How is BALI in 2024? (Watch Before You Visit)

Summary

The video script discusses significant changes in Bary since 2024, focusing on streamlined immigration with the introduction of an e-visa and tourist tax, improved airport efficiency, and the importance of pre-booking SIM cards for connectivity. It highlights the impact of increased tourism on local businesses, traffic congestion, and pricing, while emphasizing the enduring quality of food and coffee. The script also offers travel tips, including using Jetstar for flights, Grab for transportation, and the benefits of a private driver. It concludes with reflections on Bary's evolving landscape and the narrator's personal connection to the destination.

Takeaways

• 🎉 The speaker got married in Bary and received a lot of love and messages from viewers after sharing their wedding video.
• 🌟 They have created a Bary guide with updated information on the best cafes, restaurants, neighborhoods, and local contacts for travelers.
• 🛂 Immigration in Bary has significantly improved, with the speaker experiencing a swift 2-minute process, unlike the previous notorious long lines.
• 📝 There are three main steps for arrivals: obtaining an E-Visa (now costing $50), paying the new Tourist tax, and completing a Customs declaration form.
• ✈️ For a smoother airport experience, the speaker suggests getting upfront seating on flights and pre-booking SIM cards to avoid overpricing.
• 📱 Having a local SIM card is recommended for using apps like Grab, with options ranging from roaming to pre-ordering SIM cards or getting them upon arrival.
• 🚖 The speaker advises against taking taxis due to potential issues and recommends organizing a private driver or using Grab for more competitive pricing.
• 🚗 Traffic in Bary has worsened, and the speaker mentions the importance of being prepared for long car rides and considering a scooter for easier navigation.
• 🏨 There are more accommodation and food options in Bary, but this has also led to increased competition and some businesses struggling to maintain their customer base.
• 💰 The exchange rates for currency in Bary are no longer as competitive, and the speaker recommends using a Wise card for better rates and minimizing cash handling.
• 🍽 Despite the changes, the quality of food, coffee, and cocktails remains high, and the speaker encourages trying local food for an authentic experience.

Q & A

What significant changes have occurred in Bary since the last video update?

There have been critical changes in immigration and arrivals, as well as other aspects of visiting Bary, which now require different advice compared to the previous video.

What is the new cost for a 30-day visa on arrival in Bary?

The 30-day visa on arrival, also known as the E-Visa, is no longer free and now costs $50.

How has the immigration process in Bary improved recently?

The immigration process has become significantly faster, with the speaker mentioning they passed through immigration in just 2 minutes.

What is the new Tourist tax in Bary and what is it used for?

The new Tourist tax, introduced in February, is a fee for each person entering Bary, which is used for regenerating and maintaining the local culture and cleanliness.

Why is it important to fill out the Customs declaration form upon arrival in Bary?

Filling out the Customs declaration form is essential as it is required to enter Bary, and not doing so can result in being turned back to fill it out, causing inconvenience.

What advice is given for booking flights to Bary to save time on arrivals?

It is recommended to book flights with Jetstar for the lowest fees and to get upfront seating to save time on arrivals.

What are the current recommendations for obtaining a SIM card in Bary?

There are four recommendations: using roaming, pre-ordering an eSIM, purchasing a local SIM card upon arrival, or having a SIM card delivered to your address or hotel.

What is the best option for transportation from the Bary airport according to the script?

The best option is to organize a private driver, which can be done through accommodation or a local tour operator, or to use the Grab app for a more affordable option.

How has the traffic situation in Bary changed according to the speaker?

The traffic in Bary has become progressively worse with each visit, and it is now an issue that visitors need to be prepared for.

What has been the impact of increased competition on businesses in Bary?

The increased competition has led to some businesses struggling due to a decrease in customers, as visitors are now staying further out and there are more options available.

How has the quality of food and beverages been affected by the changes in Bary?

Despite the overpopulation and stretching of commercial areas, the quality of food, coffee, and cocktails has remained incredibly high.

Outlines

00:00

🌟 Travel Updates and New Barley Guide Launch

The speaker discusses significant changes in Barley since their last video, particularly in immigration and arrivals. They mention the release of a new Barley guide, which includes information on the best cafes, restaurants, neighborhoods, and local contacts. They also share their experience of a much smoother immigration process, which now requires completing an e-visa, paying a tourist tax, and filling out a customs declaration form online to save time. The speaker emphasizes the importance of doing these tasks online to avoid long queues at the airport.

05:00

📱 SIM Card Options and Transportation Tips

The speaker provides advice on SIM card options upon arrival in Barley, including pre-ordering for cheaper rates and the availability of local SIMs at the airport or delivered to accommodations. They also discuss various transportation options, such as taxis, private drivers, and the Grab app, which is a cost-effective way to navigate the city. The speaker highlights the convenience of Grab's lounge at the airport and the importance of avoiding unofficial taxi services. They also mention the increase in traffic and the need to be prepared for longer travel times.

10:01

💸 Cost of Living and Exchange Rates in Barley

The speaker notes that while the cost of living in Barley has not changed significantly, there is now a service tax added to restaurant and café bills. They discuss the changes in exchange rates, which are no longer as favorable as before, and recommend using a Wise card for better rates and avoiding carrying large amounts of cash. They also mention the prevalence of digital payment options, such as FOS machines, making it easier to pay for services without cash.

15:04

🏖️ Development and Quality of Life in Barley

The speaker reflects on the rapid development and increased competition in Barley, which has led to a rise in accommodation and food options but also a decline in the authenticity of certain areas. They discuss the impact of this growth on local businesses and the potential challenges it may bring. Despite these changes, the speaker praises the consistently high quality of food, coffee, and drinks available in Barley. They also emphasize the importance of supporting local businesses.

Keywords

💡Bary

Bary is likely a misspelling or a colloquial name for a location, possibly Bali, which is a popular tourist destination. The script discusses various changes in this place, including immigration processes and travel advice, indicating that it is a central theme of the video.

💡Immigration

Immigration refers to the process of entering and residing in a country other than that of one's nationality. The video script mentions significant changes in immigration procedures, such as the introduction of an e-visa and tourist tax, which are critical for travelers visiting Bary.

💡E-visa

An E-visa, or electronic visa, is a digital permit for entering a country. The script highlights that obtaining an E-visa for Bary is no longer free and now costs $50, emphasizing the importance of this change for travelers planning their visit.

💡Tourist Tax

A tourist tax is a fee levied on visitors to a destination, often used for local infrastructure and services. The script introduces a new tourist tax in Bary, which travelers must pay to enter the country, and mentions the enforcement of this tax as a recent development.

💡Customs Declarations

Customs Declarations are forms filled out by travelers to declare items they are bringing into a country. The script describes the importance of completing these declarations to avoid delays and suggests filling them out in advance to streamline the entry process.

💡SIM Cards

SIM cards are used in mobile devices to connect to a cellular network. The video script discusses the availability and pricing of SIM cards in Bary, advising travelers on the best options for staying connected during their visit.

💡Grab

Grab is a popular ride-hailing and food delivery service in Southeast Asia, similar to Uber. The script mentions Grab as a recommended transportation option in Bary, noting its competitive pricing and convenience.

💡Accommodation

Accommodation refers to lodging or a place to stay during travel. The script talks about the variety of accommodation options in Bary and how the increased competition has affected pricing and availability.

💡Traffic

Traffic refers to the flow of vehicles on roads. The video script describes the worsening traffic situation in Bary, which is a concern for travelers and affects the overall travel experience.

💡Digital Age

The digital age refers to a period dominated by digital technology and the internet. The script mentions that Bary has moved into a digital age with widespread use of card payments and digital services, which has implications for travelers' spending habits.

💡Local Food

Local food refers to dishes and ingredients native to a particular region. The video script encourages travelers to try local food in Bary as a way to experience the authentic cuisine, which is still of high quality despite the changes in the area.

Highlights

The speaker got married in Bary and received an overwhelming amount of love and messages from viewers.

There have been critical changes in Bary, especially in immigration and arrivals, since the last video update.

A new Bary guide has been launched, providing comprehensive travel information including best cafes, restaurants, neighborhoods, and local contacts.

The airport in Bary now has e-gates, significantly reducing immigration wait times.

The visa on arrival in Bary now costs $50 and can be completed online to save time.

A new tourist tax has been introduced in Bary, aimed at supporting local culture and cleanliness.

Customs declarations are now mandatory and can be completed after baggage claim to avoid delays.

Pre-booking flight seats with Jetstar can save time and money due to their low fees and no assumptions about extra services.

SIM cards are recommended upon arrival in Bary, with various options including pre-ordering, local purchase, or delivery to accommodation.

Private drivers or local tour operators are suggested for airport pickups to ensure data availability and convenience.

Traffic in Bary has worsened, and visitors should be prepared for longer travel times by car.

Cafes and restaurants in Bary now commonly add a service tax to their bills, affecting budgeting.

Accommodation and food options have increased in Bary, but the quality of local food and coffee remains high despite competition.

Exchange rates for currency in Bary are no longer as competitive, and it's recommended to use a Wise card for better rates.

Grab is the dominant ride-hailing service in Bary, with fewer restrictions and more flexibility compared to taxis.

Private drivers in Bary offer a cost-effective and flexible way to explore the city, including wait times and customized routes.

The speaker reflects on the changes in Bary, noting increased development, traffic, and a growing number of businesses, which may impact the local economy.

Transcripts

Bary how is it in 2024 I feel like this

place is forever changing more so this

time than any so we've just got back

from another amazing trip to B we

actually got married there if you've

seen that video you're one of the ones

that sent us a message thank you so much

we're actually overwhelmed with the

amount of love that we've received off

the back of that but if you're one of

the 130,000 people that have watched our

17 things to know before you visit Bary

video there's been some critical changes

in particular to immigration and

arrivals along with a host of other

things that now kind of different or Our

advice is very different to that video

so today I wanted to sit down and just

talk you through some of those quite big

changes since the last time we talked

about it and if you are one day Keen to

visit barley and you want even more

information than what's in these videos

we've just launched a barley guide off

the back of the success and how helpful

our Queenstown guide has been for

travelers so in that there is the best

cafes and restaurants everything you

should know about the neighborhoods and

where you should visit for your

itinerary where to stay best things to

do a full WhatsApp database of all of

our local driver contacts Fe are

instructions and honestly so much more

and we'll be keeping on top of that and

updating it regularly as well as getting

a mobile app that you can take with you

on the go for your travels but the

airport in barley now has eates and I

never thought I would say that

immigration in barley is notoriously

horrific ask most people that say that

theyve spent at least an hour in those

lines before and we've always tried to

give advice to bypass that as quickly as

you can we literally just coasted

through stay holding a wedding dress on

the way and we just coasted through and

and I'm not kidding we were through

there within 2 minutes that's absolutely

insane compared to what it used to be so

there's three things now that you have

to complete so the very first thing is

the visa on arrival the E Visa the

30-day visa on Entry whatever you want

to call it most countries get these 33

days not free anymore sorry my bad it's

$50 now you can do that when you arrive

and if you planted it when you arrive

you're going to be joining this queue

here and then waiting in this massive

line there before you can finally make

your way through doing it online saves

so much time it is a nightmare to fill

out though and you have all sorts of

very weird requirements I've got more

instructions in our guide if you're

interested in that but essentially if

you work your way through that and you

pay that you are majority of the way

through getting into the country way

faster than anybody else the second

thing is the Tourist tax so this only

very recently launched in February and

this is essentially for each person that

comes into the country into barley sorry

specifically and it goes back into

regenerating and helping with the

culture and keeping things clean and all

that kind of stuff hopefully we see that

benefit actually pay out in the long run

but for now they are really starting to

crack down on it tourists being stopped

in the streets and having to prove that

you have paid that entry fee the final

thing is the Customs declarations and

this is completely free again you can

fill this out once you land and this is

actually after you've claimed baggage

and what we saw was a bunch of people

getting to the front of the line about

to walk out into the country and then

being turned around have to come back to

fill out this form because they hadn't

done it so you had to connect to a

really slow Wi-Fi network hope that you

could get it filled out try and get the

QR code on your phone absolute Mission

like honestly it is so easy to just fill

it out in advance once you've completed

those three things like I actually still

can't believe this you walk up head to

the left hand side of the hall with your

passport face down scan it opens up

don't even talk to a human and then you

are in barley and a good heck would be

to get some upfront seating on your

flight to save even more time on

arrivals and we recommend that you do

that with jet star because they offer

the lowest fears in the game because

they just don't assume that you want

premium seating luggage and all those

little bits and Extras so they pass

those savings on to you and trust me

when I say that money still goes a very

long way in barley but the flip side of

that is that all of those luxuries are

still there if you want to splurge out

and if you want a little bit more

comfort as an example my parents decided

to pay the extra for the leg room my

sister decided to grab bundles to pick

seats and so that she could have the

kids food pre-ordered and like I said

upfront seating is always a hack because

you get food early you get off fast and

you can be out there drinking bangs

while everyone else is still just

standing in that hot arrivals Hall jet

always gives us a link to the best fears

to B and Beyond as well so check the

description below and we'd really

appreciate if you book any fears through

there to let jar know that you came from

us but the next thing to consider when

you arrive is SIM cards so I should say

there is a lot of Wi-Fi and Bary and it

is getting better but we do recommend

that you have a SIM card especially to

use apps like grab and goj last time we

recommended something that was we were

shocked by the overpricing that was

going on we were saying pre-order this

SIM card and once you show up there was

a kios next to the baggage carousel and

the people there that were doing it on

the spot were paying three times the

price that we had were about to pay by

pre- doing it that's no longer an option

and it's for the best so there's four

different recommendations now you can do

roaming if you want to those are often

very expensive and it depends on what

kind of plan you have from your home

country an eim is a great option for as

low as $7 as a St starting point that

means that you set it up now once you

arrive turn on the data boom you're

connected straight away the third thing

is a local Sim once you come out of the

baggage carousel area and you've gone

through there is now a bunch of new

places there I don't know the pricing

I'm assuming it's 20 or 30% more than

what you would pay by going in town or

the fourth option and I ordered eight of

these SIM cards that get delivered to

your address to your hotel show up

there's instructions you plug that bad

boy right in and it was just like done

nobody ran out of data and that was

seamless and having an airport pickup is

a big consideration for ensuring that

you do have data once you arrive as well

now you could just walk straight out and

go jump into a taxi we haven't caught a

taxi in barley in I don't know the last

five trips because can be dodgy there

was a time and if you read this online

oh blue taxis or they're trustworthy

every taxi now was blue every taxi now

has some kind of a bird on it every taxi

has a play on those words we recommend

you stick away from her the best option

is to organize a private driver and you

can do this through your accommodation

you'll pay another 20 or 30% a gain just

for the convenience of the whole thing

but sometimes that's worthwhile another

option is that you find a local tour

operator we've got one of those linked

below as well uh and much more

competitive pricing or you have driver

over WhatsApp like we've gotten our

database possibly the best one these

days is actually there is a grab Lounge

station meeting point not sure what you

want to call it but a lot of people

don't know about it because once you

walk out of immigration there is all of

these people holding their signs for

people that have preone their check

taxis or transfers as well as people

saying taxi taxi taxi and it feels like

there's nowhere else you can go but if

you go past them through the car park

and out the back you'll see the big grab

lounge and in there you get to sit down

you can order your grab there's loads of

grab drivers around which is essentially

Uber very good pricing as well so that's

actually a great option and if you've

prepaid for one of these drivers or a

local driver you will get they will help

with your bags which is very nice what

we spotted a lot more this time is

they're able to p and they have a

particular kind of jacket on people

often arrive with family loads of

bags and then some nice person comes up

and says let me help you they grab your

bags and people are like oh that's so

lovely obviously they want money so you

just have to keep that in mind that when

you're arriving you're going to have to

pay that I don't even know how much

because we never have we just take it

ourselves but um just something to keep

an eye out because we saw some real

conflict we saw some people just

outright saying no and then we saw other

people uh someone takes their bags and

then look at each other like I think

we've messed up on you can see they're

talking to each other beef was about to

start traffic is one of the things you

will hear a lot about and it is real it

is bad every time we visit it gets

progressively worse and this time we

hadn't even left the airport and the

traffic had already started and I swear

in the past you used to be able to get a

lot further either into Cuda or at least

on your way into kind of semak or

getting out on the outskirts there it is

bad and you really do have to be

prepared for the fact that you're going

to spend a lot of time in cars we always

Rec getting a scooter um because you can

somewhat navigate there the reality of

this trip for us because we planned it

with our families and friends we were

often I was like getting us 15 cedars or

11 Cedar and there is just no option but

to sit in it kick back and use your 30

GB of data on your phone or people watch

out the window despite knowing all of

the stuff pretty much off by heart I

still this takes so much brain power

I've actually stopped just have a quick

coffee and we bought some Indonesian

beans while we were there highly

recommended if you like Fruity notes and

your coffee it is so good and such a

nice reminder of the coffee which does

tie nicely into pricing as well we were

concerned given the feedback that we'

got that things had changed in the last

18 months we don't really feel like they

have so this video where I tracked every

single price that you would need to know

I think it's still very accurate but one

thing that has changed is that every

Cafe and Restaurant now religiously are

basically charging that at the bottom of

the menu there's a little 10% this 5%

that and those are service tax whatever

else so when while a coffee like this in

barley would cost you 35k realistically

it's more like 4546 but by the time you

add that tax on now that's still a

shitload cheaper than what you're going

to pay in Australia or New Zealand and

the quality is outrageously good but it

is a big consideration when it comes to

budgeting or knowing what your cost will

be if that sounds expensive don't be put

off because you still can have really

cheap holidays to Bary but you need to

stay in lower quality accommodation and

you need to eat more frequently at the

Wong and this is an updated advice by

any stretch but I know You' probably if

you've stumbled in here and you're like

wow maybe not for me you can but you

just need to be okay with eating much

more local food and not having air

conditioning the nicest Cutlery um and

an Instagram Instagram bull kind of

place to put on your social media but

that's the best food in a lot of ways as

well it's the actual local food and we

highly recommend do eat at somewhat on

Go Local try the food that's what it's

about another big update to the advice

that I gave back then is an unfortunate

one about money their exchange rates are

nowhere near as competitive as as they

once were we went back to the exact same

place and what used to be I swear we

would change $500 $800 and we would lose

like $2 or $3 now it's considerably more

in between changu and simyak somewhere

in the middle there is a bunch of places

advertising really good prices I don't

know if they're charging a commission

but other than that we still recommend

that you take cash to the country and

change it there unless for some reason

in your home country wherever that might

be you get very very good rates but

that's unlikely but in general in this

ties in with what I was saying earlier

is that you really don't need all that

much cash anymore get a wise card so

that you've got the best possible

exchange rate you possibly can I think

we paid a $2 fee on changing $500 into

Indonesian ruper and then we just use

like Apple pay or use the card

everywhere and you don't pay any fees on

that and the good news is that grab you

can have your card Associated to that

and every play that we just mentioned

all those little fees all those

restaurants and those cafes the nice

ones at least not the Wong unfortunately

have fos machines and terminals I was

actually struggling to get through my

cash other than paying some of the local

drivers that we were using so it's not

as good as it once was but then also

they've moved to such a digital age in

terms of the reception and stuff for

their connection with the fos machines

that you really don't need to be

handling as much anyway good to have for

like tips here and there and for you

paying your private drivers but other

than that there's really not all that

much that you need so I've mentioned

transport a few times and as I've kind

of hinted to grab still really is King

for getting around that's great as well

it's not just restricted to cars like we

were with my family a few times where we

needed six people and we could get an

extra large or six of them go in the car

and then we would scoop behind one of

the biggest things is there is far less

restrictions now there used to be these

zones where it could be it was like no

pickup no online car related Service

pickup which is basically like grab go

away you're not welcome here and we have

seen locals pull suitcases out of cars

yell at drivers yell at the tourists

it's not a pretty thing fortunately that

has all moved much further away we

barely saw any so there's now just a

couple of drop off zones on the

outskirts so that's much nicer to know

to just share some prices between Chango

and CIA because I've mentioned that a

few times if you get a grab it's kind of

$10 to $15 to get between those two

places and that could take an hour in

traffic now like it it is quite bad so

that's great value obviously but that's

kind of a single trip and then if you

wanted to go anywhere else you have to

pay another single trip and anywhere

else single trip so you kind of it does

start to add up whereas you can get a

driver a private driver for 400k for 6

hours which is a half dayish price and

you can go to a cafe you we would stop

off and get groceries somebody had found

a clothing store they wanted to go to we

went to a homee store and bought

champagne glasses that we had found and

the driver Waits drops you off chat over

WhatsApp uh we even went to a beach club

one day we went to the ULU Temple easily

the best way in terms of getting around

it obviously works out a little bit more

expensive than just taking a grab but if

you did all of those things and added

those up it's going to be more expensive

and you get so much more flexibility so

that thing that about barley still

exists and that is something that we

love and they appreciate $10 and some

lunch a bottle of water we bought one of

our drivers Matt we buy him a Coke we

bought him some Pringles and he was just

like brother thank you you know it's

it's a really sweet situation where

everybody wins and just to kind of close

on on the topic of this whole video how

is barley now just in general look the

traffic is bad it is getting it is

getting worse pricing is relatively

consistent there is a lot more

accommodation options be it they are

kind of all holding firm on pricing

there is a lot more food venues as well

and there is a lot more crowds in places

the development is crazy the last time

we were there we were shocked by what

was going on on the changu shortcut

that now is full it is busy but they've

set it up now that um motorbikes can go

both ways cars can only go one way from

the Batu balong side heading through to

bwa so the traffic kind of flows and

makes a bit more sense now and a way it

does feel busy because those rice

petties unfortunately and those hubs

like they they're kind of gone you know

it's just it's Chalker so there is a lot

more options and a lot more competition

but we have some friends that are living

there and their kind of feedback is that

places that once sort of thrived are now

not as full as they were because of the

competition and now how much further out

people are staying so everything's kind

of growing out together and so that

creates some potential problems I'm not

quite sure how that will develop will

places have to start to close because

they're not monetizing how they once

were my best mate said he went to a

place recently which was used to be

harming every Thursday Friday night

Saturday night humming and they went

there and it was like where is everybody

they're just not here anymore and that's

just that competition that's kind of

changing things the positive for us is

we don't really like going to a

restaurant or Cafe you can't hear each

other and it is you can't find a seat

you can't like that's it's not really

enjoyable it's not really why we're

there that happens a lot less but it is

sad to see businesses kind of struggling

the flip side of that is that the

quality of food and coffee and drinks

and Cocktails for some people in our

groups it is still so incredibly high so

this overpopulation if you want to call

it that or that stretching of the

commercial areas hasn't reduced quality

which is great but as to how that plays

out in another year another 18 months

another 2 years it's going to be

fascinating to see and maybe I'll do

another update video like this if this

is kind of of interest for those of you

that sort of follow along with b as a

potential destination or someone that

you've somewhere that you've been or

someone that you just love like like we

do we obviously uh we've got a lot of a

lot of ties to to B in that sense as

well from living there nomading

holidaying getting engaged getting

married it's um it's a special place for

us and it is just interesting to kind of

track it and see it change over time but

anyway I've I've I've chatted for more

than enough that coffee's hit me so I'm

just boom boom

boom whatever I'm talking to now

see

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