Planning a trip to Indonesia? If you’ve read any of my blog posts about ‘things to do’ in different parts of Indonesia, you should be feeling very inspired to head over and enjoy this beautiful country. If you’re visiting Bali, Lombok, Sumbawa or one of the other beautiful islands in Indonesia, but unsure what to take with you, I’ve got you covered with these tips on what to pack. If you’ve been lucky enough to visit Indonesia and have some tips I may have missed, please share them in the comments below.

But first, watch this…

General Tips

Keep it light

The thing about Indonesia is it’s very affordable and very hot, which means you don’t have to pack everything you own ‘just in case’. Budget airlines usually have sale fares that don’t include checked baggage, but truth be told you can definitely survive a week in Indonesia with just a backpack’s worth of clothing.

Money

ATMs are a dime a dozen and safe, in my experience. Just make sure you remember to take your bank card out of the ATM once you’re finished, remember to tell your bank you’re traveling so they don’t think you’re a fraudster.

Understand cost

For Australians, Rupiah usually roughly converts like this: AUD$1 = IDR10,000. If you’re paying IDR25,000 for a beer, it’s costing you AUD$2.50. You have to bargain with shop owners, obviously not at McDonald’s, in the smaller shops set up along places like Poppies Lane. A pair of plastic sunglasses should cost around IDR35,000 (AUD$3.50). You should also read my guide on ‘How to haggle like a professional in Bali.’

23 things to know before you visit bali

What to pack

Medicine

It’s called Bali Belly for a reason, so make sure you’re prepared. Visit a travel doctor before you leave and arrange some gastro-stop or Imodium as well as a general dose of antibiotics to clear up any nasty bacteria that find their way into your tummy. Depending on where you’re visiting, you may need to take anti-malarial medication or get some injections. You may also want to pack travel sickness medicine for long car and ferry rides.

Bug spray

Buy a bottle of good quality insect repellant and use it regularly, this is more important for those visiting places like Lombok and Sumbawa where Malaria is a bigger threat.

Swimwear

Boys are pretty lucky as board short material is quick-dry whereas our bikini material takes longer to dry out. I recommend packing two swimsuits so one can be drying out while you’re wearing the other one.

How to haggle like a professional in Bali

Clothing

Indonesia is very laid back, so leave your vintage Valentino skirt at home. Things to pack include comfortable, loose-fitting shorts, singlet-tops, kaftans, board shorts, summer dresses, T-shirts and other items you routinely wear during summer at home. A whole bunch of cool new bars and hipster spots have popped up all over Bali in particular so you might want to pack a few nice outfits, that are still breathable and lightweight. The weather can be quite sticky, so choose breathable light fabric where possible.

One other tip with clothing, pretty much every hotel room has air-conditioning that will keep you really cool when you sleep at night. I tend to get really cold, so if you’re like me, it could be worth your time to pack a warmer set of jammies.

Shoes

Most people get around in their flip-flops. I had a small child pee on my foot at Kuta Beach once, which really turned me off wearing them anymore. If you plan to hike a mountain or trek into the jungle you will need appropriate closed-in shoes. If you plan to sprawl out on the beach for 10 days straight, one pair of flip-flops or sandals will do. The clubbing scene in Kuta is brutal, you won’t need high heels.

SunSmart gear

You’ll definitely need a hat and sunscreen with high SPF to protect you from sunburn. Remember, sunscreen is only as good as its user and it’s up to you to reapply during the day to ensure you don’t get burned. Similarly, a rash-shirt or sun-shirt is a good idea too. Remember, cloudy days mean U.V rays! Don’t be deceived if there’s no sun, you can still burn.

How to haggle like a professional in Bali
Old Man’s at Canggu

Beauty products

Ladies, you won’t need to apply a full face of makeup each day and even if you do, it’s just going to melt off. You’ll most likely only need something light like a BB cream. I also recommend packing loofah gloves, to scrub away dry skin and clean out sunscreen grime, as well as a face scrub.

One thing to consider, if you need specific beauty products for things like sensitive skincare, bring them with you rather than relying on buying them. If you do find yourself purchasing beauty products at a convenience store they may not have a suitable range for you.

I found my hair became really dried out and started to resemble a bird’s nest after swimming, sun and daily washing took their toll. You can buy good quality shampoo, conditioner, and hair masks cheaply at convenience stores like Circle K, good hair products are essential to help your hair stay thick and healthy.

Tissues

Always keep a pocket pack of tissues with you, just in case you forget to grab some toilet paper off the communal roll before you go into a toilet stall at a local market.

Beach bag

Pack a light tote you can put your beach essentials in, this will make it easier to pack up your towel, hat, sunglasses, book, camera, and sunscreen when you head down to the water or go for a walk around town.

23 things to know before you visit bali

Packing hacks and tips

A few tips and tricks to help you hack your packing!

Eco-friendly bags

Stash some eco-friendly bags and reusable sandwich bags in your luggage, they come in so very handy for storing dirty shoes and clothes as well as bars of soap, wet swimwear or leaky toothpaste tubes!

Electrolyte drink

Tap water isn’t drinkable and you may not drink as much water as you normally do at home, so give your body a boost with an electrolyte drink, especially because of the humidity which you may not be used to. You’ll be especially happy to see an electrolyte drink if you experience stomach problems from eating food you aren’t used to.

Tupperware

I use Tupperware or similar hard plastic containers to put all my toiletries in. This ensures no leaks will destroy my clean clothes and makes it really easy for me to grab my toiletries in one easy swoop, keep them together in the hotel and makes re-packing easier too. I also use a small container for all my jewellery and another one for electronics like adaptors, cords and chargers. It keeps me organised and stops me from losing things! Find Storage Containers here.

Dryer sheets

Put dryer sheets in your suitcase to keep your clothes smelling good throughout the whole trip. If you don’t have dryer sheets, a few drops of essential oil on a tissue, laid flat in-between layers of clothes, works wonders. I also have a little bottle of spray which instantly freshens up clothes, it’s from The Laundress and it’s amazing! No musty-smelling clothes for you, my friend.

Charging station

You’ll need a power converter to ensure you can recharge your camera, phone, and other electronics. In Indonesia, the one you need has two round prongs. I always pack a powerboard with me so I can charge my iPhone and cameras while using my laptop and only need one converter. Yep, I’m a technology addict. If you forget a converter you can buy one there pretty cheap, so don’t stress.

Good quality luggage

Luggage tends to get thrown around quite a bit and it’s worth investing in good quality luggage that can stand a good punch and lock securely. A good quality suitcase with a strong lock should be good enough. When we stay in hotels, Matt and I always lock our valuables in the safe when we go out and, anything that doesn’t fit in the safe gets locked inside the suitcase or goes out with us for the day.


Best travel resources for your trip!

If you found this post useful, please use the affiliate links below. I’ll make a small commission at no extra cost to you. Rest assured, these are the products and services I love and use. Read the disclaimer for more information. Thanks for your support! – Matt.

Agoda – hotels
Booking.com – hotels
Cover-More – insurance
Motorhome Republic – RVs
Discover Cars – rentals
Simify – SIM cards
Skyscanner – flights
Surfshark – VPN
TourRadar – tours
Welcome Pickups – transfers


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