As an expat living in Bali throughout the pandemic, I can see how excited everyone here is to have quarantine free travel extended to include all foreign arrivals! As of Today, March 22nd, all fully vaccinated travelers can travel to Indonesia with a negative PCR test (within 48hrs of departure). Check out the Garuda Airline website for updated details:
https://www.garuda-indonesia.com/id/en/news-and-events/kebijakan-operasional-terkait-covid19
This update comes after a two week trial on select vacation destination islands, including Bali, Batam and Bintan islands. The announcement has been long awaited, and everyone locally and abroad have shown a lot of enthusiasm to be able to get things back to normal.
For travelers coming to Bali during this time, there are a few things you should expect. You will be required to wear masks in the airplane and at airports. Masks are still required in taxis and stores. Although not everyone follows this guidance, it is the polite and considerate thing to do. You should keep a mask with you at all times so that you aren’t caught by surprise when a store enforces the rule. Also, if you are one of the early arrivals after the change in policy, don’t be surprised if you are greeted with a confusing process. From what I’ve heard, the airport staff might be as confused by the rapid changes as the travelers are.
There are a few other things to consider as you look for accommodation. You should check more carefully for recent reviews and pictures. Some hotels have taken the opportunity to renovate, but not all have. Bali is a tropical island. Neglect in maintenance takes a quick toll. Sadly, neglect has been a reality for many places due to the extreme financial impact in the last couple of years. It will serve you well to take an extra close look at any recent information available regarding your chosen accommodation. I don’t want to scare anyone away - like I said, some places have invested in wonderful renovations and capitalized on the economic downtime - but it will serve you well to have some extra caution.
One concern I had during the pandemic here was safety. I was not sure if the economic strain would lead to an unsafe situation. Gladly, that hasn’t been the case. There has been a raise in crime, and you shouldn’t travel by bike at night in some neighborhoods. However, in general, Bali remains safe. If you plan to go out at night there are plenty of ride options. I think it’s good advice to travel by car at night regardless of just considering crime, since it’s simply safer in all aspects. The driving rules are not well enforced here, and there are often drunk tourists who think it’s ok to operative a motor on the road. I haven’t seen any accidents myself, thankfully, but I’ve heard stories that make me steer clear of that option.
Domestic travel has become a lot easier once you are in Indonesia. PCR tests have recently been dropped from the requirements for local travel as long as you are fully vaccinated.
The return of tourism to the island has been celebrated as a return to normality. It’s an understatement to say that things have been hard here for many people. Unfortunately, many people lost their livelihood during the pandemic. I hope that many travelers will return to the island and bring back the vibrancy that Bali is known for!
As you prepare to travel here, make sure you download the PeduliLindungi app. Covid policy requires you to scan in on arrival. It’s not used much outside of the airport, but you’ll want to have it just in case. Download the Grab app if you don’t already have a driver arranged for pick up, since there’s a Grab lounge after you exit arrivals. And get GoJek downloaded for ordering food delivery and much more.
I hope Bali can welcome you soon! Travel safely!
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