I’ve been blissfully lapping up the Bali vibes for over a week now, but in the days before my flight I was experiencing a smorgasbord of emotions.

Excitement, but mostly anxiety. It wasn’t the Macbook’s worth of documents I needed to fill out that was weighing on me, but rather my departure PCR test.

I had already pushed back my trip by four days, having contracted COVID just a few weeks before my planned departure. It was bad timing. I’m triple-vaxxed and recovered quickly after 48 hours of hell. But I was so surprised that I returned a negative test just two weeks later (I tested it out at a free clinic before my actual pre-departure travel test on the day) that I questioned whether the sample had been taken correctly (spoiler alert: it had).

Up until last week, a negative PCR test was the only way to get into Bali, but authorities have recently eased this requirement.

Here’s what you need to know, plus four more hacks to make your Bali trip a breeze.

Had COVID recently? Get a doctor’s certificate

As of last week, Bali accepts recent recovery from COVID as a valid means of entry. If you’ve had COVID within a maximum of 30 days before your departure and have been cleared by your doctor, you won’t be required to provide a negative PCR test upon departure on the condition that you can show a doctor’s certificate from your GP or hospital stating that you have recently recovered from COVID. You will, however, be required to undergo a temperature check on arrival and if your body temperature is above 37.5 degrees, you’ll then need to undergo a PCR test at Bali airport (returning a positive could see you sent to an isolation hotel for five days).

Change money in Bali

On the day I arrived, the rate at one of the legit currency exchange services at Bali airport after you exit was the best I’ve ever seen it: IDR10,000 to the $1AUD. I made the mistake of trying to get Indonesian rupiah before I left Sydney. I shopped around at a few places, but the best rate I could find was only 9250. Most of the currency exchange services I went to in Sydney also had a limited amount of rupiah. The Global Currency booth at the airport was offering an dismal rate of 7860. Luckily I wasn’t able to change all of my cash before I left, but in the end lost about $150.

Arrange a VIP fast-track service

Word is that the time it takes to get through the checkpoints at Bali airport seems to have decreased since they scrapped the mandatory PCR test on arrival. But if you still don’t want the hassle of waiting in a queue, then arrange a VIP fast-track service. The meet-and-greet welcome service is your permission to be a queue-jumper, you get priority at every point, including at immigration, and you’re escorted through with a friendly English-speaking local who carries your bags and collects your luggage. Both Bali Fast Track and Bali Visas offer this service.

Get a SIM at Bali airport

A couple of years ago, Indonesia introduced a new law requiring all SIM cards to be registered to the person using them. It’s quite confusing, but if you want to get a SIM card, you’ll need to get it at the Telkomsel booth at the airport so they can register it with your passport. It was closed when I arrived, but hopefully this will change once more flights come in. I was able to get a SIM at a streetside shop with the help of my driver and the shopkeeper, who eventually found out how to register it online, but it did take almost an hour. Alternatively, free wifi is everywhere and WhatsApp is the preferred mode of communication.

Hire a motorbike, then get it delivered

If you’re travelling with large suitcases and need a car, but want to have the flexibility of being more mobile, you can ask your scooter hire place to deliver your bike for a fee. I’ve been hiring mine through my friend Made ever since I arrived in Bali six years ago and he delivers my bike to various parts, such as Uluwatu for the equivalent of AUD$10. Also, be wary that motorbike crime is still a concern, especially in some areas. Never have your phone out or wear obvious jewellery. Umalas, which is between Canggu and Seminyak, have had a significant problem with bag-snatching, so much so that the local Banjar has now hired security to guard the streets at night.

Source: escape.com.au