About Bali

General Information
Bali is situated in Indonesia between the islands of Java and Lombok. The island is approximately 140 km from east to west, and 80 km from north to south. Just 8° south of the equator, Bali has a tropical climate - the average temperature hovers around 30°C (mid-80s°F) all year.

Bali Time
Bali's time zone is GMT +8 hours

Currency
The local currency is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) which uses the following notes and coins:
Notes: 100, 500, 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000
Coins: 25, 50, 100, 500, 1,000

Credit Cards
Major credit cards (Visa and MasterCard) are accepted in most larger venues along with US dollar travellers cheques. However, using cash - Indonesian Rupiah or US dollar bills - is the most acceptable.

Electricity
Bali's power supply is 220 volts, 50 cycles. Regular power outlets have a round, two-pronged slim plug. We supply adapters at The Elysian for your convenience.

Clothing
Light, airy, casual clothes are the most practical and you will find natural fibers like cotton or linen are the most comfortable. Sarongs and waist sashes should be worn when visiting temples with a suitable top that covers shoulders ­- for both sexes.

Medical and Health
If you need to see an English-speaking doctor, please contact reception who will help to arrange this for you. For an emergency, there are the following hospitals: International SOS and Bali International Medical Center, both on Jalan Bypass, and the main government hospital is Sanglah Hospital (International Wing) on Jalan Diponegoro. These hospitals have emergency rooms that are open 24 hours.

Passports
All visitors to Indonesia must be in possession of passport valid for at least six months after the date of entry and proof of onward passage, either return or through tickets. If you have children we recommend that you obtain separate passports for them (i.e. they are not on their mothers passport), as the Indonesian immigration authorities prefer this. You should also ensure you have at least one full free page in your passport for a visa.

Visas

• All visitors to Indonesia should check in advance if they need a visa or qualify for a visa-on-arrival (VOA). Visitors with visa-free status or a visa issued in their home country will be able to proceed directly to the immigration clearance counter on arrival. for complete list of country entitled to receive Visa on Arrival please click here. 
• Visitors arriving from countries that have a visa-on-arrival (VOA) agreement with Indonesia should proceed to the special counter in the arrivals hall. A fee is payable for this service (currently US$25 for 30 days) before passports are stamped with the VOA. Travellers can then proceed to the immigration clearance desk. 
• Visa purchasing takes 15-30 minutes per applicant, depending on the number of people applying. If you prefer, we can arrange a VIP service where you will be met and escorted through immigration.
• Visas can be renewed but only once.

Airport departure tax
The Indonesian Government has set the following airport taxes:

• Domestic departures are IDR 40,000 per person
• International departures are IDR 150,000 per person

Advisory
Bali is generally a very safe place to travel and explore however, we are often asked for advice on the following subjects:

Changing money
Banking desks at the airport have fixed rates. These rates may be a little lower than you will see elsewhere, but it is a secure location to change your currency. After arriving at the hotel, please exchange your currency at an authorized money changer. There are many nearby and we are happy to recommend reputable offices. Verify the exchange with a calculator and count your money before you leave.

Street vendors
Street vendors - known as 'pedagang acung' in Bali - sell goods at tourist venues like temples or the beach. The items they sell are considerably cheaper than what you will see in a shop, however, the quality is often questionable. If you are not interested say 'no, thank you' or 'tidak, terima kasih' (in Bahasa) but please be polite - refusal usually works best that way. If a peddler is persistent, just walk away.

Time share sales merchants
Please be wary of anyone who approaches you in the street selling services such as tours, accommodation and restaurants as these are often a front for time-share operations. The selling technique can be quite smart: first, they are very friendly telling you that you've won a gift or free accommodation; next, they often ask for detailed information including your full name, hotel and room number. Later, they will call the hotel numerous times pushing you to attend a free meal or tour, but in reality you will be expected to sit through a lengthy and often aggressive sales pitch.

These operations have even been known to take a note of arriving guests names from a hotel's welcome board at the airport and then pretend to be a travel agent to fool the hotel's reception. At the Elysian, we never show a guests name when we pick them up at the airport.

For your privacy and convenience, please do not share your personal information, hotel, villa number or passport number with strangers.