I visited Bali early 2019 and had the best time of my life. I documented the experience on my various social media platforms and many people (especially Nigerians) reached out to me to find out how I got my visa to Bali as a Nigerian Passport holder. I had to confess that I used my British passport for entry as Nigerian passport holders do require a visa and the process is indeed VERY TEDIOUS after doing my research.
I called the Indonesian embassy in Abuja, Nigeria and reached out to the Indonesian embassy in London and below is the process to attain an Indonesian visa to visit Bali.
STEP 1
Nigerians need a telex visa approval (CALLING VISA) from the Indonesian Immigration Authority in Jakarta as a basis for the Embassy to issue you a visa.
STEP 2
To obtain a calling visa you must do so by contacting third party in Indonesia (a sponsor or a Visa Agent) in Indonesia that can apply for you online at: https://visaonline.imigrasi.go.id/online (The sponsor could be a Indonesian national or an Indonesian company)
STEP 3
Once you have received the authorization then you can apply for a visa at your local consulate in Abuja if you’re based in Nigeria. Here is the link for those in the UK https://consular.indonesianembassy.org.uk/visa/
KEY THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND
I was unable to get the embassy in Abuja to recommend visa agents that could assist. The Indonesian embassy in London make a point not to recommend visa agents too.
The Indonesian embassy make a point to state that there is no guarantee that the calling visa would be approved so get a sponsor to apply at your peril
Nigeria is one of quite a few countries that require a calling visa (Others are: Afghanistan, Guinea, Israel, North Korea, Cameroon, Liberia, Somalia)
I really hope this information was somewhat helpful for those that are considering visiting Bali. Let me know in the comments section if it was. If you also find an agent that was able to assist you in getting your calling visa, do leave a comment below
THE ULTIMATE INSTAGRAMMABLE GUIDE TO BALI (VLOG) – In this video, I share the ultimate guide and tips to visiting Bali in a VIDEO/VLOG format. I hope you enjoy this video. Leave a comment if you’ve been to bali or you have bali on your bucket list!
Bali is Indonesia’s main tourist destination having seen a significant rise in tourists since the 1980s. It has been popular with surfers, photographers and temple-goers who flock to its shores each year. Bali has a lot of western influence from international & diverse restaurants. Here is my ultimate Bali travel guide with tips to plan your trip to Bali!
GETTING TO BALI
VISA REQUIREMENT: I have heard it is increasingly tough for Nigerian passport holders to visit Indonesia as processing is done in Jakarta and Nigerian travellers are subjected to extra scrutiny (because of incidents of drug trafficking). So Nigerians should expect longer wait times.
As a British citizen, I didn’t have any issues flying to Bali. I didn’t need a visa to enter Indonesia for visits of up to 30 days.
FLIGHT TIME: There are no direct flight from Nigeria to Bali or even from major cities like London or New York. Expect one or two stops. I flew with Lufthansa & Singapore Airlines. Lagos to Frankfurt, then to Singapore. And then from Singapore to Bali. Flight time on my route was 22 hours (excluding layover time). Note that there are quicker ways to get to Bali from Lagos but I decided on Lufthansa for the star alliance air miles.
WATCH the first leg of my flight in Business class from Lagos here
WHAT TO EXPECT IN BALI
Bali is affordable and it can also be luxurious which allows all travelers of all types to find what exactly they are looking for. Ubud is known for its rich Balinese cuisines, its incredible jungles and formidable rice fields. For beaches, head to Seminyak or Uluwatu. To surfers, head to Kuta.
LANGUAGE: The official language is Indonesian. English is used extensively so you won’t find it an issue communicating as a tourist.
CURRENCY: Bali’s local currency is the Indonesian rupiah. USD is not allowed as a spending currency. Wait till you get to Bali (at the airport/in town) to change your money for best rates.
CLIMATE: Bali weather is warm all year round —but keep note of the rainy season, January to April and October to November.
GETTING AROUND IN BALI
Bali is quite a large island with much to see. Traffic in Bali isn’t as bad as Lagos traffic but with its small roads, it can get very congested so always over estimate the time it will take you (especially to get to the airport!).
SCOOTER: Even though I didn’t use one during my trip, this was the most recommended and popular mode of transportation in Bali. I asked around for pricing and it was certainly the cheapest mode of transportation in Bali. You don’t have to hire a scooter if you are uncomfortable driving yourself but can book it like an uber type service using G0-JEK app.
TAXI: Taxis are expensive but you can also book a taxi via the GO-JEK app. Note that in many areas in Bali, GO-JEK drivers are banned especially in areas like central Ubud so you would have to use the expensive local taxis. If you use a local taxi, ensure to agree on pricing before you get into the car. Feel comfortable to negotiate what works for you.
PRIVATE CAR: There are many private drivers in Bali and I opted for this when I was in Bali. It made sense financially as I had a lot of sightseeing to do. The great thing about hiring a private driver is that they doubled as a tour guide (and photographer in my case). To locate a great driver, ask friends that have been to Bali before (happy to share mine if you send me an email) or ask your hotel. The great thing is I was able to communicate with my driver via whatsapp.
WHERE TO STAY IN BALI
Many visitors to Bali tend to stay at multiple locations because of how big the island of Bali is. Different areas have different things to offer. I will share details of the 3 hotels I stayed in – in Bali
A view from the entry walk way at the Four Seasons Resort, Sayan (Travel & Leisures No 1 HOTEL IN THE WORLD, 2018)
RENT A AIRBNB: I didn’t use Airbnb in Bali but I feel its important to share this option. Airbnb operates in Bali so you can take advantage of the low prices of Bali and rent a private villa for yourself. A number of the villas are furnished with private pools, beautiful ocean or jungle views.
THE STONES HOTEL – Legian Bali, Autograph Collection – KUTA: One of the most luxurious hotels in Kuta. The Kuta area is popular with surfers but has lost its charm to its neighbour Seminyak. Nevertheless if you decide to stay in Kuta, you will not regret a stay at this hotel.
A view from my room at The Stones Hotel
FOUR SEASONS RESORT AT SAYAN: Travel & Leisure crowned this hotel the best hotel in the world and I could see why. If you’re looking for a romantic getaway/hideaway, look no further than this resort. The resort only has 60 suites/villas. The resort has many activities from river rafting on the stunning ayung river (which cuts through the grounds of the hotel) to unique tours never been explored named “Can you keep a secret”. The resort is a 10 minute from the markets and restaurants of Ubud.
FOUR SEASONS RESORT AT JIMBARAN BAY: This luxury resort is very different from its sister hotel in Sayan as its set on the beach. All villas have an infinity pool and the hotel even has its own pool waterfall . The Four Seasons at Jimbaran Bay offers stunning premier villas featuring authentic Balinese decor. This is a perfect destination for relaxation.
A view from my plunge pool in my villa at the Four Seasons Jimbaran Bay
I hope you enjoyed my guide to Bali. Leave a comment if you found the guide useful OR have any questions.
Stay tuned for detailed hotel reviews of all hotels I stayed in AND recommended activities to do, in Bali
Business School is like a play and the script in the play thus far is far and beyond what I ever imagined but one particular scene in the play is what I would like to share with you today. Weeks ago, approximately 40 of us students went on a weekend break together to a private island in Indonesia. Did I mention that we booked the whole island just for ourselves for the weekend?
Here is a brief travel journal for you with more visuals than words which I believe will be more to your liking.
Friday 3:30pm – We took a ferry from the ferry terminal in Singapore to Tanjung Pinang (TP) (approx. 2hrs, Sassy felt sick and put herself to sleep)
Friday 5.30pm – Arrived at Tanjung Pinang (TP), met with immigration and island host and sorted all entry visas
Friday 6.20pm – Island host took us in a bus from Tanjung Pinang (TP) on a one hr trip to the *middle of nowhere* until we reached a dock (refreshments and music were provided on bus and a number of us showed the rest of us why they didn’t make it on american idol lol)
Friday 7.20pm – Sassy arrives at dock and complains about the efficiency of the next transportation ride so bargains successfully for a faster boat to take us from dock to PULAU PANGKIL KECIL island in 25 mins
Friday 7.45pm – Arrived on PANKGIL, our very own exclusive private island resort (Chill mode, party mode, kayaking, our own olympic games, paddle boarding, massages, cooked meals, new friendships and the works on the way)
Before I bore you….I’ll leave you with a little gallery of what happened next! No need to bore you with the trip back to Singapore on sunday so I’ll leave you to #Enjoy
Finally #Touchdown
#Islandview
“The Big House” One of the many many house on the island
View from one of the house balcony #WhatMoreDoYouNeed
Common chillax area with our own speaker system to wake the neighbors but we had no neighbors
Thought one of toilets looked pretty cool so I took a pic
Chillaxing in the common area with Annie
Volleyball time
Board games #StrategicThinking
Fishing trip where we caught quite a number of fish which the staff cooked for us later that evening
Massage Rooms where I had some pretty good massages (not as cheap as in the Philippines but better than in London)
Lan & I pretending to look away while the paparazzi snaps away #ModelLife
Island Staff made the cutest dinner set-up for saturday night
Cute set-up showcasing our school by the staff
And to top it off, our very own fireworks show on our very own island
PartyTime
The Island was amazing but these people made it EVERYTHING!
“A place is only as good as the people you know in it. It’s the people that make the place.” || Pittacus Lore
What I loved: Gosh so many things. The accommodations were superb. The staff on ground were amazing. I loved the fishing trip and the water sports I got up to.
What I didn’t like: The journey to the private island was very long given we were only going to be there for a weekend but it was very well worth it.
Would I go back: 100%. It was such a surreal feeling that I wished lasted much longer.
Who would I recommend it for: Big groups i.e. for wedding party or birthday milestones or retreats
Have you ever rented a private island before? what was your experience? Any one in particular you would recommend for others?
