Best Travel Insurance for Bali (Indonesia) 2023
Bali is a popular tourism destination in Indonesia among Singaporeans. Whether you intend to go clubbing at Kuta Beach, cafe-hop in Seminyak, visit the rice fields of Ubud or do sea sports at Nusa Dua, make sure that you purchase travel insurance before you fly. Wondering what is the best travel insurance policy? Head over to Moneysmart to compare the best travel insurance plans.
Travel Requirements To Enter Bali
According to Singapore’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Indonesia has confirmed that visitors travelling to Indonesia, including Bali, no longer require PCR testing or proof of COVID-19 vaccination with effect from 21 June 2023. It is still advisable to stay up to date on the entry requirements and other related information via the Indonesian Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, you’re planning a trip to Bali soon.
VISA application
To travel to Bali as a tourist, you’ll need to apply for an e-Visa on Arrival or B211A e-Visa, unless you’re from one of the 9 countries which are on a Visa-free entry agreement with Indonesia. There are 2 types of Visa application services: Standard (which takes 14 working days to process after payment is received), or Express (which takes 7 working days to process after payment is received).
Visa-free entry
If your country is listed as one of the 9 countries that has the "visa-free" agreement with Indonesia, and you’re staying in Bali for less than 30 days (cannot be extended), you do not need to apply for a visa to enter Bali as a tourist for a single entry. However, you have the option to get a visa on arrival that can be extended once for 30 days or in the event you need to or wish to stay longer than 60 days, you can get a B211A Visa.
The 9 countries include:
- Brunei
- Myanmar
- Cambodia
- Philippines
- Malaysia
- Singapore
- Laos
- Thailand
- Vietnam
Visa on Arrival
Visa on Arrival is valid for 40+ nationalities, and tourists from this “Visa on Arrival” list of countries are allowed to stay between 30 and 60 days (more than 30 days requires an extension process, for another 30 days, with the maximum duration of 60 days in total), for a single entry.
If you’re from one of the 40+ nationalities, you can purchase the Visa on Arrival at the arrival hall before queuing at the immigration counters. One thing to remember is that your passport needs to be valid for at least another 6 months before you’re eligible for this Visa on Arrival application.
B211A Visa
You’ll need a B211A Visit Visa if you intend to stay longer than 60 days for business purposes such as meetings and conferences held at Bali.
If your nationality is not mentioned on the 'Visa on Arrival' list, the B211A Visa which we facilitate requires a company or travel agency to "sponsor" the visa.
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, travellers from almost any country can apply for a B211A Visa. However, due to the pre-existing travel restrictions, travellers from Afghanistan, Guinea, Israel, Kamerun, Liberia, Nigeria, North Korea, Somalia, Iraq and Iran are not able to apply for B211A Visa for Indonesia, but have to contact their respective embassies directly.
We asked Singaporeans about flight disruptions, and they answered.
Find out the worst airlines with delays and cancellations according to Singaporean travellers.
Top 10 Things To Do In Bali
Known for its beautiful beaches, some of Bali’s popular ones include Kuta Beach for surfing, Seminyak Beach for relaxation, and Nusa Dua Beach for water sports.
Bali is also home to numerous temples and shrines. The must-visit ones include Uluwatu Temple, Tanah Lot Temple, Tirta Empul and Pura Ulun Danu Bratan where you can witness purification rituals.
For authentic Balinese cuisine, explore restaurants or local warungs which are also known as tiny shops, or kiosks, in Bali. Try succulent Babi Guling (suckling pig), Nasi Campur that is a popular mixed rice dish, plus others like Balinese satay, Bebek Betutu which a slow-cooked duck dish roasted in a banana leaf wrapper, Pepes Ikan with sambal and more.
Mount Batur is famous for its pre-dawn hike with stunning views of its crater. If you’re looking for a more challenging route, Mount Agung, Bali's highest peak, will be apt, with a rewarding sunrise panorama.
There is a wide variety of water sport activities available for you in Bali such as white-water rafting on the Ayung River, paddleboarding in Sanur, snorkeling and scuba diving in Amed and Tulamben besides the usual banana boat rides, surfing, parasailing, and jet-skiing in Kuta and Uluwatu.
Some notable ones include Ayana Spa, with oceanfront treatment rooms, and COMO Shambhala Estate, offering holistic wellness and traditional Balinese massages. The Fivelements Retreat focuses on healing rituals, while the Mandapa Spa offers a luxurious riverside experience.
Declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site, Tegalalang Rice Terraces is where beautiful rice terraces are carved into the hillsides. You can take a walk through the terraces and learn about the traditional Balinese irrigation system.
Take a boat ride to the Gili Islands for pristine beaches and diving, explore Nusa Penida for rugged landscapes and manta rays, and head to Nusa Lembongan for surfing and seaweed farming.
The best monkey sanctuaries in Bali are the Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary, Ubud, and the Alas Kedaton Monkey Forest, Tabanan. Both sanctuaries are home to hundreds of long-tailed macaques and a number of temples, including the Pura Dalem Kahyangan Kedaton, a large complex nestled amidst the dense woodland.
Ubud's Sukawati Art Market is famous for paintings, handmade jewellery and textiles, while the Sanur's Sindhu Market is great for fresh produce and local street food, perfect for a cultural shopping experience.
How To Choose Travel Insurance For Your Bali Trip?
There are actually more factors to consider when picking travel insurance with COVID-19 coverage for your Bali trip as it’s different from the usual coverage. If you’ve yet to get a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage, you can choose to buy COVID-19 coverage either as an add-on benefit or as part of an existing plan which you already have.
Here are 6 steps to help you get started.
Ensure sufficient coverage
Price is important when considering a travel insurance plan, but you should also compare the benefits and reimbursement limits for claims like COVID-19 related medical expenses, trip cancellations, flight delays and baggage theft and/or damage.
Consider any pre-existing conditions
An unexpected severe illness or injury may impact whatever pre-existing condition you and your family members may have, and only a couple of travel insurers will cover you for claims relating to your pre-existing medical conditions such as pregnancy, injuries or illnesses sustained during the trip.
It’s best to look for a travel insurance plan with adequate coverage which will give you in-patient hospitalisation expenses overseas coverage that allows you to claim for medical, surgical, nursing or hospital charges, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation coverage.
Compare policy premiums
How much your travel insurance costs depends on your destination and length of stay. Most travel insurance companies have 2 to 3 tiers of plans at different price points, with varying comprehensiveness and reimbursement limits.
Consider special activities coverage
Bali is a great place for many activities including water sports and extreme sports, but the breadth of coverage needed largely depends on your Bali itinerary. For instance, if you’re planning to go skydiving over Kuta Beach, make sure you get a policy that covers aerial sports like MSIG’s TravelEasy® Standard, Elite and Premier plans.
Think about cover for trip cancellation, flight delay and damage/loss of baggage
While Bali is very tourist-friendly, snatch thefts are not uncommon in crowded tourist spots. Given that Bali is prone to earthquakes, coverage of damage or loss of belongings as well as trip cancellation or postponement and flight delay due to natural disasters are also important.
Best Bali Travel Insurance
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Best Bali Travel Insurance Benefits Coverage
Some insurance plans come with affordable premiums, while others are known for their pre-existing conditions coverage or even having the highest overseas medical coverage in the market. Let’s take a look at what’s available for specific types of coverage, which can be useful as you decide on a suitable plan for your Bali trip.
*The estimated premium rates in the table below are based on a 4D3N single trip plan to Bali.
Best Travel Insurance Plans For Bali 2023
| Best for | Travel insurance plan | Estimated premium rate |
|---|---|---|
| Overseas medical coverage | Allianz Travel travel insurance plans | From $36 |
| Flight diversion/cancellation/postponement | Singlife Travel Plus and Prestige plans | From $51 |
| Overall good value | Bubblegum Travel Insurance plans | From $34 |
| Budget travel | FWD Premium plan | From $22 |
| Extreme sports | Starr TraveLead Comprehensive plans | From $30 |
| Family with children | DirectAsia travel insurance plans | From $30 |
| Travelling while pregnant | MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex plans | From $44.50 |
| Elderly | Tiq by Etiqa travel insurance plans | From $27 |
| Pre-existing conditions | MSIG TravelEasy Pre-Ex plans | From $44.50 |
| COVID-19 coverage | AIG Travel Guard plans | From $38 |
| *Estimated premium rates are based on a 4D3N single trip plan to Bali, data last updated on 10 October 2023. |
What Is The Average Cost Of A Travel Insurance To Bali?
With so many travel insurance plans that offer COVID-19 coverage benefits, it can get a little daunting trying to decide on one, considering the wide variety at different price points.
To get you started, let’s use an example to illustrate (with our round-up of the 6 best travel insurance plans with COVID-19 coverage in Singapore). Assuming that you’re planning to go for a 4D3N trip to Bali with your friends, and you’re getting a single trip insurance plan for yourself.
| Travel insurance provider | Overseas medical expenses | Post-trip medical expenses | Loss/damage of personal baggage | Trip cancellation | Total premium |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FWD | Up to $200,000 | Up to $6,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $7,500 | $22 |
| Starr | Up to $200,000 | Up to $15,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $30 |
| Bubblegum | Up to $100,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $34 |
| Allianz | Up to $200,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $36 |
| Singlife | Up to $250,000 | Up to $10,000 | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $36 |
| AIG | Up to $100,000 | N.A. | Up to $3,000 | Up to $5,000 | $38 |
| *Estimated premium rates are based on a 4D3N single trip plan to Bali, data last updated on 10 October 2023. |
As you compare across the 6 travel insurers’ benefits and premiums, the average cost of a travel insurance plan with COVID-19 coverage for a 4D3N Bali trip is about $33, assuming that we take the most basic plan offered by each travel insurance provider.
Estimated average cost of a travel insurance plan:
$34 + $36 + $36 + $30 + $38 + $22 = $196
$196 ÷ 6 = $32.67
FWD, Starr and Bubblegum may be more suitable if you’re looking at more cost-efficient options. Moreover, the medical expenses coverage by Starr is quite extensive with a maximum limit of $200,000, compared to others with a maximum claim benefit of up to only $100,000. If you’re looking for even more comprehensive coverage for medical expenses in the situation that you encounter an unexpected severe illness or injury, Singlife’s Prestige plan has the highest coverage limit of $250,000.
As for claiming benefits for trip cancellation, FWD will provide the most coverage of up to $7,500 for you in their most basic plan, while Singlife's higher tier plans i.e. Plus and Prestige plans cover trip cancellation for any reason (terms and conditions apply).
About Bali in Indonesia
Bali is a popular tourist destination just 2 hours and 40 minutes away from Singapore. Aside from temple-hopping, cafe-hopping and bar-hopping, Bali offers opportunities to do sea sports, hike on a volcano or take part in a spur-of-the-moment yoga class.
The island is along the Ring of Fire, so when visiting Bali, you may encounter earthquakes and on rare occasions, tsunamis. This does not mean you should avoid travelling to Bali at all costs. The reality is that every travel destination bears some risk. What you could do is to read up on what to do when an earthquake strikes and purchase a comprehensive travel insurance plan that covers situations when you need to postpone, cancel or shorten your trip.
Getting around Bali is relatively safe and trouble free. Some tourists like to rent a scooter (sometimes illegally) to get around places, but take note that you have to bear the risk if you do that, as no travel insurance plan covers accidents that happen when the insured person is not licensed for the mode of travel. The safer way might be to take legitimate Bluebird taxis that ply the roads in Bali.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does insurance cover Bali volcano?
- If your travel insurance states that it covers trip cancellation and shortening of trip due to natural disasters, then yes, you are covered for any contingencies that arise due to Bali volcanic eruptions. Take note that all insurers will require that you bought the insurance policy before a warning was issued through a relevant authority or a media publication. So, don’t wait until you’re about to board the flight to buy travel insurance in a hurry. Do it as soon as you have confirmed your flight and accommodation!
Do you need travel insurance for Bali?
- Travel insurance acts as a safeguard against any flight delays, injury, death, sickness, loss of personal belongings when you are travelling. You should get travel insurance whenever you travel, but especially if you are flying on a budget airline or going to a natural disaster prone area like Bali.
What is the best time to go to Bali?
- Bali is sunny all year round, but the island does have wet and dry seasons. The best time to visit Bali would be between the months of April to October, when there is low humidity and little rain. That said, even during the wet season you may find that the rain provides some cool respite from the heat. There isn't really a bad time to go to Bali.
If I rent a scooter in Bali, will it be covered?
- Yes and no. It depends on the type of travel insurance plan that you’ve purchased and the add-ons that you got for your plan. Most travel insurance plans only provide car rental excess cover for vehicle rental coverage.
Is Bali safe to visit?
- Yes and no. Travelling to and within every travel destination will involve some risks. As Bali is situated along the Ring of Fire, earthquakes are quite common and on rare occasions, tsunamis do take place. Despite these natural disasters, Bali is a popular tourist destination.