Bali Vacation Packing list (+ extra flight tips!)

It’s been almost 9 years years now that we’ve travelled for the first time to Bali from Amsterdam. We must’ve saved up quite some miles haha, can’t even count the times we’ve be in the air!

Meanwhile, we launched our Welike Bali Travel Guide and we’re talking to travelers daily. And one of the questions from first time Bali vacay’ers we get a lot is… what to pack for Bali? So, once and for all we’ve decided to make the ultimate packing list for your sunkissed travels! We teamed up with Duifhuizen Bags & Travel specialistto show you what to pack to pack for islandlife.

THE BALI PACKING LIST

Which suitcases we use to travel?
For check-in: we need the biggest suitcase haha. So, we both use this lightweight Samsonite 4-wheels suitcase, that’s 81cm big. It has a lock with code.

In the cabin: we use the Samsonite X’Blade as hand luggage in the plane. We always carry our laptops and cameras with us, which fit perfectly in this suitcase. Before we used backpacks during flights, but it’s so much more comfortable not to carry anything heavy during check-in’s and last-minute shopping after customs :)

Plane Outfit

• Nikes or All-stars (breathable shoes!)
• Stretchy pants or sweat pants
• Comfy tee (for instance, the Take me to Bali teeto get into the Bali mood, hihi;)
• Oversized sweater or hoodie
• Extra scarf or sarong cause it’s usually cold in the plane

// HAND LUGGAGE

• Phone & Charger
• Passport & Tickets
• Insurance Pass
• Booking information accommodation or other trip itinerary documents
• Our Welike Bali Travel Guideof course :)
• Indonesian Rupiahs: it’s nice to have cash when you arrive in Bali for the visa on arrival (free for most countries though, check here), first taxi drive or other first things. You can also use the ATM on the airport when you arrive, but can be busy. We always bring at least 500.000 IDR with us. And we always use the XE Currency converter app, which is best up to date!
• Re-Usable Water bottle (don’t buy plastic in Bali! It will end up burnt or in the ocean...)
• Laptop & Camera’s (in separate bag easy to take out during x-rays)
• Ear phones (because the one you get on the plane to use to watch movies usually aren’t good)
• For sleeping: Eye-mask, ear plugs, comfy socks (and sleeping pills if you have trouble sleeping)
• Toiletries: toothbrush, lip balm, facial crème, make-up remover (this one’s for the girls of course hehe)
• Loads of Vitamine C pills. A new tip we recently got from YourHealthCoach Tessa!We'll try this out next flight ourselves :)
• One extra pair of undies and clean tee just in case your luggage will delay (fingers crossed NOT)

// CHECK-IN SUITCASE

Wear

• 2 shorts + 2 skirts
• 2 dresses / jumpsuits (check out Faithfull the Brand, perfect travel wear)
• 4 tops + 4 tees
• 1 sweater + 1 cardigan
• 1 jeans + 1 long pants
• 1 jacket (something easy like a denim jacket or our Sunkissed Jacket)
• 1 pair of flipflops + 1 pair of sandals + 1 pair sneakers/comfy shoes
• Accessories: jewelry, hair bands (we love the ones from Atelier des Femmes)
• Workout gear: 3 workout bottoms, 1 yoga legging, 3 sport tops, running/fitness shoes
• Underwear & Socks (leave some space for Gooseberry Intimates shoppings in Bali!)
• Small shoulder bag with strap (we’d advise not to bring any clutches, it’s to easy to steal;)
• Backpackfor on the motorbike and when you walk to the beach
• Beach Bag (our Take me to Bali Beach Bag of course;)

Surf & Swim

• 3 bikini’s / swim attire
• 1 good one piecefor surfing or to wear with shorts
• Sarongs (thin cotton bath towels, otherwise buy these in Bali for around 2 euros each)
• Good quality sunglasses
• Cap and straw hat (from our Islandlife Storeor get yours in Bali!)
• Sun protection (high SPF, the burn is crazy)
• Bali Bodyoil (tip: as there’s no SPF in here, use it over your SPF sun protection for the extra glow)

Body & Face

• Toothbrush & Toothpaste
• Make-up (don’t bring too much, you’ll sweat it off haha. And it’s a good moment to let your skin breathe) and make-up remover with pads
• Shampoo & Conditioner (or buy in Bali)
• Hair oil (we love Maroccan Oil and this cheap Kruidvat Hair oil, the best!)
• Body lotion, Dry Oil (we love Nuxe!) or after sun

Medicine

• Mosquito-repellant spray (bring plenty! You’ll need to spray this all day)
• Your own medicine in their original packing, with original prescription
• Your own vitamins in their original packing

• Note: don’t bring too much! Everything above you can also buy in Bali :) And you’ll always over pack, but you’ll want to leave space in your suitcase to shop in Bali and bring home lots of souvenirs for yourself, friends and family :)

EXTRA FLIGHT TIPS

1: Bag in the bag
pack an easy tote bag inside your hand luggage suitcase, that you can take out in the plane just before boarding. Put in your laptop if you still need to work a bit on the plane, water (buy a big bottle on the airport or fill your re-usable bottle before flying!), toiletries, something to read, etc. So, you don’t have any loose items that you have to put in the front seat!

2: Choose the right flight
From Amsterdam to Bali we always try to book the night flights. You won’t have much of a jetlag when you arrive in Bali :) KLM and Garuda Airlines both depart around 7pm or 9pm in the evening and you’ll arrive the next day in the afternoon in Bali. You can watch movies and sleep as much as you can and won’t feel much of a time difference. Last time we flew with Cathay Pacific early in the afternoon and didn’t sleep at all until Bali because you’ll fly in Europe day time :(, worst jetlag everrr. AND: if you’re flying from Amsterdam the’re no direct flights, there’s always a stop before landing in Bali. Choose the one with the least hours lay-over! You won’t regret it. Stop overs are killing on long flights, the sooner you can get there the better :) We usually use Cheaptickets.nl, Skyscanner or Kilroy to compare flights (use the month overview to ese the lowest rates!).

3. Plane Food #alwayshungry
Don’t forget to let your airline know if you’re vegetarian like us. If you forget and try during check-in it’s usually too late to change it. And vegetarians get there meals first (expect jealous looks when you start eating already, hehe). And we usually bring some healthy snacks on the plane, as the food usually isn’t that amazing.

4. Bali Visa
A 30 days Tourist Visa on arrival is for most countries free (check here) and if you’re staying longer than 30 days, buy an extra tourist visa on arrival. This will allow you to stay a maximum of 60 days. You do need to go to a Visa Agency in Bali to extend before 30 days. They will send you to immigration for finger prints. This will cost around 50 to 60 euros. If you even want to stay longer than that, you’ll need to go out of the country before the 60 days, and come back again on a new Tourist Visa. Book a nice weekend getaway to Bangkok, Hongkong, Singapore or Kuala Lumpur :)

5. Driver on arrival
If you’re hotel or accommodation doesn’t offer a service to pick you up from the airport, hire a driver up front. Because the taxi drivers at the airport can be quite intense when you arrive. We always drive with Made, he is the sweetest. You can send him a WhatsApp message with your flight details if he’s available and him or his staff will wait for you with your name on a sign when you arrive. So easy! Made: +628128532160. On the airport in Bali you have free Wi-Fi.

That’s it :)
If you want to find your perfect travel suitcase check out Duifhuizen!

Let us know if you found this list + tips handy? And if you have any more questions about packing for your Bali vacay.

Yours tropically
-x- Pris & Eve