Bali might not seem like a big island, but it has a bewildering array of beach options on the south coast alone. One of the virtues of the place is that a visitor can decide the level of accommodation, from backpacker shack to five-star resort; then decide what they want to do on the beach, from surf to get some peace and quiet to scuba diving; and then find the beach on Bali that exactly matches it. There is even a black volcanic sands option at Lovina. There is no reason why anyone should ever be even slightly dissatisfied with a Balinese beach stop if they have checked out all the options and picked the right place.
Bali has good overland and ferry links to Java and Lombok, the neighboring islands to the west and east. East Java is home to the spectacular volcanic moonscape of Gunung (Mount) Bromo, and Lombok is where towering Gungung Rinjani and yet more beach options can be found. If Bali's volcano trekking and beaches seem unsatisfactory, don't rule out these options just because they are on other islands.
Ubud is the town that has all of Bali's cultural attractions: lovely temples and shrines, performing arts, easy access to ancient ruins and handicrafts. When the time comes to leave the beach behind and do these things, it is also time to relocate to Ubud. There are tour companies that will ferry people to all the cultural attractions of the Ubud area from anywhere in Bali, but a lot of time will be wasted going back and forth. It is best to simply move to Ubud and its central location.
Like many places in Southeast Asia, Bali has plenty of touts and hawkers. The big, posh resorts have security to keep these de facto beggars away, but everywhere else they will be a persistent nuisance that must be tolerated with a smile. Just remember to take whatever they say with a grain of salt, beware of scam artists, and be patient. Some of them are reasonably honest and just trying to make a living.
Indonesia is a haggling country, so it pays to ask about prices. If there are not retail tags on that sarong in the market, assume you are supposed to haggle for it. If it does have a price tag, politely inquire if there are any bargains or reduced rates. That is the signal that you are open to negotiation on a bigger deal, and can be politely refused. Also, keep in mind that the target is to get some respect, a good price, and avoid being ripped off, not to squeeze the last few pennies out of a merchant. Those pennies mean nothing to a Westerner, but are substantial to a Balinese merchant.
The hinterland of Bali is moderately malarial. It is advisable to get a prescription to anti-malarial drugs before going to Bali, but thorough anti-mosquito precautions (bug spray, mosquito nets and mosquito coils) will do just as well.
Denpasar's international airport has a Visa on Arrival facility. Westerners do not need to apply for a 30-day, single-entry Indonesian visa before arrival. Simply bring along a passport with at least six months remaining validity, two recent passport photos and $25.
