Anytime visiting somewhere new, I like to do my research, and Bali was no exception. There are tons of great videos on YouTube that give you insight into how beautiful of an island it is, what there is to do, and tips for making your visit go smoothly.

Leading up to the trip, we probably watched 100 hours of video (no kidding), trying to soak up as much as we could so we felt well-prepared to make the most of our vacation. After visiting and looking back, we wanted to pay it forward and share our top-20 tips for planning your trip and experiencing Bali.

1. Getting over there

We were hoping to use Delta SkyMiles for the trip, but after multiple phone calls to Delta to try to coordinate, we realized that they were unable to get us two tickets over there on the same flights while using miles. While we almost let this derail our plans to visit, we were determined to go, so we migrated to Google flights. Booking about 5-6 months in advance, we were blown away to find flights for less than $900 each on China Southern, which was a great deal compared to the $1,600 Delta wanted for each round-trip ticket, and we had an exceptional experience. Turns out they’re a SkyTeam member, so we actually accrued more Delta SkyMiles on our trip.

Bottom line: It can be pricey to get to the other side of the world, but if you look carefully, you can fly for less than a trip to Europe. Also do your research about high season vs. the rainy season so you can get the most out of your trip.

2. Finding accommodation

Once we had our flights booked, next we started looking into accommodation. Staying at a mix of well-know Western hotel brands (think Sheraton and the Grand Hyatt), AirBnb and a small independent hotel, one thing became very clear: We appreciated the more authentic experiences vs. the mega hotels. Our stay at our AirBnb was by far our favorite — a complete indoor/outdoor compound with a home-cooked breakfast each morning while staying in the heart of an Ubud neighborhood. Next was the independent hotel, which had all the modern amenities, but was still unique in its own right. While the Hyatt was a five-star hotel and very lovely, we felt like we were staying at the Disney World of Bali; it just wasn’t as authentic of an experience as we had been accustomed to the entire trip.

Bottom line: Book at a mix of places, including AirBnb. Stay at a well-known hotel if you’re looking for convenience, and seek out the small hotels and villas that you can’t find back at home.

3. Arrive refreshed

This was, by far, our longest trip to date — it took 44 hours to get there (but we did have a very long layover in China). Because Bali is 12 hours ahead of Eastern Time (and you can only watch so many movies), we wanted to try to sleep as much as we could on the plane. We purchased these travel pillows for the trip that were amazing and made it so comfortable to sleep upright, brought our Tempur-Pedic sleeping masks and stocked up on melatonin before we left. Those three things combined equaled me sleeping for about 10 hours out of the 14 it took to get from Los Angeles to China.

Bottom line: How much you’re able to rest getting over there has a direct impact on how quickly you’ll be able to adjust to the serious time difference.

4. What to bring

We hear it all the time, but packing light is essential. I thought I was packing light (and I actually did much better than I usually do), but still brought way too much. I didn’t use or wear about 40% of what I packed. Some recommendations:

• Utilize laundry services: It’s very easy and inexpensive to get laundry done on the trip, so if you’re going for two weeks, bring a week’s worth of clothes and get them washed mid-trip. We did a full load of laundry for less than $8.

• Waterproof pouch for camera: Instead of an underwater camera, buy a waterproof phone pouch for your iPhone to capture all of those great water shots. We got ours for around $7.

• Nice camera: If you have a DSLR, it’s 100% worth lugging it over there. The potential for photography will inspire you, and you’ll be disappointed if you don’t bring it.

• Leave your hair appliances: I even knew better, but I brought my straightener, plugged it in and fried it. So for two reasons: 1) You’ll break it, and 2) you actually really won’t want to straighten your hair over there — leave your expensive hair appliances at home.

• Flats and flip-flops: Only bring flats — no heels — on the trip. After being there for nearly two weeks, I did not see ANYONE wearing heels. I brought cute flats and rubber flip-flops, and I wore my rubber flip-flops nearly every day because they were the most practical. Practicality wins in Bali.

• Bluetooth speaker: Bring your speaker to stream music while you’re hanging out on the many patios and lanais, and create your playlists in advance. You’ll be thankful you did.

• Sunscreen and bug spray: We brought three bottles of spray sunscreen and ran out with about three days left in the trip. I mention to bring enough sunscreen, because we had to buy some at a local shop, and it was NEARLY $30 for one bottle! So while nearly everything else in Bali is inexpensive, sunscreen is not. And bring bug spray because you’ll be in the jungle. Enough said.

Bottom line: You’ll be constantly on the go, and Bali is a rather simplistic place, so bring less than you think you’ll need. Worst-case scenario, you can buy clothes and accessories over there if you feel you’re missing something.

5. Prep before you go

There are a couple things, while not super fun to complete, that you’ll want to do before you head out:

• Get vaccinations: Due to waterborne illness and just being in a very different part of the world, I highly recommend to visit your primary care physician, tell him/her where you’re going, and have them make recommendations on what vaccines to get. Because we did this, we felt we were able to participate in more activities and be a bit more adventurous on the trip. It was well-worth it.

• Tell your bank you’re leaving: Might seem obvious, but we’re glad we did this. We gave our bank our travel dates and where we were going, so when we had fraudulent ATM charges on our debit card after we had returned home, they immediately flagged it and refunded our money.

• Get travel insurance: If you plan on driving around on a scooter while you’re there, definitely get travel insurance in the event that you crash. The locals affectionately call tourists’ scrapes and road-rash burns “Balinese Tattoos,” and it seemed everywhere we looked, we saw a tourist with a bandage on the knee or elbow. Insurance will come in handy if you get injured, and injury is likely enough.

Bottom line: If you only do one of these things, get vaccinated. While my husband was the one who pushed for it, I’m glad we did. It allowed us to participate in ritual water baths, eat all kinds of food and not be afraid to brush our teeth.

6. Visit multiple places

While Bali is a small island, there is SO much to see and do. The biggest piece of advice is to move around during your stay. Go to Ubud, visit Nusa Penida and travel around the island. While it may seem you’re far away from things, you can easily get from city to city within an hour or so, depending on traffic. Each region or city each has its own feel, so you’ll want to take more than just a day trip to really get a feel for it.

We highly recommend Ubud, and we would have stayed there longer if we would have known how amazing it was. We also went over to Nusa Lembongan because we wanted to see the natural, untouched beauty of Nusa Penida (which is still pretty remote and doesn’t yet have a resort on it). While having also visited Seminyak and Nusa Dua, we’d skip over these places next time and go somewhere different.

Make a list of the things you want to see, and bring it with you. Locals will help you plan your days so you get the most out of your trip.

Bottom line: Move around, but tune in to those places that you’ll want to stay at longer. This can be easily judged by your “must-see list” for each location.

7. Hire a private driver

As mentioned about the Balinese Tattoos, driving motorbikes in Bali is not for the faint of heart. It’s busy, traffic flows opposite of how it does in the states, and there are very little rules of the road, so it’s kinda a free for all. We’d recommend using a private driver vs. trying to get around on your own (plus, we could never understand how people knew where the heck they were going and how they wouldn’t constantly get lost). Plus, with all that time in the car, you really get to know your driver, learn more about the island and culture, get to ask questions, and make new friends.

If you want a recommendation, I can connect you with the best tour guide and personal assistant on the island. Private all-day tours with your own guide in a van/SUV with AC will cost you, on average, $50-$60 a day.

Bottom line: While motorbikes are everywhere, they’re more for the locals. Utilize the expertise and hospitality of local drivers and guides.

8. Eat authentically

Indonesian food is some of the best that I’ve ever had. Nasi Goreng, one of the most popular dishes, was a staple for breakfast, lunch and dinner — and it was cheap, coming in at around $4 a plate. If you like spices, rice and being adventurous when it comes to food, Bali is a great place to experiment. While known for its smoothie bowls and “clean eats,” this type of food isn’t what the locals eat. I probably ate my body’s weight in rice, but enjoyed every bite.

One bit of warning too: Careful with eating from carts or street food. Stick to more well-established restaurants where you’re more likely to not get sick from the food.

Bottom line: Be adventurous with your food choices, eat rice for breakfast and try their hand-squeezed juices (they were divine).

9. Know where you want to go

There’s so much to do in Bali. I can’t wait to go back because I feel that while we did a lot, we still have so much more to see. Here’s a quick rundown of our itinerary and what we did in each place:

• Seminyak: A place for shopping, restaurants and many well-known hotels, Seminyak is a popular destination for expats and tourists. We began here because of proximity to the airport, walked around, watched the sunset from the W, and went to Potato Head. Aside from that, we didn’t really think there was that much to do there.

• Ubud: Known as the cultural center of Bali, it’s inland in the “jungle” (which we were told was actually a forest), has cooler temps, is filled with artisans and is up and coming. This, by far, was our favorite place, and there’s so much to do in the area. We went and learned about how coffee and teas are made, went on giant swings suspended from coconut trees, visited rice terraces, hung with elephants, went to the Monkey Forest, saw a massive waterfall, participated in a ritual at a holy water temple and more. We can’t recommend Ubud enough.

• Nusa Lembongan: Nusa Lembongan is a small island about 12 miles off the coast of Bali that looks back at Mount Agung, the active volcano. It takes about 40 minutes to get over there via speedboat, and is a piece of paradise within paradise itself. Here we swam with manta rays and went snorkeling, went on a hike, and watched the amazing sunsets and surfers riding massive waves. In addition, you can easily go scuba diving, paddle boarding and chill on the beach. And once you’re over there, you have to visit Nusa Penida for all of its natural wonders, including Angel’s Billabong, Kelingking Beach and Broken Beach.

• Nusa Dua: Our last stop was Nusa Dua mainly because it’s close to the airport and we had some Hyatt points burning a hole in our pocket. Nusa Dua is the resort area, with all the five-star hotels in one highly guarded and beautifully landscaped area. While manicured, accessible and next to the beach, we wouldn’t come back to this area. It’s where they have all their big events and conferences, and felt a bit overdone for the simplicity of Bali.

Bottom line: Visit Ubud for as long as you can; it was our highlight of the trip.

10. Talk to locals and hotel staff

Ask hotel staff and other locals about what you want to see and do while you’re in any particular area. We had the nicest guys (two friends!) take us on an all-day Nusa Penida tour by asking around and being open, and this was one of the best days on our trip. Everyone uses WhatsApp, so download it before you go so you can connect and stay in touch using wifi.

Bottom line: If you want to go and see things, you’re not limited to tour companies and packaged deals. Everyone we met was so friendly and gracious, and would love to host you on their island.

11. Wifi is everywhere

I was surprised to learn that the wifi was good and plentiful around Bali. Every restaurant and all accommodation hosted wifi for paying guests.

Bottom line: Don’t worry about staying constantly connected.

12. Get massages

The exchange rate from USD to Indonesian Rupiah made everything we wanted to do and buy very affordable, especially for services such as massage. We had two experienced masseuses come to us for a 1.5-hour couples massage for around $20 each, including tip. While there are numerous spas, it’s more effective to arrange services through your guide or assistant, so you’ll save even more by having them come to you.

Bottom line: Indulge and take advantage of it — it was the best massage of my life.

13. Expect to be able to easily communicate

English is the primary language after their native, and all directions, menus and the primary way that tourists communicate is in English. But don’t expect to see a lot of Americans in Bali. The majority of tourists are from China, India, Australia and Europe. Many locals had no idea where we were from because they couldn’t pick up on our accent, and many were surprised that we were from the U.S. just because it is so far away.

Bottom line: You’ll have no trouble communicating as long as you can listen past thick accents.

14. Plan early-morning trips

Bali gets hot and busy in the afternoons, so if you have sight you really want to see, it’s best to do it first-thing. Often morning outings started at 8 a.m., but we were able to see things before the crowds of tourists rolled in. So going to bed a bit early and rising early is the name of the game. Bali is much more beautiful when you’re not waiting in line to get the perfect photo or see the main attraction.

Bottom line: Get up early if you want to beat the crowds. It’s so worth it.

15. Expect to pay to use the restroom

It can be hard to find a restroom when you’re out and about, and if you happen to come across one, expect to pay a very small fee (which would most of the time be less than $0.40), so make sure you’re always carrying small bills. Also restrooms can be heavily trafficked, so also keep hand sanitizer and tissues or toilet paper with you in your bag. Most of the public fee-based restrooms didn’t have working sinks or toilet paper.

Bottom line: Preparation is the name of the game here.

16. Be willing to negotiate everything

Unless you’re in a corporate entity (think larger stores and hotels), you can negotiate anything. Often the first price they tell you is marked up at least 50% from what they’re willing to sell it to you for. So for everything from clothes and souvenirs to tours and trips, be willing to play the negotiation dancing game to get to a price that you’re both comfortable with.

Bottom line: The locals expect it and enjoy the process and interaction.

17. Wine is pricey (relatively speaking)

Beer and cocktails are very affordable on the island, but because wine (or the grapes) has to be imported, it’s much pricier. An average glass of Indonesian wine would run between $6 and $7, compared to $1 or $2 for a Bintang, which is their local brew. Taxes on imported alcohol are high, so the Balinese import their grapes from Australia, then produce the actual wine on the Island. And the wine was actually very tasty and well-worth the price point.

It was interesting to see California wines (think the cheap stuff at the local gas station) being sold for $20 to $30 a bottle, but the local Two Islands wine (my favorite) would come in at around $15 a bottle. Because I’m a wine-drinker, we would find grocery stores and wine shops to purchase wine from, then chill it in our fridge or ask the hotel to bring a bucket of ice. I’d be shocked to learn how much money this saved us in the long run.

Bottom line: If you like wine as much as I do, buy it from shops so you don’t break the bank at bars and restaurants.

18. Watch currency exchange places for fairness

We ended up traveling over to the island with about $200, just to be safe and make sure we had cash on us. Eventually this entailed getting it exchanged for Indonesian Rupiah. While there are many places to exchange, be careful and pay attention when you’re there. Ensure their posted exchange rate is close to what current rates are, and don’t be afraid to pull out your phone (calculator) to do the math while exchanging.

Bottom line: It’s easier to just use their ATMs, which were everywhere, to get cash. It will save you headaches (and a lot of math) in the long run.

19. Be smart about swimming in the ocean

I grew up around the water and consider myself a strong swimmer, but I still didn’t want to mess with Mother Nature in Bali. While the ocean and beaches were breathtaking, the waves, tides and currents were strong. Locals would advise us to only swim in certain bays and to not go past our waist without a life vest.

Bottom line: While the ocean can be alluring, be safe and use your head about where you go swimming and during what times of day.

20. Be open to stepping outside your comfort zone

Visiting this majestic island was THE absolute highlight of my travels to date. Between the new, Eastern culture and religion, the immediate connection to nature and being outside, and the endless list of things to do, you have to travel over there with an open heart and be willing to go with the flow and embrace all the differences. I was surprised, at times, to see how poor — compared to American standards — it was in areas, but this island and its people are some of the richest I’ve ever encountered.

Bottom line: Bali will change you — and how you feel about this lovely planet — forever.