Bali Welcome Call

Save the date! This is our opportunity to gather virtually on camera and meet each other, ask questions, and get oriented ahead of our training retreat experience.

Time: March 12, 2026 07:00 PM Central Time (US and Canada)
Duration: Approx 60 minutes
Join Zoom Meeting:
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/83017609781?pwd=IXFjtoTG0JPL2Z2iLPeKD5Pb4lp1WB.1

Meeting ID: 830 1760 9781
Passcode: 167414

The Hidden Gem Awaiting Us

Peek into the eco-retreat center which will be our home away from home, and discover its rustic, natural beauty. Inside, you’ll find details about our spaces, along with the café menu, and spa offerings designed to help you relax and recharge.

Be Travel Ready

Please note that information in this planning guide and our checklists is provided as a courtesy, and may contain errors or omissions. Verify travel and customs requirements and guidelines directly with the Bali government as they may periodically change. You are responsible for your own travel and entry to and from Bali. Fill out this Add-Ons Form asap, to select the options that will enhance your Bali experience. They are available for a limited time. Fill out your Travel Details Form once you've purchased your flight and travel insurance.

Do you have a passport?

Yes - Check the date on your passport and make sure it doesn't expire until at least 6 months after your Bali trip. It must also have two blank visa pages. Otherwise, renew it right away.

No - Apply for it right away. Plan ahead and allow time for delays in processing and shipping to maximize your chances of receiving it in time. In the USA, you can apply for a passport by appointment at your local post office.

Booking Your Flight

Compare Airlines

• Use fare comparison sites such as Google Flights to find the best deals.
  
  
• Look at baggage limits and fees, as they will differ by airline. Factor them into your ticket cost.
  
  
• Consider booking directly with the airline instead of a third-party website. It can be beneficial to deal directly with the airline, especially if you need to make changes or encounter delays. 
  
  
• When booking, Enter your Global Entry number, or Known Traveler number/TSA Pre number if you have one, for potentially reduced security wait times in the USA. 
  
  
• Contact the airline after booking if you notice a significant price drop. You might be able to get a price adjustment.
  

Choose an Itinerary

• The fastest route may not be the best route. Layovers of at least 3 hours are recommended to ensure you can comfortably go from one plane to the next (which may include transferring terminals,  rechecking your luggage, and getting your passport checked). 
  
  
• Look carefully at the departure and arrival time and date for each leg of your journey. Due to crossing timezones you may land on a different date than you took off. 
   
• Check the time and duration of each of your layovers. If your layover is long consider booking a nearby hotel so you can get some rest. Or you may wish to explore the sights during your layover. The airport may have a vendor renting luggage storage.
  
  
  
  
  

Get Travel Perks

• Sign up for the Airline's Loyalty Program and enter your loyalty number when booking your flight to have this trip count for 'airline miles' towards a future flight.
  
  
• Use miles from your existing loyalty program towards your flight, if applicable, to fly free.
  
  
• Book your flight using the airline's credit card, if you have it. They may give you 'double miles' for your purchase.
  
  
• If you don't have their credit card, the airline might offer you hundreds of dollars off the flight just for signing up for their card when you are booking your flight online. Other benefits of the card might include free baggage, earning miles for everyday shopping, and no foreign exchange fees on purchases.
  
  
  
  

Don't Forget These Add-Ons:

Important To-Do's:

1. Purchase travel insurance right away to help protect yourself and your investment in case of the unexpected, such as trip cancellation, delay, or emergency medical or dental treatment. 
2. Research the requirements for entry into Bali, Indonesia (and any other countries you are visiting).
3. Check Your Passport to ensure it meets all the requirements.
4. Purchase your round-trip airfare. 
5. Add-on the optional 'Iconic Bali' Pre-Retreat package, and 'Immersive Bali' Post Retreat package if you will be joining us for these.
6. Add-on our optional VIP car service from and to the airport in Bali for trusted door-to-door concierge service.

You may view/print our month-by-month Planning List at the top of this page.

Destination - Bali, Indonesia

The Airport: in Bali, Indonesia is Ngurah Rai International Airport (DPS), better known locally as Denpasar Airport.

The Retreat Center: We will be staying in a small village near Ubud's Sacred Monkey Forest, which is centrally located, and about 90 minutes drive from the airport. 

Wifi: The Retreat Center has Wifi but it may not be available in your room, or at speeds and connectivity you're used to.

Drinking Water: Don't drink tap water in Bali. The restaurant at the retreat center serves mineral water, which is safe to drink. It also provides unlimited mineral water in your room. Bring your own reusable water bottle, ideally not plastic. At offsite restaurants ask if they use filtered water (including for their ice).

Save the Environment: Bring a reusable tote bag, or buy our Bali Tote Bag. Bali recently implemented a full ban on single-use plastics such as bags and straws in response to the environmental effects of plastic pollution. 

The Weather: It's going to be hot and humid in Bali. In April it's typically between 73-88 degrees F with mostly sunny days and some rain.

Currency: The currency in Bali is the Rupiah. Exchange rates fluctuate daily. $1 USD is equal to approximately 16,000 Rupiah as of Sept 1, 2025.

Language: The main language is Balinese. In Bali many people speak excellent English because Bali's economy depends heavily on tourism.

Outlets: Bali has round, two-pronged, CEE7 electrical outlets. The voltage is 230 volts / 50 Hz. Depending on where you live, you may need an adapter in order to plug in your devices.

Packing: Save room in your luggage for making purchases—the shopping in Bali is great! There is a packing list at the top of this page which you can print.

All About Bali

• The currency in Bali is the Rupiah. Exchange rates fluctuate daily. $1 USD is equal to approximately 16,000 Rupiah as of Jan 1, 2025.
  
  
• Indonesia is an archipelago of over 17,000 islands, 6000 of which are occupied.
  
  
• The main religion in Bali is Hindu, while for most of the other islands it is Muslim
  
  
• You will see handmade Hindu offerings on the ground and sidewalks, be careful not to step on them.
  
  
• To go to temples in Bali, men and women need to cover shoulders and wear sarongs and a waist sash.
  
  
• Because Bali is mainly Hindu and in the Hindu religion the cow is sacred, you will not normally find beef in Balinese food.
  
  
  

• Traditional Balinese family homes are compounds with many small open air structures and temples, in a garden.
  
  
• Balinese is the main language of Bali.
  
  
• A common way to say 'thank you' is ‘Terima kasih’
  
  
• Hello in Balinese is ‘Om suastiastu’
  
  
• Please in Balinese is ‘Tolong’
  
  
• In Bali almost everyone speaks excellent English because Bali's economy depends heavily on tourism. 
  
  
• The emergency number in Bali is 112 (not 911). 
  
  
• There are four typical names and these show the birth order: Wayan: firstborn, Made or Kadek: second born, Nyoman or Komang: third born, and Ketut: fourth born. (5th Wayan Balik “starts over”) 
  

Special Announcement

Orgasmic Birth Founder, Debra Pascali Bonaro, will be our special guest during one of our Starlight Sister Circles! Debra is a world-renowned author, director, and doula trainer. She is also Co-Chair of the International Childbirth Initiative, and Chair of the International MotherBaby Childbirth Initiative.

Donate to Bumi Sehat Birth Center

If you'd like to donate to this wonderful nonprofit, view their wishlist of most needed items. Feel free to ask your community for their support in contributing vital items for you to bring and give to Bumi Sehat.

Navigating International Travel

Do you feel a little nervous about traveling by yourself, especially internationally? We hope this information helps to put your mind at ease.

• English signage is everywhere in major international airports. Gate numbers, baggage claim, customs, security, and transfers are usually clearly marked in English.

• Airport staff are used to helping international travelers. If you feel unsure at any point, ask, “Can you help me find my gate/connecting flight/security?”

• In your layover airport(s), follow the signs for “Transfers” or “Connecting Flights” instead of going to baggage claim (unless your airline tells you otherwise). When you check your bag at your originating airport, ask if you will collect it at your final destination or if you need to collect it and recheck it at your layover airport(s).

• Give yourself extra time so you can move at a comfortable pace and not get in a time crunch if you need to ask for directions or wait in long lines.

• Screens are your best friend. Once you find a "Departures" board, look for your next flight number. It will tell you the gate number and the status of the flight. Be aware that your gate may change at any time. Listen for announcements and check the board for updates.

Preparing for Your Journey

Travel Visa, Customs, Forms, Meds

• Do this at least one month prior to travel: Pay your Tourist Levy Tax (approx $9) and keep the QR code on you at all times in Bali to prove you have paid it.
  
  
• You must have a Visa to enter Bali. Tourists from most countries can purchase a 'Visa on Arrival' with cash (Dollars/Euros/Rupiah) or Mastercard for approx $35 USD when they arrive at the Bali airport, which allows you to be in the country as a tourist for 30 days including your travel days. Or you can get your 'B1 Standard Tourist Visa' online in advance of your travel. The advantage of getting your Visa in the airport is that it is much simpler to do, the disadvantage is that you might wait in a line.
  
  
• Have a copy of your round-trip airline reservation on your phone or printed out to show customs if they request it. Keep your boarding passes from all of your flights.
  
  
• Bring your passport (and one copy of it in a separate bag), and give a second copy of it and your other travel documents to your emergency contact for safekeeping.
  
  
• You must complete the SATUSEHAT Health Pass (free) within 48 hours of your departure to Indonesia. The form can be accessed and submitted online through the official Indonesian Ministry of Health’s website. Keep the record and QR code to show the Health Quarantine Officer. 
  
  
• Technically the value allowed per person for electronics and other goods is USD $500, but this is generally not enforced for items that are clearly your personal items, like laptops, phones, and cameras.
  
  
• Bali has very strict drug laws. Your prescription medication may not be legal in Bali. Talk to your doctor about alternate medications that are allowed in Bali. Declare all medications on your customs form. See this blog and this blog for more information on restricted pharmaceuticals. 

Travel Insurance & Notifications

• Purchase travel insurance as soon as you register for the training retreat, to help protect yourself and your investment (in the training retreat and your travel) from the unexpected. Make sure your total amount of reimbursement will be sufficient to cover the cost of your flight and your training retreat.
  
  
• Choose travel insurance that reimburses you for cancellation, in case you are unable to attend, or the retreat is canceled. View the conditions under which you will be reimbursed for cancellation. As per our terms and conditions, there are no refunds or future credits for any reason, even if the retreat does not take place. 
  
  
• Your health insurance will not be accepted in Bali. Be sure your travel insurance policy covers emergency medical and dental care. 
  
  
• Take a look at a policy such as the one World Nomads offers, to see if it meets your needs. A week-long policy will typically cost about $100 USD. Read the actual policy to understand what it does and does not cover.
  
  
• Notify your credit card companies of your travel destination and dates of travel to ensure your credit card will be functional in Bali. Find out what fees you will be charged for ATM withdrawals or foreign exchange fees. The Eco-Retreat Center accepts Visa and Mastercard.
  
  
• Call your cell phone provider to find out if your cell phone will work in Ubud, and what the cost will be for calls and texts.
  
  
• For iphone users, iMessage and FaceTime are free to use internationally as long as you are connected to Wi-Fi. Turning on airplane mode prevents your phone from using cellular data while still allowing you to access Wi-Fi. There is limited Wi-Fi at the Eco-Retreat Center, at the reception area.
  
  
• Consider Downloading WhatsApp, a free app you can use to make free calls and texts (to other WhatsApp users) and ask your family to do the same. We will have a group chat in WhatsAPP during the retreat, to communicate as a group.
  
  

Airport Security Checks

• Familiarize yourself with TSA guidelines in the USA, or the airport security guidelines in your country, and the countries you will have a layover in to avoid delays and having any of your items taken away.
  
  
• Make sure essential items like medications, money, and travel documents are in your purse or carry-on bag, not your checked bag. Checked baggage can sometimes get delayed or lost. Keep your medications and vitamins in their original labeled containers. 
  
  
• Have your passport and boarding pass ready for the security officer to check. 
  
  
• In the USA, if you have TSA Pre, look for the designated lanes to save time during security and you may not have to take out your liquids or take off your shoes.
  
  
• Familiarize yourself with your airline's baggage policies and that of any partner airlines. Measure and weigh your bags carefully at home, to avoid any surprises at the airport. Unlike in the USA, other countries often have weight limits on carry-on bags and personal items. Sometimes this is a combined weight limit for all the items you are bringing onboard. 
  
  
• While traveling, keep some emergency cash and a credit card in a separate place, apart from your main cash and credit cards. 
  
  
• Once you get to the Retreat Center you may lock your passport and valuables in a locker and (carry a paper copy of your passport with you). 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Check-In Early for Flight

• You may want to check in 24 hours in advance online. You'll need your passport handy and the number of bags you are checking.
  
  
• Review the carry-on and checked baggage policies for every flight on your itinerary, and measure and weigh your packed bags yourself before you travel to ensure they are compliant.
  
  
• Arrive at the airport 3 hours early for international flights. 
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  
  

Currency Exchange and ATMs

• You will need some local currency (Rupiah). Use Mastercard or Visa Credit Cards (only) to withdraw Rupiah from Bank ATMs in Ubud. There are no ATMs in the village. It's a good idea to exchange some currency at the airport exchange counter before you go to the retreat center. Local cash is useful to have on hand for purchases, and you can often negotiate with the vendors.
  
  
• When you get to the retreat center you will use a Visa or Mastercard credit card to set up your account, and then you can make incidental charges to your account, such as for the spa and restaurant. You will pay for these charges when you check out. At checkout you can pay with Rupiah or Visa or Mastercard. There is a standard added processing fee of 3% if you pay with credit card instead of cash. 
  
  
• $100 USD a day spending money should be plenty, not including special purchases like art, crafts, jewelry, or souvenirs.
  
  

Vaccines

• In case you're curious about how I prepare, I've never gotten vaccines or taken any medications for my travels to Indonesia, and I've never had any issues. But I'd suggest talking over the CDC guidelines with your healthcare provider and following their recommendations.

• Here is what the CDC recommends
  
  
• Malaria is not a problem in Ubud. Also, the retreat center provides mosquito nets around the beds.
  
  

Health Precautions

• When you're in airports, traveling, or eating at buffets, wash your hands or use hand sanitizer frequently and especially before eating.
  
  
• The tap water in Bali is not safe for tourists. You will be provided with unlimited mineral water during our retreat. Bring a reusable water bottle or purchase our keepsake water bottle. Use the mineral water when brushing your teeth also. You can also purchase bottled water in Ubud.
   
• We will provide a list of nearby restaurants that we have vetted for food safety. If you eat elsewhere, ask to be sure they use bottled water to wash the fresh fruits and vegetables, and for the ice cubes and frozen drinks. Otherwise it would be a good idea to decline ice, and only eat cooked foods.

Arriving in Bali

• When you arrive in DPS (Denpasar) airport in Bali, you will follow the immigration signs. There are a few things you will need to do before you are cleared to enter Bali.

  
  

  Get your VOA (Tourist Visa on Arrival):

  Once you enter the customs hall you will look for the VOA sign. Wait in line and then be sure to have CASH for your visa to enter Bali in case they do not accept your credit card. The cost is approx $35 USD and they also accept Euros and Rupiah. Keep the paper Visa they give to you, with your passport, the whole time you are in Bali.
  
  Health Quarantine Officer: show them your QR code from your SATUSEHAT Health Pass 

  Immigration Desk:

  If you are traveling together you can typically approach the counter together. Present your passport, your VOA, and your boarding pass from your flight to Bali. They may ask for your tourist tax QR code, return flight itinerary, for where you are staying in Bali (you are staying in Ubud), for your hotel reservation (I will email it to you before the retreat), and for how many days you will be in Bali total (cannot exceed 30 including your arrival and departure days). They will take your photo (remove your glasses and hat). 

  Customs Declarations:

  There is a large QR code on a poster. Scan it with your phone and fill out your customs declarations online. Answer the questions and submit. You will get a QR code as your confirmation. Take a screenshot of this. You will need to show it on your way out. 

• Turning on airplane mode prevents your phone from using cellular data. It will still be able to use wifi.
  
  
• In Bali many people speak excellent English because Bali's economy depends heavily on tourism. So you should be able to communicate without any difficulty in the airport and during customs.
  
  
• Pick up your luggage and head toward the exit. You may be selected to have your bags screened. 
  
  
• After customs, when you walk through the doors into the airport lobby, you'll see a driver with your name on a sign, ready to bring you to the Eco-Retreat Center (if you purchased our VIP transport add-on). 
  
  
• Check-in is between 2pm-4pm and check out is by noon. Allow time for customs at the airport, which can take 60+ minutes, and travel from the airport, which can take 90+ minutes. If you arrive before check in time you can enjoy the retreat amenities while you await your room. Retreat festivities begin with our Poolside Meet and Greet at 4pm on April 17. If you have registered for the Pre-Retreat, it begins with a sightseeing trip at 8:30 AM on April 17.
  
  
• Tipping is common in Bali, for drivers, servers, massage therapists, bartenders, cleaning staff. Check your bill to see if a tax and service charge is already included. At the retreat center restaurant there is no need to leave a tip on the table. A tax and service fee of 21% is added to your food and beverage orders.
  

Suggestions to maximize your Bali experience

Bali Issued New Tourist Rules in October 2025 

Here are the latest rules and regulations for tourists, direct from the Balinese government.

We can't wait to see you at the 2026 Bali Bliss Eco-Retreat!

Our retreat registration page contains lots of information you may wish to revisit: click here.