Prepare This And You’re Ready To Become A Digital Nomad In Bali

Let’s start planning! From visa, transportation, villa or hostel, to the must have such as, unlimited internet/coworking space access, fast Wi-Fi, and digital community.

1. Who’s a Digital Nomad?

Hubud / Via hubud.org

Digital nomads are people who are location independent and use technology to perform their job. Digital nomads work remotely, telecommuting rather than being physically present at a company's headquarters or office.

2. Let’s start planning people!

Before traveling or moving to the hippie lifestyle of Bali, you need to make sure you prepare these; visa, transportation, and accomodation. Another important thing of living in Bali as a digital nomad is the resources to make sure you are productive in this island. Some productivity must have are; unlimited internet/coworking space access, coffee shop with fast Wi-Fi, digital community, and workshop.

3. Visa

The most common visa for Bali is a tourist single-entry Visa on Arrival (VOA) which cost $35 and lasts for 30 days, and you can pay to extend it to 60 days. At the 60-day limit, you must leave and re-enter. This usually works for short-term expats. Long-term expats often opt for the social-cultural (sosial-budaya) visa, which lasts for 60 days and can be extended for 30 days up to four times.

4. Getting around by car or motorbike?

Shabrina Koeswologito

Getting around the island is mostly done via car or motorcycle. Bali do have public transportation, but it’s so unreliable that locals just use their vehicles everywhere. Renting a car is very affordable, but keep in mind that you have to spend extra traveling time in case of traffic. As a result, Balinese and tourists avoid traffic by using motorcycle.

In Bali, the rules of the road are more like suggestions. If you choose motorbike as your main transportation, make sure you’re really skilled at riding a motorcycle. You can book a motorbike online via Bali Bike Rental and Bali4Ride website. Alternatively, you can rent one on the street of major areas in Bali such as Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, or Ubud area. If you decided to rent on the street, don’t forget to bargain!

5. Where are all the digital Nomads live?

Putu Aditya / Via Instagram: @commaditya

One word, Ubud. It’s cheaper and quieter than the party scene of Kuta and chic Seminyak. You can find long term accommodation online. These Facebook communities will have options of accommodations from a cheap bedroom of $100/month to gorgeous villa with a pool for $600/month:

* Ubud Rentals

* SOUTH Bali Housing & Accommodation & Land Rentals & Sales

*Bali Villa Rental & Sale

And..don’t forget this must have.

Access to kitchen: Whether you’re renting a shared room or your villa, most houses will have access to kitchen. However, don’t expect a dishwasher in Balinese homes. The electricity to power it is just too high.

Laundry: There are plenty of cheap laundry services in Bali. Either they charge per kilogram (IDR 20,000 / $1.5) or per item. Simply find a signage that says “Laundry” or “Laundry Kiloan.”

6. Internet and Phone

You can buy a Telkomsel SimPATI SIM and get a 4GB or 10GB of data valid for a month. Internet speed in Bali sometimes can slow down depending on how secluded you’re staying. If you’re deep inside Ubud’s rice field’s terrain, you will most likely to experience a slow internet speed.

7. Work friendly cafe

Monsieur Spoon / Via monsieurspoon.com

Well, when you’re working you will need: 1) free Wi-Fi, 2) good coffee, 3) power outlets, and 4) um, well, beer. Keep in mind that no Wi-Fi is perfect, especially in Bali. Where internet is unpredictable. Check Kismet Cafe and Lazy Cats Cafe in Ubud

8. Made friends with the cool entrepreneurs or travelers at a Coworking Space

Shabrina Koeswologito

Hubud, Dojo, Lineup, Outpost, Kumpul are coworking space in Bali where you can meet and hang out with cool entrepreneurs. Other communities you can check are NomadList and Ubud Community Facebook Page.

9. Finally, enjoying your hard work with a sunset and a beer in hand

Shabrina Koeswologito

After working and learning all day the best thing to do is chilling with a drink in your hand while watching the sunset. Am I right? Here are some recommended bar and beach club to enjoy:

* La Plancha Beach Bar and Restaurant, Seminyak

* Rock Bar, Jimbaran

* The Lawn, Canggu

* KU DE TA, Seminyak

So what are you waiting for? Let's book that one way ticket to Bali!