offering great value for the price I paid. The overall atmosphere was relaxing, and the staff were friendly and helpful throughout my stay. If you’re looking for a solid, budget-friendly hotel in a strategic location, I highly recommend this one!

If you want to stay in a hostel, these have good reviews:

Monostel Hostel: Located in Legian.

H-ostel: Located in Kuta. Near the beach.

The Camp Hostel: Located in Legian.

My Place Batubelig: Located in Seminyak.

Denpasar International Airport (Bali Ngurah Rai International Airport)

🛬 Arrival

Once you land, head straight to immigration. I arrived at 6:35 PM, and although the queue was pretty long, it moved surprisingly quickly. The officer simply asked how long I’d be staying in Bali (I said until February 28th), and that was it.

If you’ve checked in any luggage, collect it at the baggage claim. Then proceed to customs—just hand over the customs form you filled out on the plane, and place your bags on the scanner.

If you’ve pre-arranged an airport pickup, look out for drivers or hotel reps holding signs with guests’ names. There’ll be a crowd, so keep your eyes peeled! Thankfully, my driver was standing right up front, which made it super easy to find him.

🛫 Departure

Start with check-in. At Denpasar Airport, you’ll go through a security screening before reaching the airline counters. Don’t worry—it’s just a bag scan, and you won’t need to remove your liquids like you do at most other airports.

Once that’s done, you can head toward your departure gate. The rest of the process is pretty standard, just like any other international airport.

The airport is well-equipped with free Wi-Fi, plenty of restaurants, charging stations, and designated resting areas. Clean restrooms are available at every gate. Just be sure to keep an eye on the departure screens, as gate numbers can sometimes change without much notice.

Final Tips

When traveling alone abroad, trust your instincts and stay as cautious as you would at home. To my family and boyfriend, thank you so much for trusting and supporting me endlessly.

So, where’s next? Until then..XOXO