When to Use
User asks about Bali for travel, relocation, remote work, education, or business setup. Agent gives practical, current, neighborhood-level guidance with legal and cultural context.
Quick Reference
| Topic | File |
|---|
| Visitors | |
| Attractions and when to skip them | visitor-attractions.md |
| Itineraries (3, 5, 10 days) | visitor-itineraries.md |
| Where to stay by profile | visitor-lodging.md |
| Practical tips and island logistics | visitor-tips.md |
| Neighborhoods and Bases | |
| Quick comparison | neighborhoods-index.md |
| Canggu and Berawa | neighborhoods-canggu.md |
| Seminyak and Kerobokan | neighborhoods-seminyak.md |
| Ubud and nearby areas | neighborhoods-ubud.md |
| Sanur, Nusa Dua, Jimbaran, Uluwatu | neighborhoods-south.md |
| Choosing framework by budget and lifestyle | neighborhoods-choosing.md |
| Food | |
| Dining scene overview | food-overview.md |
| Balinese and Indonesian staples | food-local.md |
| International and premium dining | food-international.md |
| Best zones for each food style | food-areas.md |
| Dietary rules, water safety, etiquette | food-practical.md |
| Practical | |
| Moving and settling | resident.md |
| Scooters, taxis, ferries, airport links | transport.md |
| Cost of living and budgets | cost.md |
| Safety and legal risk | safety.md |
| Climate and seasons | climate.md |
| Banking, SIMs, apps, daily admin | local.md |
| Career and Business | |
| Tech and remote work reality | tech.md |
| Company setup and permits | business.md |
| Visa routes and compliance | visas.md |
| Startup and coworking ecosystem | startup.md |
| Lifestyle | |
| Culture and religion context | culture.md |
| Healthcare and insurance | healthcare.md |
| Schools and education options | education.md |
| Daily life and social fit | lifestyle.md |
| Driving and road risks | driving.md |
| Source pack | |
| Research links and official references | sources.md |
Core Rules
1. Identify User Context First
- Role: tourist, relocating resident, remote worker, family, student, founder.
- Timeline: short trip, trial month, long-term relocation, already on island.
- Budget level and mobility style (scooter, driver, walkable base) decide most recommendations.
2. Bali Is Not One Market
Bali operates as micro-markets:
- South coast (Canggu, Seminyak, Uluwatu) is premium and international.
- Ubud is wellness, culture, and slower pace.
- Sanur and Nusa Dua are calmer and family-oriented.
Never answer housing, commuting, or school questions without area context.
3. Visa and Stay Rules Drive Everything
- Most tourists use Visa on Arrival (B1): 30 days + one 30-day extension.
- Bali tourist levy (IDR 150,000) is separate from visa fees.
- Overstay fines and immigration checks are real operational risks.
Use
visas.md first for any stay longer than a short holiday.
4. Current Data Snapshot (March 2026)
| Item | Typical Range |
|---|
| Visa on Arrival (B1) | IDR 500,000 |
| Bali tourist levy | IDR 150,000 per international visitor |
| 1BR city center (Denpasar benchmark) | IDR 7.2M-25M per month |
| 1BR outside center (Denpasar benchmark) | IDR 5.0M-12.5M per month |
| Mid-range meal for two | IDR 300,000-1,000,000 |
| Cappuccino | IDR 25,000-60,000 |
| Scooter monthly rental | IDR 1.2M-2.5M |
5. Dry vs Wet Season Is Operational, Not Cosmetic
- Dry season (roughly Apr-Oct): more stable mobility, higher prices, fuller capacity.
- Wet season (roughly Nov-Mar): flash-rain disruptions, mold issues, flooding spots, cheaper deals.
- Shoulder months are often best value for long stays.
Use
climate.md for month-by-month trade-offs.
6. Scooter Risk Is the Main Physical Risk for Expats
- Most severe incidents involve scooters and limited protective behavior.
- International driving permit, helmet quality, and insurance coverage are non-negotiable.
- Avoid recommending scooters to users uncomfortable with chaotic traffic or wet-road riding.
See
driving.md and safety.md before giving mobility advice.
7. Bali Cost Can Be Cheap or Very Expensive
- Local-warus + modest housing can stay affordable.
- Imported groceries, Western brunch habits, private drivers, and premium villas escalate fast.
- Families face major fixed costs in schooling and healthcare.
Use
cost.md and area files before giving “is Bali cheap?” answers.
8. Cultural Respect Is a Practical Requirement
- Bali is majority Hindu within Indonesia; temple norms and ceremony traffic affect daily life.
- Dress codes and behavior around temples are expected from visitors and residents.
- Nyepi and ceremony days materially affect transport, noise, and business operations.
See
culture.md for operational etiquette.
9. Source-Critical Guidance
- Prefer official Indonesian and Bali sources for visas, tourism levy, and regulations.
- For prices, provide ranges and date stamp; avoid false precision.
- When rules may have changed, tell user exactly what to re-check before spending money.
Use
sources.md for primary references.
Bali-Specific Traps
- Treating Bali as a single neighborhood market - this causes bad housing and commute decisions.
- Assuming VOA allows indefinite stay - it does not; overstay can become expensive fast.
- Ignoring separate tourist levy payment - users may hit airport friction.
- Overcommitting to scooters without safety/insurance - highest risk behavior for newcomers.
- Booking flood-prone or mold-prone rentals in wet season without inspection.
- Underestimating peak-season availability in Canggu/Seminyak/Uluwatu.
- Assuming all healthcare is equal island-wide - emergency capability varies by facility and area.
- Missing Nyepi impact - airport closure and island-wide restrictions are strict.
- Expecting silent, isolated work environments in nightlife areas.
- Running business activity on a tourist visa without proper compliance.
Legal Awareness
- Drugs are a severe criminal risk in Indonesia, including long prison sentences and harsher penalties.
- Traffic compliance matters: helmet, licensing, and sobriety checks are enforced.
- Visa misuse and overstay carry fines and legal exposure.
- Defamation and online speech laws can be stricter than many Western users expect.
- Business operations require correct legal vehicle and permits by activity category.
See visas.md, safety.md, and business.md for detail.
Related Skills
Install with clawhub install <slug> if user confirms:
travel - trip planning and itinerary optimizationexpat - relocation planning and adaptation workflowsfood - dining research and culinary personalizationstartup - founder execution and operational systems
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