Other Countries

When Will Bali Reopen For Foreign Visitors In 2022 part 2 – Pros and Cons of Moving to Bali

When Will Bali Reopen For Foreign Visitors In 2022 part 2 – Part one is here.

Overview of the Pros and Cons of Moving to Bali

Pros

1.    Explore All That Bali Has To Offer

If you are interested in building a business or relationship with the Balinese people, it would mean living in Bali for at least six months. During this time, you will explore the island and meet its very friendly people who love guests.

You can see many unique places that most tourists don’t even know about. There are also many exciting activities available such as surfing, diving, and visiting ancient temples and places of art and history, that will make your stay in Bali an unforgettable experience.

2.    A New Focus on Business

The preparations for COVID-19 have led to a big shift in how a lot of people’s work is being done. If you need to set up an office for your company, this could be the perfect time to build it in Bali because fewer other businesses are competing with yours at the moment.

3.    Meet and Network With People

If you want to build relationships and increase your business contacts, Bali is a much better choice than many other places in the world. This is because it is such a popular tourist destination that everyone loves going there, which means that nearly all important players tend to visit at some point.

4.    A Great Place to Learn New Things

Since Bali is becoming an increasingly popular choice with business people, there are many opportunities for you to learn new things that will help your career both in Bali and back at home. You could attend seminars or classes on certain topics of interest to you, which would be more convenient than traveling to another country.

5.    Everything Is Close By

For the most part, things are very close in Bali. The island is not very big, so you will find that everything necessary for your daily life is located within one area. It takes only about an hour to travel from north to south, or 30 minutes from east to west. This means that you will not waste too much of your time traveling, and you can instead focus on things that are important to you.

6.    Great Food All Over the Island

There is an endless variety of mouthwatering foods available in Bali, with each sub-region having something delicious to offer its visitors. Many restaurants use fresh local ingredients that you can take advantage of during your stay.

7.    Avoid Stress

With the increase in COVID-19, many people are under a lot of pressure to get everything done as quickly as possible. However, if you decide to live in Bali, those pressures will be nonexistent, and you will have much more time on your hands for the things you want to do.

8.    A Growing Economy

Bali is a great tourist destination that continues to grow in popularity, which means the economic opportunities are always increasing. In fact, according to Forbes magazine, it can be one of the best places for you to start a new business because it will be fairly straightforward, and you will have a steady customer base even if the business is still new.

9.    Gain Entrepreneurial Experience

Since Bali is becoming an increasingly popular choice for entrepreneurs, you are sure to find plenty of people who are interested in doing business with someone from your home country or city. This means that you can build your networks while living in Bali and establish yourself as a reliable and efficient business person.

10. The Internet Is Super-Fast

Many people considering moving to Bali claim that the main thing they’re looking forward to is having super-fast internet since there has been evidence that it can be 15 times faster than what you might find in other countries. This will allow you to work efficiently and conduct business with your clients promptly.

Cons

Cost Of Living

Bali is a very pricey place to live and requires an average of $4,000-5,000 USD per month for rent and other expenses. That’s more than most COVID attendees can afford on their own, so many resorts to shared housing with groups of roommates. While living with others means you’re more likely to meet lifelong friends, you can also expect a problematic roommate situation.

Limited Flight Availability from Your City Of Origin

Flying from the US or Canada into Bali is no easy feat and involves long-haul flights that take around 22+ hours each way (including layovers) and cost almost USD 1,000. This means that you’re likely to fly for a full day to get to COVID-19, and it could take days or even weeks to return home after the conference.

Small Community Size

Because Bali is such a small island, it’s tough to meet people at local events. Hotels are prohibitively expensive, so the more affordable resorts are 45 minutes away from downtown. Your social life will most likely revolve around the hotel where you stay and your roommates, which is fine if you enjoy their company but can make it hard to meet new people.

No-Go Party Zone

If you want to go out partying or clubbing, you can forget about it. Bali has no nightlife because alcohol is forbidden by local law there. There are definitely bars and cafes where you can drink coffee or tea, but if your goal is to party all weekend, this might not be the place for you.

Safety Risks

Beware of petty theft like pickpocketing and theft of personal belongings (such as passports or laptops). Not all forms of crime are petty, though; you’re also at risk of encountering violent crime like muggings. Many locals carry weapons to protect themselves because they don’t trust the authorities.

Limited Cultural Activities

Bali isn’t the most culturally advanced country; they mostly stick to their Hindu religion and don’t embrace multiculturalism. Furthermore, they’re not accepting of LGBT people (the only exception is Uluwatu), so if you’re openly gay or transgender, this is not the place for you.

Poor Communication

Some people might struggle with communication because of the language barrier. Bali is a primarily Indonesian island, and most locals don’t speak English well enough for you to communicate without an interpreter. If you’re not comfortable speaking either English or Indonesian, this could make it hard for you to learn about or get around in the country.

Frequently Asked Questions about Bali

What’s living in Bali Like?

Well, living in Bali is like living in any other city, except you get to live on an island. You’ll usually need a motorbike, one of the most common modes of transport in Bali (containing up to 3 people and their belongings) because public transportation is not as good as living in Europe or the US (in fact, it’s worse). Most expats in Bali live in villas, which can be comparable to living in the US, Canada, or Europe.

What’s Balinese food like?

Balinese cuisine is quite distinct from other regions in Indonesia due to geographic and cultural influences. While Indonesian food is mostly spicy with solid flavors, Balinese food tends to be sweeter. The island is also well-known for its variety of fruits.

What kind of climates are there in Bali?

The climate in Bali is tropical, with humidity levels reaching up to 80%. Temperatures range from 19 C during the high season (April) to 30 C during the low season (December). The wet season lasts from October to April, and the dry season begins in May and ends in September.

What is there to do in Bali?

There are several interesting sightseeing opportunities located all over the island, such as Monkey Forest (Ubud), Tanah Lot Temple (Tabanan),  Tirta Empul (Tampaksiring), Pura Melanting (Mengiat), etc. Bali is also well-known for its beaches popular tourist attractions in the island; Kuta Beach, Seminyak Beach, Nusa Dua Beach, Jimbaran Bay, Uluwatu Beach, Sanur Beach, and Amed Beach are some of the most famous.

What is the best way to get around Bali?

The cheapest and most convenient way to explore Bali is by motorbike. It’s also the most popular mode of transport among expats in Bali because it’s cheap (although not as cheap as using local transport like Bemo or Ojek), and it provides good flexibility to move around the city.

What should I bring?

Sunblock, sunglasses, and shoes (if you plan on going to a temple) are recommended. Other necessities include an International driver’s license (recommended), mosquito repellent, activated charcoal tablets, tissues, hand sanitizer, and bottled water.

Conclusion

Living in Bali as an expat presents many opportunities for work, travel, and adventure.  Bali is a tropical island with beautiful beaches and warm weather year-round. Bali is rich in history, art, and culture. It has long been known for its unique blend of traditional Hinduism and Buddhism. Nevertheless, you should refer to this guide to know more about when Bali will reopen for foreign visitors.

Adam Fayed

Recent Posts

Is the UAE the best option for wealthy digital nomads and expats?

Is the UAE the best option for wealthy digital nomads and expats?

1 year ago

Latest Forbes Blog

Latest Forbes Blog

1 year ago

UK interest rates skyrocket – what are the ramifications?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cFqR031b7e8&ab_channel=AdamFayedPodcast%28ExpatandHNWIinvesting%29

2 years ago

What is the biggest indicator of the future direction of the stock market

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wLJl03fCSsI&ab_channel=AdamFayedPodcast%28ExpatandHNWIinvesting%29

2 years ago

FTX collapse – Is this the end of crypto?

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T0xggk1GdWs&ab_channel=AdamFayedPodcast%28ExpatandHNWIinvesting%29

2 years ago

Are investors about to get truly tested?

Are investors about to get truly tested?

2 years ago